NFL Report Cards: Team-by-Team Grades for Week 11
The NFL is a crazy place, but Week 11 was about as insane as it gets.
Even the most diehard St. Louis Rams fan hoping for a victory this weekend couldn't have legitimately predicted the 22-7 beatdown of the Denver Broncos and Peyton Manning that actually happened. That's the starkest example, but go down the list of games from Week 11, and just about every single one contained things that just shouldn't have happened.
This is a league where improbability becomes certainty in an instant.
New England Patriots running back Jonas Gray, anyone?
As an example of the league's unpredictability, a personal anecdote came to me by way of a small suburb of Green Bay, Suamico, Wisconsin. While I was visiting friends before the game between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles, one suggested that it would be nice if the contest this week looked like the game last week.
Considering the relative merits of the Chicago Bears and Eagles, I chuckled and said, "probably not."
Instead, the Packers continued exactly where they left off, scoring over 50 points for the second consecutive week.
Guess what kind of grade they got...
Criteria for Grading
- Coaching decisions and how a team performed on offense, defense and special teams.
- The caliber of opponent the team was facing.
- The atmosphere played in: at home, away, weather, etc.
Not Considered
- Excuses. I grade the team on the field, not the ideal squad that could have been out there without injuries, suspensions, etc.
- Expectations. If everyone picked your favorite team to lose, and it won, that doesn't mean it gets an A+ grade.
- Results. A team can look really bad and win a game, while another team can look great in defeat. While it's true that winners will often trend higher than losers from week to week, that doesn't mean all of the winners get good grades, while the losers get bad ones.
Each team also gets a cumulative mark, which averages grades thus far in the current season. This will be a running metric all season long. A reminder, though, that this is simply an average.
Grab your red pens. We're on to the grades!
Arizona Cardinals (9-1)
1 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Def. Detroit Lions 14-6
I've always held the opinion that the drop-off between quarterback Carson Palmer and backup Drew Stanton wasn't as big as the apoplexy surrounding Palmer's injury made it seem. Stanton is who he is, and that showed on Sunday. He doesn't make a lot of mistakes, can make big throws and is able to extend plays.
He's not Palmer; no one's saying that. But both of these guys do things the other doesn't, and the Cardinals are good enough to win with either.
The win over the Lions was a big step toward more legitimacy for the Cardinals, and although the Detroit offense has struggled this season, the Lions got a lot of players back from injury in recent weeks, and the Cardinals still held them to six points.
Week 11 Grade: B+
2014 Cumulative: B+
Week 12 Opponent: Seattle Seahawks (Away)
Atlanta Falcons (4-6)
2 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Def. Carolina Panthers 19-17
This was a poorly played game on both sides of the ball, with neither team really showcasing that much more than what we've seen in recent weeks. For Atlanta, though, its protection issues were mitigated by quarterback Matt Ryan's efficient play and the fact that Carolina is terrible at applying pressure.
In the end, though, this was a field-goal fest between two teams that would be in the bottom of any other division. We'll learn a lot more about Atlanta with games against the Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers coming up.
Week 11 Grade: B-
2014 Cumulative: C+
Week 12 Opponent: Cleveland Browns (Home)
Baltimore Ravens (6-4)
3 of 32
The Baltimore Ravens were on bye this week.
2014 Cumulative: B
Week 12 Opponent: New Orleans Saints (Away)
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Buffalo Bills (5-5)
4 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Lost to Miami Dolphins 22-9
Quarterback Kyle Orton played poorly enough (22-of-39 for 193 yards, 4.9 yards per attempt) that it had people on Twitter asking whether or not EJ Manuel really would've done much worse. The Bills played sloppy all night and were able to keep it close with defense and some turnovers by the Dolphins.
In the end, though, the Dolphins defense was too much, and Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill made the kind of throws that Orton couldn't.
Week 11 Grade: D+
2014 Cumulative: C+
Week 12 Opponent: New York Jets (Home)
Carolina Panthers (3-7-1)
5 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Lost to Atlanta Falcons 19-17
As said on the Falcons slide, this wasn't some hard-fought contest where great defensive efforts drove the score low. This was a poorly played game by teams that are making an awful habit out of playing badly when they were supposed to be good.
