Week 11 NFL grades: Which NFC East team didn't pass?
- Falcons' Matt Ryan becomes the first QB in 45 years to throw 5 interceptions and no TDs and win
- With victory over the Steelers, the Ravens have a two-game lead in the AFC North
- Patriots get an A- for their performance against the Colts, but the loss of TE Rob Gronkowski will hurt
Grading Week 11 performances from around the NFL:
AFC EAST
New England Patriots (7-3): A-
As much of an all-around win as you can get in the NFL: Four offensive touchdowns (three on Tom Brady passes), two defensive touchdowns (both on interceptions) and a return touchdown as the Patriots beat Indianapolis 59-24. The only negative comes from the news that tight end Rob Gronkowski will miss at least a month after breaking a bone in his forearm.
New York Jets (4-6): A
No team gets graded on more of a curve this week than the Jets. After non-stop drama last week, the Jets scored three touchdowns in a 27-13 win in St. Louis. It's not enough to start talking playoffs (please, Rex, none of that this week), but perhaps it will quiet the Tebow talk for at least a few days.
Buffalo Bills (4-6): B-
By Sunday, the Bills' 19-14 win Thursday against Miami was largely forgotten. But the Bills forced three turnovers and recorded three sacks as they got their first AFC East win.
Miami Dolphins (4-6): D
Remember when the Dolphins were 4-3 and relevant in the AFC East? Neither do we. Miami lost its third straight game Thursday in Buffalo, and rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw his 10th and 11th interceptions of the season.
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens (8-2): A
So what if the Steelers didn't have Ben Roethlisberger? The Ravens improved to 3-2 on the road with a 13-10 win in Pittsburgh Sunday night in a classic, low-scoring, hard-hitting AFC North-style game. The Ravens now have a two-game lead in the division and retained the second-best record in the conference.
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4): C
The Steelers managed only one touchdown, on a scramble by backup quarterback Byron Leftwich — who looked like he was running in slow motion. The good news: The Steelers are still one of only six AFC teams with a winning record, and Leftwich's next start will be against Cleveland.
Cincinnati Bengals (5-5): B
Playoff dreams are still alive after a 28-6 win in Kansas City as wide receiver A.J. Green continues to make his case for inclusion in discussions of the league's best wide receivers (six catches, 91 yards and his 10th touchdown of the season).
Cleveland Browns (2-8): D
They had a chance to quiet their former defensive coordinator Rob Ryan – now with the Cowboys – after taking a 13-0 lead in Dallas, but squandered the lead and lost in overtime. Rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden threw two touchdowns but also had a costly fumble – the first fumble he's lost all year.
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans (9-1): C
The Texans get a passing grade ... barely. Houston was hardly convincing as the top team in the AFC South in letting the Jaguars score 37 points and needing to rally to get to overtime. The Texans do get extra credit for becoming the first team in NFL history to score twice in overtime (a field goal and Andre Johnson's walk-off touchdown).
Indianapolis Colts (6-4): D
They might be the league's best feel-good story, but Sunday's 59-24 loss to New England was a reminder of just how far this upstart team has to go to compete with the upper echelon. The Pats made Andrew Luck look like a rookie with three interceptions, including two that were returned for touchdowns.
Tennessee Titans (4-6): Bye
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9): B-
Justin Blackmon earned this grade all by himself. After a disappointing start to his rookie year, he had 236 receiving yards on seven catches, including an 81-yard touchdown. With Chad Henne throwing four touchdowns after Blaine Gabbert left with an elbow injury, there might be a real quarterback controversy brewing in Jacksonville, if anyone cares.
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos (7-3): A-
Peyton Manning threw three more touchdown passes to remain in the MVP conversation. But the real story is the Broncos defense, and especially Von Miller. He has seven sacks in the last three games (including three in Denver's 30-23 win against San Diego) and now has 13, taking over the league lead from J.J. Watt.
San Diego Chargers (4-6): D
Philip Rivers threw two more interceptions (he has nine in the last five games) and was sacked four times as the Chargers fell three games behind Denver (and lost the head-to-head tie-breaker) in the AFC West. The Chargers were swept by the Broncos for the first time since Rivers became the Chargers' starting quarterback in 2006.
