Key events
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 31-32 Buccaneers 13:38, 4th quarter
Eight lead changes. Eight! Tucker catches on a wheel route out to the right and there isn’t a defender remotely close. He puts the motors on and makes the ground for a 28-yard touchdown. What a day for Tucker. He has 104 on the ground, 28 in the air and a hat-trick of scores.
TOUCHDOWN! Giants 20-19 Packers 7:22, 4th quarter
We love you Jameis Winston! New York’s veteran journeyman bundles over on the goal line. Who’s excited for the postmatch presser if they win?
Steelers 20-9 Bengals 12:54, 4th quarter
Getting chippy in Pittsburgh. Jalen Ramsey is given an early bath after throwing a punch at a Bengal.
TOUCHDOWN! Vikings 10-16 Bears 12:33, 4th quarter
JJ McCarthy poised to take over again on offense with great field position. 10/22, 74 yards at 3.4 per play and two picks needs a bit of improvement.
Only they don’t use the QB. Two runs and they are in the end zone. An eight-yard run followed by a 16 yarder by Jordan Mason and we have another comeback by the Vikes brewing. Watch out Chicago.
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 31-26 Buccaneers 3:48, 3rd quarter
We have a seventh lead change! After a Mayfield interception by Bishop the Bills strike back instantly. One play is all they need. Josh Allen finds his running back James Cook with a deep ball and a 25-yard touchdown. Still lots more points to be scored.
TOUCHDOWN! Jaguars 35-6 Chargers 11:02, 4th quarter
Jacksonville still have not punted. Travis Etienne bags his second touchdown of the day with a 13-yard dash. They have 150 total on the ground. Huge whiff from the 7-3 Chargers as their division rivals play each other later.
TOUCHDOWN! Steelers 20-9 Bengals 15:00, 4th quarter
New Steeler Kyle Dugger makes a big impact for his team. He picks off Joe Flacco and runs it back 75 yards for the pick six. Massive play considering Aaron Rodgers is off the field injured.
It’s GOOD! Bills 24-26 Buccaneers 5:01, 3rd quarter
The Bills try and get James Cook rolling and the drive stalls. On 3rd down Allen can’t find Josh Palmer. Matt Prater makes the kick from 39 yards.
TOUCHDOWN! Jaguars 28-6 Chargers 11:38, 4th quarter
This one has gone at absolute lightning speed. And the Jaguars are out of sight after a one-yard pass from Trevor Lawrence to Tim Patrick. Jacksonville have been absolutely ruthless today. They have punted a grand total of zero times. Not bad.
Bills 21-26 Buccaneers 6:33, 2nd quarter
Buffalo are instantly in Tampa territory after a 44-yard kick return. And are almost in the red zone after one play as Shavers catches a pass for 21 yards. Play action confuses the defense to set up the easy gain. We have now had six lead changes in Buffalo, looks rather likely we are going to get a seventh.
It’s good! Steelers 13-9 Bengals 4:16, 3rd quarter
Chris Boswell nails a 30-yard try. Before that Mason Rudolph came in for Aaron Rodgers at quarterback who exited with a hand injury.
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 21-26 Buccaneers 7:26, 3rd quarter
Too easy. Sean Tucker takes the hand off, bounces out to his right and that is all she wrote. His lead blocker Tristan Wirfs has no one to block and doubles as a stand-in cheerleader. The running back has 92 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns. Tampa fluff the two-point try.
Bills 21-20 Buccaneers 7:31, 3rd quarter
They just keep running. The Bills close on Mayfield but the QB reads it and scampers out to his right for eight yards and the 1st down. Six yards to go.
Bills 21-20 Buccaneers 9:02, 3rd quarter
Some nice running plays put Tampa in the red zone. Sean Tucker goes through the middle for 14 yards then Stirling Shephard takes the jet sweep for seven more. 158 yards on the ground total. Third down and short now.
FUMBLE! Bills 21-20 Buccaneers 11:12, 3rd quarter
The Bills just keep turning it over. This time they muff the punt return and Tampa recover.
The 4th down came after a virtual measurement deep in Tampa territory. The robots are whirring and they say the Bucs are about a foot short of the line.
TOUCHDOWN! Titans 6-7 Texans 7:21, 3rd quarter
Houston’s new dream combo Davis Mills and Nico Collins get it going again with a three-yard pass.
TOUCHDOWN! Giants 13-19 Packers 11:40, 3rd quarter
Jordan Love throws a short ball right to Josh Whyle for the two-yard score. Extra point is wide left. Tough day for kicker Lucas Havrisik who misses again, 1/3 on the day.
