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NFL: Week 11 Previews

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Green Bay Packers (6-3) at Chicago Bears (4-5), 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Green Bay hopes to roar out of the bye week and keep its dominance of the Bears on trend. Head coach Matt LaFleur is 10-0 against the Bears and counterpart Matt Eberflus is 0-4 in his career against the Packers. Since their bye week, the Bears played three games and dipped from 4-2 and contender conversation to hot water, dropping all three games with a total of 27 points. Eberflus made a change at offensive coordinator and promoted Thomas Brown to the play-caller role. While a yo-yo of personnel contributed, Chicago hasn’t been committed to running the ball — 43 attempts in the past two games — compared to the Packers, who have games with 53, 37, 38 and 39 rushes. In turn, No. 1 pick Caleb Williams has been sacked 15 times with zero TDs the past two games. The Bears will know where they stand in the NFC North division by the end of the month. Sunday is the first division game for the Bears. They host the Vikings (7-2) next week and spend Thanksgiving with the Lions (8-1).

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8) at Detroit Lions (8-1), 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Aaron Glenn has been masterful in helping Detroit rack up nothing but wins since Week 2. One prized pupil is hybrid defensive back Brian Branch, a playmaker and the heartbeat of the group since Aidan Hutchinson (knee) was lost for the season. Branch is the only player in the league with 25-plus passes defensed and 10 tackles for loss since the start of 2023. He’ll get in on the assignments of slowing a two-headed monster at running back with Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby, while also trying to prevent rookie WR Brian Thomas from getting behind the defense. Backup QB Mac Jones makes another start with Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) banged up. Jones passed for 111 yards last week. The Lions found a way to win with Jared Goff at his season’s worst — five interceptions — in Week 10. He passed for 340 yards and two TDs in his last game against the Jaguars. No. 1 WR Amon-Ra St. Brown is going for his eighth consecutive game with a TD catch.

Las Vegas Raiders (2-7) at Miami Dolphins (3-6), 1 p.m. ET, CBS

With one tackle for loss, Raiders DE Maxx Crosby would become the third player in since 2000 with 100 TFLs, and he notched a sack in the last go-round with Miami. He’s the menace in the trenches that worries Miami the most, even as the Dolphins are finding success with the short passing game and explosive RB De’Von Achane. The Raiders are searching for answers that didn’t come from Luke Getsy, the offensive coordinator fired before Las Vegas took a bye in Week 10 to get new play-caller Scott Turner and his more prominent dad, Norv Turner, comfortable with existing personnel. QB Gardner Minshew received a soft endorsement from head coach Antonio Pierce — “what do we have to lose, we’re 2-7” — and starts again after being replaced by Desmond Ridder in a blowout loss at Cincinnati before the bye.

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Los Angeles Rams (4-5) at New England Patriots (3-7), 1 p.m., FOX

Rookie QB Drake Maye awakened Demario Douglas and Ja’Lynn Polk, who were nonfactors during Jacoby Brissett’s run as the Patriots’ starter to begin the season. But the Patriots aren’t fully weaponized relative to their opposition Sunday. Matt Stafford has 25-plus completions in three games in a row because of the dynamic route-runners outside, Puka Nacua (9-98 last week vs. Miami) and Cooper Kupp (7-80). Bell-cow RB Kyren Williams is tied for third in the NFL with 10 total touchdowns to maintain offensive balance. Blocking in front of Stafford might have coach Sean McVay perspiring. New England’s DE Deatrich Wise and LB Anfernee Jennings both had two sacks at Chicago last week and DE Keion White is among the league leaders in snap-to-pressure time based on advanced metrics analysis. New England had nine total sacks in Week 10, when Stafford went down four times.

Cleveland Browns (2-7) at New Orleans Saints (3-7), 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Jameis Winston knows his way around New Orleans, and the former Saints quarterback who previously started for division rival Tampa Bay comes to town trying to keep Cleveland out of the NFL cellar. The Browns are one of four AFC teams with two wins. Injuries on the offensive line and the switches at QB and wide receiver have made for a disjointed outfit in Cleveland. The Saints ended a seven-game losing streak in their first game under interim head coach Darren Rizzi last week, a 20-17 surprise takedown of NFC South-leading Atlanta. QB Derek Carr connected for two touchdowns with WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling. New Orleans allowed more than 400 yards for the fourth time this season, including 181 rushing yards, which is sure to catch the attention of Browns play-caller Ken Dorsey. Dorsey doesn’t mind close games and wants to distribute the weight of the offense away from Winston’s shoulders to RB Nick Chubb.