The only things going well for the Panthers in this game were some occasional deep shots to wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, but quarterback Cam Newton didn't necessarily play that much better than he has as of late. The defense, too, should've feasted more against a poor Falcons offensive line.
Week 11 Grade: C-
2014 Cumulative: C-
Week 12 Opponent: Bye
Chicago Bears (4-6)
6 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Def. Minnesota Vikings 21-13
This is what the Bears should look like on a bad day. The offense still moves. Running back Matt Forte still has a productive day. Quarterback Jay Cutler and the passing attack make mistakes but have the talent to make more good plays than bad, and the defense just kind of wins the matchups it can win and stays out of the way.
Speaking in talent terms, the Bears shouldn't lose to this Vikings team—even on a bad day. So, this was improvement over the past couple of weeks when it wasn't just a bad day; it was a train wreck.
Week 11 Grade: B
2014 Cumulative: C
Week 12 Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Home)
Cincinnati Bengals (6-3-1)
7 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Def. New Orleans Saints 27-10
After having arguably the worst game of his life in Week 10, quarterback Andy Dalton turned in an incredible performance, passing for 220 yards and three touchdowns.
The Bengals consistently fall short in pressure-packed situations and wilt under bright lights. But in New Orleans, this was both, and the Bengals performed admirably.
There are still a bunch of question marks, and it's notable that this Saints team has been all kinds of disappointing this season, but a game like this in that atmosphere is a clear-cut A performance.
Week 11 Grade: A
2014 Cumulative: B-
Week 12 Opponent: Houston Texans (Away)
Cleveland Browns (6-4)
8 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Lost to Houston Texans 23-7
If you want to know how things went for Cleveland's defense against the Texans, two of its three top tacklers in the game were defensive backs. That sort of thing only happens in a contest where the front seven simply isn't getting it done. That the Browns also gave up 213 rushing yards, then, is no surprise.
On offense, quarterback Brian Hoyer was sporadic, off-target and mostly ineffective. This was due to the immense pressure brought by Houston, which tested the offensive line and never really allowed Hoyer to feel comfortable. Without Hoyer in a rhythm, the rushing game suffered as well.
Week 11 Grade: D
2014 Cumulative: C+
Week 12 Opponent: Atlanta Falcons (Away)
Dallas Cowboys (7-3)
9 of 32
The Dallas Cowboys were on bye this week.
2014 Cumulative: B+
Week 12 Opponent: New York Giants (Away)
Denver Broncos (7-3)
10 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Lost to St. Louis Rams 22-7
Which is more embarrassing to the Broncos: that they got caught in a trap game before next week's tilt against the Dolphins? Or, that they're simply falling apart toward the end of the year, and their offensive line issues finally bit them on the behind against a Rams defense that hasn't lived up to expectations much this year?
It's one or the other.
Quarterback Peyton Manning was as bad as we've seen him since the Super Bowl, so was the Broncos' rushing attack. The defense let Rams running back Tre Mason and quarterback Shaun Hill (!) pick it apart.
This is an ugly loss from a team that looked as bulletproof as any in the league just a few weeks ago.
Week 11 Grade: F
2014 Cumulative: B+
Week 12 Opponent: Miami Dolphins (Home)
Detroit Lions (7-3)
11 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Lost to Arizona Cardinals 14-6
Quarterback Matthew Stafford has to be better than this.
We can talk about the injuries on offense (especially on the offensive line) and how the line has taken a big step back from last year. We can talk about how the running game was supposed to be more effective. We could also put our head in the clouds and just talk about how good the defense has been.
No, the bottom line both in a loss like this and throughout most of the season is that, save from some fourth-quarter/last-drive heroics (which he deserves all the praise in the world for), Stafford has not been as good as the Lions need him to be.
Against Arizona (29th in passing defense, by the way), Stafford was 18-of-30 with an interception. He targeted wide receiver Calvin Johnson 12 times. The most of any other receiver Stafford targeted? Six.
This is bad Stafford. These are old habits dying hard. He needs to be better than this. He has, and he likely will be, but it needs to happen this week for the Lions to have any chance up in New England.
