Rúben Amorim has taken his first training session as Manchester United head coach following the approval of his visa, a source has told ESPN.

Amorim took charge of a session at Carrington on Monday ahead of his first game against Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Sunday.

United's non-international players, including Marcus Rashford and Casemiro, have reported back after being given time off following the 3-0 win over Leicester City. The rest of the squad are due back on either Wednesday or Thursday.

Players undergoing rehabilitation programmes, including Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Leny Yoro, met Amorim and his staff last week.

According to a source, the 39-year-old coach and the majority of his backroom staff received their work permits last week.

Amorim arrived in Manchester a week ago and has been holding meetings at Carrington. He was given a tour on Old Trafford on Thursday before giving his first interview to the club's in-house TV channel MUTV.

He's set to hold his first news conference on either Thursday or Friday before the squad travels to Ipswich on Saturday. Amorim faces a busy schedule to start his reign with nine games in a month before Christmas.

"When Manchester United talked to me, they told me about their plans and you get excited," Amorim told MUTV.

"It's a real honour because I was the first choice to start that path. So it's a great responsibility. But you feel honoured and excited to be part of that."

Moments after scoring one of the most iconic goals in NWSL history in her team's most important game to date, Orlando Pride forward Marta clutched her fist and unleashed a passionate scream before beating her chest and then, with her two thumbs, pointing to the famous No. 10 on the back of her purple jersey.

Even at 38, the six-time world player of the year was still the otherworldly star making defenders helplessly fall to the ground as she figuratively gestured: "Are you not entertained!?"

Marta was celebrating what turned out to be the winning goal of the top-seeded Pride's 3-2 semifinal victory over the No. 4 seed Kansas City Current on Sunday at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando to punctuate the most captivating semifinal playoff round the NWSL has seen.

Now, the two best teams in the league will square off in the final on Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri, where the Pride will face the No. 2-seeded Washington Spirit. Everything about this NWSL postseason has been entertaining -- and deviated from the league's unpredictable norm.

The higher seed has won every game of the playoffs, an obvious statistic in a vacuum but a shocking fact for a league whose unofficial brand is chaos. When Orlando and Washington meet on Saturday, it will mark the first time since 2019 that the top two seeds reached the final. It's also the first time the Shield winner has made the final in five years.

Coming off historic parity in 2023 -- a season in which first and last place were separated by only 13 points, and the No. 6 seed won the title -- this year has been about the stars and the individual and team level. The top four teams were in a class of their own, with the fourth-place Kansas City Current finishing 16 points above the fifth-place North Carolina Courage. Orlando finished 40 points above the last-place Houston Dash.

All four top seeds advanced in the opening round of the playoffs, which led to an incredible semifinal round in which the margins were thin. Washington knocked out NJ/NY Gotham FC on Saturday in a penalty shootout thanks to the triple-save efforts of Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury. Orlando held on to survive a late Kansas City onslaught in 19 minutes of stoppage time.

Each of the weekend's victors leaned into their strengths to prevail: The Spirit rallied for an equalizer in second-half stoppage time on a combination between two rookies -- Makenna Morris and Hal Hershfelt -- to claw back into a game late, as they have so many times this year.

Orlando's role players put in huge shifts -- including unheralded Haley McCutcheon, who scored in her second straight playoff game -- as Marta and star striker Barbra Banda scored memorable goals.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's semifinal about what might separate two of the best teams the league has ever seen, Kansas City coach Vlatko Andonovski said the game probably would come down to a moment of brilliance. He was right -- although it was moments, plural.

The same can now be said about Saturday's championship, one that with no hyperbole might be the most anticipated in league history.

Orlando set a league points record (60) and both teams finished the regular season with 18 victories, also a league record. Both squads feature global stars, headlined by U.S. international forward Trinity Rodman for the Spirit, and each team has a ludicrous amount of roster depth.

The midfield battle will be a scrap, with Hershfelt patrolling from a deep area for the Spirit and McCutcheon and Angelina counteracting her for Orlando.

Banda -- and, as she reminded the world again Sunday, Marta -- can single-handedly change a game, but so too can Rodman, who delivered the winning assist in extra time as a rookie in the 2021 final, when the Spirit won their only trophy to date.

Wide areas could decide the winner Saturday, as they partly did throughout the semifinals. Both goals before the penalty shootout in the Gotham-Spirit semifinal came on the heels of individual brilliance on the flank.

The Pride gave up an early goal to Kansas City on Sunday in a transition moment that ended with Current forward Michelle Cooper getting to the endline on the right flank and crossing the ball to Debinha for the finish. Orlando quickly answered when McCutcheon redirected a cross from winger Ally Watt, who sized up Current rookie defender Ellie Wheeler one-on-one in the right channel.

Expect Saturday's final to be a chess match between two of the best coaches in the league who each came to this moment on two wildly different roads.

Spirit head coach Jonatan Giráldez left the glory of Barcelona, which he led to the two most recent European crowns, to take on the challenge of the NWSL starting halfway through this season. He has pulled all the right strings even while dealing with mounting injuries, including season-ending issues for three starters.

Pride head coach Seb Hines played for Orlando's MLS club before becoming an assistant through three different Pride coaching regimes. He took over as interim in 2022 as the Pride were at another low point and turned a hopeless club into a team that was difficult to beat and, for the first time in years, a place players wanted to be. Hines is stoic; Giráldez wears his heart on his sleeve -- or at least did in a rowdy, chippy semifinal.