Indianapolis Colts (4-6) at New York Jets (3-7), 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Playoffs? The Colts are still thinking postseason and reversed their decision at quarterback as coach Shane Steichen pushed the reset button on second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. Steichen sat Richardson days after a 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans on Oct. 27. Richardson not only struggled with accuracy in that game (10-of-32 passing), he tapped out in exhaustion before a key third-down play in the second half. The wake-up call the Colts desired didn’t come from Joe Flacco, who helped steer the Browns to the playoffs after signing in November. Flacco threw a combined four interceptions in losses to Minnesota and Buffalo, including a pick-six in last week’s 30-20 setback to the Bills on Indianapolis’ first play of the game. The Jets’ defense can make life difficult for Richardson, who has completed only 44.4 percent of his 133 passes for 958 yards with four touchdowns and seven interceptions. He’s rushed for 242 yards, second on the team, but has fumbled six times in six games. Which Jets team will show up Sunday afternoon is the mystery. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich summarized the defensive effort at Arizona last week saying he saw a “criminal, egregious amount” of missed tackles. Aaron Rodgers continues as the New York quarterback but the 31-6 loss at Arizona was a dud. Rodgers had 151 yards on 22-of-35 passing but lost 23 yards while taking three sacks.

Baltimore Ravens (7-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2), 1 p.m. ET, CBS

For the first time this season the Steelers are staring across the line at an AFC North division opponent and first place is up for grabs when the Ravens come calling. Two new faces make their introduction in the storied rivalry. The Steelers roll out QB Russell Wilson and the Ravens yank the curtain to shine the spotlight on RB Derrick Henry, the NFL’s No. 2 rusher (1,120 yards, 12 TDs) who has a league-leading TD streak of 11 games. The Ravens lead the NFL in total offense (440.2 yards per game). Baltimore is the third team ever with 20-plus points and 375-plus total yards in each of its first 10 games of season. The full story there is the Ravens can’t afford to take their foot off the accelerator because their defense has been user-friendly. The Steelers are giving up only 16.2 points per game, second in the NFL, and have had the number of Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, 1-3 all-time as a starting quarterback against the Steelers.

Minnesota Vikings (7-2) at Tennessee Titans (2-7), 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Why is Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell on the defensive about his quarterback? Sam Darnold is three TDs shy of his first NFL season with 20 touchdowns, but he’s already at 10 interceptions after tossing three last week in a palm-sweat performance against the Jaguars. The Vikings won (12-7), and O’Connell said the focus should be on the result. Darnold does have multiple TD passes in three of four starts on the road for the Vikings and the Titans have proven capable of playing the role of easy prey. They’ve lost four of the past five games and are 1-3 in Nashville this season. Sunday provides another chance for the Titans to determine whether Will Levis can be the long-term solution at quarterback. He has seven touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2024 but unlike Darnold, there’s no Justin Jefferson to turn to when times are tough. Tony Pollard leads the Titans with 666 rushing yards and three touchdowns but has been hindered by a foot injury. Calvin Ridley is the team’s No. 1 wide receiver with 32 catches for 483 yards and three scores. Jefferson leads the Vikings with 53 receptions for 831 yards and five TDs.

Atlanta Falcons (6-4) at Denver Broncos (5-5), 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS

If Broncos rookie RB Audric Estime can hold onto the football, he’s likely to assume a leading role in Denver’s youth movement. Estime had a career-high 53 rushing yards last week and Javonte Williams has yet to leave the runway in what some projected to be a breakout season. The Falcons are doing just fine with a timeshare between Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier behind Kirk Cousins in the backfield. Robinson is one of three NFC backs with 1,000 yards from scrimmage already in 2024 and can challenge the Broncos’ underappreciated front seven. Denver’s offense needs more of a spark. The Broncos mustered only 260 total yards in last week’s 16-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, when Will Lutz’s 35-yard field goal attempt was blocked as time expired. The week prior, Denver managed only 10 points against a Baltimore defense that had been torched all season.

Seattle Seahawks (4-5) at San Francisco 49ers (5-4), 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

QB Brock Purdy had a season-high 353 passing yards last week in Christian McCaffrey’s first game of the season. McCaffrey returns to Levi’s Stadium on Sunday for the first time since January as the 49ers attempt to break up the logjam in the NFC West. McCaffrey has seven touchdowns and an average of 168.4 yards from scrimmage in seven career games against the Seahawks and WR Deebo Samuel averages a TD per game against Seattle. WR DK Metcalf plans to return from a knee injury this week with Seattle coming out of its bye week. The Seahawks have lost five of six games since a 3-0 start. Sagging defensive numbers are not encouraging with McCaffrey in the 49ers’ lineup. In the 12-point defeat by San Francisco on Oct. 10, the Seahawks allowed a season-worst 228 rushing yards and 6.9 yards per carry to a 49ers’ attack powered by Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo.

