NFL Week 11 takeaways: What we learned from Sunday’s 13 games

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Jeremy Bergman’s delivery:

1. The Dolphins keep their playoff hopes alive heading into the bye. Sunday’s blowout in Spain wasn’t Miami’s best, a major letdown after a convincing win over the reigning AFC East champion Bills in Week 10. But the Dolphins’ overtime loss to the Commanders, riddled with missed opportunities and an inefficient offense, was enough to keep the season alive. De’Von Achane again served as Miami’s engine on offense, averaging 5.7 yards per 20 carries (165 total yards), while Ollie Gordon II served as a pounding change of pace (nine carries, 45 yards). Both were sacked at the 1-yard line on the Commanders’ crucial goal line in the fourth quarter but also got theirs; Gordon picked up the tying game and Achane capped off the overtime victory with 22 yards on three carries and a layup. Riley Pattersongame winning kick. Miami’s defense also stepped up when needed. Jack Jones‘selected by Marcus Mariota in the first game of overtime (the first such contest in the NFL since Week 5, 2021) effectively sealed the game for the Finns, and before the big game DB had 20 combined tackles in the NFL season (10 solo) Jordyn Brooks. At 4-7, Miami is technically not out of the top-heavy AFC playoff picture. After Week 12, the Dolphins have a bye against four teams with a combined record of 12-26 (vs. Saints, at Jets, at Steelers, vs. Bengals) before taking on two teams that currently comfortably lead their respective divisions (vs. Bucs, at Pats). So you are saying there is a possibility…
2. Washington D stands up in Quinn’s first game as a player. After missing a defensive game amid a five-game losing streak, Dan Quinn took over the playmaking duties from manager Joe Whitt Jr. this week. The result? Washington allowed just 16 points and 311 yards, its fewest since a season-opening win over the lowly Giants. The Chiefs bent but rarely broke, stopping four of five Dolphins drives inside the 30-yard line before overtime, including two goal-line stops at the 1-yard line. Down suspended Darron PayneWashington felt inspired pressure from Eddie Goldman and Javon Kinlaw and kept the possibility of victory alive. A disciplined pass rush resulted in three sacks Jonathan JonssonJacob Martin and Hope Millerand Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luva were solid in the middle of the field. A notable one-game improvement was still too little, too late, as the offense didn’t hold up and Matt Gay missed two field goals. With the loss, Washington fell to 3-8, much closer to the top pick in the draft than the rotation.
3. Teams with little to lose play to win — and almost draw. With both Washington’s and Miami’s seasons on the brink of collapse, after star injuries and tough stretches, both clubs came into Sunday’s historic tie in Madrid looking to take chances. They gave an effort, at least. With both teams struggling on third downs (9 of 22 combined for the game), the Chiefs and Dolphins weren’t afraid to go for it in the fourth. In the second half, Miami and Washington traded turnovers inside the opponent’s two-yard line. Despite not leading by more than one field goal at any time, Miami tied the score in the third quarter and then deadlocked in the fourth on fourth-and-goal attempts. Both were stuffed, one by Bobby Wagner on a pass attempt on Jaylen Waddle and the other on a tackle on Ollie Gordon. Washington was guilty of trying to go ahead with a TD instead of a field goal between Miami’s two drives, but Marcus Mariota missed Zach Ertz, who slipped on the Bernabeu turf. The commanders’ red zone percentage no.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Commander-Dolphins (via NFL Pro): Dolphins RB De’Von Achane ran outside the tackles on 17 of his 21 carries against the Chiefs, gaining 109 yards (47.1% success rate) on outside runs compared to just 11 yards on four inside passes (25.0% success rate). Achane recorded a career-high six rushing yards, along with 76 yards after a touchdown, the most allowed by a Chiefs running back this season.

NFL Research: Jordyn Brooks led the Dolphins with 20 tackles in their win over the Commanders. Sunday was Brooks’ second game this season with at least 16 tackles (Week 4 vs. Jets), making him the first Miami player with at least two games of 16-plus tackles since Hall of Famer Zach Thomas in 2006.