WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
Below are teams and players that can set historic marks or reach career milestones in Week 11 of the 2024 NFL season, including:
- Kansas City Chiefs – Buffalo Bills
- Los Angeles Chargers
- QB Lamar Jackson
- RB Derrick Henry
- QB Joe Burrow
- WR Ja’Marr Chase
- WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
- WR Cooper Kupp
- WR Justin Jefferson
- DE Maxx Crosby
CHIEFS-BILLS
For the first time since 1970, there will be three Week 11 games featuring matchups of teams each with at least seven wins, including the Kansas City Chiefs (9-0) at the Buffalo Bills (8-2) on Sunday afternoon (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS) in rematch of the 2023 AFC Divisional playoffs [Chiefs (27) at Bills (24)].
| Date | Game | Time | Broadcast |
| Sunday, Nov. 17 | Baltimore (7-3) at Pittsburgh (7-2) | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Sunday, Nov. 17 | Kansas City (9-0) at Buffalo (8-2) | 4:25 p.m. ET | CBS |
Kansas City and Buffalo will mark the fifth game since 1970 in Week 11 or earlier between teams each with eight-or-more wins. The home team has won each of the previous four such matchups.
The matchups between teams with eight-or-more wins in Week 11 or earlier since 1970:
| WEEK, SEASON | AWAY TEAM | HOME TEAM |
| Week 11, 2024 | Kansas City (9-0) | Buffalo (8-2) |
| Week 11, 2018 | Kansas City (9-1) | L.A. Rams (9-1) |
| Week 11, 2013 | Kansas City (9-0) | Denver (8-1) |
| Week 11, 1978 | Pittsburgh (9-1) | L.A. Rams (8-2) |
| Week 11, 1977 | Baltimore Colts (9-1) | Denver (9-1) |
| *home team won each matchup | ||
The Chiefs have won 15 consecutive games, including the playoffs, and can become the fifth team since 1990 to win 16 consecutive games, including the postseason, joining the 2003-04 New England Patriots (21 consecutive wins), 2010-11 Green Bay Packers (19), 2007-08 New England Patriots (18) and 1997-98 Denver Broncos (18).
Kansas City can become the fifth reigning Super Bowl champion to win its first 10 games, joining the 2011 Green Bay Packers (began 13-0), 1998 Denver Broncos (began 13-0), 2015 New England Patriots (began 10-0) and 1990 San Francisco 49ers (began 10-0).
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
The Los Angeles Chargers lead the NFL in scoring defense and became the fourth team since 1990 to allow 20-or-fewer points in each of their first nine games of a season, joining the 1990 New York Giants (first 10 games), 2013 Kansas City Chiefs (first nine) and 1999 Jacksonville Jaguars (first nine).
On Sunday Night Football against Cincinnati (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), the Chargers can become the fifth team since 1970 to allow 20-or-fewer points in each of its first 10 games of a season, joining the 1970 Minnesota Vikings (first 14 games), 1974 Los Angeles Rams (first 12), 1971 Minnesota Vikings (first 11) and 1990 New York Giants (first 10).
The teams to allow 20-or-fewer points in the most consecutive games to begin a season since 1970:
| TEAM | SEASON | GAMES |
| Minnesota | 1970 | 14 |
| L.A. Rams | 1974 | 12 |
| Minnesota | 1971 | 11 |
| N.Y. Giants | 1990 | 10 |
| L.A. Chargers | 2024 | 9* |
| *active streak | ||
LAMAR JACKSON
Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson has 24 touchdown passes against two interceptions in his first 10 games this season and leads the NFL with a 123.2 passer rating, including a passer rating of 100-or-higher in eight consecutive games.
On Sunday at Pittsburgh (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Jackson can become the fourth player in NFL history to record at least 25 touchdown passes with two-or-fewer interceptions in his first 11 games of a season, joining Tom Brady (2016), Drew Brees (2018) and Patrick Mahomes (2020).
On Sunday, Jackson can become the third player all-time with at least 275 passing yards and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in seven consecutive games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (seven consecutive games from 2012-13) and Aaron Rodgers (seven in 2011).