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Kansas City Chiefs (9-0) at Buffalo Bills (8-2), 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

At Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium for a matchup of AFC frontrunners and division leaders, the KC Chiefs put their highwire act on display and go for a 10-0 start and 16th consecutive win dating to last season. QB Patrick Mahomes is 4-3 against Josh Allen and the Bills, averaging 289.1 passing yards per game with 16 total touchdowns in seven career starts including the playoffs. Mahomes might have his best detail of skill players yet this season with JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) pegged to play alongside De’Andre Hopkins for the first time. With seven of nine wins coming in one-possession games this season, the Chiefs do have one cause for concern with the third-most reliable kicker in NFL history, Harrison Butker, landing on IR with a knee injury. Untested 25-year-old rookie Spencer Shrader could be called upon in a tight game Sunday in his K.C. debut. Buffalo claimed the past three regular-season games in the series, all of which were played in Kansas City. And the Bills can still tap into a revenge factor. The eventual repeat Super Bowl champion Chiefs eliminated the Bills in the AFC divisional playoffs 27-24 at Buffalo in January. The Bills rank third in points per game (29) — the Chiefs average 24.3 — and Allen didn’t throw two picks in a game until a win over the Indianapolis Colts last week. Buffalo leads the NFL in turnover margin at plus-13. And the Bills bring a respectable defense of their own. The group is allowing just 19.3 points per game and has 19 takeaways, the latter figure ranking second in the league.

-Field Level Media

Ravens Make Statement to Niners, NFL

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SANTA CLARA – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Lamar Jackson threw for 252 yards and two third-quarter touchdowns while the Baltimore Ravens intercepted San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy four times in a 33-19 win Monday night in California.

Baltimore (12-3) entered as a 6 1/2-point underdog in a matchup of the top teams in their conferences, and the visitors overcame a slow start. Jackson decisively outplayed Purdy in a matchup of the quarterbacks considered by many to be the top candidates for Most Valuable Player.

Jackson, who completed 23 of 35 passes, turned a four-point game at the half into a rout with scoring strikes of 6 and 9 yards to Nelson Agholor and Zay Flowers, respectively, in an 18-second span early in the third.

The result means Baltimore can clinch the AFC North and the top seed in the conference Sunday with a home win over the AFC East-leading Miami Dolphins.

Purdy hit on 18 of 32 attempts for 255 yards before leaving during a fourth-quarter touchdown drive with a stinger in his neck. Sam Darnold replaced him and finished the drive with a 12-yard touchdown strike to Ronnie Bell but later tossed the team’s fifth interception of the night. Christian McCaffrey rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.

Raiders 20, Chiefs 14

Bilal Nichols and Jack Jones scored defensive touchdowns seven seconds apart in the second quarter to lead Las Vegas to an upset of host Kansas City, preventing the Chiefs from clinching the AFC West for the eighth straight season.

Zamir White rushed for a career-high 145 yards on 22 carries as Las Vegas (7-8) remained alive in the AFC West race. Patrick Mahomes completed 27 of 44 passes for 235 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Kansas City (9-6).

The Raiders’ first touchdown came when Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco took a direct snap but botched a handoff to Mahomes. Nichols picked up the ball and went 8 yards for the score with 4:55 left in the half. On the next offensive play, Jones jumped an out route, easily picked off Mahomes and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown.

Eagles 33, Giants 25

Jake Elliott kicked four field goals and host Philadelphia scored 13 points in the fourth quarter en route to a victory over New York.

The Eagles (11-4) moved a game in front of the Dallas Cowboys (10-5) atop the NFC East. Jalen Hurts threw for a TD and rushed for another for Philadelphia. He completed 24 of 38 passes for 301 yards and was picked off once.

Tyrod Taylor connected with Darius Slayton for a 69-yard scoring strike to pull the Giants (5-10) within 30-25. Taylor took over under center for Tommy DeVito, who was benched to start the second half. Taylor finished with 133 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 7-for-16 passing. DeVito was 9 of 16 for 55 yards.

–Field Level Media

NFL Christmas Day Games

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MINNEAPOLIS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Detroit Lions control their own destiny and can clinch the NFC North when they play the Minnesota Vikings this afternoon and the San Francisco 49ers will host the Baltimore Ravens in a possible Super Bowl LVIII match-up on Christmas night in Week 16 games in the National Football League.The New England Patriots travel to Denver to face the Broncos in a game reminiscent of days gone by when Tom Brady faced Peyton Manning in AFC Championship games.

