Week 11 of the 2025 NFL season kicked off Thursday with the red-hot Patriots beating the Jets. Rookie TreVeyon Henderson scored three touchdowns, moving New England to 3-0 in the AFC East.
Sunday's action started in Madrid, where the Dolphins defeated the Commanders in overtime. Back in the United States, the Jaguars stunned the Chargers with a strong defensive performance. At MetLife Stadium, the Packers snapped a two-game losing streak against the Giants. And elsewhere in the NFC North, the Bears picked up their first divisional win of the season with a time-expiring field goal against Minnesota.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let's get to it.
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CHI-MIN | GB-NYG | LAC-JAX
WSH-MIA | NYJ-NE
Chicago 19, Minnesota 17
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Bears
Can the Bears realistically win the NFC North? The Bears extended their win streak to three and remain in first place in the NFC North after picking up their first division win of the season. But this game had shades of the Week 1 meeting after Chicago blew a 13-point lead, allowing Minnesota to take a one-point lead in the final minute of the game. The Bears had six offensive drives get inside the Vikings' 40-yard line, but only came away with 19 points. Chicago is still searching for ways to put teams away sooner than the fourth quarter, but with the Bears' schedule getting harder from here on out, a win in Minnesota was critical for maintaining its hold on the division lead.
Trend to watch: While receiver Devin Duvernay's 56-yard kickoff return and kicker Cairo Santos' game-winning field goal saved the Bears late, Chicago's issues on special teams continue to make things too close for comfort. The Bears wiped away a 45-yard punt by Tory Taylor when cornerback Josh Blackwell was flagged for fair catch interference, gave up a 43-yard punt return that allowed the Vikings to score their first touchdown of the game late and missed a 45-yard field goal. -- Courtney Cronin
Next game: vs. Steelers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Vikings
Why did J.J. McCarthy stay in the game? McCarthy is the Vikings' short- and long-term plan at the position. Their first three quarters Sunday were the worst of his season, and McCarthy didn't complete his first pass in the second half until less than three minutes remained in the game. But throughout it all, he never seemed close to being replaced by backup Max Brosmer. Why? First, Brosmer is a rookie and completely untested. Second, the Vikings are committed to McCarthy, which at times -- as coach Kevin O'Connell said last week -- will require putting him in difficult situations. Had O'Connell made the move, McCarthy would have missed the reps that allowed him to spark an 85-yard drive to briefly take the lead in the fourth quarter. Consider it a sacrifice in the development of a quarterback.
Turning point: The Vikings defense never got a chance to protect the late lead McCarthy gave them, all because Bears kick returner Duvernay found a crease in the coverage and sprinted to a 56-yard return immediately after. The Bears didn't need to get a single first down to have Santos in field goal range, and he won it with a 48-yard conversion. -- Kevin Seifert
Next game: at Packers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Green Bay 27, N.Y. Giants 20
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Packers
Does this mean the Packers have turned things around? Hardly. It was a struggle for most of the game against a team that came into Week 11 with just two wins. The Packers trailed until quarterback Jordan Love hit wide receiver Savion Williams on a 32-yard heave on third down to set up a 17-yard touchdown pass to Christian Watson with 4:02 left. They still needed an Evan Williams interception in the end zone with 36 seconds left to seal it. Throw in another potentially problematic injury -- running back Josh Jacobs (knee) couldn't finish the game -- and the Packers are not exactly humming despite snapping a two-game losing streak.
Trend to watch: The Packers had five drops in the first half alone -- two by Romeo Doubs and one each by John FitzPatrick, Luke Musgrave and Dontayvion Wicks -- giving them eight in a six-quarter stretch dating back to Week 10. The five drops matched the most by the Packers in a first half since ESPN began tracking drops in 2006. Through Weeks 1 to 9, the Packers had only five drops. Missed interceptions don't count in the drop stats, but Carrington Valentine missed two in the first half, Javon Bullard dropped one in the fourth quarter and Keisean Nixon missed one on that same drive. -- Rob Demovsky
Next game: vs. Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Malik Willis gets a pass off in time to Christian Watson, who makes a touchdown catch with a defender all over him.
Giants
What did we see from the Giants under Mike Kafka? The Giants came out and fought hard for the interim coach. But it didn't result in a win despite the Giants leading with less than five minutes left. New York methodically moved the ball through most of the game, but a Jameis Winston interception in the final minute ruined Kafka's debut. With the interim head coach, there was a noticeably more aggressive approach. The Giants went for it on four fourth downs when they were down six points, stretching the third and fourth quarters. It's apparent Kafka isn't going to be playing conservative over the final six weeks.
Trend to watch: Wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins is back. After signing off the Steelers practice squad this week for a second stint with the team, he immediately became their top wide receiver. Hodgins played 78% of the snaps and caught five passes on six targets for 57 yards. That included a huge fourth-down catch in the fourth quarter that helped the Giants grab the lead, temporarily. -- Jordan Raanan
Next game: at Lions (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Jacksonville 35, L.A. Chargers 6
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Jaguars
Did the Jaguars set themselves up for a potential mini run? The Jaguars move to 6-4 after upsetting the Chargers, and they have winnable games at Arizona (3-6 entering Sunday) and at Tennessee (1-8 entering Sunday) before a Week 14 showdown against AFC South leader Indianapolis. What made this victory so impressive is that the Jaguars were down their top three corners (Travis Hunter, Jourdan Lewis and Greg Newsome II), top two receivers (Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr.), top two tight ends (Brenton Strange and Hunter Long), best offensive lineman (RT Anton Harrison) and best safety (Eric Murray). All of those players (except for Hunter) are expected to return within the next few weeks.
