As we move into Thanksgiving week, many of the division races in the NFL are tightening, such as the NFC and AFC East chases. The NFC South got some separation last week as the Saints won despite not having Drew Brees, and the Buccaneers lost at home to the Rams. We still don’t know whether Seattle will have a consistent enough defense to contend, and we don’t know whether Miami will be able to catch Buffalo in the AFC East.
Let’s take a look at the latest news from the NFL as you consider your NFL betting for this weekend.
NFL News: Weekly Rundown after Week 11
The Saints are Fine with Taysom Hill Running the Offense
Jameis Winston came from Tampa Bay to back up Drew Brees, and he did well in relief of the starter after Brees’ injury. However, Taysom Hill got the start against Atlanta. He manages the ball and can lead things well enough to drive the bus to victory, as the team will rely on its defense — particularly its pass rush — to drive games. The Saints also have a terrific running game, so Hill can rely on the play-action scheme to hold off the pass rush and make the occasional throw to keep drives going. For now, though, rumors of the Saints’ demise as Brees recovers from a collapsed lung and fractured ribs are simply untrue.
Several Teams will Start New Quarterbacks in Week 12
The Jacksonville Jaguars host the Cleveland Browns in Week 12, but it won’t be rookie Jake Luton running the Jaguars’ offense after he threw four picks against Pittsburgh last week. This week, coach Doug Marrone plans to start Mike Glennon, an eighth-year veteran, which will make three different starters this season and six different starters in the last three seasons. Jacksonville has dropped nine games in a row, and if they lose to Cleveland on Sunday, that would set a new team record for consecutive setbacks in one season. Gardner Minshew remains on the sideline with a thumb injury that he sustained in Week 5 and that has kept him out since the bye.
The Cincinnati Bengals have brought Brandon Allen up from the practice squad to start on Sunday against the New York Giants. He was with coach Zac Taylor in Denver and Los Angeles, so he knows the offense. Allen started three games in Denver last year, going 1-2. He completed 46 percent of his passes, throwing for 515 yards and posting three touchdown passes and two picks. Ryan Finley completed last week’s game after Joe Burrow went down to injury, going 3 of 10 for 30 yards and a pick. Under Taylor, the Bengals have gone 2-7-1 this year and are 4-21-1 overall under Taylor. The Bengals had been poised to make a bit of a run in the last half of 2019 until Burrow’s injury.
Bengals fans, Marshawn Lynch Contribute to Holiday Relief
As a part of the work that the NFL and its players are carrying out for the community, five-time Pro Bowler Marshawn Lynch handed out 200 turkeys to Hawaii residents as a part of his Fam 1st Family Foundation. His foundation also handed out free masks to Oakland residents in April, and he has also taken part in other food drives in the San Francisco Bay Area. He retired from the league in April 2019 after completing 12 seasons, with 10,379 career rushing yards and 84 touchdowns.
In the aftermath of Joe Burrow’s knee injury, Bengals fans chipped in more than $27,000 from over 1,300 donors as of the middle of Monday morning to the Hunger Relief Fund that Burrow established. Donations provide food aid to Athens County, Ohio, where Burrow grew up. On the season, Burrow had put up impressive numbers, particularly for a rookie, throwing for 2,485 yard, a dozen touchdowns and five interceptions. He had also run for 131 yards and three scores.
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