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Indianapolis Colts (8-6) at Atlanta Falcons (6-8): The clock is ticking on Falcons coach Arthur Smith. While Falcons owner Arthur Blank said this week he would wait until after the season to make a decision on Smith’s future with the team, a loss to the NFL-worst Panthers has him on alert. Atlanta quarterback Desmond Ridder connected on 12 of 20 passes for 152 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Even considering the rainy conditions, that wasn’t good enough, which is why Smith is making a QB change for the third time this year, ping-ponging back to Taylor Heinicke. A former Washington Commanders starter, Heinicke took over for Ridder prior to the Falcons’ Week 9 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and started a Week 10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals before Smith went back to Ridder. In Indianapolis, Gardner Minshew has gone 6-4 as the starter, including a 30-13 home win over Pittsburgh last week that made the Colts 5-1 in their past six games and forged a three-way tie in the division. The Colts have dominated the all-time series against Atlanta, posting 15 wins in 17 games.

Green Bay Packers (6-8) at Carolina Panthers (2-12): Spoilers as the season runs its course, the Panthers shoot for a two-game winning streak as playoff-minded Green Bay arrives for Sunday afternoon’s game, with the Packers knowing another loss likely ends any postseason prayer they have left. “You’re being introduced to adversity and there’s two ways you’re going to respond to it,” Green Bay linebacker Quay Walker said. “You’re either going to lay down or you’re going to get up.” After a three-game winning streak that included victories against division leaders Detroit and Kansas City, the Packers suffered defeats to the New York Giants and Tampa Bay to put their postseason prospects in jeopardy. The Panthers secured their second victory of the season last week by topping visiting Atlanta 9-7, knocking the Falcons out of their share of first place in the NFC South. For Green Bay, a loss in Charlotte could be similarly devastating.

Cleveland Browns (9-5) at Houston Texans (8-6): Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud’s absence proved glaring for the Texans last week even in a 19-16 overtime win. The victory kept them in the thick of the AFC playoff picture in advance of their showdown with the visiting Browns on Sunday. But Stroud remains in concussion protocol, unlikely to play this week. Houston’s defense — operating without top rookie Will Anderson Jr. — helped pick up the slack with seven sacks. They’ll be asked to carry the load once more and face a Browns offensive line besieged by injuries. The Browns have gotten mileage from their veteran backup signal caller, the fourth QB to start for Cleveland in 2023, in Joe Flacco. He passed for 374 yards last week and has a security blanket with his own defense. The Browns are fifth in the AFC playoff picture and ascending behind a stifling defense that ranks first in yielding just 158.9 passing yards per game. One pressing challenge for the Browns: reversing a trend where their last three losses have been on the road.

Detroit Lions (10-4) at Minnesota Vikings (7-7): One more win and the Lions clinch their first division title in 30 years. The first-place Lions have three games remaining — two against the second-place Vikings. They’ll get their first shot at clinching the NFC North championship on Sunday afternoon, when they take on the Vikings in Minneapolis. “We control our own destiny as it pertains to winning the division, no matter what happens (elsewhere),” coach Dan Campbell said. “We win (Sunday) and we win the division. We’re in (the playoffs) and we get a home game. That’s right where I want to be.” Minnesota can remain in the chase for the division with a victory on Sunday and improve its chances of a wild card. They currently hold the sixth seed in the NFC. The Lions bounced back from a 28-13 road loss to Chicago on Dec. 10 with a resounding 42-17 victory over the Denver Broncos on Saturday night. Jared Goff tied his career high with five touchdown passes. Detroit didn’t commit a turnover against the ball-hawking Broncos after six giveaways in losses to Green Bay and Chicago. Goff has been intercepted 10 times and lost two fumbles this season but Campbell doesn’t want him to play tight. That’s true of the Vikings and their fourth starting QB this season, Nick Mullens, who is making his second consecutive start. Mullens threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns but also was intercepted twice in a 27-24 overtime loss to Cincinnati on Saturday. Vikings RB Ty Chandler is coming off a 132-yard rushing performance filling in for injured Alexander Mattison.