The players with at least 275 passing yards and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in the most consecutive games in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON(S) | GAMES |
| Peyton Manning HOF | Denver | 2012-13 | 7 |
| Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay | 2011 | 7 |
| Lamar Jackson | Baltimore | 2024 | 6* |
| Peyton Manning HOF | Denver | 2012 | 6 |
| *active | |||
Additionally, with a passer rating of 100-or-higher against the Steelers, Jackson can join Aaron Rodgers (12 consecutive games in 2011) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (nine in 2004) as the only players in NFL history to record a passer rating of 100-or-higher in nine consecutive games within a season.
The players with a passer rating of 100-or-higher in the most consecutive games within a season in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON | GAMES |
| Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay | 2011 | 12 |
| Peyton Manning HOF | Indianapolis | 2004 | 9 |
| Tom Brady | New England | 2010 | 8 |
| Tom Brady | New England | 2007 | 8 |
| Lamar Jackson | Baltimore | 2024 | 8* |
| Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay | 2020 | 8 |
| Peyton Manning HOF | Indianapolis | 2005 | 8 |
| *active streak | |||
DERRICK HENRY
Baltimore running back Derrick Henry leads the NFL in scrimmage yards (1,216) and rushing yards (1,120) and has a league-high 14 scrimmage touchdowns (12 rushing, two receiving) this season, including at least one touchdown in each of his first 10 games this season.
On Sunday at Pittsburgh (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Henry can become the fourth player in the Super Bowl era to record a touchdown in each of his first 11 games of a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers O.J. Simpson (first 14 games in 1975), Jerry Rice (first 12 in 1987) and John Riggins (first 12 in 1983).
The players with a touchdown in the most consecutive games to begin a season in the Super Bowl era:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON | GAMES |
| O.J. Simpson HOF | Buffalo | 1975 | 14 |
| Jerry Rice HOF | San Francisco | 1987 | 12 |
| John Riggins HOF | Washington | 1983 | 12 |
| Todd Gurley | L.A. Rams | 2018 | 10 |
| Derrick Henry | Baltimore | 2024 | 10* |
| *active streak | |||
Henry has three career seasons with at least 13 rushing touchdowns (2019-20, 2022) and with his next rushing touchdown, will become the fifth player in NFL history to reach the mark in four career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson (six seasons), Jim Brown (four) and Emmitt Smith (four) as well as Shaun Alexander (five).
The players with at least 13 rushing touchdowns in the most seasons in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASONS |
| LaDainian Tomlinson HOF | San Diego Chargers | 6 |
| Shaun Alexander | Seattle | 5 |
| Jim Brown HOF | Cleveland | 4 |
| Emmitt Smith HOF | Dallas | 4 |
| Derrick Henry | Baltimore | 3* |
| *has 12 rushing touchdowns entering Sunday | ||
Since entering the NFL in 2016, Henry has recorded a rushing touchdown in 69 career games. With a rushing touchdown on Sunday, he can become the third player in NFL history to record a rushing touchdown in 70 games within in his first nine career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson (87 games) and Emmitt Smith (83).
The players with the most games with a rushing touchdown in their first nine seasons in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES |
| LaDainian Tomlinson HOF | San Diego Chargers | 87 |
| Emmitt Smith HOF | Dallas | 83 |
| Derrick Henry | Baltimore | 69* |
| Adrian Peterson | Minnesota | 69 |
| Barry Sanders HOF | Detroit | 69 |
| *in ninth season | ||
The players with the most games with at least two rushing touchdowns in their first five seasons in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | GAMES |
| Emmitt Smith HOF | Dallas | 17 |
| Shaun Alexander | Seattle | 16 |
| Eric Dickerson HOF | L.A. Rams, Indianapolis | 16 |
| Todd Gurley | St. Louis/L.A. Rams | 16 |
| LaDainian Tomlinson HOF | San Diego Chargers | 16 |
| *in fifth season | ||
Hurts, who has 51 rushing touchdowns in his first five seasons, needs two rushing touchdowns to tie Josh Allen (53 rushing touchdowns) for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in his first six seasons in NFL history.
JOE BURROW
Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow ranks tied for first with 24 touchdown passes this season (including nine in his past two games) and has 121 touchdown passes in 62 career games.
With four touchdown passes at the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), Burrow can surpass Andrew Luck (67 games) and Aaron Rodgers (67) as the third-fastest player in NFL history to reach 125 career touchdown passes, trailing only Patrick Mahomes (50) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (54).