The Pride and Spirit were separated by only four points in the regular season. Orlando clinched the NWSL Shield in October with a 2-0 home victory over a Spirit team depleted by injuries (which were compounded by midfielder and captain Andi Sullivan tearing her ACL in that game). Marta made the difference on that day, too, scoring the winning goal from the penalty spot.

Afterward, she was reduced to tears as she celebrated her first U.S. domestic club trophy since winning the 2011 title in a now defunct league.

"I stayed here because I want to make history with this team," Marta said after that Shield-clinching victory on Oct. 6. "And then we did tonight, and then we go for more."

As Hines said after Sunday's semifinal victory, the Pride and the Spirit were the two best teams this year and they deserve to be in the final. They each proved that again in the semifinals as they came from behind and leveraged every bit of depth and star power on their respective rosters.

On Saturday, they meet again in a heavyweight fight likely to be decided by a few moments of brilliance. If even a modicum of energy from the playoffs thus far is brought to that game, it guarantees to entertain.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Chargers have long been synonymous with losing in the most heartbreaking fashion.

As Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase danced in the end zone in the fourth quarter Sunday after helping Cincinnati rally from an 18-point first-half deficit, this game appeared to be another chapter in a book laden with Chargers disappointments.

But Sunday night was different. The defense and quarterback Justin Herbert buoyed the Chargers as they avoided another late-game meltdown to beat the Bengals 34-27 at SoFi Stadium. The win was the most glaring declaration of how different these Chargers are under coach Jim Harbaugh.

"This team came with more purpose," linebacker Daiyan Henley said. "Maybe it wasn't there last year for whatever reason, but right now we have purpose, we have belief."

Outside linebacker Joey Bosa is the longest-tenured Charger, drafted by the team in San Diego in 2016.

In a meeting with the defense on Saturday, he told his teammates about a cynical feeling that would overcome Chargers teams in big games that they would always somehow lose. But Bosa said he told the group this year felt different and that he had a special feeling about this Chargers team, a feeling he had never felt in his career.

"Having Coach Harbaugh and having the whole staff, I think, has shifted the culture here," Bosa said.

He continued: "I feel like we have a shot. ... It just feels a little different right now. It feels like if we keep doing what we need to and preparing the way we do, not getting comfortable, and just continuing to improve every week, I think we have a shot at something special."

Coming into Sunday's game, the Chargers boasted the league's best-scoring defense, holding opponents to 13.1 points per game. But they had faced the league's second-easiest schedule, according to ESPN analytics, raising questions about how good this defense really was.

Cincinnati, which was sixth in the league in points per game (26.1), would be the first test for this unit. Henley said Harbaugh talked to the team Friday about the many critics of the defense to motivate his players for Sunday.

In the end, the Chargers' defense fluctuated from stout to abysmal. The 27 points allowed were a season high, and their 21 points allowed in the second half were the most they've allowed since Week 15 of last season, when they gave up 21 to the Las Vegas Raiders. (Coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco were fired after that loss.)

But the defense got crucial stops late, including a hit on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow by Henley that forced an incomplete pass.

"Defense was at our best when our best was needed," Harbaugh said.

Herbert took the field with 45 seconds remaining on the Chargers' 16-yard-line and quickly turned L.A.'s potential heartbreak into a storybook ending.

He connected with wide receiver Ladd McConkey for completions of 28 and 27 yards to put the Chargers in position for a field goal to seal the game. On their next drive, however, he handed the ball to running back J.K. Dobbins, who broke free for a 29-yard touchdown to effectively end the game.

It was Herbert's 15th winning drive since he entered the league in 2020, the second most in the NFL over that span. He finished with 297 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns and 5 carries for 65 rushing yards.

"Start the MVP talks," Dobbins said.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants have benched the struggling Daniel Jones and are expected to name Tommy DeVito as their new starting quarterback, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The benching of Jones starts the process of the last-place Giants moving on from the quarterback they signed to a four-year, $160 million deal less than two years ago.

DeVito will start in Jones' place beginning Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium. The Giants (2-8), who are coming off their bye week, also have veteran Drew Lock, who has served as Jones' backup for every game this season.

The change at the quarterback position comes with seven games remaining in New York's season. Although the Giants' record and Jones' play were key factors in the move, ownership and general manager Joe Schoen also had to consider that there is a $23 million injury guarantee in his contract for 2025 that becomes fully guaranteed if he gets injured and is unable to pass a physical in the offseason.

The Giants are not the first team to sit a quarterback to protect themselves against a substantial injury guarantee. Last year alone, the Denver Broncos did the same with Russell Wilson ($37 million) and the Las Vegas Raiders with Jimmy Garoppolo ($11.25 million).

Coach Brian Daboll said after the Week 10 loss to the Carolina Panthers that the Giants would "evaluate" everything during their bye week -- a stark contrast to the previous weeks, when he immediately committed to Jones after losses. At that point, the wheels were in motion to make a quarterback change.

But there have been signs in previous weeks that the Giants would eventually head in this direction. They openly looked for a quarterback at the top of this year's draft and also pulled Jones in a 28-3 Week 7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles four weeks ago.

DeVito won three straight games last year as a surprise starter following injuries to Jones and Tyrod Taylor. He was the third-string quarterback for every game this season behind Lock.

Jones has struggled since winning a playoff game after the 2022 season and signing his deal in March 2023, with the Giants going 3-13 in his 16 starts over the past two seasons. He has 10 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions, including two costly picks deep in Carolina territory during New York's 20-17 overtime loss in Germany.