What to make of the QB performance: Trevor Lawrence's numbers weren't impressive -- 14-of-22 for 153 yards with a touchdown and an interception -- but he was efficient, which may be more important considering he was without his top three pass catchers. Lawrence also ran for a touchdown, which gives him five this season (tying his career-high set in 2022). Aside from the interception, which came on a throw behind receiver Tim Patrick, it was a good bounce-back from a rough fourth quarter against Houston last week. -- Mike DiRocco
Next game: at Cardinals (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)
Trevor Lawrence runs in the ball for a short touchdown to increase the Jaguars' lead.
Chargers
Does this loss prove the Chargers aren't serious contenders? The Chargers had won three straight games coming into Sunday, beating the one-win Titans, the Carson Wentz-led Vikings and the Steelers. But this stretch, ending with a loss to the Jaguars, is a microcosm of the inconsistencies that have defined this team. A deep playoff run for Los Angeles depends on which version shows up, and at this point, that's anyone's guess.
Stat to know: The Jaguars sacked quarterback Justin Herbert twice and pressured him 12 times (52% of his dropbacks). Herbert briefly left the game in the second quarter after he was driven into the ground by defensive lineman BJ Green II. The play was flagged for unnecessary roughness, but the hits on Herbert have moved past concerning. If the Chargers continue struggling to protect him, his health could be at risk. -- Kris Rhim
Next game: vs. Raiders (Nov. 30, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Miami 16, Washington 13 (OT)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Dolphins
Can the Dolphins claw their way back into the playoff picture? We would probably be laughed off the internet if we discussed this a month ago -- but hear us out! The Dolphins have now strung together their first winning streak of the season and sit at 4-7 entering their Week 12 bye. They'll return from the bye with games against the Saints and the Jets. If they keep their momentum, this win streak can realistically hit four games by the time they travel to Pittsburgh for "Monday Night Football" in Week 15; if they're 6-7, not only will the Dolphins be social media darlings, they'll also be firmly in the AFC playoff picture.
Turning point: Neither team looked like it wanted to win the game in the final minutes of regulation, but on the first play of overtime, Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones undercut a Marcus Mariota pass and returned it 8 yards to the Washington 33-yard line. The play set up Riley Patterson's game-winning field goal to send the Dolphins back to south Florida with a win despite questionable decision-making and time management at the end of regulation.
Best quote from the locker room: Linebacker Jordyn Brooks said Jones called his shot before the overtime interception. "If y'all stop the run, [Mariota's] gonna throw it to me because he can't throw," Jones said. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next game: vs. Broncos (Nov. 30, 8:20 p.m. ET)
Marcus Mariota's interception leads to the Dolphins' game-winning field goal in overtime over the Commanders.
Commanders
What more could go wrong for the Commanders? Just when it looked like Washington could snap its five-game losing streak, the Commanders found new ways to lose. An overtime interception on the first pass by Mariota set up the Dolphins' winning points. An injury to Jaylin Lane led to a new punt returner -- and a fumble by Mike Sainristil. Washington would have had the ball at its own 40. But it followed a series that ended on a failed fourth-and-1 when Mariota's pass to tight end Zach Ertz fell incomplete because the veteran slipped on his route. It has been that kind of season for Washington, which had 10 players considered starters entering the season sidelined by injuries or suspensions. And the losing streak has no end in sight.
Biggest hole in the game plan: Washington's red zone offense. The Commanders failed to convert any of their three trips into touchdowns and it cost them. There was a false start on a fourth-and-1 that forced a field goal; there was a failed run by Mariota and the Ertz slip. Had he not slipped he would have been in position to score. The Commanders entered ranked 22nd in red zone offense. It cost them a game Sunday. -- John Keim
Next game: vs. Saints (Nov. 30, 1 p.m. ET)
New England 27, N.Y. Jets 14
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Patriots
How does running back TreVeyon Henderson's role change when Rhamondre Stevenson returns from injury? Through the first eight games, Henderson was a complementary piece in playing 32.2% of the offensive snaps. But in Stevenson's three-game absence, he has played 82.1% of the offensive snaps and scored five touchdowns. So with Stevenson on the cusp of a return, possibly as soon as Week 12, the Patriots have to decide how to split things up between their top backs. Perhaps it becomes more of a 50-50 split than it was prior to Stevenson's injury, as limiting big-play opportunities for Henderson seems counterproductive.
What to make of the QB performance: Drake Maye settled into a rhythm early, completing his first 11 passes, the longest streak to start a game in his career. He was effective against the blitz, finishing the first half 5-of-5 for 41 yards and three first downs. Maye entered the game completing 69.1% of his passes against the blitz, ranking third in the NFL. He finished the game 25-of-34 for 281 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked only once, as his work in the pocket was some of his best of the season. -- Mike Reiss
Next game: at Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Jets
Is it time for Aaron Glenn to put Justin Fields on the bench? The first-year coach has been fiercely loyal to Fields, but this feels like a quarterback change is possible. No one expected Fields to blow up the stat sheet with his arm, and he passed for just 116 yards against the Patriots. That makes only 505 yards in his past five starts, one in which he was pulled at halftime. Veteran backup Tyrod Taylor sees the field better than Fields and is more willing to push the ball downfield. He could throw more interceptions than Fields, but there would be more explosive plays.
Trend to watch: It was a rough debut for wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. Acquired from the Colts in the Sauce Gardner trade, Mitchell dropped two passes. He had a step on cornerback Christian Gonzalez on a well-thrown deep ball but couldn't hold on. The Jets' passing attack isn't good enough to overcome killer mistakes. Nevertheless, you will see a lot of Mitchell for the remainder of the season. -- Rich Cimini
Next game: at Ravens (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)