NFL Week 11: 10 Biggest Winners and 10 Biggest Losers from Around the League

We started last week's action on Thursday with a come-from-behind drive by Tim Tebow and continued Sunday night with the hurt Philadelphia Eagles facing the NFC East-leading New York Giants.

No Michael Vick, but a win over the Giants helped ease the pain a bit.

There were some really important games last week, and teams are starting to separate themselves from their division rivals.

And when the need for a win was most pressing, some teams were able to deliver.

Maybe this week will set the stage for the holiday rush, as teams hope their wish lists will be granted.

Here are last week's winners and losers.

Winner: Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos

How does he keep doing this over and over again?

What Tebow accomplished against a good defense like the Jets was impressive. Just when it looked like the Jets would contain the Broncos and the second-year rock star..."Bam!"

Tebow is winning in ugly but miraculous fashion, which defies odds. Does it matter how he wins or is the win most important?

I'd say the victory is most important. And in the AFC West, wins are especially crucial.

Loser: Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars

This loss is one I cannot explain.

With eight seconds left, Gabbert had two shots to get the ball in the end zone.

The first attempt failed.

The second attempt was muffed when the rookie quarterback failed to hit a wide-open Maurice Jones-Drew in the flat from two yards out to win the game.

Gabbert took his chance with Marcedes Lewis, which also failed.

Chalk this up to another rookie mistake.

Winner: Matt Moore, Miami Dolphins

Did someone say the Dolphins are surging? Someone stop the presses.

That makes three wins in a row for Moore and his aqua-and-sea green teammates.

The Dolphins not only won; they beat up an injured Buffalo Bills team.

And now with teams sliding in the AFC East (New York Jets and Buffalo Bills), the Dolphins look as tough as the Patriots right now.

Loser: Rex Ryan, New York Jets

At one point this season, the New York Jets were 3-0 and looked like world-beaters.

Oh, how the season has changed.

With the 17-13 loss Thursday night against Denver, head coach Rex Ryan and his Jets have to be asking how in the world they could not stop Tim Tebow from scoring from 20 yards out.

The Jets are 2-5 in their last seven games, including two games lost in five days.

Winner: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Stafford threw for 335 yards and five touchdowns as the Lions came back to beat Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers.

This marks the first time a team has won three games in a season after trailing each by at least 17 points.

The win also sets up an interesting showdown between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit on Thanksgiving.

Loser: Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills

Jackson, one of the NFL's leading rushers this season, went down with a leg injury in the Bills' 35-8 loss to the Dolphins.

The loss dropped the once-feared Bills to 5-5 on the season.

Buffalo was unable to score a single touchdown on the day, and Jackson had only 17 yards rushing.

Winner: Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers

Dare I say, the Pack is back!

At 10-0 on the season, one has to wonder if anyone will catch Green Bay.

Nelson caught six passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns during a 35-26 win over Tampa Bay.

Amazing.

Loser: Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

The rookie quarterback threw for 373 yards on the day but also tossed three interceptions in the 31-24 loss to Baltimore.

Cincinnati has lost ground two weeks in a row in the AFC North. The Bengals fell to Pittsburgh last week as well.

Winner: Mark Herzlich, New York Giants

Regardless of wins and losses, Mark Herzlich made his first career NFL start Sunday night.

Herzlich, an undrafted free agent from Boston College, signed with the Giants after the NFL draft. His story is special, because he battled through a rare form of bone cancer at Boston College and missed the 2009 season.

It just proves there are some things that are more important than catches and sacks.

Loser: Washington Redskins Quarterbacks

Rex Grossman won the starting job from John Beck in the preseason for the Washington Redskins.

Beck replaced Grossman, could not win a game and was replaced by Grossman.

Grossman and the Redskins lost their sixth straight game this week, falling in overtime to Dallas, 27-24.

Winner: Torrey Smith, Baltimore Ravens

The rookie receiver was the key cog in the Baltimore Ravens' 31-24 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Smith had six catches for 165 yards and a score.

Baltimore got the win and moved to 7-3 on the season. They are now in a tie with Pittsburgh, but the Ravens hold the 2-0 tiebreaker over the Steelers.

Loser: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

The franchise running back for the Minnesota Vikings left against Oakland with an ankle injury in the second quarter.

The team tried to rally but could not come back to win against the Raiders.

Winner: Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers

Is there anything this team cannot do?

At 9-1, the 49ers can clinch the NFC West with a win against Baltimore and a Seattle loss to Washington.

The San Francisco defense had three interceptions in the win over Arizona.

Loser: Tennessee's Rushing Game

The Titans were already handcuffed when Matt Hasselbeck went down with an injury in the 23-17 loss to the Falcons.

But the running game did not help things.

Chris Johnson had only 13 yards on 12 carries in the game against a stout Falcons' run defense.

Winner: Dan Bailey, Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys kicker hit from 39 yards in overtime to give Dallas a 27-24 win and sweep over archrival Washington.

The win also was the third straight for Dallas, which is now 6-4 on the season.

Tony Romo threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

Loser: John Skelton, Arizona Cardinals

Replacing the injured Kevin Kolb, Skelton lost for the first time in three starts in a 23-7 drubbing by the 49ers.

Skelton, a second-year pro, threw three interceptions in the contest.

Winner: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons quarterback threw for 316 yards and a touchdown in a 23-17 win over Tennessee.

The victory, which was aided by 100 yards rushing from Michael Turner, helped Atlanta get to 6-4 on the season.

Loser: San Diego Chargers

The team on the West Coast has now lost five straight after a 31-20 loss to the Bears.

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers threw two late interceptions in the loss.

The five-game losing streak is the longest for the Chargers since 2003.

Winner: Seattle Seahawks Defense

The Seahawks defense sacked Rams QB Sam Bradford five times in a 24-7 win.

Chris Clemons had three sacks and came up with both fumbles as the defense held St. Louis to just 185 yards in total offense.

On offense, Seattle RB Marshawn Lynch scored for the fourth straight game.

Loser: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs, a team that won 10 games last season, has lost four in a row following a 35-26 loss to Green Bay.

Josh Freeman threw for 342 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Buccaneers.