Jones, 27, has thrown two touchdown passes and four interceptions in his past five games. He also failed to connect with open wide receivers on a flea-flicker against the Panthers, sending Daboll into a visible tizzy. He went down the sideline yelling and with his arms flailing in disgust.

The Giants, who are 32nd in the NFL in scoring at 15.6 points per game, are in line for one of the top picks in next year's draft, which presumably will go toward a quarterback.

Moving on from Jones is as big an indictment on Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen as it is on the quarterback. They signed him to the eye-opening deal with Jones coming off the best season of his career in 2022 and used the franchise tag on running back Saquon Barkley, who is now thriving with the rival Philadelphia Eagles.

Jones threw 15 touchdown passes and just six interceptions while finishing sixth in QBR during the career year in 2022. He also was close to flawless in a playoff win over the Minnesota Vikings.

But the Giants haven't been able to get Jones back to playing at that level, partly due to injuries and an inoperable offensive line last season. Jones missed games in 2023 with a neck injury and torn ACL.

Week 11 of the NFL season kicked off Thursday with quarterback Jalen Hurts leading the Philadelphia Eagles past the Washington Commanders.

Around the NFL on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers earned a statement win over the Baltimore Ravens, the Detroit Lions overpowered the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints look like they are headed in the right direction after posting their second consecutive wins.

Later, the Denver Broncos demolished the Atlanta Falcons, quarterback Geno Smith helped lead the Seattle Seahawks past the San Francisco 49ers and the Buffalo Bills handed the Kansas City Chiefs their first loss of the season. On Sunday night, the Los Angeles Chargers jumped on the Cincinnati Bengals early only to squander a 21-point lead before recovering for a win.

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.

Jump to:
WSH-PHI | JAX-DET | LV-MIA
IND-NYJ | BAL-PIT | CLE-NO
GB-CHI | MIN-TEN | LAR-NE
ATL-DEN | KC-BUF | SEA-SF | CIN-LAC

Los Angeles Chargers 34, Cincinnati 27

Chargers

Should the Chargers be concerned with how they won this game? While the Chargers escaped Sunday night with a victory to move them to 7-3 on the season, it was much more difficult than it needed to be and highlighted this team's second-half flaws. The Chargers needed two missed field goals from Cincinnati and a late rushing score from L.A. running back J.K. Dobbins to save them from an embarrassing loss. It showed that the Bolts can finish a game even amid a near meltdown, but this style of winning likely won't be sustainable for a team looking to make a deep postseason run.

Describe the game in two words: Meltdown averted. For much of the second half, this team looked like the Chargers of old in allowing explosive plays and featuring a stalled offense and an uncharacteristic turnover from Justin Herbert. But L.A. got defensive stops when it needed them and converted offensively to come out with a win in the type of game this franchise's fans are accustomed to losing.

Most surprising performance: Ladd McConkey. The rookie wide receiver notched his best performance and served as Herbert's safety valve with the game on the line in the fourth quarter. He caught six passes for 123 yards and helped the Chargers end the contest. The rookie has emerged as Herbert's most trusted target. -- Kris Rhim

Next game: vs. Ravens (next Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Bengals

Are the Bengals' playoff hopes done? Most likely. Earlier in the season, Joe Burrow said 10 wins would be enough to get into the playoffs comfortably. Now, that's the maximum number of games Cincinnati (4-7) can win in the regular season. And the Bengals still must face the AFC North-leading Steelers twice in the final six games. With no margin for error, Cincinnati will need to do something special in order to avoid missing the postseason for the second straight year.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The pass defense, especially on the last drive. Cincinnati did a good job responding after a bad first half at SoFi Stadium. But with the game on the line, the defense allowed two big plays through the air that set up the winning touchdown. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had four completions of 20 or more air yards on the night, per NFL Next Gen Stats, including two scores.

Describe the game in two words: Prime-time heartbreak. What could have been the biggest comeback on the road in franchise history ended up being another one-score loss that might define a failed Bengals season. -- Ben Baby

Next game: vs. Steelers (Dec. 1, 1:00 p.m. ET)

Seattle 20, San Francisco 17

Seahawks

Can this win turn the Seahawks' season around? It was headed in the wrong direction, with five losses in six games and a tumultuous week in which leading tackler Tyrel Dodson was waived and center Connor Williams abruptly retired. It led some to question whether the vibes were off in Seattle's locker room. But this win has turning-point potential, as the Seahawks finally got over the hump against a division rival that had beaten them six straight times. They won in dramatic fashion with embattled quarterback Geno Smith leading a game-winning drive.

Describe the game in two words: Hero Geno. Smith went 7-of-8 for 54 yards on the winning drive and added two rushes for 29 yards, including the climactic 13-yard touchdown. Per ESPN Research, it was Smith's seventh game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime since the start of last season, which is tied for most in the NFL in that span.

Most surprising performance: The Seahawks' defense. The unit didn't have an answer for receiver Jauan Jennings, but it kept them in the game. The defense played better than it did in any of Seattle's previous six losses to the 49ers, who averaged over 30 points in those games. Three of San Francisco's points in this one resulted from a careless interception from Smith in 49ers territory. -- Brady Henderson

Next game: vs. Cardinals (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

49ers

How much damage does Sunday's loss do to the 49ers' playoff chances? A lot. With a 1-3 record in divisional games, the Niners' chances of winning the NFC West took another significant hit. Winning the division for a third straight year is the cleanest path to the playoffs but clearly nothing is going to come clean -- or easy -- this year. They now face a difficult two-game road test at Green Bay and Buffalo near Thanksgiving. If they can't find a way to win at least one of those games, they'll face a home stretch in which they'd have to be nearly perfect to elbow their way back into the postseason picture.

