Key takeaways and analysis from Week 11 in the NFL

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.

Allen is that dude

It was only two weeks ago when we talked about Lamar Jackson as the clear front-runner for this year's MVP award. That should probably remain the case, but it's becoming clear that his top competition isn't going to let him run away with it.

That top competition is Josh Allen. The Bills quarterback had another signature moment in a big spot Sunday afternoon, helping his team hand the rival Chiefs their first loss of the season. The win moves Buffalo to 9-2, just one game back of Kansas City for the AFC's No. 1 seed.

I was, admittedly, among the many who weren't all that high on the Bills heading into this campaign. In retrospect, it looks like a bad take, but there was plenty of reason to think this might be a transition year in Buffalo. The coaching staff deserves all the credit in the world for guiding the defense through major personnel losses on the back end. A productive run game, along with the addition of Amari Cooper, has helped the offense work past some shortcomings at receiver.

But none of that is as important as the factor that, above all else, will make this team a Super Bowl contender year after year: having one of the two best quarterbacks on the planet.

Allen's development into the player he is after an Anthony Richardson-like start to his career doesn't get nearly enough attention. He has as much arm talent as any quarterback in league history and is a nightmare to defend as a runner. As we saw against the Chiefs, the biggest moments are when Allen does his best work. He throws on the Superman cape and refuses to be denied.

This level of inevitability, always coming through and elevating everyone around him, is as close as it gets to Patrick Mahomes. Allen now has four wins over the Chiefs signal-caller, the most of any opponent. Sunday's 30-point output was also the most Kansas City has given up since Oct. 3, 2022, against Tom Brady.

Allen will be considered a tier below his biggest rival until he can translate the regular-season success into the playoffs, but that may only be a matter of time.

The Bills know they can hang with the champs, and they have everything they need to get a Lombardi Trophy of their own this year.

Chargers are here

Jim Harbaugh is building something special.

The Chargers head coach would've been forgiven if he needed a year or two to get things in order after inheriting a mess from Brandon Staley. That's certainly what the majority of the football world was expecting.

But this team doesn't care about our timelines. A big win over the Bengals on Sunday night should eliminate any remaining doubt about the speed with which the Chargers could turn things around and emerge as a legitimate threat in the AFC. They're already here.

The immediate ascent on defense, in particular, has been incredible. Jesse Minter's arrival as defensive coordinator has helped this group go from 28th in EPA/play in 2023 to third this season, according to TruMedia.

The offense has required a little patience, as the Chargers started the year with a more traditional run-heavy approach. That'll always be a part of Harbaugh's philosophy, but the coaching staff has slowly begun to open things up for their superstar quarterback, and we saw the result Sunday night.

It was one big-time throw after another for Justin Herbert, providing an important reminder of how spectacular he can be with some semblance of stability around him. And it's only going to get better.

The Chargers looking this good and effectively being locked into a playoff spot in the first season of this new regime bodes extremely well for what's to come. Think about what this team might look like when the front office gets the chance to add a few more weapons alongside its top-five quarterback. Or when the defense can improve its talent in the secondary.

Harbaugh may soon have another powerhouse program.

Quick slants

The real best chance to win

Anthony Richardson's performance upon returning to the lineup this week was an example of why his future is still so bright. Richardson played the best game of his young career in leading the Colts to a crucial win over the Jets, making his presence felt as a runner and passer. The sophomore quarterback was much improved in the accuracy department, in particular, going an impressive 9 of 12 for 185 yards on passes traveling 10-plus yards downfield, according to Next Gen Stats. There will continue to be ups and downs, but this is why you let a player like this work through the issues. The upside is undeniable.

Nix heating up

The Broncos selecting Bo Nix with the No. 12 pick in this year's draft was largely met with skepticism. Don't look now, but the rookie quarterback is on track to make the doubters look silly. Sean Payton deserves a lot of credit, as the play designs in this offense routinely have receivers running free in rhythm. But make no mistake, Nix is getting better every week. His continued ascent culminated in a 38-6 drubbing of the Falcons this week, with Nix recording his first 300-yard game and posting the most dropback EPA (23.3) of any rookie quarterback this season, according to TruMedia. It should be noted that this production is also coming before Denver truly has the opportunity to load up on playmakers around him.

