Teams coming back from the bye in Week Eleven; who is best placed?

The AFC looks to be the stronger of the two conferences yet again, with division crowns and wildcard berths contested by a crowded list of teams with winning records. The Ravens lead the Bengals in the North, while the Jets and Patriots sit no more than two games back from the Dolphins in a surprisingly close division in the East.

Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore returns from the bye after a dominant 27-13 win at New Orleans on MNF. The Ravens are quietly going under the radar and will probably feel they are better than their 6-3 record suggests.

In every game this season they have led by at least ten points, some of which against quality opponents. They have blown some leads though, which is something that will need to be addressed if they want to close out games in the fourth quarter.

The offense has been more efficient than spectacular, but the combination of Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews and a run game that is second in the NFL in YPC (5.5), is ever present and hard to stop. The defense has generally played well, forcing pressure and turnovers; the trade for Roquan Smith should take the unit to another level.

This weekend, hosting the Carolina Panthers should be a relatively comfortable victory, although the Steve Wilks has got his team playing more competitively since taking interim charge. With familiar foe Baker Mayfield starting as QB, the Ravens secondary will be hoping to eliminate DJ Moore and force some turnovers if they keep D’onta Foreman in check.

Cincinnati Bengals

Sitting a game back at 5-4, the Bengals still have a good chance of repeating as division champs. However, a 19-17 Week 6 loss at the Ravens means they need to win the return game as Baltimore has a favourable schedule. After an 0-2 start, some questions were raised about a possible Super Bowl defeat hangover, but the offense has woken up to look close to what it did last year.

Again, the offensive line and run game will be pivotal for the Bengals in the big games if they dream of lifting the Lombardi. It seems that the new line needed time to settle and develop chemistry after a poor start, although Joe Burrow has been sacked 32 times already this season. Joe Mixon is coming off a franchise record five touchdown, 211-yard game against the Panthers.

Ja’Marr Chase will return soon from a hip injury, so winning in multiple ways will provide great balance, as a 32-12 loss to the Browns partly exposed some flaws. The underrated defense is easily a top ten unit and has at times kept games close when the offense not performing, although fourteen sacks in nine games can be an area of improvement.

Consistency will be key down the stretch; starting with a road trip to the Steelers, the Bengals hope to avenge a Week 1 loss.

New England Patriots

The Patriots have slightly gone under the radar this season, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see them make the playoffs again this season. The defense and special teams are as always coached well, with a strong running game forming the usual identity of the team.

Mathew Judon currently leads the league with 11.5 sacks The main concern that has lingered since the offseason is the offense, with Mac Jones’ play a decline from last season. He has not thrown for more than one touchdown pass in a game this season. A possible QB change to rookie Bailey Zappe and questions over whether the staff are maximising the potential of the players at their disposal.

At 5-4, the Patriots have a pretty difficult schedule in the second half of the season, facing the Bills twice, Dolphins, Jets, Bengals and Vikings. The four wins have been against opponents you would expect them to beat, with higher quality opposition like the Ravens and Dolphins proving too much for the Patriots.

A Monday Night Football 33-14 home loss to the Bears highlights the limitations of the team, certainly one that has to play with a lead and is not built win shootouts or come from behind. A rematch with the Jets at Foxborough is likely to be a low scoring, tightly contested affair. The Patriots are strong against running backs (4.1 YPC), but struggle more against mobile Quarterbacks (6.3 YPC).

New York Jets

One of the surprise stories so far this season is the Jets being 6-3 and in contention for the playoffs and AFC East. This is in spite of a lacklustre offense which has largely relied on its run game.

Robert Saleh could be an outside coach of the year contender if he gets the Jets to the playoffs. It looked like it was going to be an 0-2 start but a miracle comeback at the Browns kickstarted a streak of four wins in five. Their most recent victory was an impressive 20-17 home win against the Bills; the defense has held five opponents to twenty or fewer points so far.

Sauce Gardner is likely the defensive rookie of the year, already locking down half of the field, allowing no more than fifty-one yards in a single game this season. Quinnen Williams has been one of the best defensive tackles so far, with seven sacks and thirty-five pressures.

Losing Breece Hall for the season is a blow, but trade acquisition James Robinson will hopefully be a nice compliment to Michael Carter. Similar to the Patriots, the offense needs to improve as the Jets are not currently in a position to be in shootouts. Limiting the Patriot’s rushing attack – by Rhamondre Stevenson – will be key, they have held running backs to 4.0 YPC so far this season.