Week 11 Grade: D
2014 Cumulative: B-
Week 12 Opponent: New England Patriots (Away)
Green Bay Packers (7-3)
12 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Def. Philadelphia Eagles 53-20
The Packers picked up right where they left off in Week 10 against the Chicago Bears with an A+, this time against a much better opponent. It was a complete-game victory for the Packers, who dominated on offense, defense and special teams. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was magnificent, the receivers were uncoverable, and the defense applied pressure all day long while keeping the Eagles running game under wraps.
The cumulative grade below may be a bit of a shocker, but it's still feeling the effects from poor form early in the season. Right now, the Packers are clearly playing like one of the best teams in the NFL, and that grade should continue to go up in future weeks.
Week 11 Grade: A+
2014 Cumulative: B
Week 12 Opponent: Minnesota Vikings (Away)
Houston Texans (5-5)
13 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Def. Cleveland Browns 23-7
This is what the Texans can look like when they're firing on all cylinders.
Defensive end J.J. Watt was incredible, and he had plenty of help all around him on defense. Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer was rattled most of the game—and the defense both caused that and took advantage of it.
On offense, the Texans did what they do best. Even without running back Arian Foster, they ran the ball down the Browns' throat.
Week 11 Grade: A
2014 Cumulative: B
Week 12 Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals (Home)
Indianapolis Colts (6-4)
14 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Lost to the New England Patriots 42-20
This was a paradigm-shifting game for the Colts, as they've been oft-mentioned in the NFL's upper tier. With such a strong beatdown by the Patriots (Indy's second in three games—the other by the Pittsburgh Steelers), some of the luster has come off the Colts. They're talented, sure, but are they consistent enough to be in that top group?
A team getting beaten the way the Colts got beaten is embarrassing—especially when giving up huge numbers to a back no one has heard of (Jonas Gray). Tight End Coby Fleener's 144 yards are a bright spot, though.
Week 11 Grade: D+
2014 Cumulative: B
Week 12 Opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars (Home)
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9)
15 of 32
The Jacksonville Jaguars were on bye this week.
2014 Cumulative: D+
Week 12 Opponent: Indianapolis Colts (Away)
Kansas City Chiefs (7-3)
16 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Def. Seattle Seahawks 24-20
Are the Chiefs one of the best teams in the NFL?
I mean, we all knew they were good—at least, that they had a good defense—but they've won five straight since their bye, have proved the defense is great (not merely good) and now have wins against the Seahawks, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins on their resume.
As long as the defense keeps playing like this, the running game keeps going and quarterback Alex Smith stays mistake free, it's hard to see the Chiefs losing very many games, even with a rough schedule ahead.
Week 11 Grade: A-
2014 Cumulative: B
Week 12 Opponent: Oakland Raiders (Away)
Miami Dolphins (6-4)
17 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Def. Buffalo Bills 22-9
This game was closer than the final score indicated, and there were extremely sloppy performances throughout by both teams. Yet, toward the end of the game, the Miami defense finally wore the Bills offense down completely and forced it into mistake after mistake. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill, too, finished with an above-average effort, throwing two touchdowns and no picks—though, he took a few unnecessary sacks.
Week 11 Grade: B+
2014 Cumulative: B
Week 12 Opponent: Denver Broncos (Away)
Minnesota Vikings (4-6)
18 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Lost to Chicago Bears 21-13
The story of this game (and this season) is: What in the world has happened to left tackle Matt Kalil? Once considered one of the best young talents (not just prospects) in the game, Kalil has regressed into one of the biggest turnstiles in the league.
Without protection, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered, and the running game couldn't get enough traction to pick up his team.
Week 11 Grade: C-
2014 Cumulative: C
Week 12 Opponent: Green Bay Packers (Home)
New England Patriots (8-2)
19 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Def. Indianapolis Colts 42-20
Like the Green Bay Packers, the Patriots' cumulative grade is trying to pull a big dip from the beginning of the season upward, but they've had three straight A+ games. If they aren't the best team in the NFL right now (arguably, they are), they're certainly close.
