nfl week 11: four things to keep an eye on

By Tayyib Abu

The final NFL week before Thanksgiving features big games, big talking points, and plenty of excitement. Here are four things to keep an eye on in Week 11.

The Story Of Two Rookies

AP Photo/John Locher

Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux dominated the headlines during the 2022 NFL Draft. Both players were selected in the top five, as the hometown Detroit Lions chose Hutchinson, while the New York Giants drafted Thibodeaux. Hutchinson and Thibodeaux will be forever linked after the events in April, and they will be reunited on Sunday as the Lions travel to face the Giants. 

Starting with Hutchinson, the Heisman Trophy runner-up has experienced the usual rookie growing pains mixed with tantalizing highs. Hutchinson leads all rookies in sacks, pressures, and quarterback hits. The Michigan-made product has added a relentless, aggressive mindset to the Detroit defensive front. The rookie is also joint-second among rookies in TFLs. At times, Hutchinson’s over-exuberance and naivety have hurt him. Nonetheless, the rookie has played solidly so far. 

As for Thibodeaux, his rookie season got off to a bad start as he picked up a nasty ankle injury in the preseason. That delayed his regular-season debut, and Thibodeaux has needed to play catch-up. The Oregon product has one sack, three quarterback hits, 18 pressures, and leads all rookies in pass rush win rate. 

Thibodeaux’s dynamic athleticism is there for all to see. He is effortlessly violent at the line of scrimmage. As Thibodeaux continues to learn, the sacks, hits, and pressures will surely come. 

Plenty of eyes will be on both players in this game. The Detroit pass rush is light with injuries to Josh Pascal and Charles Harris. Extra onus will therefore be on Hutchinson to play another big game. The big defensive end arguably played his best game last Sunday against the Bears, and Detroit will need more. 

Thibodeaux could run into former Oregon teammate Penei Sewell. Sewell is one of the best tackles in the business. The big Polynesian bully butting heads with a former teammate could lead to fireworks. 

Analysts will link Hutchinson and Thibodeaux forever; Sunday offers the first chance to see both on the same field.

Is The End Nigh?

It was not supposed to be like this; the Las Vegas Raiders hired Josh McDaniels to take the next step. Vegas traded for Davante Adams and signed pass rusher Chandler Jones in the offseason. Amid the chaos of 2021, they made the playoffs. A divisional challenge was the next step of the master plan. But plans are for paper, and the games get played on the field…

The Raiders are 2-7, stuck in another lost season. And in the court of fan opinion, Josh McDaniels’ seat is getting hot. His Raiders take on a Denver Broncos team that continues to plumb new depths in offensive futility. A loss in the Mile High City to a hideous Broncos team could spell the end of this version of the Raiders.

A divisional game in late November to save a job? It was not supposed to be like this.

Can The Bengals Win A Divisional Game?

NFL.com

The AFC North title race will play out across the early and late windows on Sunday. The Baltimore Ravens play the Carolina Panthers in the early slot, and the Cincinnati Bengals visit the Pittsburgh Steelers in the late window. The Bengals are one game behind the Ravens, but they are 0-3 in the division. In such a tight race, that record is unacceptable.

The last time Cincinnati played, they ran over a woeful Panthers team. That victory followed an ugly Monday Night Football defeat to the Cleveland Browns. The Bengals are inconsistent, erratic, and unpredictable. They were the same last season. However, the Ravens will not disappear this year. Cincinnati must start winning games they are expected to win. The Bengals are more talented on both sides of the ball, with or without Ja’Marr Chase.

Pittsburgh ambushed Cincinnati in Week 1. The Bengals need to avoid another one. Or the AFC North may start slipping away.

The 49ers Are Coming

Whisper it quietly, but the San Francisco 49ers are picking up some serious steam.

Since the start of October, the 49ers have been 4-2. They are one game behind the Seattle Seahawks and have a chance to join Seattle at the top on Monday Night Football. Moreover, the Niners have previous for hitting form at the right time. Last season, San Francisco went 8-3 in November, December, and January. That red-hot form propelled them to an NFC Championship Game appearance.

With Christian McCaffery settling in nicely and Jimmy Garoppolo gaining more confidence, the Niners are in a good spot heading to Mexico City. Football Outsiders currently rank San Francisco 11th in overall DVOA. They are 4th in scoring defense. Kyle Shanahan’s team may be the most balanced side in the NFC West. A win over an inconsistent Arizona Cardinals team will set them up for the run-in.

Feature Image Credit: Ethan Miller / Getty Images

TAYYIB ABU

CFB/NFL ANALYST

Tayyib is an avid NFL fan and, as a follower of the detroit lions, is a permanent resident in the honolulu blue heartbreak hotel. writing football articles since 2019, tayyib loves everything about the sport except that wins are not a qb stat. follow him on twitter @TayyibABU1

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