Santiago Leon and first-time guest Dan Madden recap #Ravens defeating the Bengals, and previewing 2023 NFL Week 11.
Contributors
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Dan Madden
The Browns acquired Watson from the Houston Texans in exchange for first-round picks in 2022, 2023 and 2024, along with a 2023 third-round pick and 2024 fourth-round pick. The Texans also sent the Browns a 2024 fifth-round pick. Based on Watson’s performance and injury history, the Browns made a bad trade.
BAL 35 CIN 20
The Ravens improved to 7-3, further distancing themselves from the rest of the AFC North with their 34-20 win over their division rival Cincinnati Bengals.
The Ravens’ first drive went almost perfect – it ended on a Gus Edwards touchdown, but they lost Mark Andrews for the rest of the night, and possibly longer.
Gus Edwards #35 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with fans after scoring a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter of the game at M&T Bank Stadium on November 16, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Cincinnati responded with a field goal, and in the second, Joe Mixon scored to give the Bengals a 10-7 lead. But Baltimore scored on back-to-back drives from unlikely sources: Nelson Agholor caught a 37-yard touchdown, and Rashod Bateman found the end zone, so the Ravens led, 21-10, at the half – all while Joe Burrow left the game with a wrist injury.
Cincinnati was with backup quarterback Jake Browning for the rest of the night, but he led a field goal drive to open the second half. Baltimore knocked back-to-back field goals, though, taking a 27-13 lead into the fourth. Baltimore was able to run some clock and hold the Bengals from scoring, as Edwards found the end zone for a second time with less than five minutes to go.
2023 NFL WEEK 11 PREVIEW
PIT (6-3) AT CLE (6-3)
Cleveland’s Myles Garrett is tied for first in the NFL with 11 sacks, while Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt is just behind him with 10.5. Garrett and Watt have been as impactful as any defensive players in the league this season, and their meeting could have a bearing on the Defensive Player of the Year conversation.
DM: CLE
Raiders (5-5) at Dolphins (6-3)
The Raiders own the NFL’s fourth-worst run defense, allowing 135.6 yards per game on the ground. While Miami’s run game has dipped a bit over its past four games, it averages 185 rushing yards per game when De’Von Achane is active — and he is slated to make his return from injured reserve Sunday. If he’s playing, it could make things interesting for an otherwise stout Raiders defense (198.7 passing yards allowed per game).
DM: MIA
Bears (3-7) at Lions (7-2)
The Lions are returning home to host their divisional rivals with an opportunity to hit their best 10-game mark since 1962. Bears quarterback Justin Fields will look to spoil their plans as he returns after missing the past four games with a dislocated right thumb, and he’ll look to break the Lions’ streak of six consecutive divisional victories dating back to last season — which is their longest streak since the 1970 merger.
DM: DET
Titans (3-6) at Jaguars (6-3)
This game could come down to which offensive line holds up better and protects the quarterback. Titans rookie QB Will Levis has been sacked 10 times in three games, and Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence has been sacked 24 — which is three shy of his 2022 total. Denico Autry, Arden Key and Jeffery Simmons have accounted for 13 of the Titans’ 24 sacks, while Josh Allen and Travon Walker have accounted for 12.5 of the Jaguars’ 18.
DM: JAX
Chargers (4-5) at Packers (3-6)
Justin Herbert (sixth overall) and Jordan Love (26th) were the third and fourth quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2020 draft. Herbert has 58 starts under his belt after taking over in Week 2 of his rookie year, while Love is making just his 11th career start (and 10th this season). The Chargers were 6-9 with Herbert as the starter during his rookie year, and they’re 29-29 overall in regular-season games that he has started. Love appears headed toward a similar first-year record as a starter unless the Packers can turn things around, beginning with this game, because of what’s ahead (at Detroit on Thanksgiving, followed by a visit from the Chiefs).
