WASHINGTON — Alex Smith’s sad coincidence, brazen thievery, a Super Bowl statement and an international incident is averted in the NFL Week 11 Recap. See photos from the dramatic weekend.
Rams 54 Six lead changes. A ridiculous 105 points. An all-star officiating crew. Two 400-yard passers, one of whom threw a Monday Night Football-record 6 TDs to inch ever closer to his ketchup-fueled dreams. Somehow, the highest scoring game in the 773-game history of Monday Night Football surpassed the massive hype of two 9-1 teams clashing in primetime. Let us all give thanks this game wasn’t exported to Mexico — and hope there’s a Super Bowl rematch. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez
Bears 25 After all the consternation over Cody Parkey’s kicking, his 3-for-3 night on field goals was the difference in Chicago’s crucial divisional victory that sets them up nicely to unexpectedly win the NFC North. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Saints 48 New Orleans has scored at least 45 points in three straight games and is in the midst of their first 9-game win streak since they won it all in 2009. Meanwhile, Philly’s 41-point beatdown is the largest for a defending Super Bowl champion. This was Super Bowl ships passing in the night. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Chargers 22 Phillip Lindsay is racking up yards and TDs, Von Miller is dominating and Bradley Chubb continues to threaten the history books. Just imagine how good Denver would be if they actually had a QB. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Cardinals 21 Oakland is so bad they can’t even tank right. If Derek Carr and Jon Gruden are yelling at each other now, just imagine what would happen if this win costs them the first overall pick. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
AP Photo/Rick Scuteri
Redskins 21 The D.J. Swearinger Revenge Tour trifecta fell short, and so did the Redskins’ first comeback of the season … but Houston’s record-tying seventh straight win after an 0-3 start was sullied by the sad coincidences of the Alex Smith injury. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally)
AP Photo/Mark Tenally
Ravens 24 After giving up 2,117 yards and 158 points the last four weeks, Cincinnati’s historically awful defense got gashed by a rookie in a struggling offense — Lamar Jackson’s 27 rushes are a Super Bowl era record by a QB, and tallied 117 of Baltimore’s 265 rushing yards — to allow the Ravens to leapfrog the Bengals for second-place in the AFC North. This (and more Animal House references) is just the boost Baltimore needs for a playoff push. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Jaguars 16 What a week for theft, Pittsburgh! First, the Steelers pillaged Le’Veon Bell, and then they stole a game against a team that’s owned them for years thanks to Ben Roethlisberger’s 41st game-winning drive in the 4th quarter or overtime (which passes another #7, John Elway, for 6th-most by a QB since the 1970 merger). I think now we can consider Jacksonville’s season over. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
AP Photo/Gary McCullough
Falcons 19 Dallas used their “not-so-secret weapon” to reverse some negative recent history and play their way within a Thanksgiving win of first place in the NFC East. Oh, and Atlanta is as bad as the Browns. Man, 2018 is crazy. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images
Giants 38 Jason Pierre-Paul had a big day against his former team, but Tampa continued its torrid turnover pace and allowed the Giants to put together their highest scoring output in two years for their first win streak in 700 days. Both of these teams need to blow it up and start over. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
Colts 38 Indianapolis is finally demonstrating what can happen when they keep Andrew Luck upright. He’s gone 214 straight pass attempts without getting sacked, allowing him to reel off seven straight 3 TD games to lead the Colts to five straight wins — their longest win streak in four years. If Houston stumbles down the stretch, Indy — not Tennessee — could be a surprise division winner. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images
Lions 20 Apparently, Cam Newton only gets to enjoy his wine and cigar in Carolina (where his Panthers are 5-0). He’ll get nothing and like it on the road (1-4). (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images
Seahawks 27 Fail Mary. The NFC title game two years later. It’s only fitting that another dramatic loss in Seattle has left Green Bay desperate for a “galvanizing moment” that’s highly unlikely to come in this lost season. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
AP Photo/Stephen Brashear