Bills 21-20 Buccaneers 12:46, 3rd quarter
We are back! Buffalo take over on their 45-yard line. A penalty and a short pass blown up behind the line puts the Bills on 3rd and 16 … Allen takes the snap hangs out in the pocket for an age then scampers upfield. He pauses and tries to throw a lateral but the ball is just going forward a touch. So close. His momentum just took the ball a few inches ahead of where he wanted it. Punt.
TOUCHDOWN! Falcons 21-16 Panthers 12:04, 3rd quarter
Bryce Young uncorks a 36-yard strike for Xavier Legette to get Carolina right back in this one. They fail with a two-point conversion.
TOUCHDOWN! Jaguars 21-6 Chargers 7:50, 3rd quarter
The Jaguars are making light work of the Chargers as they score their third rushing touchdown. This time Trevor Lawrence keeps it on the goal line. They have 107 yards total on the ground.
Half-time
Your scores on the doors:
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Atlanta Falcons 21-10 Carolina Panthers
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Buffalo Bills 21-20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Jacksonville Jaguars 14-6 Los Angeles Chargers
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Minnesota Vikings 3-10 Chicago Bears
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New York Giants 13-13 Green Bay Packers
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Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6 Cincinnati Bengals
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Tennessee Titans 3-0 Houston Texans
A classic unfolding in Buffalo and some very close ones across the board.
It’s GOOD! Bills 21-20 Buccaneers, half-time
No one open so Mayfield hits Tez Johnson on the sideline to set up the chip shot. Chase McLaughlin hits it and it’s NO good, blocked!
Wait a minute! Defensive holding called against the Bills. Redo! McLaughlin makes it as time expires.
That was an absolute rollercoaster. Monster passes, slashing runs, turnovers and magic from both quarterbacks. Pinch me.
Bills 21-17 Buccaneers 0:09, 2nd quarter
Buffalo call the timeout with the Bucs only 32 yards away after a 10-yard pass and a defensive delay of game penalty. You know Baker is going big here.
Bills 21-17 Buccaneers 0:16, 2nd quarter
The half is not over in Buffalo! Stirling Shephard catches a perfect throw deep down the left for 24 yards putting the Bucs near midfield.
TOUCHDOWN! Giants 13-13 Packers 1:11, 2nd quarter
Jordan Love is back in for Green Bay. But before that Devin Singletary ran in for his second touchdown of the day from two yards out to tie it up in New York.
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 21-17 Buccaneers 0:36, 2nd quarter
It is Ty Johnson’s turn to hit the afterburners! The veteran running back catches the short pass out left and just goes and goes and goes. No one is catching him, he is outta here for the 52-yard touchdown! Nothing beats a shootout, does it?
PICK! Vikings 3-10 Bears 0:35, 2nd quarter
McCarthy’s day just keeps getting rougher. He is picked off in the end zone after going for it all. The ball is slightly under thrown ut the cornerback Nahshon Wright just jumps higher than Jordan Addison. Amazing play by Wright. JJ is now 9/18 for 73 yards, no TDs and two picks.
TOUCHDOWN! Giants 7-13 Packers 2:00, 2nd quarter
Missed this one but the Packers backups are doing just fine in New York. Emmanuel Wilson hit an 11-yard run to give Green Bay the lead on the road.
G-men are driving now in the red zone. Can Jameis Winston put the Giants back on top?
It’s GOOD! Vikings 3-10 Bears 2:00, 2nd quarter
Chicago have to settle for the field goal. Cairos Santoss bangs it through from 38 yards.
TOUCHDOWN! Falcons 21-7 Panthers 7:51, 2nd quarter
Carolina really struggling now. They have conceded three scores in succession as this time Tyler Algeier bangs in from one yard out. I said there was no one better than Bijan but his mate Tyler would probably be your second choice. That was his first carry of the day too. Generous. Bijan has 75 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns.
PICK! Vikings 3-7 Bears 3:45, 2nd quarter
After a good start JJ McCarthy is picked off at midfield. The quarterback massively under-throws Justin Jefferson and Kevin Byard says thank you very much. The Bears take over with only 25 yards to go after Byard runs for another 24.
PICK! Bills 14-17 Buccaneers 5:17, 2nd quarter
Allen is picked off again! Only this one is a little less on him. Again the Bucs pass rush apply the pressure and Allen lets it go. Tykee Smith gets his hand in and pops up the ball before it reaches Dawson Knox then SirVocea Dennis (double checks spelling …) yes, SirVocea Dennis makes the interception.