Most surprising performance: Wide receiver Jauan Jennings. The 49ers' offense was sluggish and needed a spark. Jennings provided it. After falling behind late, Jennings converted an improbable third-and-11 on his way to 10 receptions for 91 yards and a score -- a gallant effort from one of the team's breakout stars.

Describe the game in two words: No excuses. This is the third time in four divisional games the 49ers have lost a fourth-quarter lead. Yes, the Niners were missing end Nick Bosa (hip and oblique injuries) as well as tight end George Kittle (hamstring) but this was still a winnable game with one more first down on offense or stop on defense. San Francisco got neither and the result it deserved. -- Nick Wagoner

Next game: at Packers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Buffalo 30, Kansas City 21

Bills

Does this win prove the Bills are the best team in the AFC? There's some competition still, but the Bills are certainly front and center in that conversation. This was a statement win against the sole undefeated team in the NFL and the defending Super Bowl champion. The Bills put up 30 points against a Kansas City team that hasn't allowed more than 30 points since Week 4 of 2022, forcing quarterback Patrick Mahomes to throw two interceptions. This win keeps the Bills in the race for the No. 1 seed.

Describe the game in two words: MVP conversation. Allen made his case for being a front-runner in the MVP race with his 26-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-2 that practically killed any chance the Chiefs had to win the game. He weaved his way past defenders to get to the end zone, notching the second-longest scramble touchdown in his career.

Most surprising performance: The Bills' rushing offense. Buffalo could not get anything going on the ground. The Bills rushed 13 times for 22 yards on first down, an average of 1.7 yards per play. The running backs finished with 49 yards on 19 carries (averaging 2.6 yards). They'll have to find ways to avoid becoming one-dimensional, especially in these back-and-forth games. -- Alaina Getzenberg

Next game: vs. 49ers (Dec. 1, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Chiefs

How much damage did this loss do to the Chiefs' chances at the AFC's No. 1 seed? Plenty, according to ESPN Analytics. The Chiefs were given a 91% chance of getting the No. 1 seed had they beaten the Bills. But now their chances are down to 54%. They have to worry about finishing ahead of not only the two-loss Bills, who have the tiebreaker against them, but also the two-loss Steelers. The Chiefs and Steelers will meet Christmas Day in Pittsburgh.

Most surprising performance: Tight end Travis Kelce. He had been on a nice run of late, but the Bills held him to two catches for 8 yards. He has had big games against Buffalo in recent seasons, and there was no way the Bills were going to allow him another performance like the 5-catch, 75-yard, 2-touchdown showing he had in the playoffs last season.

Describe the game in two words: No nail-biter. The Chiefs are used to playing in games decided in the final minutes, even on the last play. They were looking to play in a game decided by a more comfortable margin, but this was not what they had in mind. Worse yet, they were outplayed by the Bills. -- Adam Teicher

Next game: at Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Denver 38, Atlanta 6

Broncos

Has quarterback Bo Nix put himself in the Rookie of the Year conversation? Nix has flourished since October began, including in the Broncos' sweep of the NFC South. He was 28-of-33 passing for 307 yards and four touchdowns Sunday. It was his first four-touchdown effort and first 300-yard passing game in the NFL. He has 13 touchdown passes in the past seven games and has topped 70% completions in four of those, including Sunday. He has thrown just two interceptions in the past nine games, and the Broncos are 6-3 over that span. Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was the easy pick a month ago, but Nix might be playing the best of all the rookie signal-callers right now.

Early prediction for next week: As the backfield wheel continues to spin for coach Sean Payton, the Broncos will keep wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. involved. Mims, who had eight touches in the first nine games, has appeared as a running back over the past two weeks. After four receptions and three carries last week, he had his first receiving touchdown of the season and three carries against the Falcons.

Describe the game in two words: Perfect tonic. Last week's loss in Arrowhead was a soul crusher -- a blocked game-winning field goal on the last play. While Payton maintained all week that he thought his team had rebounded emotionally, the Broncos proved it with another high-level defensive performance and one of their most efficient offensive showings of the season. They scored a touchdown on their first possession for the first time since Week 3. -- Jeff Legwold

Next game: at Raiders (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Falcons

How can the Falcons hold onto their status as favorites in the NFC South? Two weeks ago, the Falcons were celebrating their best start (6-3) since 2016. Now, Atlanta goes into its bye week on a two-game losing streak with a struggling defense that's banged up in the secondary. Falcons coach Raheem Morris will need the week off to make changes to a unit that has come out flat time after time. The Buccaneers have an easy remaining slate and the Saints are on a two-game winning streak. Atlanta cannot rest on its laurels.

Describe the game in two words: Murphy's Law. Everything that could go wrong for the Falcons did go wrong. They had critical penalties, a controversial overturned fourth-down conversion for the Broncos and they lost cornerback Kevin King to a concussion when the team was already down three defensive backs. It was by far Atlanta's most disastrous performance of the season.

