And on Sunday, NFL action begins in earnest again, mostly on schedule. And in Week 11, as the Jacksonville Jaguars sank to their lowest record against the mighty Detroit Lions, the Pittsburgh Steelers declared themselves the favorites to win the AFC North by defeating their rival Baltimore Ravens. Until then, there were lots of dramas.
Here are some of Sunday’s biggest winners and losers.
Winner: Steelers defense
Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry came to town and TJ Watt and company humanized them. That trend is growing now that Pittsburgh has negated the magic of MVP-level Jackson, but Mike Tomlin’s team currently trails the Baltimore Ravens by two games in the North, and Sunday’s win is a steal. It was especially important for City. The Steelers truly register as a complete team.
Loser: Doug Pederson
He basically fits into this category all year long, but Sunday marked a new low for both his roster and staff, and it looks like he’s just playing strings. No wonder the Jacksonville Jaguars coach gave up on questions about his job security after a disastrous 9-2 loss. He knows this show is over. And he won’t be the only viable candidate as this disastrous 2024 campaign comes to a close.
Returning to the starting lineup just two weeks after what appeared to be a long-term demotion, the 2023 first-round draft pick plays the role of quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, controlling the ball and attacking Aaron. He outperformed Rodgers (lower bar to clear) (higher bar) and used his trademark athleticism to defeat the New York Jets. Credit also goes to coach Shane Steichen for making the quick transition.
Loser: Jets, again.
Like the Jaguars, this team has been generally underperforming for most of the season. Still, I can’t help but have higher expectations for a team that has had multiple MVPs under center. Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams were once again unable to save New York, and the Jets’ regressive defense was even worse against Indianapolis. Do Jets fans currently want the 40-year-old Rodgers to return in 2025?
Winner: Lions’ NFC North title bid
Detroit defeated yet another team on Sunday, with Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and others maintaining their incredible offensive power. But the Lions were in the lurch as the wayward Green Bay Packers narrowly slipped past the Chicago Bears in an ugly divisional matchup and the Minnesota Vikings failed to eliminate any of their AFC South opponents for the third consecutive year. I had to smile at the rest of the NFC North teams as well.