Most important is the way they're beating teams: any way they darn well please. Most impressive is the caliber of squads they're beating in that fashion. If they're able to down the Detroit Lions this weekend like they've done to the Denver Broncos and Colts, the argument is over.
Week 11 Grade: A+
2014 Cumulative: B+
Week 12 Opponent: Detroit Lions (Home)
New Orleans Saints (4-6)
20 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Lost to Cincinnati Bengals 27-10
It seemed as if the Saints had turned a corner, but it appears there was just another brick wall beyond the bend. To lose two straight at home is unlike the Saints we knew. To be almost completely ineffective in everything but the very shortest of passing games is unlike the Saints we knew.
The defense is a big issue, yes. No one is saying it's not. Yet, Drew Brees should be able to put up 27 points in his sleep, so let's not pretend that isn't a problem, too.
Week 11 Grade: D
2014 Cumulative: C+
Week 12 Opponent: Baltimore Ravens (Home)
New York Giants (3-7)
21 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Lost to the San Francisco 49ers 16-10
This is bad Eli Manning.
The Giants quarterback was flummoxed, to say the least, by the 49ers defense, and the running game couldn't chip in enough between interceptions to shoulder the load. On defense, the Giants benefited from poor play out of the 49ers offensive line and applied some pressure of their own—enough to keep the score low.
Overall, though, this was a pretty poor game by both teams, but no one had a worse day than Manning.
Week 11 Grade: C-
2014 Cumulative: C
Week 12 Opponent: Dallas Cowboys (Home)
New York Jets (2-8)
22 of 32
The New York Jets were on bye this week.
2014 Cumulative: D+
Week 12 Opponent: Buffalo Bills (Away)
Oakland Raiders (0-10)
23 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Lost to San Diego Chargers 13-6
A team looking for its first win may seem like an "F" squad to most, but this is a team that has continued to be at least competitive week in, week out. That doesn't mean the Raiders are good (oh, no), but it does mean that they're maybe not as far away as their record suggests.
That said, this game was less about the Raiders giving the Chargers a hard time (though, they did) and more about the Chargers simply continuing to fall off the map from their early-season successes. The Raiders defense was able to get pressure and make plays, but the offense needs to find a way to move the ball down the field.
Week 11 Grade: D+
2014 Cumulative: D
Week 12 Opponent: Kansas City Chiefs (Home)
Philadelphia Eagles (7-3)
24 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Lost to Green Bay Packers 53-20
In one of the more demoralizing losses I've ever witnessed in person (cue self-deprecating high school dating-scene joke), the Eagles were out of this one long before they started putting up some garbage points. The shattering point was a special teams breakdown that allowed Packers returner Micah Hyde into the end zone, but the offense, defense and special teams all contributed to a nasty loss.
The D-? The only reason it's not an F is the level of competition.
Week 11 Grade: D-
2014 Cumulative: B-
Week 12 Opponent: Tennessee Titans (Home)
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4)
25 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Def. Tennessee Titans 27-24
The Titans are a known commodity. This is a bad team that the Steelers should've beaten by a much larger margin without any fourth-quarter heroics. The fact that the Steelers allowed the Titans to make this a tight game says so much more about the Steelers than it does about Tennessee.
Most of the positive in the grade below comes from running back Le'Veon Bell, who was tremendous (204 yards rushing on 33 carries). He's a cornerstone piece of this team and may be the only positive in a lot of weeks ahead if the defense can't regain its form.
Week 11 Grade: B-
2014 Cumulative: B-
Week 12 Opponent: Bye
San Diego Chargers (6-4)
26 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Def. Oakland Raiders 13-6
What has happened to the Chargers?
The offense is completely out of sync. The running game is rarely dependable and not as explosive. The offensive line has taken a big step back—even against the Raiders. The defense might look like a bright spot with the score as low as it was, but against the Raiders, even that's taken with a grain of salt.
It may feel good to get a victory after three straight losses, but this wasn't the caliber of win they were hoping for against this opponent after the bye.
Week 11 Grade: C+
2014 Cumulative: B-
Week 12 Opponent: St. Louis Rams (Home)
San Francisco 49ers (6-4)
27 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Def. New York Giants 16-10
This was another close win that could've been better if one side of the ball had gotten out of the way of the other.