The players to reach 125 career touchdown passes in the fewest games in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES |
| Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 50 |
| Dan Marino HOF | Miami | 54 |
| Andrew Luck | Indianapolis | 67 |
| Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay | 67 |
| Joe Burrow | Cincinnati | 62* |
| *has 121 career touchdown passes | ||
Burrow has four games with at least three touchdown passes this season and has 20 career games since entering the NFL in 2020. With another such performance, Burrow can tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner (21 games) for the third-most games with at least three touchdown passes by a player in his first five career seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (33 games) and Patrick Mahomes (28) have more.
The players with the most games with at least three touchdown passes in their first five seasons in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES |
| Dan Marino HOF | Miami | 33 |
| Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 28 |
| Kurt Warner HOF | St. Louis Rams | 21 |
| Josh Allen | Buffalo | 20 |
| Joe Burrow | Cincinnati | 20* |
| *in fifth season | ||
JA’MARR CHASE
Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase had 11 receptions for 264 yards and three touchdowns in Week 10 and leads the NFL in receptions (66), receiving yards (981) and touchdown receptions (10) this season.
On Sunday Night Football at the Los Angeles Chargers (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), Chase can become the fourth player with at least 10 receptions in 10 games within his first four career seasons, joining Michael Thomas (18 games), CeeDee Lamb (10) and Christian McCaffrey (10).
The players with the most games with at least 10 receptions in their first four seasons in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES |
| Michael Thomas | New Orleans | 18 |
| CeeDee Lamb | Dallas | 10 |
| Christian McCaffrey | Carolina | 10 |
| Ja’Marr Chase | Cincinnati | 9* |
| Justin Jefferson | Minnesota | 9 |
| *in fourth season | ||
Chase has 12 career games with at least 125 receiving yards and on Sunday night, can tie Odell Beckham Jr. (13 games) for the fourth-most games with at least 125 receiving yards by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history. Only Justin Jefferson (19 games) as well as Pro Football Hall of Famers Randy Moss (16) and Lance Alworth (14) have more.
The players with the most games with at least 125 receiving yards in their first four seasons in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES |
| Justin Jefferson | Minnesota | 19 |
| Randy Moss HOF | Minnesota | 16 |
| Lance Alworth HOF | San Diego Chargers | 14 |
| Odell Beckham Jr. | N.Y. Giants | 13 |
| Ja’Marr Chase | Cincinnati | 12* |
| *in fourth season | ||
Chase, who also had 10 receptions for 193 yards and two touchdowns in Week 5, can become the third player ever to record at least 10 receptions, 100 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions in three games within a season, joining Davante Adams (four games in 2020) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Cris Carter (three in 1995).
WIDE RECEIVER MILESTONES
- Detroit wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown can become the fifth player since 2000 with a touchdown reception in eight consecutive games within a season, joining A.J. Green (nine consecutive games in 2012 with Cincinnati), Davante Adams (eight in 2020 with Green Bay), Antonio Brown (eight in 2018 with Pittsburgh) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (eight in 2007 with Cincinnati).
- Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp has 608 receptions in 97 career games and can surpass Anquan Boldin (614 receptions) for the fourth-most receptions by a player in his first 100 games in NFL history. Only Keenan Allen (624 receptions), Antonio Brown (622) and Julio Jones (619) have more.
- Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson has 6,730 career receiving yards and can surpass Torry Holt (6,784 receiving yards) for the most receiving yards by a player in his first five career seasons in NFL history.
MAXX CROSBY
Las Vegas defensive end Maxx Crosby ranks tied for third this season with 11 tackles for loss and leads all players with 99 tackles for loss in 91 games since entering the NFL in 2019.
With a tackle for loss at Miami (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Crosby can surpass Von Miller (93 games) as the third-fastest player since 2000 to reach 100 career tackles for loss, trailing only J.J. Watt (64) and Aaron Donald (81).