Addition by subtraction

The Bears came up short this week, as a blocked kick extended their losing streak against the Packers in heartbreaking fashion. However, the result is secondary to Chicago's offensive improvements. The decision to have Thomas Brown take over as offensive coordinator for Shane Waldron provided immediate results. Most notably, Caleb Williams looked a lot more comfortable in the pocket. He was seemingly given more answers to get rid of the ball in rhythm and had no hesitation about taking off to scramble when things broke down. This is how you set your young quarterback up for success with a struggling offensive line. Better late than never.

Unfamiliar territory

Justin Tucker wasn't going to be able to do it forever, and it was only a matter of time before the best kicker in NFL history started to fall off. Unfortunately for the Ravens, it seems to be happening at a time when they have a legitimate chance to go on a Super Bowl run. Tucker's pair of missed field goals made the difference in Sunday's two-point loss to the Steelers. That makes it six misses on the year, one short of his career worst. Baltimore can't afford to leave that many points on the field against teams it could meet in the AFC playoffs.

Dolphins still alive

Miami's offense has quietly gotten back on track since Tua Tagovailoa's return. The Dolphins put up a season-high 34 points in Sunday's win over the Raiders, with a short end-of-half possession in the second quarter being the only one that didn't end in a score. This team's still a long shot for the playoffs at 4-6, but the offense returning to this level of play at least gives it an opportunity to run off some wins down the stretch. A finishing schedule that includes two games against the Jets and matchups with the Patriots and Browns also helps their chances.

Bowers already elite

Don't let the sad state of the Raiders cause you to overlook the instant superstar production from their first-round pick. Brock Bowers was at it again Sunday in Miami, recording 13 receptions for 126 yards and one touchdown. The monster performance set a new single-game record for catches by a rookie tight end and already puts him up to 70 on the year. That's second only to Ja'Marr Chase among all pass catchers this season. Jayden Daniels remains the front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, and deservedly so, but Bowers has been equally impressive. His rare combination of route-running skills and playmaking ability after the catch is already making him one of the best tight ends in the game.

Making it look easy

The Lions had to find a different way to get it done last week, winning despite five interceptions from Jared Goff. A matchup with the Jaguars defense provided the perfect opportunity to get things back on track this week. Goff was nearly perfect, completing 24 of 29 passes for 412 yards and four touchdowns. Detroit also put up 196 rushing yards in the 52-6 rout. The club's 645 yards of total offense are the most league-wide this season, and Sunday's yardage differential (plus-475) is the biggest margin in a game since 1979. The Jaguars may qualify as a helpless opponent, but there's no denying that this Lions offense is a wagon.

Leaving the door open

The Falcons know how to punish those who dare to believe. Following up last week's loss to the Saints with a blowout defeat in Denver suddenly has Atlanta sitting at 6-5 and at risk of surrendering its stranglehold on the division. Earning a tiebreaker over Tampa Bay by sweeping the season series gives the Falcons a bit of room for error, but it's fading fast. December games against the Chargers, Vikings, and Commanders will present a major challenge if the recent run of play continues. The Bucs, who may have Mike Evans back in the lineup next week, finish the year with the second-easiest schedule in football. The NFC South is still very much up for grabs.

NFC West madness

Geno Smith didn't have any interest in letting his team fall out of the playoff race. The Seahawks quarterback took over late in Sunday's game against the 49ers, capping an 80-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown scamper with seconds to play. Smith's heroics allowed Seattle to improve to 5-5. Equally as important, the result dropped the 49ers to 5-5. With the Rams also sitting at 5-5, creating a three-way tie one game back of the first-place Cardinals, the NFC West is shaping up for a fascinating finish. All four have looked like playoff teams at one point or another. Can at least one find some consistency down the stretch?

Stat of the week