Week 11 was a fairly unsurprising week. The Steelers stayed undefeated, the Raiders couldn’t upset the Chiefs again, the Saints kept on winning, and the Patriots kept on losing. Let’s see how this week’s featured players played.
Is Patrick Queen Derrick Henry’s Kryptonite?
Answer: No, but he’s still really good. This is a great example of football being a team sport. Queen led the Ravens with nine total tackles. The problem is the defensive line couldn’t slow Derrick Henry down. I like to think of Henry as a diesel engine. It takes him a bit of time to get going, but then he is unstoppable. Queen and the Ravens needed to get better penetration upfront, as Henry is at his weakest when you hit him in the backfield. I think Queen is still a pro-bowl caliber LB but he alone cannot stop a generational talent like Derrick Henry.
Is Jake Luton the one to break the Steeler’s win streak?
Answer: Nope. Luton had little to believe that he could beat the Steelers. Despite being sacked only twice, Luton threw four interceptions against the Steeler D. I think part of the blame needs to go on the defense. Subpar QBs like Garett Gilbert, have been able to keep the game close without too much offense, relying on their defense and slow starting Steeler offense. Unfortunately for Luton, the Jags fell behind early, forcing the rookie to have to throw the football 37 times. Any QB under that much pressure will make mistakes sometimes.
Can Taysom Hill keep the Saints on track?
Answer: YES. Hill looked like he was a veteran starter on Sunday. Expectedly, Hill ran the ball often, as he amassed 49 yards and 2 touchdowns on 10 carries, which was more than Alvin Kamara’s numbers. But what was more surprising was how well Latavius Murry played with Hill under center. The veteran backup was tied with Hill at the top of the Saints rushing attack, and also hauled in two catches for 36 yards. The only worrisome note for the Saints is that Alvin Kamara’s numbers have dropped significantly. If the Saints keep playing like this, a February game in Tampa could be on the cards.
That’s it for this article. Check back before Sunday’s game to know all that you need to watch for in the Week 12 matchups.