The players to reach 100 tackles for loss in the fewest games since 2000:
| PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES |
| J.J. Watt | Houston | 64 |
| Aaron Donald | St. Louis/L.A. Rams | 81 |
| Von Miller | Denver | 93 |
| DeMarcus Ware HOF | Dallas | 96 |
| Maxx Crosby | Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders | 91* |
| *has 99 career tackles for loss | ||
WEEK 11 NFL CAPSULES
GREEN BAY PACKERS (6-3) AT CHICAGO BEARS (4-5), 1 P.M. ET, FOX
Green Bay hopes to roar out of the bye week and keep its dominance of the Bears on trend. Head coach Matt LaFleur is 10-0 against the Bears and counterpart Matt Eberflus is 0-4 in his career against the Packers. Since their bye week, the Bears played three games and dipped from 4-2 and contender conversation to hot water, dropping all three games with a total of 27 points. Eberflus made a change at offensive coordinator and promoted Thomas Brown to the play-caller role. While a yo-yo of personnel contributed, Chicago hasn’t been committed to running the ball — 43 attempts in the past two games — compared to the Packers, who have games with 53, 37, 38 and 39 rushes. In turn, No. 1 pick Caleb Williams has been sacked 15 times with zero TDs the past two games. The Bears will know where they stand in the NFC North division by the end of the month. Sunday is the first division game for the Bears. They host the Vikings (7-2) next week and spend Thanksgiving with the Lions (8-1).
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-8) AT DETROIT LIONS (8-1), 1 P.M. ET, CBS
Aaron Glenn has been masterful in helping Detroit rack up nothing but wins since Week 2. One prized pupil is hybrid defensive back Brian Branch, a playmaker and the heartbeat of the group since Aidan Hutchinson (knee) was lost for the season. Branch is the only player in the league with 25-plus passes defensed and 10 tackles for loss since the start of 2023. He’ll get in on the assignments of slowing a two-headed monster at running back with Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby, while also trying to prevent rookie WR Brian Thomas from getting behind the defense. Backup QB Mac Jones makes another start with Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) banged up. Jones passed for 111 yards last week. The Lions found a way to win with Jared Goff at his season’s worst — five interceptions — in Week 10. He passed for 340 yards and two TDs in his last game against the Jaguars. No. 1 WR Amon-Ra St. Brown is going for his eighth consecutive game with a TD catch.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-7) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (3-6), 1 P.M. ET, CBS
With one tackle for loss, Raiders DE Maxx Crosby would become the third player in since 2000 with 100 TFLs, and he notched a sack in the last go-round with Miami. He’s the menace in the trenches that worries Miami the most, even as the Dolphins are finding success with the short passing game and explosive RB De’Von Achane. The Raiders are searching for answers that didn’t come from Luke Getsy, the offensive coordinator fired before Las Vegas took a bye in Week 10 to get new play-caller Scott Turner and his more prominent dad, Norv Turner, comfortable with existing personnel. QB Gardner Minshew received a soft endorsement from head coach Antonio Pierce — “what do we have to lose, we’re 2-7” — and starts again after being replaced by Desmond Ridder in a blowout loss at Cincinnati before the bye.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (4-5) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-7), 1 P.M., FOX
Rookie QB Drake Maye awakened Demario Douglas and Ja’Lynn Polk, who were nonfactors during Jacoby Brissett’s run as the Patriots’ starter to begin the season. But the Patriots aren’t fully weaponized relative to their opposition Sunday. Matt Stafford has 25-plus completions in three games in a row because of the dynamic route-runners outside, Puka Nacua (9-98 last week vs. Miami) and Cooper Kupp (7-80). Bell-cow RB Kyren Williams is tied for third in the NFL with 10 total touchdowns to maintain offensive balance. Blocking in front of Stafford might have coach Sean McVay perspiring. New England’s DE Deatrich Wise and LB Anfernee Jennings both had two sacks at Chicago last week and DE Keion White is among the league leaders in snap-to-pressure time based on advanced metrics analysis. New England had nine total sacks in Week 10, when Stafford went down four times.
CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-7) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (3-7), 1 P.M. ET, FOX
Jameis Winston knows his way around New Orleans, and the former Saints quarterback who previously started for division rival Tampa Bay comes to town trying to keep Cleveland out of the NFL cellar. The Browns are one of four AFC teams with two wins. Injuries on the offensive line and the switches at QB and wide receiver have made for a disjointed outfit in Cleveland. The Saints ended a seven-game losing streak in their first game under interim head coach Darren Rizzi last week, a 20-17 surprise takedown of NFC South-leading Atlanta. QB Derek Carr connected for two touchdowns with WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling. New Orleans allowed more than 400 yards for the fourth time this season, including 181 rushing yards, which is sure to catch the attention of Browns play-caller Ken Dorsey. Dorsey doesn’t mind close games and wants to distribute the weight of the offense away from Winston’s shoulders to RB Nick Chubb.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (4-6) AT NEW YORK JETS (3-7), 1 P.M. ET, CBS
Playoffs? The Colts are still thinking postseason and reversed their decision at quarterback as coach Shane Steichen pushed the reset button on second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. Steichen sat Richardson days after a 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans on Oct. 27. Richardson not only struggled with accuracy in that game (10-of-32 passing), he tapped out in exhaustion before a key third-down play in the second half. The wake-up call the Colts desired didn’t come from Joe Flacco, who helped steer the Browns to the playoffs after signing in November. Flacco threw a combined four interceptions in losses to Minnesota and Buffalo, including a pick-six in last week’s 30-20 setback to the Bills on Indianapolis’ first play of the game. The Jets’ defense can make life difficult for Richardson, who has completed only 44.4 percent of his 133 passes for 958 yards with four touchdowns and seven interceptions. He’s rushed for 242 yards, second on the team, but has fumbled six times in six games. Which Jets team will show up Sunday afternoon is the mystery. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich summarized the defensive effort at Arizona last week saying he saw a “criminal, egregious amount” of missed tackles. Aaron Rodgers continues as the New York quarterback but the 31-6 loss at Arizona was a dud. Rodgers had 151 yards on 22-of-35 passing but lost 23 yards while taking three sacks.
BALTIMORE RAVENS (7-3) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (7-2), 1 P.M. ET, CBS
For the first time this season the Steelers are staring across the line at an AFC North division opponent and first place is up for grabs when the Ravens come calling. Two new faces make their introduction in the storied rivalry. The Steelers roll out QB Russell Wilson and the Ravens yank the curtain to shine the spotlight on RB Derrick Henry, the NFL’s No. 2 rusher (1,120 yards, 12 TDs) who has a league-leading TD streak of 11 games. The Ravens lead the NFL in total offense (440.2 yards per game). Baltimore is the third team ever with 20-plus points and 375-plus total yards in each of its first 10 games of season. The full story there is the Ravens can’t afford to take their foot off the accelerator because their defense has been user-friendly. The Steelers are giving up only 16.2 points per game, second in the NFL, and have had the number of Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, 1-3 all-time as a starting quarterback against the Steelers.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-2) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (2-7), 1 P.M. ET, CBS
Why is Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell on the defensive about his quarterback? Sam Darnold is three TDs shy of his first NFL season with 20 touchdowns, but he’s already at 10 interceptions after tossing three last week in a palm-sweat performance against the Jaguars. The Vikings won (12-7), and O’Connell said the focus should be on the result. Darnold does have multiple TD passes in three of four starts on the road for the Vikings and the Titans have proven capable of playing the role of easy prey. They’ve lost four of the past five games and are 1-3 in Nashville this season. Sunday provides another chance for the Titans to determine whether Will Levis can be the long-term solution at quarterback. He has seven touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2024 but unlike Darnold, there’s no Justin Jefferson to turn to when times are tough. Tony Pollard leads the Titans with 666 rushing yards and three touchdowns but has been hindered by a foot injury. Calvin Ridley is the team’s No. 1 wide receiver with 32 catches for 483 yards and three scores. Jefferson leads the Vikings with 53 receptions for 831 yards and five TDs.