Eye-popping stat: The Falcons sent four or fewer pass rushers on all of Bo Nix's 21 first-half dropbacks. The passive strategy resulted in just three pressures, and the Broncos quarterback made Atlanta pay by going 17-of-19 for 193 yards and two touchdowns before halftime. The Falcons didn't dial up much pressure in the second half either. -- Marc Raimondi

Next game: vs. Chargers (Dec. 1, 1 p.m. ET)

L.A. Rams 28, New England 22

Rams

Can the Rams' offense sustain this success as they attempt a playoff run? After the Rams didn't score a touchdown against Miami, coach Sean McVay called the offense "inconsistent." While the Rams scored 28 points against the Patriots, they did it all in the second and third quarters. The Rams did not turn the ball over for the first time since Week 3. They'll face a tougher test in Week 12 against a Philadelphia defense ranked seventh in DVOA. The Rams have won three out of four games after a 1-4 start and now have a playoff probability of 14%, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

Eye-popping stat: Matthew Stafford's second-quarter touchdown pass to wide receiver Puka Nacua had a completion probability of 13.5%, per NFL Next Gen Stats. That's Stafford's lowest completion probability on any passing touchdown since 2017, when NGS began tracking that stat. The play gave the Rams a lead they never relinquished.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Another slow start offensively. For the seventh time in 10 games, the Rams failed to score in the first quarter. They have been outscored by 50 points in first quarters this season, which is the worst in the NFL, according to ESPN Research. When asked last week whether they could pinpoint the reason for the early scoring struggles, both Stafford and McVay said it's the result of poor execution. -- Sarah Barshop

Next game: vs. Eagles (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Patriots

Does first-year coach Jerod Mayo need to be more aggressive with his playcalling? Mayo has referred to himself as a "defensive head coach," and some of his decision-making reflected that. He didn't attempt a 54-yard field goal (tough wind in that direction); he settled for a field goal on fourth-and-3 from the Rams' 13 late in the second quarter, not going for it on fourth-and-goal from the 2 in the third quarter; and he called for a PAT instead of a two-point conversion while trailing 28-19 early in the fourth quarter (it was blocked). Such decisions are always easy to second guess, but none worked out for the Patriots. Mayo has said he's taking notes throughout his first season and plans to learn from his experience. This game presented multiple decisions from which he can learn.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Aligning correctly along the offensive line. The Patriots led 7-0 and appeared to convert on third-and-8 on a 17-yard connection from quarterback Drake Maye to tight end Hunter Henry. But an illegal formation penalty called on left tackle Vederian Lowe -- which might have been a result of how deep left guard Michael Jordan aligned next to him -- negated the play. It was a turning point in the game.

Most surprising performance: Pass coverage. It certainly didn't help that the Patriots couldn't generate a consistent rush, but the secondary -- which is a strength of the defense -- didn't have many answers for the potent combination of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. Nacua had six receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Kupp had two touchdowns, and the latter was a backbreaking 69-yarder early in the third quarter. -- Mike Reiss

Next game: at Dolphins (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Minnesota 23, Tennessee 13

Vikings

Was this a bounce-back game for quarterback Sam Darnold? Absolutely. The game began inauspiciously when, on the third play of the Vikings' first possession, Darnold's pitch to running back Aaron Jones hit the ground and was recovered by the Titans. But after committing six turnovers in the previous two games, Darnold held on to the ball for the rest of the game while throwing two touchdown passes and running for a third. That was no small feat given the heavy pressure (38% of offensive snaps) he endured from the Titans' defensive front, which was active even after the Vikings gave right guard Dalton Risner -- a strong pass blocker -- his first start of the season.

Describe the game in two words: Penalty buffet. The Vikings had two touchdown drives extended by penalties against the Titans, including one on a fourth down incompletion. Penalties sometimes cancel out over the course of a game, but the Vikings held a big advantage throughout and ended up with three for 35 yards compared to the Titans' 13 for 91 yards.

Most surprising performance: Backup linebacker Pat Jones II pressured Titans quarterback Will Levis throughout the game, finishing with two sacks. They were his first sacks since Week 4, but he already has a career-high seven on the season. -- Kevin Seifert

Next game: at Bears (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Titans

Can quarterback Will Levis' big plays boost him for the rest of the season? Levis showed glimpses of the deep passer he was last season. It started with a beautifully thrown pass from his own end zone to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for a 98-yard touchdown. Levis' deep strike to Calvin Ridley for 51 yards on a post the next series was another well-placed pass, but an illegal formation penalty called it back. Those two passes seemed to do something for Levis. With seven games left in the season, he can build upon his season-high 295 passing yards in his quest to prove he's Tennessee's future at QB.

Describe the game in two words: Uphill battle. The Titans knew they were going to be attacked by Brian Flores' defense. Minnesota did just that against the Titans' offensive line, resulting in five sacks. The Titans also didn't get the benefit of the whistle. The biggest penalty they committed was against safety Mike Brown, who was called for a personal foul after he broke up a pass on fourth down.

Early prediction for next week: The Titans have allowed quarterbacks to rush for a touchdown in each of their past two games, and Darnold managed to escape multiple would-be sacks and deliver the ball downfield for big plays. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud could rush for his first touchdown of the year next week. -- Turron Davenport

Next game: at Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Green Bay 20, Chicago 19

Packers

Is this what quarterback Jordan Love needed to get rolling? On a day when the Packers signal-caller threw his 11th interception to match his season total from last year, he and the offense left Soldier Field knowing that if they need a game-winning drive, they can get one. Trailing 19-14, Love, who was effective all game when throwing deep, hit receiver Christian Watson for a 60-yard catch-and-run. That set up the go-ahead score with 2:59 left in the game.

