Week 11 of the NFL season furthered the excitement and high-octane play that has captured the attention of fans so far this year. This week featured a battle between two NFL titans, as well as the vanquishing of a former favorite’s playoff hopes. 

Firstly, we will discuss the premature conclusion of the season for a team that was supposed to threaten a deep playoff run before this year’s action began. The Cincinnati Bengals agonizingly fell 34-27 to the Los Angeles Chargers, worsening their record to 4-7 and all but eliminating their playoff hopes. In their star-studded American Football Conference North division, the Bengals sit in a distant third out of four teams, lagging greatly behind the surging Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. This all but ensures that they will not be playing post-season football this year, which is a massive fall from grace for a squad that was expected to be a major contender — in one prediction an analyst predicted that they would finish with a record of 11-6. 

The game itself was emblematic of the Bengals’ struggles this season. Quarterback Joe Burrow continued to shine, putting up gaudy statistics of 356 yards passing to accompany his three passing touchdowns. Burrow has had a career year statistically. He is leading the NFL with 27 touchdowns thrown, and has only made a mere four interceptions. However, Burrow’s star power has not been enough for the Bengals to secure much needed victories. Particularly against the Chargers, they faced a 27-6 deficit in the third quarter before furiously countering with touchdowns on three straight drives to even the score at 27 apiece. Unfortunately, they then gave up a 29-yard touchdown to Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins in the game’s closing seconds. Burrow’s Hail Mary throw did not find a receiver and the Bengals are now left to ponder what could have been. This showcases the precarious nature of the NFL. Even teams with ample talent who are expected to succeed like the Bengals can be easily shut out of contention when a few games do not go in their favor.

Now, we have to discuss the most highly anticipated matchup of the NFL season thus far. Featuring the 9-0 Kansas City Chiefs and the 8-1 Buffalo Bills, this showdown was a potential preview of the AFC championship game in January, which essentially serves as a semi-final in the NFL playoffs. The Nov. 17 game culminated in a 30-21 Bills victory. The matchup was filled with many lead changes throughout and it was hotly contested until the final minutes. Bills quarterback Josh Allen was brilliant, leading a game-winning drive that saw him sprint 26 yards into the end zone to ensure their victory. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw two interceptions in the defeat and the Chiefs exhibited many of the weaknesses that have plagued them thus far during the season, albeit their previously perfect record. The Bills’ triumph means that the Chiefs’ aim to finish their season undefeated will end after nine consecutive victories. 

However, a perfect record is something essentially unsurmountable, as the 2007 New England Patriots have been the sole team in the modern era to finish a regular season with an unblemished record. Additionally, despite the Patriots’ early success that season, that squad lost the Super Bowl to the New York Giants. It may be more likely that the Chiefs are free to play under a bit less pressure now that their perfect record is tarnished. While the pressure nonetheless remains on them to repeat their Superbowl Championship victory, there are no longer unreasonable expectations that they will achieve the impossible.

The season will further ramp up in Week 12 as we inch closer and closer towards the highly anticipated post-season. Soon, fans will get to enjoy classic Thanksgiving matchups that have great historical significance — in fact, the Detroit Lions have hosted a game on Thanksgiving for the past 90 years! Stay tuned for the matchups below as we continue this NFL season!

Games to watch:

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams, 8:20 P.M. E.T. on Nov. 24, 2024

Baltimore Ravens vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 8:15 P.M. E.T. on Nov. 25, 2024