The Dime Package: 10 Thoughts on NFL Week 11

NFL Week 11 reminded us that Tom Brady is still great and that the Green Bay Packers are toast. The Dime Package is back with 10 thoughts from Sunday.

Early in the 2016 season, it felt like there were an inordinate and unusually high number of injuries. Around midseason, though, things seemingly slowed up a bit. Well, the injury bug bit back hard in NFL Week 11. But that was just one of the many narratives to follow.

For instance, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots played for the first time after a loss with their star quarterback at the helm. Moreover, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers searched for answers. Now that the games have been played, what can we make of everything that went down.

The Dime Package returns for NFL Week 11, giving 10 thoughts on Sunday around the league:

1. Sunday was a tough day to be a Cincinnati Bengals fan. Not only did the Stripes lose to the Bills, they also lost A.J Green and Giovani Bernard as well. Green’s timetable is a bit unclear with a hamstring injury, but he’s at least out short-term. Bernard is done for the season after tearing his ACL. Either way you look at it, the Bengals are done. Their chances of making the playoffs just took a major hit.

2. Just when I was ready to throw in the towel on the Minnesota Vikings, they play their best all-around game in weeks and beat the Arizona Cardinals 30-24. Minnesota’s defense did not play well, but the offense finally picked up the slack and that was the difference.

3. The New York Giants sleepwalked through the first half of their game against the Bears but made some quality halftime adjustments and pulled away in the second half, winning 22-16. I still can’t believe they are 7-3 on the season. They have flown under the radar for the most part, but they now have people’s attention.

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4. Mike Tomlin should seek out and hug the NFL schedule-makers. Scheduling the Cleveland Browns in late-November is the perfect elixir for a team that is struggling. The Pittsburgh Steelers needed a win in the worst and they got it.

5. It is time that the national media acknowledged that the Dallas Cowboys are more than just Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot. They also play good defense. Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli has done a terrific job with the Dallas defense. He doesn’t get nearly the credit he deserves.

6. Can the actors who are playing the Miami Dolphins please reveal themselves. I am having a hard time believing that this is the same Dolphins team that started the season 1-4. Yesterday’s come from behind 14-10 win over the Rams is proof that Adam Gase’s philosophy is resonating with the Phins.

7. Can we stop pretending like the Philadelphia Eagles are a legit playoff contender, please? They can’t win on the road. Spare me with the nonsense; I don’t want to hear it! At best they are a 9-7 team.

8. The Patriots slugged their way through an ugly first half in San Francisco yesterday. But then Tom Brady decided to be Tom Brady and took the game over leading the Patriots to a 30-17 win over the putrid San Francisco 49ers.

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9. The Packers are toast at 4-6. They are not going to make the playoffs and I think it’s time that they cleaned house. General manager Ted Thompson needs to retire and pave the way for either a John Schneider return from Seattle or for director of football operations, Eliot Wolf (Son of Ron), to become the new GM. I also think its time for Mike McCarthy to go. The message is getting stale and it’s obvious. The Packers need a new voice and new direction because they are wasting the prime years of Aaron Rodgers.

10. Both the Cowboys and Washington Redskins look impressive right now. Thursday’s game between the two teams has the makings of a Thanksgiving Day classic.