SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports NFL insider Jarrett Bell on the Eagles' blowout of the Cowboys and the Saints' impressive comeback win against Washington. USA TODAY Sports
As the NFL enters Thanksgiving week, several division leaders are starting to separate themselves from the pack. But the playoff picture is far from resolved.
Here are four overreactions from Week 11 we're pushing back on:
The Rams are coming down to earth after hot start
The Rams fell flat in their 24-7 road loss to the NFC North-leading Vikings. A chance to send a message to the rest of the league was lost, but Los Angeles can still use this as a teaching moment.
The Rams are extremely young on both their roster and coaching staff. A setback like this, in a hostile, playoff-like atmosphere can set expectations for the rest of the season and into the postseason.
That the team was undone largely by its own miscues – mostly notably rookie receiver Cooper Kupp's fumble at the 1-yard line and third-down drop – is a reminder of how sharp Sean McVay's group has to be to in order to keep up with contenders.
That lesson will continue to come into play during a stretch that ranks as the league’s second-toughest remaining schedule, with games remaining aainst the Saints, Eagles, and Seahawks. But the Rams still look like the front-runner in the NFC West.
More: NFL playoff picture after Week 11
More: 40 things we learned in Week 11 of the 2017 NFL season
The Cowboys are out of the NFC playoff chase
Dallas' hopes might be on life support, but it's too early to call anything.
Sunday night’s blowout against the Eagles further entrenched Philadelphia (9-1) atop the NFC East and bolstered the team's resume as a Super Bowl contender.
Injuries to left tackle Tyron Smith (back, groin) and linebacker Sean Lee (hamstring), as well as the suspension of running back Ezekiel Elliott, have loomed large during Dallas’ two-game skid.
But the Cowboys (5-5) likely weren’t going to compete for the division crown before those losses, anyway.
Between the 8-2 Saints and 7-3 Panthers, the NFC South will likely claim one of the two wild-card spots. So the Cowboys are likely playing for the sixth and final spot in the postseason, currently held by the Seattle Seahawks (6-3).
The margin of error, for the Cowboys, is drastically slim.
Both conferences are wide open
While the Eagles look balanced and complete, the NFC still has other teams – including the Saints, Vikings, and maybe even the Rams and Seahawks – that can compete against them.
The AFC is a different story.
More and more, this is looking like a two-team race. The Steelers (8-2) dominated the Titans on Thursday night after a long-awaited offensive breakout. The Patriots (8-2) are improving with each passing week, their defense again shutting opponents down.
Led by the NFL's top-ranked defense, the Jaguars (7-3) have been a surprise. But it's hard to imagine Blake Bortles can carry them against contenders. Beyond them, the Chiefs (6-4) are in free fall, and Tennessee (6-4) is just too inconsistent to be counted on in January.
After meeting in last season’s AFC Championship Game, Pittsburgh and New England look to be on a crash course for a rematch.
The biggest remaining question may only be where that game would be played. A Week 15 showdown between both squads in Pittsburgh could be the deciding factor.
The Broncos have addressed their biggest issue on offense
Denver fired offensive coordinator Mike McCoy on Monday morning after the Broncos lost to the Bengals in a lifeless showing that extended the team’s losing streak to six.
While grumbling about play calling and a complex playbook likely did have an impact in Denver’s offensive ineptitude, heaping all of the blame on McCoy’s shoulders is both unfair and misguided.
Denver (3-7) is still searching for an answer at quarterback in the post-Peyton Manning era. Brock Osweiler – with another debilitating turnover in the end zone – is clearly not the answer. Trevor Siemian, who opened the season as the starter, was a healthy scratch. And while Paxton Lynch has been injured during the regular season, the 2016 first-round pick's inability to beat out Siemian for the starter’s gig showed how much he still has to improve.
Meanwhile, the Broncos rank second in the NFL with 23 giveaways.
Prior to the Bengals loss, Broncos general manager John Elway said his team “got a little bit soft.”
Some players bristled, as cornerback Chris Harris said, “Ain’t nothing soft in my bones.”
If Elway thinks Denver is soft, some of that stems from his own roster decisions.
Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes.