Describe the game in two words: Lucky win. The Packers got away with a flat performance for the first 3 quarters and only their last drive -- and Karl Brooks blocking a 46-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the game -- saved them from embarrassment. The Packers were fortunate not to lose any more ground in the NFC North.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Red zone decisions. The Packers threw the ball on second-and-1 from the Bears' 5-yard line and got flagged for an ineligible man downfield. Two plays later, on third-and-11 from the 15, Love threw his 11th interception of the season. Later, coach Matt LaFleur went for it on fourth-and-goal instead of settling for a field goal that would have cut the Bears' lead to 19-17. -- Rob Demovsky

Next game: vs. 49ers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Bears

How did the offensive coordinator change affect the Bears' offense? New OC Thomas Brown' game plan led to more decisiveness from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who held the ball less (2.42 seconds, the lowest of his career) and made short, quick throws to combat the Packers' pass rush. The Bears leaned heavily on the run, including a career-high 70 rushing yards from Williams, got their top playmakers involved (17 total catches for wide receivers DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Keenan Allen) and had more third-down conversions (eight) than they did the previous three weeks combined (six).

Describe the game in two words: Gut punch. Chicago was playing its best complementary football since before its recent four-game losing streak. After cornerback Terell Smith picked off Jordan Love in the red zone, the Bears ended their streak of 25 straight drives without a touchdown. But Cairo Santos had a 46-yard field goal blocked as time expired, which would have given Chicago its first win over Green Bay in 11 meetings.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Bears need to play better along the defensive line. They pressured Love on only three of his 17 dropbacks (3-of-3, 72 passing yards) and running back Josh Jacobs went untouched into the end zone on Green Bay's lone third-quarter drive. With nose tackle Andrew Billings (pectoral) out for the season, Chicago's D-line needs to find solutions for their porous run defense. Quickly. -- Courtney Cronin

Next game: vs. Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

New Orleans 35, Cleveland 14

Saints

Is the bye coming at the right time for the Saints? New Orleans is finally picking up some positive momentum with its first win streak since Week 2, potentially putting the bye at an inopportune time. But it's been a long season for the Saints, who fired coach Dennis Allen after a seven-game losing streak and promoted Darren Rizzi to interim coach. The Saints have dealt with a laundry list of injuries, and this could be a good opportunity for players such as Erik McCoy and Pete Werner to heal injuries they have been playing through. They face the Rams and Giants after the bye.

Describe the game in two words: Taysom Time. The Saints got the full Taysom Hill experience against the Browns -- he was a blocker, receiver, quarterback and running back. He scored three times but was also picked off throwing deep and fumbled near the end zone. Per ESPN Research, Taysom Hill is the first player with three rushing touchdowns, 50 receiving yards and one pass completion in a game since the Chiefs' Ed Podolak in 1971.

Most surprising performance: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Valdes-Scantling joined the team only a month ago but has already proved he can be the team's explosive element with Rashid Shaheed out for the season. Valdes-Scantling has now scored three touchdowns in two games, tying the team lead in receiving touchdowns. He had a 71-yard touchdown in the first half Sunday. -- Katherine Terrell

Next game: vs. Rams (Dec. 1, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Browns

Do the Browns have a wide receiver corps they can build around? Jerry Jeudy had his best game of the season with a 142-yard performance (his first 100-plus-yard game since 2022). Elijah Moore delivered an acrobatic touchdown catch. And wide receiver Cedric Tillman chipped in with 47 yards. All three players are 25 or younger and have stepped up since the trade of Amari Cooper, giving the Browns something to be bullish on as they inch closer to their third losing season since Kevin Stefanski became head coach in 2020.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Not placing more attention on Taysom Hill. The Browns talked about how mindful they would have to be of Hill and his multifaceted role. But time and time again, they lost track of or couldn't bring down Hill, who recorded a career-high eight catches, completed a pass and ran into the end zone three times.

Most surprising performance: Kicker Dustin Hopkins missed a pair of field goals, including a 27-yard attempt as time expired in the first half. Another missed kick was negated by a holding penalty. It was just the second time in Hopkins' 134-game career that he missed two field goal attempts in a game. -- Daniel Oyefusi

Next game: vs. Steelers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Pittsburgh 18, Baltimore 16

Steelers

Was this a bad game or a bad sign for Russell Wilson? Despite a stout defensive effort to force three turnovers and two rare misses from Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, the Steelers' offense managed only nine points on the ensuing drives -- and it nearly cost them in Sunday's 18-16 win. Wilson completed 1 of 8 attempts for minus-1 yards with an interception and four sacks when pressured. And in the red zone, he completed just 2 of 9 attempts for 7 yards and an interception. He papered over an inefficient performance a week ago against the Commanders with a rebound fourth quarter and a game-winning moon ball to Mike Williams. But Wilson couldn't do the same against a statistically weaker Ravens defense.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Not getting more from the Steelers' wide receivers. Against the league's worst pass defense, receivers not named George Pickens struggled to get open. Pickens led all receivers with eight catches on 12 targets for 89 yards, but the rest of the receivers combined for two catches on four targets for 3 yards. At halftime, the Steelers had just 52 net passing yards.