Any Busta Rhymes fans in? I guess Allen made the Pass to SirVocea …
TOUCHDOWN! Vikings 3-7 Bears 4:55, 2nd quarter
Rookie runner Kyle Monangai gets the goal line carry and finishes it off up the middle to give the Bears the lead. Very dink and dunk drive there. 15 plays, 74 yards, 8min 25sec. Not a single play for over 10 yards. Methodical.
TOUCHDOWN! Jaguars 14-3 Chargers 3:37, 2nd quarter
Travis Etienne scampers home from two yards to extend the lead for the Jaguars.
Bills 14-17 Buccaneers 5:37, 2nd quarter
Buffalo’s shoddy run defense breaks in a big spot to give that one up. Tampa Bay already have 111 yards on the ground.
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 14-17 Buccaneers 5:37, 2nd quarter
And Sean Tucker rips off every single one of them on the very next play. The running back finds the edge and takes off down the right sideline for the 43-yard touchdown. What a game we have here!
Bills 14-10 Buccaneers 5:58, 2nd quarter
The Bucs are back at midfield after some punishing runs by Rachaad White. He even stiff armed his own teammate Egbuka there on his way for a 1st down.
On the next set the wheels come off a touch as Egbuka drops an easy ball then a short pass is blown up behind the line. On 3rd and 12 Mayfield hits a wide open Stirling Shepherd to move the sticks. 45 yards to go.
Giants 7-6 Packers 12:44, 2nd quarter
More unfortunate news for the Packers. Star running back Josh Jacobs has exited the field with an injury joining QB Jordan Love.
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 14-10 Buccaneers 8:52, 2nd quarter
What a throw from the reining MVP. On 3rd down at midfield Allen starts dancing around the pocket to buy time and he just keeps shuffling hither and thither until he sees Tyrell Shavers open deep in the left corner of the end zone. The receiver falls away to his left and just hangs on for the 43-yard score.
TOUCHDOWN! Falcons 14-7 Panthers 7:51, 2nd quarter
Bijan Robinson bangs in his second touchdown of the day on the goal line. No one better in that position. Fantasy owners rejoice!
TOUCHDOWN! Giants 7-6 Packers 13:54, 2nd quarter
Big news in the Big Apple. Jordan Love is out for the Packers but never fear Malik Willis is here. The backup tosses a one-yard strike to Christian Watson to level it. Extra point sails wide right
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 7-10 Buccaneers 12:00, 2nd quarter
The Bucs get cute in the redzone on 1st down and lose four yards on a jet sweep. Baker then recovers the lost yards with a scramble. On 3rd down Rachaad White takes a short pass and fights tooth and nail and comes up just short. Inches to go on 4th down. Baker keeps it … TOUCHDOWN. He leaps up and over the defender and flies in for the score. Swashbuckler.
Vikings 3-0 Bears 1:08, 1st quarter
Bears struggling on offense. They fumble it backwards for a 15-yard loss and almost end up in their own end zone. Fortunately Caleb Williams finds Rome Odunze for 24 yards on a deep ball the very next play. 3rd and one incoming.
TOUCHDOWN! Jaguars 7-3 Chargers 0:48, 1st quarter
Bhayshul Tuten bangs in a four-yard run to give the Jags the lead as they try to bounce back from last week’s shocker to the Texans.
Bills 7-3 Buccaneers 0:45, 1st quarter
Baker Mayfield is fired up. He sprints upfield on the keeper and bangs into the defender with what I believe was a large flex after popping up from the 13-yard run. The Bucs have 25 yards to go.
It’s GOOD! Vikings 3-0 Bears 2:10, 1st quarter
So unlucky! McCarthy just overthrows Jefferson on 3rd down and his man still bobbles it once … twice but just can’t quite hold on. Will Reichard makes the 31-yard kick.
Vikings 0-0 Bears 4:11, 1st quarter
Minnesota are driving again and find themselves in enemy territory. Some nice running from Aaron Jones sets up the pass who slings it 18 yards to Justin Jefferson. They are in the red zone.
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 7-3 Buccaneers 4:09, 1st quarter
Buffalo snatch the lead back. Davis is back in the mix on the goal line but drops this time in a very similar quick pass in traffic. Allen says never mind, tucks it and bursts over to get the home fans buzzing.
TOUCHDOWN! Falcons 7-7 Panthers 3:33, 1st quarter
Bijan Robinson hits back quickly for Atlanta to level it for the Falcons with a four-yard dash.
