WEEK 11 REVIEW

The battle for #1 in the AFC West was waged between the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs and the 8-1 Denver Broncos. The Chiefs entered the game well rested after their bye week to face the Broncos at home. Entering the game there were concerns over Peyton Manning’s high ankle sprain and he came to the field with his right leg looking like it was in a boot. The Broncos Offensive Line deserves high praise for protecting Manning from the leagues #1 Defense and not allowing a single sack. The Broncos quarterback played well against the Chiefs, but for the first time all season he failed to throw multiple touchdowns. However, he completed 24 of 40 throws for 323 yards and a touchdown with a lost fumble.  Manning started 2 of 6 before getting hot. Two plays later he threw a 70-yard strike to Demaryius Thomas then hit Tight End Julius Thomas on a 9-yard slant for a touchdown. This was Manning’s 81st career 300-yard passing game, extending his NFL record. He’s gone over 300 yards in nine of 10 games this year.

With a controversial non-call at the end of the game, the Carolina Panthers beat the New England Patriots 24-20 on Monday night. Cam Newton seemed to come into his own as a leader and is playing at a higher level than he has in the past and is being considered a real top tier Quarterback in the league. The front seven for the Panthers were outstanding and the secondary was opportunistic. The teams first winning season since 2008 seems to be in the bag but this team wants more and if they continue to play well, they just might get it this year. Tom Brady is playing very well and completed 25 of 29 passes at one point and faces Peyton Manning at home next week in their 14th game against one another in their career.

There are currently three one loss teams in the NFL and the Indianapolis Colts have provided the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos with those losses. On Thursday night, the Tennessee Titans got off to an early lead with Chris Johnson scoring 2 touchdowns in the first quarter. The second quarter was a battle of the kickers with Adam Vinatieri kicking a 48 and a 30 yard field goal while Rob Bironas kicked one of his own from 25 yards out.  The third quarter was all Colts action with Donald Brown running in a touchdown and then Andrew Luck ran in a touchdown, his 4th of the season. Vinatieri kicked a 50 yard Field Goal giving the Colts 17 points in the quarter and the Colts led 23-17 at that point. Early in the fourth quarter, Bironas kicked a Field Goal from 38 yards and with 3 minutes left in the game, Donald Brown ran in his second touchdown of the day.  The Titans got the ball back and Delanie Walker caught a 19 yard pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick bringing the score to 30-27 with just a minute left.  The ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Colts who ran out the clock for the win.

SCORES FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE

• Indianapolis Colts won over the Tennessee Titans 30-27
• Denver Broncos beat the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs 27-17
• Buffalo Bills defeated the New York Jets 37-14
• Chicago Bears beat the Baltimore Ravens 23-20 in Overtime
• Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Cleveland Browns 41-20
• Philadelphia Eagles beat the Washington Redskins 24-16
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers handily beat the Atlanta Falcons 41-28
• Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Detroit Lions 37-27
• Arizona Cardinals won easily over the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-14
• Oakland Raiders defeated the Houston Texans 28-23
• Miami Dolphins narrowly defeated the San Diego Chargers 20-16
• New Orleans Saints beat the San Francisco 49ers 23-20
• New York Giants routed the Green Bay Packers 27-13
• Seattle Seahawks took the Minnesota Vikings to town beating them 41-20
• Carolina Panthers beat the New England Patriots in a tight contest 24-20 with a controversial withdrawn interference call in the end zone.

