The favorites disappointed again in Week 11, but there is still reason for hope for the Packers, Cowboys, and Chiefs

This was not the shootout at the OK Corral that was expected after dynamite offensive performances from the Chiefs and Cowboys in Week 10 victories. Both Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott were bothered by the opposing pass rush all game long and the final score was Chiefs 19, Cowboys 9.

However, the major difference in the game was Mahomes had all of his offensive weapons, including the return of running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Prescott was down left tackle Tyron Smith and wide receiver Amari Cooper at kickoff. As the game progressed, running back Ezekiel Elliott came up lame in the 2nd quarter, but would return to finish the game, and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb went into concussion protocol after the back of his head smashed against the ground while trying to prevent an interception on a pass that Prescott didn’t get enough air under.

This resulted in players such as wide receiver Cedrick Wilson being depended upon and not rising to the challenge for the Cowboys. Even though the Chiefs didn’t record a single passing touchdown, their playmakers made the necessary plays to secure their fourth consecutive win and maintain first place in the AFC West.

The Cowboys don’t have a true competitor in the NFC East, and are still within two games of the best record in the NFC. They even have a game at home against the NFC best Arizona Cardinals as the penultimate game to their 2021 season. Cooper missed the Chiefs game while in COVID protocol and Smith is dealing with a bone spur in his ankle, but these are not season-ending issues. Once those two, and Lamb, return to the lineup, the Cowboys will have the advantage that can get them to their first Super Bowl since Troy Aikman and Daryl “Moose” Johnston wore pads on Sundays instead of headsets. On paper, there’s not a team in the NFL better than the Cowboys when healthy.