Washington Commanders (4-10) at New York Jets (5-9): Aaron Rodgers is on the active roster but joins Zach Wilson as a probable gameday inactive on Sunday. With that dose of truth, down goes one of the few intriguing storylines left for the only matchup in Week 16 between teams already eliminated from the NFL postseason as the Commanders come to New Jersey. Wilson remains in concussion protcol after being injured during New York’s 30-0 loss Sunday to the Miami Dolphins. Veteran Trevor Siemian steps in and becomes the fourth different QB to start for the Jets this season. The shutout loss to Miami included a season-low 103 total yards for the Jets with a combined four turnovers and six sacks from their quarterbacks. The Jets are gaining the fewest yards (255.1 per game) of any team in the league. But if there’s a defense they can thrive against, it’s a Commanders unit that has given up more yards (384.5) and points (30.2) per game than any team in the NFL. During their current five-game losing streak, opposing receivers running wide open have been a familiar sight for the Commanders, including last week in a 28-20 loss to the Rams when Cooper Kupp went uncovered on a 62-yard touchdown catch.

Seattle Seahawks (7-7) at Tennessee Titans (5-9): The way rookie quarterback Will Levis sees it, if he can walk onto the field Sunday, he wants to start. Levis suffered a sprained left ankle in overtime of the Titans’ 19-16 overtime loss at Houston last week, a defeat that officially eliminated Tennessee from playoff contention. Levis, the 33rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, is 3-5 as Tennessee’s starter since taking over for the injured Ryan Tannehill in mid-October. Levis was absent from practice on Thursday. Coach Mike Vrabel said Tannehill would start if Levis is unable to play with an ankle injury the coach said was very similar to the issue that first sent Tannehill to the bench eight weeks ago. The Titans, who are starting two rookies on the left side of their offensive line and are down to a third starter at right tackle, allowed seven sacks last week. RB Derrick Henry, a two-time NFL rushing champion, had his worst game as a pro with just 9 yards on 16 carries. The Seahawks expect QB Geno Smith to return from a groin injury after backup Drew Lock rallied them to a 20-17 victory against visiting Philadelphia on Monday night. Lock threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba with 28 seconds left to cap a 92-yard drive that breathed life into Seattle’s postseason chances. The Seahawks snapped a four-game losing streak last week and are among a bevy of teams with .500 records vying for the conference’s final two playoff berths.

Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7): Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence made a late push to make his 51st consecutive start after four days in concussion protocol and needed only final clearance to board the team charter to Tampa on Saturday. Winners of three in a row, the Buccaneers have the advantage of the holiday home game in hoping to deal a fifth straight loss to their Sunshine State neighbors. “Momentum is coming with winning,” Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said. “The urgency is there. We know we have to win out to get to the playoffs; that’s been our mindset since we played Carolina (a 21-18 win on Dec. 3). That’s our mindset this week, as well, against a good Jacksonville team.” Baker Mayfield was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 381 yards and four touchdowns in Tampa Bay’s 34-20 road victory over the Green Bay Packers last Sunday. While the Bucs’ winning ways have kept them tied with the New Orleans Saints atop the NFC South, the Jaguars’ slump has allowed the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans to pull even in the AFC South. Lawrence’s status was in question after he was placed in concussion protocol following last Sunday’s 23-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Lawrence has started every game since he was selected with the top overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. If he can’t start, veteran backup C.J. Beathard will.

Arizona Cardinals (3-11) at Chicago Bears (5-9): Chicago has won its last three games at Soldier Field, toppling the Las Vegas Raiders, Panthers and Lions, and the Bears are looking to bounce back after a 20-17 loss on the road last week against the Cleveland Browns. Big-picture plots include the future of QB Justin Fields. He has three more games to show Chicago’s front office and coaching staff why he deserves to keep the starting job heading into next season. Fields has completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season, and he has rushed for 488 yards and a pair of scores. Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon said his team faced a tough task in stopping Fields. “Here’s what I know about him,” Gannon said. “He can make every throw on the field when it’s cold and rainy in Chicago, like it’s going to be. Wind doesn’t matter because he’s got a huge arm. He’s extremely mobile. He’s hard to tackle. His extension of plays is very productive.” Cardinals Kyler Murray is set to make his sixth start since returning from injury. The 26-year-old Murray has completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 1,075 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. He has rushed for 155 yards and three scores. Murray takes on a Bears’ pass defense torched for 374 yards by Joe Flacco and the Browns last week. The Cardinals’ top receiving target is tight end Trey McBride, who has 66 catches for 712 yards and two touchdowns. Wideout Marquise Brown has 51 catches for 574 yards and four touchdowns, but his status is in question because of a heel injury.

