NFL Week 11 Gambling Takeaways: Lamar, 49ers and Colts' Run Game Are Real

1. Lamar Jackson and Ravens are Real Deal

Lamar Jackson shined again in a big way on Sunday against the Houston Texans and fellow young QB talent in Deshaun Watson. In what was hyped up as a rematch of the time the two faced in college which led to fireworks, including eight combined touchdown and a 42-36 Clemson win. This time it was Lamar Jackson who walked away the winning signal caller as he played yet another fantastic game. The Ravens trounced the Texans 41-7, Lamar threw for four touchdowns and accounted for 308 yards of total offense.

The Ravens defense also came to play on Sunday holding the Texans potent offense and Deshaun Watson especially was kept in check. The Ravens recorded a season high six sacks and took the ball away twice. This Ravens team is solidifying themselves as a legit Super Bowl contender given the combined performances of both the offense and defense. Baltimore is never an easy place to play and to go in there and leave with a playoff win should prove to be a tall task for any team.

Lamar Jackson made two Texans players tackle each other. He’s insane. #HOUvsBAL pic.twitter.com/03YfFwdEU8

— Austin Grant (@AustinPlanet) November 17, 2019

2. 49ers Finding Ways to Win

The 49ers cruise ship seems to have hit some choppy waters the last couple weeks but managed to survive against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. This team has been playing without a prominent weapon in George Kittle and it has really impacted the way this team plays offense. Their running game has really been impacted as they have had a much hard time picking up consistent yardage on the ground in their last few games without their star tight end. Garoppolo threw for a whopping 423 yards which is especially impressive given this was with Kittle held out yet again.

The schedule is about to get very tough for the 49er team and a healthy Kittle will be a great boost but they first host the Packers on Sunday night, then they have to travel to Baltimore and New Orleans in back to back weeks. They then play the much improved of late Falcons, then the Rams and finally they finish the season in Seattle. Brutal stretch to wrap of the year with no “sure wins.” this 49ers hot start could be for not if they do not finish strong.

JG ➡️KB @JimmyG_10 hits @BournePoly11 in the back of the end zone for his third TD pass 🙌 #GoNiners pic.twitter.com/DS9g2lmOvh

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 17, 2019

3. NFC Heading Toward Photo Finish

Speaking of finishing strongly down the stretch, it will be the team who can do this the best that will truly benefit in the NFC. The conference is very strong this year with many teams tied amongst the top. The 49ers are 9-1, Saints 8-2, Packers 8-2, Seahawks 8-2, and the Vikings are 8-3. With just six games to play there are quite a few teams making their bid for homefield throughout.

In the previous takeaway I broke down the tough stretch of games the 49ers will have to contend with as they make their playoff push now let’s look at some of these other teams who are also beginning their playoff pushes. The Saints will play two division games in the next two weeks one against the struggling Panthers and the other against the surging Falcons before playing the 49ers, Colts, Titans, and finishing @ Carolina.

The Packers get the 49ers on Sunday night before a couple of bottom of the barrel NFC East teams in the Giants and Redskins. They play two division road games vs the Bears and Lions to finish the year. Seattle off-a-bye travels to Philly this week, host the Vikings travel to Carolina and LA Rams, before finishing the season vs Arizona and finally at San Fran. Finally the Vikings have no cakewalk to the finish line as they have their BYE week 12 before making two west coast trips in between a division game in the Lions, to play the Chargers and Seahawks. Before coming home to face division foes Green Bay and Chicago. Should be fun to watch these teams down the stretch.

The playoff race is ON in the NFC.

Tag the team you think will make it to the finish line. pic.twitter.com/cfff04uUFk

— SNF on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 30, 2019

4. Colts Run All Over Jags

The Colts had their best rushing performance in almost fifteen years on Sunday rushing for 264 yards against the Jaguars. This is even more impressive given that Marlon Mack left the game in the third quarter with a hand injury. Johnathon Williams more than picked up the slack as he rushed for 109 yards on just 14 carries. Mack and Williams became the first two Colts to rush for at least 100 yards in a game since Randy McMillan and Albert Bentley did so in 1985. Jacoby Brissett returned from injury and was a big boost from the play of Brian Hoyer and although the run game carried the offense on Sunday Brissett was a welcome sight for Colts fans. Plus if you didn’t watch the game you probably missed the best touchdown celebration of all time, and no that is not an exaggeration, see for yourself.

Colts wasted their keg stand celebration on an overturned touchdown pic.twitter.com/Q6Pv3WLnlp

— Dave Loughran (@Loughy_D) November 17, 2019

Brissett was not the only injured QB making his return as Nick Foles was back behind center for the Jags this week and didnt play as poorly as the final score would indicate. Foles was 33/47 for 296 and two TDs. However the Jags rushed the ball just nine times for 29 yards which is very weird given this was a 10-7 game at the half. The Colts get a nice win within a division which is shaping up to be a great finish.