Bills 0-3 Buccaneers 7:13, 1st quarter
Buffalo go for it on 4th down and get it after Allen almost turns it over again. Excellent catch in traffic by the lesser-spotted Gabe Davis to move the chains.
TOUCHDOWN! Steelers 7-6 Bengals 5:19, 1st quarter
Joe Flacco hits his favourite receiver Tee Higgins with a deep strike for the 28-yard touchdown. Another shootout brewing? Cinci took the one earlier in the season 33-31 in Flacco’s debut as a Bengal.
Vikings 0-0 Bears 8:00, 1st quarter
Another deep passing play goes awry for the Vikings as Jordan Addison drops a perfect pass for what would have been a walk-in touchdown. Punt.
TOUCHDOWN! Falcons 0-7 Panthers 5:25, 1st quarter
Tetairoa McMillan reels in a seven-yard grab from Bryce Young to put the Panthers up on the road against their rivals.
It’s GOOD! Bills 0-3 Buccaneers 9:45, 1st quarter
Buffalo’s defense bail Allen out with some excellent coverage to keep Emeka Egbuka from making a touchdown grab on 3rd down. Chase McLaughlin kicks the 23-yard chip shot to give the Bucs the lead.
PICK! Bills 0-0 Buccaneers 9:51, 1st quarter
Huge early moment in Buffalo as Josh Allen throws up a chest pass out of his own end zone and it is PICKED off. What a play by the pass rush to pressure Allen into the mistake and then Jacob Parrish to haul it in. The Bucs are 1st and Goal!!!
TOUCHDOWN! Giants 7-0 Packers 10:35, 1st quarter
Devin Singletary gives the Giants the lead with a five-yard touchdown run. Nice.
TOUCHDOWN! Steelers 7-0 Bengals 10:12, 1st quarter
In the AFC North slugfest Aaron Rodgers dumps it off to Kenneth Gainwell for an 11-yard touchdown.
Vikings 0-0 Bears 10:26, 1st quarter
McCarthy is even more off target on 3rd and 3 as he wildly misses Justin Jefferson. The receiver again was open. Some early nerves on show for the QB on his fifth start. Punt.
Vikings 0-0 Bears 11:08, 1st quarter
“You wanna get the juices flowing,” says Tom Brady on JJ McCarthy easing into Minnesota’s opening drive on offense as the QB completes a short pass. They hit some play action but McCarthy is off target as he throws deep to an open Jordan Addison.
Bills 0-0 Buccaneers 12:13, 1st quarter
We are underway in Buffalo! Tampa run it on first and third down and move those chains then again on the next play as Rachaad White breaks off a 12-yard dash. You would think there will be a lot more of that after Miami racked up 197 yards on the ground against the Bills last week.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to week 11 football fans! The best day of the week is back only this time … it’s personal. Yes, they know what they did and the bill has come due, so get ready for an ultimate marathon of score settling. We have eight matchups across the slate (four in this window) between divisional rivals* that begin at 12pm CST/1pm EST/6pm GMT (home teams listed first) with:
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(3-6) Atlanta Falcons v Carolina Panthers (5-5)*
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(6-3) Buffalo Bills v Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3)
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(5-4) Jacksonville Jaguars v Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)
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(4-5) Minnesota Vikings v Chicago Bears (6-3)*
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(2-8) New York Giants v Green Bay Packers (5-3-1)
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(5-4) Pittsburgh Steelers v Cincinnati Bengals (3-6)*
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(1-8) Tennessee Titans v Houston Texans (4-5)*
The highlight comes in the NFC North crunch encounter between Minnesota and Chicago. The Bears roll into town joint-top with an eye on a first playoff appearance since the 2020 season while the Vikings need a win to avoid slipping away from contention.
Earlier in the season these two wrapped week one on Monday Night Football as JJ McCarthy did very little on his first NFL start until he did a whole lot in the final quarter leading an epic Minnesota comeback from 17-6 down to win 27-24. If the second-year quarterback can find his groove a little earlier in the contest at home then Minnesota’s tough defense will be hopeful they can finish the job with a vital victory for their own playoff hopes.
Elsewhere, the SQC (Swashbuckling Quarterback Club) is having its AGM in Orchard Park this weekend so naturally the Bills and Bucs are going at it in western New York. The QBs in question Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield lead teams aiming for deep runs in January though both will be eager to rebound from painful defeats last week. Expect Tampa to test Buffalo’s sub-par run defense early.
Let’s go!