WEEK 10 HIGHLIGHTS

• The Denver Broncos Offensive Line was back in action and kept the #1 ranked Kansas City Chiefs Defense at bay and not allowing a single sack on Peyton Manning who is nursing a high ankle sprain.
• Peyton Manning completed 60% of his pass attempts for 323 yards and 1 touchdown and continues to lead the league with 34 passing Touchdowns this season.
• Chris Johnson rushed the ball 17 times for 86 yards and 2 touchdowns.
• LeSean McCoy ran for 77 yards and 2 touchdowns and also caught 4 passes for 73 yards. McCoy is the first Running Back to exceed 1,000 yards rushing this season finishing Week 11 with 1,009 yards from scrimmage.
• Demaryius Thomas caught 5 passes for 121 yards against a stingy Kansas City Chiefs Defense.
• Robert Griffin III threw for 264 yards and 2 touchdowns with 1 interception.
• Chris Ivory ran the ball 15 times for 98 yards and 1 touchdown.
• Ray Rice carried the ball 25 times for 131 yards and 1 touchdown averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
• Josh Gordon caught 5 passes for 125 yards and 1 touchdown.
• Nick Foles started again for the Philadelphia Eagles and completed 65% of his passes throwing for 298 yards and he ran the ball 9 times for 47 yards and 1 touchdown to beat the Washington Redskins.
• Ben Roethlisberger had a fantastic day completing 64% of his passes for 367 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also carried the ball 6 times for 12 yards in the Steelers win over the Lions.
• Calvin Johnson caught 6 passes for 179 yards and 2 touchdowns.
• Bobby Rainey exploded for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns on 30 carries and caught two passes for four yards and a third score as the Buccaneers trampled the Falcons 41-28 in Week 11.
• Harry Douglas caught 6 passes for 134 yards and 1 touchdowns averaging 22.3 yards per reception.
• Carson Palmer had a big day throwing for 419 yards and 2 touchdowns completing 71% of his passes in the Cardinals win over the Jaguars 27-14.
• Michael Floyd caught 6 passes from Carson Palmer for 193 yards and 1 touchdown averaging 32.2 yards per reception.
• Matt McGloin got the start again for the Oakland Raiders and did not disappoint completing 56% of his pass attempts for 197 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Raiders win over the Texans 28-23.
• Garrett Graham caught 7 passes for 136 yards and 1 touchdown.
• Ryan Matthews had a big day for the Chargers rushing the ball 19 times for 127 yards averaging 6.7 yards per carry.
• Drew Brees had another solid outing throwing for 305 yards and 1 touchdown with 1 interception.
• Jordy Nelson caught 8 passes for 117 yards.
• Marquis Colston became the all time Saints leader for receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and receptions in Week 11.

QUARTERBACK LEADERS – WEEK 11 PLAYERS ON THE MOVE

• Carson Palmer passed John Brodie to assume the #34 slot behind Mark Brunell with 32,038 Career Passing Yards. Palmer’s 2 touchdowns moved him past Roman Gabrial and Matt Hasselbeck into a tie at #29 with Jim Everett at 203 Career Passing Touchdowns.

• Philip Rivers passed Norm Snead to take over the #37 slot behind Steve McNair with 30,038 Career Passing Yards. Rivers threw 1 Touchdown pass in Week 11 and moved past Randall Cunningham into a tie at #27 with Kurt Warner and Kerry Collins at 208 Career Passing Touchdowns.

• Ben Roethlisberger moved up 2 slots moving past Randall Cunningham to join Kurt Warner, Kerry Collins and Philip Rivers at #27 for Career Passing Touchdowns with 208 Touchdowns.

RUNNING BACK LEADERS – WEEK 11 PLAYERS ON THE MOVE

• Maurice Jones-Drew moved past Fred Taylor and Ricky Williams into the #24 slot behind Thomas Jones and Eddie George with 67 Career Rushing Touchdowns.

WIDE RECEIVER LEADERS – WEEK 11 PLAYERS ON THE MOVE

• Andre Johnson passed Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Charlie Joiner to assume the #18 slot behind Jimmy Smith with 12,220 Career Receiving Yards.

• Steve Smith moved past Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Michael Irvin to the #22 slot behind Derrick Mason with 11,964 Career Receiving Yards.

• Larry Fitzgerald moved past Joey Galloway into the #29 slot behind Chad Johnson.

• Santana Moss exceeded 10,000 Career Receiving Yards and knocked Eric Moulds from the Top 40 list at #40 behind Hall of Fame Tight End Shannon Sharpe.

• Antonio Gates moved past Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Lance Alworth, Hines Ward and Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Paul Warfield into the #12 slot behind Andre Reed with 86 Career Receiving Touchdowns.

• Calvin Johnson scored 2 Touchdowns in Week 11 and jumped up 2 slots on the list moving past Hall of Fame Wide Receiver John Stallworth, Carl Pickens, Anthony Miller, Keenan McCardell, Terrance Mathis, Plaxico Burress and Keyshawn Johnson into a tie at #29 with Gary Clark, Sterling Sharpe, Sonny Randle, Santana Moss, Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Bobby Mitchell, Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Charlie Joiner, Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Michael Irvin and Henry Ellard with 65 Career Receiving Touchdowns.

• Anquan Boldin moved past Drew Hill, Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Elroy Hirsh, Jerry Smith and Gene A. Washington into a tie at #33 with Donald Driver, Antonio Freeman, Billy Howton, Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Pete Pihos, Mike Quick and Andre Johnson with 61 Career Receiving Touchdowns.

DEFENSIVE LEADERS – WEEK 11 PLAYERS ON THE MOVE

• John Abraham’s 2 Sacks in Week 11 moved him up 2 slots to #9 moving past Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas and Hall of Famer Ricky Jackson with 129.0 Career Sacks behind Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor and Leslie O’Neil.

• Osi Umenyiora entered the Top 40 list this week at #39 passing Tim Harris while knocking both Hugh Douglas and John Gildon off the list with 81.5 Career Sacks.