Week 11 in the NFL started with the Baltimore Ravens achieving a commanding victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football. Their divisional win not only maintained their position at the top of the AFC North but also overshadowed the day's main event - the tragic injury suffered by Bengals' quarterback Joe Burrow.
As Sunday approaches, six additional divisional games are set to take place throughout the league. The excitement of Week 11 culminates in an epic Super Bowl rematch between the Kelce siblings.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Kansas City Chiefs, Monday, 8:20 p.m. ET
Its been a long time coming.
In an upcoming game on Monday Night, the Kelce brothers are set to face each other once again. This matchup between Jason Kelce's Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce's Chiefs is highly anticipated and considered a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, with the potential to be a preview for Super Bowl LVIII.
Although neither brother played football last week, they still attracted attention. Travis traveled to Buenos Aires to attend Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour," while Jason was honored by being named one of People Magazine's "Sexiest Men Alive." Additionally, the brothers collaborated on a Christmas song titled "The Fairytale of Philadelphia." This song is part of an album called "A Philly Special Christmas Special," which aims to raise funds for local charities in Philadelphia.
"It has been a whirlwind. It all began last year with the podcast and has since grown steadily, fueled by events like the Super Bowl and my brother's romantic pursuits, garnering attention even from publications like People magazine," Jason informed reporters.
Travis Kelce flew to Buenos Aires last week to watch Taylor Swift perform.
Ralf Ibing/firo sportphoto/Getty Images
With the bye week behind them, the duo is prepared to refocus on football.
In their latest episode of the New Heights podcast, the brothers discussed the experience of competing against each other.
"I simply love being in the NFL alongside you, not to mention when we have the opportunity to share the field," Travis expressed. "It brings our entire family and friends together to witness a single game. Besides the final score, I'm aware of the immense joy I derive from every game we've played together."
Nine months have elapsed since their previous encounter, a game that concluded with jubilation for Kansas City and devastation for Philadelphia. The agony of that Super Bowl defeat persists as they approach Monday's game. Nonetheless, Jason is not driven by the past.
"I don't require the Super Bowl as a source of motivation to outperform my brother or Andy Reid. Throughout my career, I have yet to achieve victory against them, and perhaps that serves as an even greater driving force for me. I don't subscribe to the idea of seeking revenge in Super Bowl games," he informed the reporters.
"I believe that focusing on external distractions only hampers our progress. Therefore, the key factors that contribute to our success every week will ultimately determine the outcome of this game. It involves safeguarding the football, making intelligent decisions, and executing effectively in the red zone."
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns, Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
Sunday afternoon features the second AFC North battle of the week - the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the Deshaun Watson-less Cleveland Browns.
Watson experienced a "displaced fracture" in his shoulder during the recent victory against the Baltimore Ravens. Sadly, the team confirmed that he will need surgery, ending his season prematurely. This is a devastating blow for the quarterback.
"I can't believe it. I'm still processing all the information," Watson shared with the reporters. "I thought we were on the verge of making a breakthrough and I still believe that with the guys in this team. I just wanted to physically contribute to the effort... It's difficult for me to comprehend everything right now."
In the absence of the regular quarterback, rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson will be stepping in for his second career start as the signal-caller. The 24-year-old had his first career start against the Ravens in Week 4, where he faced a challenging game. Thompson-Robinson endured three interceptions and was sacked four times, resulting in a frustrating 28-3 loss.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson runs on the field during player introductions against the Baltimore Ravens.
Jason Miller/Getty Images
Earlier this week, Thompson-Robsinson shared his insights on the lessons he gained from that experience.
"I have successfully overcome that initial hurdle. Now, I understand the requirements to become an NFL quarterback rather than just a college quarterback transitioning into the NFL," Thompson-Robinson informed the reporters.
"So, I believe I have progressed to the next level. I am constantly striving for personal growth on a daily basis. As mentioned earlier, I rely on my teammates for support. We possess an amazing team with individuals who genuinely care for me. This week, they have welcomed me with open arms. Therefore, if I continue to seek support from my teammates, I am confident that everything will turn out well."
Minnesota Vikings @ Denver Broncos, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET
The Minnesota Vikings will face the Denver Broncos on Sunday night, marking the end of one of the longest active win streaks in the league. Despite both teams starting the season with three consecutive losses, the Vikings have managed to secure victory in their last five games, while the Broncos have triumphed in their last three, which notably includes a win over the AFC-leading Chiefs.
Earlier this week, Broncos head coach Sean Payton spoke about the teams' parallel season beginnings.
"Both teams showed incredible resilience, with the Vikings securing a remarkable streak of five consecutive victories. Particularly noteworthy is how they managed to overcome significant injuries, including the loss of their quarterback Kirk Cousins and another key quarterback," Payton shared with the press.
"I believe that each week, their performance on defense and in the kicking game keeps improving. It's their own unique journey of how they have managed to achieve this, and it is truly remarkable considering the level of energy, determination, and hard work it requires. They have successfully embraced this challenge, and fortunately, we have also been able to kickstart this process."
Minnesota have won their last five games.
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
The Vikings are expected to emerge as the winners on Sunday, but achieving a six-game winning streak will pose a significant challenge, considering their last victory in Denver dates back to 1999. "We are fully cognizant of the formidable obstacle we will face while playing in one of the toughest arenas in the league," stated Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell.
"They are currently performing exceptionally well. Coach [Sean] Payton has them performing at their best. Therefore, we will need to put forth one of our strongest efforts this season in order to obtain our seventh victory. It is evident that the team is very focused and determined. We must translate this into action on Sunday night."
One of the key factors that will determine the outcome of this game is our ability to control the turnover margin. Initially, Minnesota struggled with turnovers, having a total of 12 and only three takeaways this season. However, since their five-game winning streak began, they have improved, with 11 takeaways and five turnovers, giving them an advantage in the turnover margin.
Since the beginning of their winning streak, the Broncos have had the upper hand in the turnover battle. They managed to force a total of nine turnovers in their last two games, with five of them coming from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and four from Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
"The takeaways we had against the Bills made all the difference in the game," Payton commented. "Our defensive takeaways will be crucial for us as we continue forward in the upcoming weeks."
Whichever team can win the turnover battle on Sunday will have a major edge in what is expected to be a very tight game.
Schedule
SundayÂ
Dallas Cowboys @ Carolina Panthers, 1:00 p.m. ET
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns, 1:00 p.m. ET
Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions, 1:00 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Chargers @ Green Bay Packers. 1:00 p.m. ET
Arizona Cardinals @ Houston Texans, 1:00 p.m. ET
Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:00 p.m. ET
Las Vegas Raiders @ Miami Dolphins, 1:00 p.m. ET
New York Giants @ Washington Commanders, 1:00 p.m. ET
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 p.m. ET
New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills, 4:25 p.m. ET
Seattle Seahawks @ Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m. ET
Minnesota Vikings @ Denver Broncos, 8:20 p.m. ET
Monday
Philadelphia Eagles @ Kansas City Chiefs, 8:15 p.m. ET
How to watch
Heres how to catch these teams in action, from wherever you are.
Australia: NFL+, ESPN, 7Plus
Brazil: NFL+, ESPN
Canada: NFL+, CTV, TSN, RDS
Germany: NFL+, ProSieben MAXX, DAZN
Mexico: NFL+, TUDN, ESPN, Fox Sports, We
UK: NFL+, We, ITV, Channel 5
US: NFL+, CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN, Amazon Prime