Dallas Cowboys (10-4) at Miami Dolphins (10-4): Dallas looks unbeatable at home. Taking the show on the road is proving to be more than the Cowboys can handle. Dallas is perfect in seven home games, but that level of play isn’t translating away from home. The Cowboys were pushed all over the field in the 31-10 loss to Buffalo and allowed 266 rushing yards. The nature of the beating disturbed Dallas coach Mike McCarthy. “That’s the message,” McCarthy said. “We play so well at home, and there’s just too big of a gap on the road, and we’re conscious of it. We got to be better than this.” Dallas was pummeled 42-10 by the host San Francisco 49ers. The Cowboys’ other road losses are to the Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles. The Dolphins hold a two-game lead over the Bills in the AFC East but quarterback Tua Tagovailoa also is dealing with a narrative he doesn’t like. Though he has passed for 3,921 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, the talk is that Tagovailoa is performing with All-Pro level seasons from WR Tyreek Hill and RB Raheem Mostert. Hill missed last weekend’s 30-0 rout of the New York Jets with an ankle injury he sustained during a 28-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 11. Hill played less than half the game against the Titans and Tagovailoa didn’t have a touchdown pass. Hill leads the NFL with 1,542 yards and also has 97 catches and 12 TDs, and Mostert has scored 20 times. Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb is having a sensational season with 107 receptions for 1,306 yards and eight touchdowns. He needs nine catches to break the single-season franchise record set by Hall of Fame member Michael Irvin in 1995. Dallas had won the past four meetings against the Dolphins, the most recent being a 31-6 home victory in 2019.

New England Patriots (3-11) at Denver Broncos (7-7): The Patriots and Broncos are nearly 10 years removed from the final regular season meeting that pitted Tom Brady against Peyton Manning. New England won that game 43-21 on Nov. 2, 2014, behind four passing touchdowns from Brady. If Sunday night’s clash between Denver and the visiting Patriots proves anything, it might just be how much truly can change over the course of a decade. Both offenses have fallen far from the perch they sat atop nine years ago, with New England’s decline especially evident. The Patriots are averaging a league-worst 13.3 points per game following last Sunday’s 27-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Denver sported the least explosive offense of the 2022 campaign (16.9 points per game), but Sean Payton, in his first season as Broncos coach, has started to turn things around. A winner of six of its past eight games, the Broncos are averaging 21.7 points under Payton. Patriots coach Bill Belichick called QB Russell Wilson a “unique player.” He was relatively quiet against Detroit, completing 18 of 32 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown. Wilson was also shown getting laid into by Payton on the sideline late in the third quarter after a Denver TD was nullified because of an offensive offside penalty. Payton said he is making sure no negative feelings from that altercation — or the loss itself — spill over into Sunday’s meeting with the Patriots.

Monday NFL Capsules

Las Vegas Raiders (6-8) at Kansas City Chiefs (9-5): The Chiefs don’t resemble a formidable football team with three games remaining in the regular season. Last season’s MVP, Patrick Mahomes, insists there is still time to get into top form. Kansas City is just one victory away from clinching its eighth straight AFC West title as it enters a Monday contest against the Raiders. The Chiefs can clinch if they tie the Raiders and the Broncos lose to the Patriots on Sunday. “You always want to be playing your best football going into the playoffs,” Mahomes said. “Let’s put that complete game together. I think if we can do that and start getting better and better these last few games, we can get to the playoffs and be playing our best football. Then I think the AFC is wide open and we’ll be able to go out there and try to find a way to get to the Super Bowl.” Kansas City enters the weekend with the third-best record in the AFC behind the Baltimore Ravens (11-3) and the Miami Dolphins (10-4). Standing in their way is a Las Vegas squad that set a franchise record for points with a 63-21 steamrolling of the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 14 to start Week 15. Kansas City posted a 31-17 road win over the Raiders on Nov. 26 for their 18th victory in the past 21 meetings. Mahomes passed for 298 yards and two touchdowns. Las Vegas is well-rested and should be full of confidence after the wipeout of the Chargers that included a team-record 63 points. Las Vegas led 42-0 at halftime and scored the first 49 points. Rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell passed for 248 yards and a career-best four touchdowns, and the defense forced five Los Angeles turnovers.

New York Giants (5-9) at Philadelphia Eagles (10-4): The Eagles know what they want for Christmas: a three-game winning streak to erase their current three-game losing streak. The upcoming schedule offers two games with the rival Giants. Even though his Eagles are 0-3 this December, scoring fewer than 20 points in all three setbacks, coach Nick Sirianni said there’s no reason to panic. The team has not lost confidence in quarterback Jalen Hurts, whose 12 interceptions are twice his 2022 total. Since the start of November, Hurts has more rushing touchdowns (eight) than passing scores (six). Hurts (542 rushing yards) and D’Andre Swift (896 rushing yards, four TDs) will be facing a Giants defense that ranks 29th against the run, allowing 131.6 yards per game. A New York offense led by undrafted rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito squares off against a leaky Eagles defense that is allowing 24.4 points (26th in the NFL) and 255.4 passing yards (28th) per game. While Philadelphia’s losing streak continued with a 20-17 defeat at Seattle on Monday, DeVito and New York had a three-game winning streak snapped with Sunday’s 24-6 loss at New Orleans. DeVito has played at Las Vegas, Dallas, Washington and New Orleans since replacing the injured Daniel Jones in Week 9, but he hasn’t experienced anything like the reception awaiting him in the City of Brotherly Love. Asked if he enjoyed playing the role of villain, DeVito answered with his customary swagger. “It’s fun,” he said. “It’s part of the game. I like a hostile crowd.” The Eagles won’t have Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson following thumb surgery, but right guard Cam Jurgens (pectoral) was a full participant Thursday after missing Monday’s loss in Seattle.

