Sunday NFL Games in Week 11: Unforgettable Comebacks and Standout Passers

At this juncture, the contenders are being distinguished from the pretenders as the 2023 NFL regular season reaches its halfway mark. Several teams are solidifying their spots in the playoffs, while others are part of the pursuing group, and certain squads have already shifted their focus to the upcoming season.

There was no shortage of drama around the league on Sunday as the charge towards the postseason continues - here is a look at all of Week 11s weekend action.

Perfect Purdy

After a successful start to the season with five consecutive wins, the San Francisco 49ers faced a significant setback by losing three consecutive games. Yet, in Weeks 10 and 11, the Niners have made a remarkable comeback reminiscent of their early season form. They demonstrated their dominance with a convincing victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars and continued their winning momentum with a 27-14 triumph against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy, also known as the 2022 Mr. Irrelevant, achieved a flawless passer rating of 158.3, a feat not accomplished by a 49ers QB since 1989 according to the NFL. Purdy completed 21 of his 25 passing attempts, accumulating 333 yards and three touchdowns. Notably, he connected with Brandon Aiyuk, resulting in an impressive 76-yard reception during the third quarter.

Purdy passes during Sunday's clash at Levi's Stadium.

Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP

Purdy had a flawless performance, not committing any turnovers, on an afternoon where San Francisco's defense matched the strength of its offense. Led by exceptional players such as Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, and newly-acquired Chase Young, the 49ers held the Buccaneers to a mere 287 yards, intercepted Tampa Bay's quarterback Baker Mayfield, and successfully forced and recovered a fumble.

As a result, the Buccaneers now hold a 4-6 record, placing them third in the NFC South, while the 49ers advance to 7-3, currently leading the NFC West.

Lions leave it late

In a stunning comeback, the Detroit Lions, trailing by 12 points with only four minutes remaining, defied the odds at Ford Field and emerged victorious with a 31-26 win over the Chicago Bears.

Quarterback Justin Fields made a triumphant return from injury, providing a significant boost for the Bears. He accumulated an impressive total of 273 yards, with 169 passing and 104 rushing, and contributed a touchdown through the air. The defense also played a crucial role, intercepting Lions quarterback Jared Goff three times while Detroit's offense struggled.

When Chicago secured two field goals in the final quarter, the situation seemed grim for the home team as they trailed 26-14 with only 4:15 remaining. However, the Lions defied expectations and astonishingly scored 17 consecutive points.

David Montgomery celebrates scoring the game-winning touchdown with less than 30 seconds left on the clock.

Despite his earlier mistakes, Goff managed to redeem himself by completing a 32-yard pass to Jameson Williams, narrowing the lead to five points with less than three minutes left on the clock. Shortly after, the Lions defense stepped up and compelled Chicago to go three-and-out.

Detroits offense swiftly advanced downfield in a mere two minutes and four seconds, highlighted by a concise rushing touchdown delivered by David Montgomery and followed by a successful two-point conversion. This sequence secured the Lions an enduring lead, which was ultimately secured with a safety in the closing moments. The now 3-7 Bears experienced a monumental collapse, as they initially appeared poised for a comfortable victory. In contrast, the atmosphere in the Motor City is brimming with jubilation, as the Lions boast an impressive 8-2 record, their best since 1962.

Bills back on track against Jets

After being upset on Monday night by the Denver Broncos, the Buffalo Bills bounced back in convincing fashion, routing the New York Jets 32-6 to improve to 6-5 on the season.

In Sunday's game, Joe Brady made his debut as the Bills' new offensive coordinator, taking over from Ken Dorsey who was let go earlier in the week.

The Buffalo quarterback, Josh Allen, bounced back from a terrible performance against the Broncos and showed significant improvement in his decision-making. He managed to avoid turnovers, except for an unfortunate interception during a Hail Mary attempt at the end of the first half. Allen finished the game with 20 completions out of 32 attempts, accumulating 275 yards and throwing three touchdowns.

There was no improvement for the Jets in their record, as they fall to 4-6 this season. The offense had a difficult evening, only managing 155 total yards. Despite publicly supporting his quarterback for weeks, New York head coach Robert Saleh decided to bench Zach Wilson in the second half and replace him with Tim Boyle. It remains uncertain who will start at QB in the NFL's first-ever Black Friday game against the Miami Dolphins.

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (center) stands on the sidelines after being pulled against the Buffalo Bills during the second half.

Adrian Kraus/AP

One minor positive, or at least a relief, for New York is that it ended its barren run of not scoring a touchdown, finding the end zone for the first time in 41 drives.

Red-hot Broncos take down Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings came into Sunday's primetime game with the longest current winning streak in the NFL. However, by the end of the night, they were dethroned by the Denver Broncos, who secured their fourth consecutive win. Despite their struggles to score touchdowns, the Broncos stayed competitive thanks to kicker Matt Lutz, who successfully converted all five of his field goal attempts.

Denver, trailing since the second quarter, needed a remarkable play to secure the win. Quarterback Russell Wilson connected with Courtland Sutton in the left corner of the end zone, giving the Broncos a 21-20 lead with only 63 seconds remaining on the clock. The defense then made a crucial stop, resulting in Denver improving their record to 5-5.

Wilson had a productive game, completing 27 out of 35 passes for 259 yards and the aforementioned touchdown. On the other side, Joshua Dobbs, the new hero for Minnesota, faced challenges from the Broncos defense. Dobbs went 20-for-32 for 221 yards and managed to score both a passing and a rushing touchdown. However, he threw an interception in the fourth quarter, compromising Minnesota's chances in the late stages of the game.

The Vikings now sit at 6-5 and second in the NFC North after their five-game win streak came to an end.

Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton played the hero for Denver late on.

Bart Young/AP

Full Week 11 Sunday scores

Away vs. home

Dallas Cowboys 33-10 Carolina Panthers

Pittsburgh Steelers 10-13 Cleveland Browns

Chicago Bears 26-31 Detroit Lions

Los Angeles Chargers 20-23 Green Bay Packers

Arizona Cardinals 16-21 Houston Texans

Tennessee Titans 14-34 Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders 13-20 Miami Dolphins

New York Giants 31-19 Washington Commanders

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14-27 San Francisco 49ers

New York Jets 6-32 Buffalo Bills

Seattle Seahawks 16-17 Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings 20-21 Denver Broncos