PHOTOS: Best of NFL Week 11
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1 of 111![Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan throws on the run during]()
2 of 111![Seahawks defenders Sheldon Richardson (91) and Dion]()
3 of 111![Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) scrambles away]()
4 of 111![Seahawks defender Sheldon Richardson (91) brings down]()
5 of 111![Falcons receiver Mohamed Sanu (12) makes a leaping]()
6 of 111![Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17)]()
7 of 111![Philadelphia Eagles running back Corey Clement (30)]()
8 of 111![Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) is tackled]()
9 of 111![Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) runs the]()
10 of 111![Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenjon Barner (38)]()
11 of 111![New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis celebrates]()
12 of 111![New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola catches]()
13 of 111![Oakland Raiders wide receiver Seth Roberts cannot make]()
14 of 111![General view of Estadio Azteca during the playing of]()
15 of 111![Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Alex Erickson (12)]()
16 of 111![Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10)]()
17 of 111![Buffalo Bills quarterback Nathan Peterman is hit by]()
18 of 111![Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen dives over Detroit]()
19 of 111![Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen runs for a touchdown]()
20 of 111![Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky runs out]()
21 of 111![New York Giants kicker Aldrick Rosas celebrates with]()
22 of 111![Houston Texans running back D'Onta Foreman rushes for]()
23 of 111![Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy scores a touchdown]()
24 of 111![Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon leaps]()
25 of 111![Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams cannot]()
26 of 111![Green Bay Packers tight end Lance Kendricks holds onto]()
27 of 111![Former Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis gives]()
28 of 111![Cleveland Browns wide receiver Kenny Britt makes a]()
29 of 111![Baltimore Ravens defensive back Marlon Humphrey runs]()
30 of 111![Baltimore Ravens defensive back Jaylen Hill scores]()
31 of 111![Houston Texans running back Lamar Miller makes a reception]()
32 of 111![New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram breaks]()
33 of 111![Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce throws a]()
34 of 111![Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith scrambles]()
35 of 111![Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph catches a]()
36 of 111![Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Everson Griffen]()
37 of 111![Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy]()
38 of 111![Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer fumbles]()
39 of 111![New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara runs]()
40 of 111![New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and players]()
41 of 111![New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan celebrates]()
42 of 111![Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Trevon Coley and]()
43 of 111![The Los Angeles Chargers pose in the end zone after]()
44 of 111![Detroit Lions strong safety Don Carey reacts after]()
45 of 111![New York Giants wide receiver Roger Lewis catches a]()
46 of 111![Chicago Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller attempts to intercept]()
47 of 111![New York Giants wide receiver Roger Lewis celebrates]()
48 of 111![Baltimore Ravens running back Alex Collins tries to]()
49 of 111![Arizona Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones scores]()
50 of 111![Houston Texans running back D'Onta Foreman hurdles]()
51 of 111![New York Giants kicker Aldrick Rosas celebrates after]()
52 of 111![Cleveland Browns free safety Jabrill Peppers blocks]()
53 of 111![Houston Texans free safety Andre Hal celebrates with]()
54 of 111![Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace celebrates]()
55 of 111![Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Matt Judon celebrates]()
56 of 111![Los Angeles Chargers inside linebacker Korey Toomer]()
57 of 111![Miami Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills is tackled]()
58 of 111![Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald makes]()
59 of 111![Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins is pressured]()
60 of 111![Arizona Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones makes]()
61 of 111![Houston Texans former player Andre Johnson waves to]()
62 of 111![Back judge Steve Freeman tries to break up a scuffle]()
63 of 111![Arizona Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones scores]()
64 of 111![Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones catches a]()
65 of 111![Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo watches as he]()
66 of 111![New Orleans Saints players celebrate as an interception]()
67 of 111![Minnesota Vikings running back Latavius Murray celebrates]()
68 of 111![Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Danielle Hunter]()
69 of 111![Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen misses]()
70 of 111![Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson pushes off]()
71 of 111![Jacksonville Jaguars offensive guard Chris Reed congratulates]()
72 of 111![Jacksonville Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon jumps]()
73 of 111![Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver DeSean Jackson celebrates]()
74 of 111![Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry makes a]()
75 of 111![Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry celebrates]()
76 of 111![Minnesota Vikings safety Anthony Harris forces a fumble]()
77 of 111![Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron makes a catch during]()
78 of 111![Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith is up-ended]()
79 of 111![Houston Texans running back Lamar Miller celebrates]()
80 of 111![Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt runs for]()
81 of 111![Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews]()
82 of 111![Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Lavonte David]()
83 of 111![Houston Texans quarterback Tom Savage attempts to recover]()
84 of 111![Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith intercepts]()
85 of 111![New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram celebrates]()
86 of 111![Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce catches a]()
87 of 111![New York Giants running back Orleans Darkwa scores]()
88 of 111![Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley II scores]()
89 of 111![Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis celebrates]()
90 of 111![New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore breaks]()
91 of 111![Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker reacts to a safety]()
92 of 111![Houston Texans running back D'Onta Foreman fumbles]()
93 of 111![Chicago Bears tight end Adam Shaheen catches a touchdown]()
94 of 111![Chicago Bears tight end Daniel Brown is tackled by]()
95 of 111![Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald makes]()
96 of 111![Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah breaks the]()
97 of 111![Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue]()
98 of 111![Washington Redskins safety D.J. Swearinger intercepts]()
99 of 111![Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams makes]()
100 of 111![New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees takes a selfie]()
101 of 111![Antonio Brown makes a touchdown catch in front of the]()
102 of 111![Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster]()
103 of 111![Pittsburgh Steelers safety Robert Golden (20) celebrates]()
104 of 111![Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jesse James (81) reacts]()
105 of 111![Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger]()
106 of 111![Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) dives]()
107 of 111![Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84)]()
108 of 111![Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84)]()
109 of 111![Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) is]()
110 of 111![The national anthem is played at Heinz Field prior]()
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