Baltimore Ravens (11-3) at San Francisco 49ers (11-3): A possible Super Bowl preview on Christmas night matches two primo MVP candidates. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is enjoying his best season since 2019, when he threw for 36 touchdowns and ran for 1,206 yards in an MVP season. His completion percentage is a career-high 66.3 percent. He has thrown for 17 touchdowns, and he has a chance to finish with 1,000 yards on the ground for the third time in his career. Baltimore’s defense wants to make teams one-dimensional, but San Francisco’s scheme consistently has avoided that trap. 49ers QB Brock Purdy has completed 69.8 percent of his attempts for 3,795 yards and a league-high 29 touchdowns with only seven interceptions to date this season, the general of a top-five offensive team in points, rushing yards and passing yards. He credits supporting star power such as RB Christian McCaffrey, who has a league-leading 1,292 rushing yards and 57 catches for 509 yards. McCaffrey accounted for 187 yards from scrimmage last week in a 45-29 win at Arizona that allowed San Francisco to clinch the NFC West title. He caught two of Purdy’s four touchdown passes. The Ravens have won five of seven meetings between the teams, including a 20-17 decision four years ago in Baltimore. The franchises’ most famous matchup was the Ravens’ 34-31 win in Super Bowl XLVII after the 2012 season.

–Field Level Media

NFL: Patriots v Broncos, Not the Same

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DENVER – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The New England Patriots and Denver Broncos are nearly 10 years removed from the final regular-season meeting that pitted Tom Brady against Peyton Manning.

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New England won that game 43-21 on Nov. 2, 2014, behind four passing touchdowns from Brady. If Sunday night’s clash between Denver and the visiting Patriots proves anything, it might just be how much truly can change over the course of a decade.

Both offenses have fallen far from the perch they sat atop nine years ago, with New England’s decline especially evident.

The Patriots (3-11) are averaging a league-worst 13.3 points per game following last Sunday’s 27-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Chad Ryland’s 25-yard field goal put New England up 10-7 with 4:47 left in the second quarter, but the Patriots didn’t score again until there was just under 8 1/2 minutes left in the fourth.

Denver (7-7) sported the least explosive offense of the 2022 campaign (16.9 points per game), but Sean Payton, in his first season as Broncos coach, has started to turn things around.

A winner of six of its past eight games, Denver is averaging 21.7 points under Payton. It was held under that mark in a 42-17 setback against the Detroit Lions last weekend, but New England coach Bill Belichick knows that the Broncos have what it takes to bounce back.

“They obviously have good players,” Belichick said. “They started the same line in every game, so they’ve got a lot of continuity there. Quarterback’s a unique player, he’s got a lot of skill. Receivers, (Courtland) Sutton’s as good as there is — big guy, great hands, contested catches, a really hard guy to cover.”

That quarterback Belichick was referring to is Russell Wilson, who was relatively quiet against Detroit, completing 18 of 32 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown.

Wilson was also shown getting laid into by Payton on the sideline late in the third quarter after a Denver TD was nullified because of an offensive offside penalty.

“Difficult night. … It was just one of those moments,” Payton told reporters afterward. “Listen, what I talk with Russell about is none of your business.”

Payton is making sure no negative feelings from that altercation — or the loss itself — spill over into Sunday’s meeting with the Patriots.

“You can only focus on the things you can control, and it’s obviously getting ready to play New England — and that’s it,” Payton said. “Focus on getting this next win, because that’s really all that matters.”

If the Broncos want to bounce back, they will have to do so without linebacker Nik Bonitto (knee), tight end Greg Dulcich (hamstring/foot) and tackle Alex Palczewski (knee), all of whom are ruled out for Sunday.