The 49ers defense did everything that could be expected of it, intercepting Eli Manning five times. It also held the Giants' rushing attack to only 65 yards. Overall, it was as good a day as the unit could've had.
On offense, though, the passing game is still not working. It's not all Colin Kaepernick's fault, but he's not doing what a franchise quarterback should do, either—rising above and making his teammates better.
Week 11 Grade: B-
2014 Cumulative: C+
Week 12 Opponent: Washington (Home)
Seattle Seahawks (6-4)
28 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Lost to Kansas City Chiefs 24-20
The only thing going truly well on the field for the Seahawks right now is running back Marshawn Lynch's play. Sadly, things aren't great off the field with several incidents involving both his contract and the media (and fines thereof), so that can't exactly make them feel warm and fuzzy inside.
No one is scared of the Seahawks defense anymore, and that's on Seattle.
Even with wide receiver Percy Harvin gone, the passing game has weapons, but against a tough Chiefs defense, it never really got rolling.
This is a tough loss for the Seahawks, but this is the kind of game champions are supposed to win.
Week 11 Grade: B-
2014 Cumulative: B
Week 12 Opponent: Arizona Cardinals (Home)
St. Louis Rams (4-6)
29 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Def. Denver Broncos 22-7
Who knows what happened here?
Seriously, we can talk about what went on in the actual game, but it was so antithetical to everything we know about these two teams that we're still left asking: What the heck happened!?
The Rams pass rush looked as good as it's looked all season against a quarterback, Peyton Manning, who has historically mitigated pass rushes as well as anyone with decision-making, anticipation and crisp passes. The Rams never let him find a rhythm.
On offense, running back Tre Mason was stellar, but it was quarterback Shaun Hill who kept this team rolling with 20-of-29 passing. He didn't make mistakes, and that was the difference.
Week 11 Grade: A+
2014 Cumulative: C
Week 12 Opponent: San Diego Chargers (Away)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-8)
30 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Def. Washington 27-7
Washington didn't have the bodies to cover Tampa Bay's receivers, and quarterback Josh McCown took advantage. Wide receiver Mike Evans had about as good a day as anyone in the league with 209 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
On defense, the Buccaneers kept the pressure up on both Washington's rushing attack (collapsing the lanes in their zone-blocking scheme) and in the passing game (sacking Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III six times and hitting him 11 more times).
Week 11 Grade: B+
2014 Cumulative: D+
Week 12 Opponent: Chicago Bears (Away)
Tennessee Titans (2-8)
31 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24
This was almost a Disney movie for the Titans and quarterback Zach Mettenberger, but the Steelers found what they'd been lacking most of the game once the fourth quarter started.
The Titans are not a good football team, but this sort of effort reminds us that the needle is likely pointed upward, not down. More needs to be seen from an offensive line that continues to struggle, along with rookie running back Bishop Sankey, who has yet to really find his sea legs in the league.
Mettenberger played well against a very good Steelers defense, which is often very tough for rookies. That's a big, bright light at the end of the tunnel.
Week 11 Grade: C+
2014 Cumulative: D+
Week 12 Opponent: Philadelphia Eagles (Away)
Washington (3-7)
32 of 32
Week 11 Outcome: Lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-7
If Robert Griffin III isn't the answer, and we know Kirk Cousins isn't the answer, what is the answer for Washington?
RG3 wasn't the reason Washington lost this game, but he wasn't able to carry the team like a first-round pick a couple of years in should be able to (see: Andrew Luck), nor was he able to respond to pressure by keeping his eyes up, using his legs and extending plays. That's the reason he was such a high pick, and it looks like he's lost it.
The defense (especially the secondary) was the bigger story in this ballgame, but the RG3 issue continues to loom large for Washington's future.
Week 11 Grade: F
2014 Cumulative: C-
Week 12 Opponent: San Francisco 49ers (Away)
Michael Schottey is an NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report and an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Find more of his stuff on his archive page and follow him on Twitter.
All traditional box score stats courtesy of ESPN.com. Advanced stats and metrics via Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
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