Week 11 winners, losers and observations: Joe Burrow injured, updated playoff picture and NFL notes

PJ Walker became just the second Temple quarterback to start an NFL game when he filled in for Teddy Bridgewater and led Carolina to a 20-0 win over Detroit. The only other Owls QB to start a game was Henry Burris, who was the Bears quarterback in Week 17 in 2002. Burris went on to have a Hall of Fame career in the Canadian League. Steve Joachim appeared in a game for the Jets in 1976 and Tim Riordan played in a game for the Bears in 1987 as a strike-replacement player. Walker, who played at Temple for current Carolina coach Matt Rhule, boosted his resume with five strong games in the XFL before that league was shut down by the pandemic.

Ryan Fitzpatrick finished the game for the Dolphins after Tua Tagovailoa was twisted down awkwardly midway through the Dolphins’ loss to Denver. Miami coach Brian Flores said afterward he pulled Tagovailoa to try to jumpstart the offense. Fitzpatrick nearly pulled off a rally but threw an end-zone interception with 63 seconds left.

Humorous celebration by Chase Claypool and his Steelers teammates after his touchdown catch against Jacksonville. Claypool pretended the football was a cake and the fellas sang “Happy Birthday” to fellow receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who turned 24 on Sunday. Pretty funny.

That score was the 10th of the season for Claypool, the 49th overall pick in April. He’s the first wide receiver in the Super Bowl era with 10 touchdowns in the first 10 games of his career. Pittsburgh is 10-0. Jacksonville (1-9) has lost nine in a row.

The Texans entered the week 2-7, but both of those wins were against Jacksonville, so do they count? Surprising the Patriots on Sunday definitely counts.

Ezekiel Elliott went over the 100-yard rushing mark for the first time all season. Andy Dalton may not be Dak Prescott, but he’s not Ben DiNucci, either. The Cowboys have to be favored to win this miserable division and will play for first place on Thanksgiving when Washington visits.

Indianapolis survived atrocious clock management at the end of regulation and nine offensive holding calls to beat the Packers in overtime.

Taysom Hill had played in 46 NFL games before getting his first start at quarterback. He had a very Drew Brees-like 78.3 completion percentage (18-23) and led the Saints with 51 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns. “Man, he played tremendous,” said Saints receiver Michael Thomas, who had his best game of the season (9 catches for 104 yards). “I could see the look in his eyes. He was ready for the moment.”

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Brees (chest) would be out until Week 15, which means the Eagles would see Hill in Week 14 when New Orleans visits the Linc.

Keenan Allen set a Chargers single-game record with 16 catches and became the first player to have six career games of at least 13 receptions. After Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams, the combination of Justin Herbert and Allen is probably the most lethal in fantasy.

Jacksonville is now 41-100 in the nine years since Shad Khan became owner. Remember the pre-pandemic chatter of them moving to London? Doubt the Brits would want ‘em now.

Dez Bryant had four catches for Baltimore, his first receptions since 2017.

A.J. Green caught his first touchdown since Oct. 28, 2018.

Can’t say I’ve ever seen a player get hurt stepping on a penalty flag, but that’s what appeared to have happened to Pittsburgh’s JuJu Smith-Schuster, who did not return after the fourth-quarter mishap.