New England offensive tackle Trent Brown (ankle/hand), tight end Hunter Henry (knee), defensive tackle Christian Barmore (shoulder), cornerback Jonathan Jones (knee), special teams ace Matthew Slater (hamstring) and linebackers Jahlani Tavai (ankle), Ja’Whaun Bentley (knee) and Anfernee Jennings (illness) have all been limited in practices and are listed as questionable. Tackle Conor McDermott (concussion) is also questionable after missing practice all week.

Running back Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle), receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle) and safety Jabrill Peppers (hamstring) will miss Sunday’s game.

–Field Level Media

NFL: Week 2 At a Glance

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CINCINNATI – (Wire Service Report) – The idea that things are not so bad as they seem will be put to the test on Sunday.

Teams suffering a beatdown of 10-plus points in Week 1 rebound to cover the spread at a bettable rate in Week 2, according to statistics beginning with the 2014 season.

We have a primary play and a pair of bonus bets for Week 2.

THE HEADLINER
Ravens at Bengals, 1 p.m. ET Sunday

The line: Bengals (-3.5)

With those Week 1 victims 10-3 against the spread the past two seasons – the Bengals were routed by the Cleveland Browns 24-3 last Sunday – a bounceback effort is coming.

Cincinnati’s potential isn’t even the biggest reason for an optimistic outcome in the Bengals’ home opener.

It’s the Ravens’ lackluster Week 1 victory over the Houston Texans in which their three-headed running back attack (JK Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill) gained 63 yards on 24 carries.

And Dobbins suffered a season-ending injury.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson led Baltimore with 38 yards on six carries – more impressive than his final passing stats (17 for 22, 169 yards, no TDs and one interception).

Houston held a narrow edge in total yards, 268-265, against Baltimore, which was penalized 13 times for 108 yards and surrendered 242 passing yards to rookie CJ Stroud in his NFL debut.

he Ravens’ defensive backfield is far from healthy and there is trouble on the offensive line.

Early this week, coach John Harbaugh said safety Marcus Williams and offensive linemen Ronnie Stanley and Tyler Linderbaum won’t play in Cincinnati.

After managing only 142 total offense in Week 1 at Cleveland, Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, et al, can’t wait to get into the starting blocks.

Burrow struggled mightily last week, going 14 for 31 for just 82 yards, good for a 52.2 passer rating.

“Nobody is panicking in here,” Burrow said. “Week 1 doesn’t define anybody’s season. Obviously, (we were) not very good out there. … But we’ve been in this spot before, we’ve come back stronger and had a great year, so that’s what we’re going to do.”

After a 1-3 start, the Bengals won 12 of their final 14 regular-season games last season.

The pick: Bengals -3.5

BETTING TRENDS

The key to the weekend is finding the best fit for the Week 1/Week 2 trend.

According to Action Network stats, since the start of the 2014 season, teams that lost by at least 10 points in Week 1 have covered the spread at a 62.9 percent rate in Week 2.

The Panthers, Bengals, Colts, Texans, Steelers, Bears, Seahawks and Giants are the candidates to bounce back.

BONUS COMBO

Another game that fits the trend, along with a player prop to consider.

Saints at Panthers, 7:15 p.m. ET Monday

The line: Saints (-3.5)

In Week 1, the Saints were what was expected of them: a struggling offense without suspended star running back Alvin Kamara and with quarterback Derek Carr in his first game.

That 16-15 win over Tennessee was a home game, but the scene shifts to the road and the Monday Night Football spotlight.

Carolina’s 24-10 setback in Atlanta provided a nice opportunity for rookie quarterback Bryce Young to find his footing against an aggressive defense.

Panthers coach Frank Reich should be able to help Young’s game-planning from Week 1 to Week 2 and the pair can find the right recipe to cover this number against New Orleans.

The pick: Panthers +3.5 but Saints if line goes to (+/- 3.0)

PROP CORNER

Lions RB David Montgomery rushing yards

The Detroit Lions upset the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, and Sunday’s opponent, the Seattle Seahawks, dropped a 30-13 stunner at home to the Los Angeles Rams.

The Seahawks, 5.5-point underdogs, fit the Week 1 blowout/Week 2 rebound model but that’s not the play here.

It’s Montgomery against the Seahawks’ run defense.

Seattle wasn’t awful, statistically anyway, against the Rams running backs – but that’s because LA QB Matt Stafford was carving up the secondary.

If Seattle devotes more attention to its pass defense, the run D will be even more vulnerable.

Montgomery’s workload in KC is the final word here. He carried the ball 21 times, and volume is the king when it comes to player props.

With the winning number of 57+ rushing yards and a game that should stay close throughout, this feels like a relatively easy cover.

The pick: Montgomery over 56.5 yards (available at BetMGM)

– Field Level Media