Oakland Raiders (3-7): D
Look out, Dennis Allen. Oakland will learn soon how much Mark Davis is like his late father, Al, as team owner. Davis showed up in the Raiders' locker room after the 38-17 loss to New Orleans and told reporters he was unhappy about "regression." Oakland has lost three straight.
Kansas City Chiefs (1-9): F
The Chiefs pulled Matt Cassel in favor of Brady Quinn mid-game on Sunday, but it didn't matter. Neither quarterback threw for more than 100 yards, and neither led a touchdown drive. The Chiefs lost their seventh straight game, 28-6 at home to Cincinnati as Chiefs fans wore black in a symbolic protest of general manager Scott Pioli.
NFC EAST
New York Giants (6-4): Bye
Dallas Cowboys (5-5): D
They won, yet allowed Browns rookie Brandon Weeden to operate effectively from the pocket and lost left tackle Tyron Smith to an ankle injury. Offense couldn't get going vs. bottom-tier Browns defense missing top cornerback Joe Haden.
Washington Redskins (4-6): A-
Is Nick Foles that bad or is the Redskins defense suddenly a showstopper? In any case, Brandon Meriweather's return from injury was a clear boost to the Washington secondary. Robert Griffin III wasn't just good — he was more accurate than any passer in a single game in team history (14-for-15).
Philadelphia Eagles (3-7): F
A full-blown disaster on the road. Foles threw a pair of picks in his debut, and running back LeSean McCoy left the game with a concussion long after the game was decided.
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears (7-2): Play Monday night vs. 49ers
Green Bay Packers (7-3): B
A win vs. the Lions didn't come on Aaron Rodgers' best day, yet the defense managed six sacks and four turnovers in a critical division game. Another positive sign: Underachieving tight end Jermichael Finley caught his first touchdown pass since the season opener.
Minnesota Vikings (6-4): Bye
Detroit Lions (4-6): D
They badly needed to beat the Packers with a daunting schedule ahead. Instead, Matt Stafford turned the ball over three times. The offensive funk carried over to the sidelines, with receivers coach Shawn Jefferson seen screaming at offensive coordinator Scott Linehan late in the second half.
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons (9-1): C
Got back on the winning track after seeing their undefeated mark fall in New Orleans, yet Matt Ryan became the first quarterback in 45 years to win a game after throwing five interceptions and no touchdowns.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4): C-
Won fifth game in six tries, sure, but Josh Freeman relapsed to early season form with two interceptions – his first in five games, including one returned for a Carolina touchdown. Cam Newton debunked Tampa's especially debunkable 32nd-ranked pass defense in the second half, completing all but one pass.
New Orleans Saints (5-5): A
Drew Brees smoked the Raiders for three touchdown passes, the defense — suddenly opportunistic again — capitalized on a pair of Carson Palmer interceptions. Most important: Brees was hurried only three times on Sunday, marking a reversal of New Orleans' protection woes during an 0-4 start.
Carolina Panthers (2-8): C
Lost in dramatic fashion this time around, yet lost all the same. Were simply beaten down by Tampa Bay rookie running back Doug Martin, who gained 79 of his 138 rushing yards in the fourth quarter and overtime.
NFC WEST
San Francisco 49ers (6-2-1): Play Monday night vs. Bears
Seattle Seahawks (6-4): Bye
Arizona Cardinals (4-6): C+
A quarterback switch from John Skelton to Ryan Lindley proved disastrous for the passing game. But LaRod Stephens-Howling racked up 127 yards on the ground, and the Cards were a Larry Fitzgerald drop away from making things interesting in the final three minutes.
St. Louis Rams (3-6-1): D
They lost to the Jets. Sure, they kept Sam Bradford unscathed, rushed for 5.7 yards per carry and limited the Jets to 3 yards per catch … but still lost. Worse, St. Louis' pass defense allowed Mark Sanchez to chalk up his best QB rating since a season-opening rout of the Bills.