NFL Week 11-Five Take Aways

1. I think the clichéd “Will the real Rams team please stand up” works when describing the Rams win over the Denver Broncos this week. Holding Peyton to just one touchdown and the whole team to only seven points is nothing to scuff at. This is the same team that allowed the Vikings to put up 34 points against them on the Rams own turf. (If it feels like I am bringing that game up a lot, it is because I will be miffed about it all season.) While Manning was able to throw for almost 400 yards, the run D stepped up for what feels like the first time this season, only allowing 29 rush yards on the day. Speaking of the run game, Tre Mason was let loose in a big way, being able to carry the ball 29 times. This was about as a well balanced of an offense you could ask for. The only thing I would want more of is TD’s. We cannot rely on Zuerlein to be that accurate every game. We know he hasn’t been the most reliable kicker this season so the less the Rams have to use him the better.
2. This is going to come as a shock to nobody who has been paying attention, but I am all in on Green Bay. I said my lock for the week was Green Bay because Aaron Rodgers is consistently playing the best football on the field. And after this week, there is no denying that. I anticipate them finish off the season 4-2…at worst! In fact, I will do you one better and say that even though Andrew Luck seems to be having an MVP season, Rodgers play his tail off the next six games and we may very well have co-MVPs again.
3. Speaking of Andrew Luck, there is only so much he can do to get his team in position to win a game. The Patriots dismantled the Colts in the second half Sunday night to win in decisive fashion 42-20. The Colts had no run game and saw Luck pass 39 times. Brady wasn’t even the deciding factor in the game. That goes to surprise breakout star Jonas Gray who ran the ball 38 times! He racked up 199 yards and four carries into the end zone on the day. I cannot tell you the last time a RB has rushed more than Brady has thrown, or if it ever happened. But this very well could be the one piece the Patriots have been missing to take back the Lombardi Trophy.
4. Four weeks ago I would have never thought that anybody could overtake the Broncos in the AFC West, but Andy Reid has taken the team on the other side of Missouri and is starting to make me thing that just maybe, the Broncos are the wildcard team this year. The Chiefs have won five in a row and are showing no signs of decline. They played a tough back and forth game against the defending champions and never looked out of it. The ways in which they are winning baffle anybody who is paying attention. No WR has caught a touchdown this season. Eleven weeks in and the only people to score TDs are tight ends and running backs. And what a running back the Chiefs have. Jamal Charles is easily a top 5 back and the way he was slicing the Seahawks made the legion of boom turn into the legion of gloom.
5. A division that does not seem to be getting a lot of attention right now is the NFC East. The Eagles and Cowboys are both 7-3 and have the opportunity to play each other twice in four weeks. While the first of those games is not until week 13, it is still an exciting division. I mean, it is no AFC North but like I have been touting all season, this is a very exciting time to be watching football. In six of the eight NFL divisions, the top teams are separated by one game or less. Four of the divisions have a tie for first place. This is why I love this sport. Nothing is wrapped up yet and I anticipate a lot of teams playing into week 17.

Photo Created by  Ryan Leopando