DM: LAC
Cardinals (2-8) at Texans (5-4)
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans is familiar with Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray from his days as the 49ers defensive coordinator from 2021 to 2022. Ryans faced Murray only once in their four potential matchups due to the former No. 1 pick being injured. But in their lone matchup in 2021, Murray led the Cardinals to a 17-10 win and had 239 yards passing with a touchdown and no turnovers.
DM: HOU
Cowboys (6-3) at Panthers (1-8)
This is a mismatch at every level. The Cowboys rank fourth in points allowed (18.3 per game) and third in total defense (275.1 yards per game). The Panthers rank 29th in scoring (17 points per game) and 30th in total offense (275.6 yards per game), and coach Frank Reich just took the playcalling duties away from offensive coordinator Thomas Brown three games after giving them to him. So there is unrest there. Defensively, it’s almost as bad, though the Panthers have held opponents to an average of 18.7 points in the past three games. The 10.5 points Dallas is favored by might be too low.
DM: DAL
Giants (2-8) at Commanders (4-6)
The G-Men are without key players, including their quarterback and best offensive lineman. In addition, their roster isn’t excellent, so the depth is not there to win without critical pieces.
New York has lost 30-6 and 49-17 in the last two games with Tommy DeVito at quarterback. It has lost four games by at least 24 points this season. And while the Commanders aren’t good, they can move the ball, and the team continues to play hard despite trading its best defensive players and looking outside the playoffs right now.
The Commanders allowed six sacks in their 14-7 loss to the Giants in October, giving them a total of 40 allowed on Sam Howell — and putting him on pace for an NFL-record 97. But in the next three games combined, Washington has allowed only seven sacks, a byproduct of one key lineup change (inserting Tyler Larsen at center for Nick Gates, giving the line more bulk) and Howell’s gained experience. The Giants have had only nine sacks in their other nine games combined. If they can’t get to Howell again, it could be a long day for New York.
DM: WAS
Buccaneers (4-5) at 49ers (6-3)
San Francisco QB Brock Purdy made his first start against the Bucs last year and now begins his second spin through the league with another game against Tampa Bay. Both of these teams have thrived in the turnover battle, as they’re tied for third in the league in turnover margin, but this game might come down to whether the Bucs can continue their defensive red zone dominance. Tampa Bay is first in the league in keeping teams out of the end zone when they get inside the 20, while the Niners are sixth in scoring in the red zone but have struggled recently, scoring touchdowns on just 40% of their red zone trips in their past three games.
DM: SF
Jets (4-5) at Bills (5-5)
Joe Brady’s first game as interim offensive coordinator will come with quite the challenge going against a Jets defense that held Buffalo to 16 points in Week 1 and forced three QB Josh Allen interceptions and a fumble. How the Bills’ offense looks under Brady and going against a defense that allows the third-fewest yards per play in the league (4.6) will go a long way in determining the outcome of this game.
DM: BUF
Seahawks (6-3) at Rams (3-6)
Quarterback Matthew Stafford is expected to play on Sunday after injuring his right thumb against the Cowboys in Week 8. The Rams’ offense managed just 187 yards in their loss to the Packers without Stafford and the team has lost three in a row. Stafford will face a Seahawks defense that is allowing 354.3 yards per game (25th in the NFL).
DM: LAR
Vikings (6-4) at Broncos (4-5)
It’s about who keeps the momentum. Joshua Dobbs has been a lifeguard for the Vikings at quarterback since Kirk Cousins’ season-ending injury (torn right Achilles). He has two wins in Minnesota’s current five-game win streak, he already has a game-winning drive on his brief résumé, and he has thrown three touchdown passes without an interception. The Broncos? They’re on their first three-game win streak since September 2021, including wins over the Chiefs and Bills in the past two weeks and nine takeaways in those two games — more than they had in their first seven games combined. If Denver wins the takeaway battle in this one, it could have its first four-game win streak since 2016.
DM: min
PHI at KC
DM: KC
Santiago Leon is the Founder and CEO of the Sports Cast. He covers NFL, NBA, and world soccer. He’s also founder of sleon productions, which he specializes in technology and serves clients with solutions to make their business grow.