Most surprising performance: Chris Boswell. With the offense struggling to convert in the red zone, Boswell came through with six field goals, including three of 50 or more yards. Sunday marked Boswell's fourth game with four or more field goals this season, matching his own franchise record set in 2017. -- Brooke Pryor

Next game: at Browns (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Ravens

How much does this loss put a dent in the Ravens' chances to win the AFC North? This is a major setback for the Ravens in their pursuit to become back-to-back AFC North champions. Baltimore's chances to win the division dropped to 37%, according to ESPN Analytics. It's difficult to believe the Ravens can overtake the Steelers when quarterback Lamar Jackson continues to struggle against them. The reigning NFL Most Valuable Player is now 1-4 against Pittsburgh after completing a season-worst 48.4% of his passes (16-of-33), which doesn't include his desperation toss on a failed two-point conversion.

Describe the game in two words: Uncharacteristic mistakes. The Ravens turned the ball over three times after not committing a turnover in their previous three games. The most glaring one was an interception in which Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson wrestled the ball away from running back Justice Hill. That ended a streak of 161 passes without a pick for Jackson. Two fumbles were converted into two field goals, which was the difference in the game.

Most surprising performance: Justin Tucker. The NFL's most accurate kicker was full of surprises. Tucker missed field goals from 47 and 50 yards in the first quarter, which marked the first time since 2022 that he had failed to convert on back-to-back attempts. -- Jamison Hensley

Next game: at Chargers (next Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Indianapolis 28, N.Y. Jets 27

Colts

Did quarterback Anthony Richardson show progress in his return to the lineup? It was not perfect, but Richardson took a step in the right direction after two weeks on the bench. He was more rhythmic in his passing, more accurate with his throws and more in command of the offense. His final numbers -- 20-of-30 for 272 yards, 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions -- were a mixed bag. But he didn't turn the ball over, which had plagued him earlier in the season. The other variable of note was coach Shane Steichen's adjusted playcalling. The offensive play selection seemed to mesh better with Richardson's skills, including a significant increase in designed quarterback runs.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Colts repeatedly tried and failed to generate rushing success. The Colts could not come up with more creative run schemes to beat the Jets' defensive front. Running back Jonathan Taylor rushed for 31 yards on seven carries in the first quarter, but he was limited to 26 yards on 17 attempts the rest of the way.

Describe the game in two words: Good enough. The Colts had lost three straight and go home to face the red-hot Lions next week. With their playoff hopes dimming and a long week of debate over their quarterback situation looming, the Colts managed to take advantage of a bad Jets team. Indianapolis still has an eye on the postseason. -- Stephen Holder

Next game: vs. Lions (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Jets

What happened to the Jets' once-formidable defense? The Jets top the 25-point mark for the first time this season and what happens? Their defense, once their pride and joy, chokes it away in the final two minutes. Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson marched 70 yards on six plays for the winning touchdown. The Jets looked lost on the final drive. Ditto, their final offensive possession, as quarterback Aaron Rodgers made poor decisions as time ran out. It was a brutal ending.

Most surprising performance: For the first time in his career, running back Breece Hall scored a rushing touchdown and a receiving TD in the same game. That's a surprise, considering he has been such a productive receiver. The offense is a lot better when Hall is heavily involved. He produced 121 yards from scrimmage, including two explosive plays -- 29 yards (receiving TD) and 18 yards (running TD).

Describe the game in two words: Fourth kicker. Anders Carlson was the Jets' fourth kicker in four games -- a franchise first. And he did OK, making both field goal attempts, including a career-long 58-yarder. He wasn't supposed to be their kicker this week, but Spencer Shrader was unexpectedly poached from the practice squad by the Chiefs on Thursday. -- Rich Cimini

Next game: vs. Seahawks (Dec. 1, 1 p.m. ET)

Miami 34, Las Vegas 19

Dolphins

Are the Dolphins officially back? With Sunday's win over the Raiders, Miami has recorded four straight improved performances since QB Tua Tagovailoa's return from injured reserve. Their 34 points are their most since Dec. 3 of last season. The Dolphins rank eighth in offensive expected points added over the past four weeks after ranking 31st without Tagovailoa from Weeks 3-7. If they can string two more wins together over the next two weeks, they'll be back at .500 and firmly in the AFC playoff picture.

Describe the game in two words: Spark lit. To paraphrase what the Dolphins have said for the past two weeks, all it takes is a spark to light a fire. With their second straight win and a favorable matchup against the Patriots coming next week, they're on the cusp of a season-saving win streak entering the final stretch of the season.

Early prediction for next week: Another massive workload for running back De'Von Achane. After failing to record a carry in Week 10, Raheem Mostert ran the ball three times for minus-2 yards Sunday. Meanwhile, Achane recorded 17 carries for 73 yards, as well as 32 receiving yards. Mostert's ball security issues paved the way for Achane to take an even greater share of the backfield workload, which doesn't appear to be changing soon. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: vs. Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Raiders

Can the Raiders' offense be more efficient to better protect its overworked defense? It had better. Sure, the Raiders looked better under new interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner as he called plays from the press box. But a certain lack of efficiency in stretches taxed the defense, which could not enforce physicality and get off the field against the speedy Dolphins. Familiarity should breed success for Las Vegas' offense and there were enough glimpses of more imaginative playcalling to give the Raiders hope for the immediate future.

Describe the game in two words: Deja-vu. The Raiders' seemingly season-long script -- a slow start followed by a rapid descent -- reared its head for the umpteenth time this season. The Raiders had actually outgained Miami in total yardage in the first half before a late Dolphins flurry. And then after getting nothing to start the second half, the Dolphins scored to start their second-half surge.

