Lead: On 16 November 2025, Week 11 produced a string of tight divisional battles and a high‑drama shootout in Orchard Park. Buffalo and Tampa Bay traded big plays and turnovers in a game that stood 21-20 to the Bills at halftime, while several other matchups — including Pittsburgh–Cincinnati and Minnesota–Chicago — were similarly close at the break. Key individual moments included a 52‑yard Ty Johnson touchdown, Josh Allen deep strikes, and multiple interceptions that shaped the early contours of the slate.
Key takeaways
- Bills led Buccaneers 21-20 at half; Ty Johnson scored a 52‑yard touchdown and Josh Allen threw a 43‑yard TD to Tyrell Shavers.
- Buccaneers generated 111 rushing yards in the first half, exposing Buffalo’s run defense weaknesses.
- Giants and Packers were level at 13-13 at halftime after Devin Singletary and Green Bay backups traded red‑zone scores.
- Jaguars led Chargers 14-6 at half and extended control in the third quarter, reaching 21-6 with three rushing TDs.
- Falcons led Panthers 21-10 at the break, with Bijan Robinson scoring twice and Atlanta asserting the run game.
- Vikings and Bears were a low‑scoring, turnover‑tainted affair (3-10 at half), with JJ McCarthy throwing two interceptions by mid‑second quarter.
- Steelers led Bengals 10-6 at halftime in an AFC North contest marked by deep strikes and physical defensive work.
Background
Week 11 consolidated a busy midseason window where several teams with realistic playoff aims met divisional foes. The full slate included Atlanta (3-6) at Carolina (5-5), Buffalo (6-3) hosting Tampa Bay (6-3), Jacksonville (5-4) at Los Angeles Chargers (7-3), Minnesota (4-5) at Chicago (6-3), New York Giants (2-8) at Green Bay (5-3-1), Pittsburgh (5-4) at Cincinnati (3-6), and Tennessee (1-8) at Houston (4-5). The carryover stakes were especially high in the NFC North and in Buffalo, where both teams view a November win as pivotal to January seeding.
Several storylines entered the day: the Bears sat atop the NFC North alongside Chicago with a first‑half opportunity to distance rivals; Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield’s duel in Orchard Park had narratives about turnovers and rushing matchups; and the AFC North clash tested both Steelers’ and Bengals’ midseason trajectories. Past meetings and personnel patterns — for instance Buffalo’s recent struggles versus heavy ground attacks — framed coaching choices and early play calls.
Main event
Buffalo vs Tampa Bay developed into an early shootout. Tampa Bay struck first after pressuring Josh Allen into an early interception that set up a short‑field touchdown. Buffalo answered with a series of successful drives, punctuated by Allen’s 43‑yard touchdown to Tyrell Shavers in the second quarter and a game‑changing 52‑yard score from Ty Johnson. Tampa Bay mounted ground success, totaling 111 yards on the ground in the first half, and Baker Mayfield plunged on a fourth‑down sneak for a red‑zone touchdown earlier in the second quarter.
The Bills appeared to take control before halftime — a chaotic sequence saw a try blocked, a defensive holding penalty on Buffalo forced a retry, and a subsequent kick eventually went through as time expired to make it 21-20. In the third quarter Buffalo regained possession on a midfield take and threatened again before stalling; Allen’s scramble and near‑lateral attempt that moved the ball inches forward ended in a punt.
Elsewhere, Jacksonville opened steadily against Los Angeles, building a two‑touchdown cushion with Travis Etienne and a Trevor Lawrence goal‑line keep, later extending the margin in the third with another rushing TD. In New York, the Giants and Packers traded scores — Green Bay’s backups contributed in the red zone while Devin Singletary’s second touchdown tied the game late in the half. Atlanta established a convincing lead on Carolina behind two Bijan Robinson TDs, while Minnesota’s game with Chicago featured conservative drives, long possession sequences and multiple turnovers that kept the score low.
Analysis & implications
Buffalo’s ability to match Tampa Bay blow‑for‑blow illustrates the Bills’ offensive ceiling but also highlights a persistent defensive concern: their run defense was tested heavily, surrendering in excess of 100 rushing yards before halftime. If Tampa can sustain that formula, the Bills may be forced to trade shootout possessions instead of controlling the clock — a risk with Allen’s mobility and propensity for high‑variance plays.
Turnovers are shaping this week. Allen’s interception(s) and other pick plays by young quarterbacks like JJ McCarthy materially altered field position and scoring opportunities. Teams that protect the football — and convert short fields into points — improve their win probabilities markedly; the Buccaneers’ early takeaway translated to a short‑field touchdown that set the tone.
For NFC North quantifiers, the Vikings–Bears result has playoff implications beyond Week 11. A Minnesota loss would make their margin for error thinner in an already tight division; Chicago’s conservative, methodical drives demonstrate a blueprint for winning low‑variance games. Quarterback play — from McCarthy’s in‑game corrections to bench adjustments in Green Bay — will be decisive down the stretch.
Comparison & data
| Game | Halftime score | Notable stat |
|---|---|---|
| Bills v Buccaneers | 21-20 (BUF) | Bucs 111 rushing yds (1H) |
| Jaguars v Chargers | 14-6 (JAX) | Jaguars 3 rushing TDs (by 3Q) |
| Falcons v Panthers | 21-10 (ATL) | Bijan Robinson 2 TDs (1H) |
The table highlights how the early ground game (Tampa’s 111 yards; Jacksonville’s multiple rushing TDs) contrasted with more pass‑dependent contests (Buffalo, Packers). Teams that established the ground advantage generally enjoyed longer possessions and better second‑half control, an important pattern for coaches and bettors watching the late season arc.
Reactions & quotes
Commentary and short reactions captured the tone of the day before and during games, emphasising momentum swings and quarterback narratives.
“You wanna get the juices flowing.”
Tom Brady (commentator, on JJ McCarthy)
“That was an absolute rollercoaster — monster passes, slashing runs, turnovers and magic from both quarterbacks.”
Live commentary
Both lines underline how momentum and big individual plays dominated the coverage: analysts flagged quarterback decisions and run‑game exploits as decisive elements for the remaining three quarters.
Unconfirmed
- Josh Jacobs’ injury status following an in‑game exit remains unreported and without an official diagnosis at the time of the halftime reports.
- Jordan Love’s availability beyond the early exit was not yet confirmed by team medical updates during the live window.
- Any long‑term impact from Allen’s near‑lateral play in the third quarter is speculative until film review clarifies the mechanics and ruling.
Bottom line
Week 11 delivered exactly the volatility expected: high‑scoring affairs, ground games that flipped script advantages, and turnovers that created short‑field scoring chances. Buffalo‑Tampa stood out as a microcosm of the season — explosive offense offset by defensive vulnerabilities.
Looking ahead, the Bills must shore up run defense to remain championship contenders, while teams that limit giveaways (and convert short fields) will climb in an otherwise compressed playoff picture. Injuries and late‑game adjustments across the slate merit close watching as teams position for December runs.