ATLANTA FALCONS (6-4) AT DENVER BRONCOS (5-5), 4:05 P.M. ET, CBS
If Broncos rookie RB Audric Estime can hold onto the football, he’s likely to assume a leading role in Denver’s youth movement. Estime had a career-high 53 rushing yards last week and Javonte Williams has yet to leave the runway in what some projected to be a breakout season. The Falcons are doing just fine with a timeshare between Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier behind Kirk Cousins in the backfield. Robinson is one of three NFC backs with 1,000 yards from scrimmage already in 2024 and can challenge the Broncos’ underappreciated front seven. Denver’s offense needs more of a spark. The Broncos mustered only 260 total yards in last week’s 16-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, when Will Lutz’s 35-yard field goal attempt was blocked as time expired. The week prior, Denver managed only 10 points against a Baltimore defense that had been torched all season.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4-5) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-4), 4:05 P.M. ET, FOX
QB Brock Purdy had a season-high 353 passing yards last week in Christian McCaffrey’s first game of the season. McCaffrey returns to Levi’s Stadium on Sunday for the first time since January as the 49ers attempt to break up the logjam in the NFC West. McCaffrey has seven touchdowns and an average of 168.4 yards from scrimmage in seven career games against the Seahawks and WR Deebo Samuel averages a TD per game against Seattle. WR DK Metcalf plans to return from a knee injury this week with Seattle coming out of its bye week. The Seahawks have lost five of six games since a 3-0 start. Sagging defensive numbers are not encouraging with McCaffrey in the 49ers’ lineup. In the 12-point defeat by San Francisco on Oct. 10, the Seahawks allowed a season-worst 228 rushing yards and 6.9 yards per carry to a 49ers’ attack powered by Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (9-0) AT BUFFALO BILLS (8-2), 4:25 P.M. ET, CBS
At Highmark Stadium for a matchup of AFC frontrunners and division leaders, the Chiefs put their highwire act on display and go for a 10-0 start and 16th consecutive win dating to last season. QB Patrick Mahomes is 4-3 against Josh Allen and the Bills, averaging 289.1 passing yards per game with 16 total touchdowns in seven career starts including the playoffs. Mahomes might have his best detail of skill players yet this season with JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) pegged to play alongside De’Andre Hopkins for the first time. With seven of nine wins coming in one-possession games this season, the Chiefs do have one cause for concern with the third-most reliable kicker in NFL history, Harrison Butker, landing on IR with a knee injury. Untested 25-year-old rookie Spencer Shrader could be called upon in a tight game Sunday in his K.C. debut. Buffalo claimed the past three regular-season games in the series, all of which were played in Kansas City. And the Bills can still tap into a revenge factor. The eventual repeat Super Bowl champion Chiefs eliminated the Bills in the AFC divisional playoffs 27-24 at Buffalo in January. The Bills rank third in points per game (29) — the Chiefs average 24.3 — and Allen didn’t throw two picks in a game until a win over the Indianapolis Colts last week. Buffalo leads the NFL in turnover margin at plus-13. And the Bills bring a respectable defense of their own. The group is allowing just 19.3 points per game and has 19 takeaways, the latter figure ranking second in the league.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (4-6) AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (6-3), 8:20 P.M. ET, NBC
The Chargers have won the past three meetings in the series with Cincinnati and put their league-leading defense (13.1 points per game allowed) on display against Joe Burrow. The Bengals QB is putting up MVP-caliber numbers and pumping the ball to WR Ja’Marr Chase, who put on a memorable show last week: 11 receptions, 264 yards, three TDs. Los Angeles has held opponents under 18 points the past six consecutive games and only one team — the Steelers in September — has put up 20. The Chargers are not a flashy offensive outfit and operate behind a physical offensive line that sets the tone in the running game to soften defenses to play-action threats from QB Justin Herbert. The Bengals are familiar with the Los Angeles RB duo of Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, offseason imports from the Ravens’ scrap heap who had a few stories to tell in scouting meetings this week. They’ve combined for 838 rushing yards and Dobbins has six touchdown runs.
–MONDAY
HOUSTON TEXANS (6-4) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (3-6), 8:15 P.M. ET, ESPN/ABC
Edge rusher Micah Parsons returned from injured reserve to post two sacks last week and could be the key to collapsing the Texans’ offensive line to make C.J. Stroud uncomfortable. Stroud hasn’t thrown an interception in three of the past four games and Houston has benefited from a vintage Joe Mixon. He has six games with 90-plus yards from scrimmage and a touchdown, tied for the most in the NFL this season. Stroud has WR Nico Collins back from a hamstring injury to threaten Dallas over the top. The same can’t be said for the Cowboys and CeeDee Lamb after backup QB Cooper Rush had just one pass completion of 10 yards in his first start of the season last week. Rush gets the call again and shares the backfield with Rico Dowdle, the decided No. 1 back for Dallas. Lamb has been up to the task in primetime games with Dak Prescott, catching 25 passes for 306 yards and three TDs.