Most surprising performance: Tight end Brock Bowers going off with Michael Mayer's return. With Mayer playing for the first time since Week 3, targets to tight ends would seemingly be at a premium, right? No. Bowers continued his Pro Bowl-level season with a career-high 13 catches for 124 yards. That was his first triple-digit receiving yards game, which included a 23-yard touchdown. -- Paul Gutierrez

Next game: vs. Broncos (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Detroit 52, Jacksonville 6

Lions

Can the Lions keep overcoming injuries to key players? So far, yes. It's next man up in Detroit. Lions captain Alex Anzalone was ruled out with a forearm injury at the start of the second half, but Detroit still dominated in his absence, scoring 50-plus points in multiple games in a season for the first time in franchise history. The Lions also lost Defensive Player of the Year candidate Aidan Hutchinson to a leg injury earlier this season, but traded for Za'Darius Smith last week, who recorded a sack in his Lions debut against Jacksonville. This Lions team has plenty of depth and has proved to be a resilient group.

Describe the game in two words: Home dominance. Surprisingly, the Lions scored their first opening drive touchdown at home this season with a goal-line rush by David Montgomery. They never looked back. Detroit used a balanced attack to score a touchdown on seven consecutive offensive drives. The Lions are also currently outscoring opponents plus-99 (188-89) at home this season, which is the most by any team in the NFL.

Most surprising performance: Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Typically, Goff isn't viewed as a mobile quarterback. He's known for efficiency and pinpoint accuracy, but his mobility was on display against Jacksonville as he rushed for 21 yards off four carries. Goff hadn't rushed for 20 or more yards in a game since Sept. 20, 2021, at Green Bay, when he had 46. He also became the first quarterback in NFL history to have multiple games with a perfect passer rating (158.3) and 400 passing yards. He also accomplished that feat in 2018 with the Rams. -- Eric Woodyard

Next game: at Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Jaguars

Was this coach Doug Pederson's last game with the Jaguars? If owner Shad Khan decides to fire Pederson and doesn't want to wait until after the season ends, this week would be the logical time to do it. The Jaguars are 2-9 after Sunday's embarrassing loss to the Lions -- and have lost 14 of their past 17 games -- entering their bye week. Quarterbacks coach Mike McCoy was a coach with the San Diego Chargers from 2013-16, so he would be the logical choice as an interim for the remainder of the season.

Describe the game in two words: Different directions. The Jags and Lions appeared to be on similar trajectories following the 2022 season when both teams went 9-8. Jacksonville has gone in the opposite direction after an 8-3 start in 2023, and there are major holes to fill along the offensive line, at cornerback, linebacker and receiver, as well as adding another pass rusher. The talent gap between the two franchises was evident.

Eye-popping stat: The Jaguars gave up 644 yards to the Lions, the second-most in a single game in their 30-year franchise history. Trailing only the 653 yards they allowed to Houston in 2012. Quarterback Jared Goff's 412 passing yards is tied for the fifth-most allowed in a game in franchise history. -- Mike DiRocco

Next game: vs. Texans (Dec. 1, 1 p.m. ET)

Philadelphia 26, Washington 18

Eagles

What is the Eagles' ceiling at this point? It's time to start viewing them as title contenders. Their past five wins were over teams with sub-.500 records, but they took down a quality Washington team on Thursday to extend their lead in the NFC East to 1 games. The Eagles have positioned themselves to challenge the Lions for the top seed in the conference. There are tests remaining on the schedule, including tilts with the Ravens and Steelers, but the bulk of their travel is over: next week's trip to play in Los Angeles against the Rams will be the Eagles' last plane ride of the regular season. Philadelphia heads into the final stretch red-hot and largely healthy.

Eye-popping stat: Rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell allowed zero receptions on one target in 32 coverage snaps as the nearest defender in coverage, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Mitchell, who was often pitted against Terry McLaurin, Washington's top receiver, is allowing 0.9 yards per coverage snap this season, the sixth best of 44 cornerbacks with at least 200 coverage snaps in 2024.

Most surprising performance: The normally reliable Jake Elliott had a subpar night, missing field goal attempts from 44 and 51 yards in the first half. He followed up with a missed extra point early in the fourth quarter after the Eagles went ahead. Elliott entered the game tied for the second-highest field goal percentage (90.9%) since 2021 among NFL kickers with 80-plus attempts but has now missed five field goals this season. -- Tim McManus

Next game: at Rams (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Commanders

What has gone wrong with the offense? Coach Dan Quinn and quarterback Jayden Daniels insist the rookie signal-caller is fine physically after hurting his ribs in Week 7, but the passing game has been inconsistent the past three games. Washington has played two of the league's best defenses in the past two games in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and the Commanders might not have enough playmakers to challenge top units. The Steelers and Eagles generated more pressure on Daniels, perhaps speeding him up and forcing him to be less accurate than he was earlier in the season. They've also done a good job taking away his running ability, as Daniels has rushed for 18 combined yards in the past two games.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The inability to get the wide receivers involved, notably Terry McLaurin. McLaurin was not targeted until the third quarter -- only the second time in his six-year career that he did not have a first-half target -- and finished with only one catch for 10 yards. The receivers combined for four catches and 28 yards overall. Without their involvement, the offense isn't explosive.

Describe the game in two words: Not yet. The Commanders played tough for three quarters for the second consecutive game but surrendered a four-point lead to the Eagles in the fourth quarter on Thursday after squandering a 10-point lead to the Steelers in the final period on Sunday. Washington's next evolutionary step is learning to close out games versus good teams. -- John Keim

Next game: vs. Cowboys (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)