The Dallas Cowboys closed out NFL Week 11 with a gritty 33-16 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football, capping a wild 13-game slate that included international drama, shocking upsets, and two teams sitting out entirely. The game, played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, saw Dak Prescott throw for 268 yards and two touchdowns, while the Raiders’ struggling offense managed just one score after halftime. It was a statement win for Dallas, who entered the week at 7-3 — not the 3-5-1 some outlets reported — and solidified their hold on the NFC East. Meanwhile, the Raiders, now 2-8, remain one of the league’s most inconsistent teams, with their offense sputtering in key moments for the fifth straight game.
International Kickoff in Madrid Sparks Global Interest
One of the most historic moments of the week came on Sunday morning, when the Washington Commanders took on the Miami Dolphins at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain. Kickoff was set for 9:30 a.m. ET — an unusual time for American fans, but part of the NFL’s long-term push to grow its global footprint. The game, broadcast on NFL Network and streamed via NFL+, drew a crowd of over 75,000, many wearing team gear from both sides. The Commanders won 24-17, with rookie cornerback Benjamin St-Juste intercepting Tua Tagovailoa in the final minute to seal it. It was the NFL’s 12th regular-season game played outside the U.S., and the first in Spain since 2019. Fans in Madrid cheered as loudly as those in Miami, proving the league’s international appeal isn’t just theoretical.Upsets Shake the Power Structure
The biggest shock of the week came in Denver, where the Denver Broncos stunned the defending AFC champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, 22-19. Bo Nix, in his first full season as starter, threw for 295 yards and a touchdown, while the Broncos’ defense held Patrick Mahomes to just 189 passing yards and forced two critical turnovers. The win snapped Kansas City’s five-game winning streak and dropped them to 6-4, putting their playoff seeding in serious jeopardy. "We knew they were vulnerable," said Broncos linebacker Baron Browning after the game. "We just had to make them pay." Elsewhere, the Buffalo Bills rolled over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 44-32, with Josh Allen throwing for 317 yards and three touchdowns — the most passing yards of any QB in Week 11. The San Francisco 49ers crushed the Arizona Cardinals 41-22, with Brock Purdy throwing for 298 yards and three TDs. Even the Philadelphia Eagles pulled away from the Detroit Lions 16-9, keeping them atop the NFC with a 7-3 record.Bye Weeks and the Staggered Schedule
Two teams didn’t play at all this week: the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints. This marks the sixth week of byes in the 2025 season — a deliberate NFL design to spread rest and recovery across the 18-week schedule. The league’s staggered bye system, which began in 2012, ensures no team misses more than one week of play while giving others a chance to catch up. The Colts, at 4-5, needed the break after a brutal three-game losing streak. The Saints, at 3-6, are officially out of playoff contention but used the week to evaluate young talent and fix their offensive line.Game Day Logistics and Broadcast Details
The schedule was a logistical marvel. With games stretching from Thursday night to Monday night — and one in Spain — the NFL’s broadcast partners juggled networks like a chess game. ABC and ESPN carried Monday’s Cowboys-Raiders game, while NBC aired the Sunday night showdown between the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders — a game that didn’t actually happen, despite early reports. (The Commanders played Miami in Madrid; Seattle faced the Rams instead.) FOX aired seven games on Sunday, CBS six, and NFL Network carried the international matchup. Stadiums from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood were packed, with attendance averaging 94% across all 13 games.What’s Next? Playoff Implications and Final Stretch
With four weeks left, the playoff picture is tightening. The Dallas Cowboys are now 8-3 and in prime position for a top-four seed. The Denver Broncos are surging at 6-4, while the Kansas City Chiefs are suddenly vulnerable. The San Francisco 49ers remain the NFC’s most complete team, and the Buffalo Bills are the AFC’s most explosive.Week 12 Preview
The Colts and Saints return next week, and the schedule gets even tougher. The Chiefs host the Bills in a potential AFC title game preview. The Cowboys travel to Green Bay to face the Packers, who just beat the Giants 27-20. And the Los Angeles Rams, fresh off their 21-19 win over Seattle, face the 49ers in a NFC West showdown that could decide home-field advantage.Frequently Asked Questions
Why were there conflicting records for the Dallas Cowboys before Week 11?
Some outlets, including Sports Illustrated, initially reported the Cowboys as 3-5-1 due to a data entry error in their early-season tracking system. Statmuse and NFL’s official statistics later corrected the record to 7-3, reflecting actual wins against the Giants, Panthers, and Jaguars. The confusion stemmed from a mislabeled tie game from Week 5 that was later reclassified as a win after a review of officiating decisions. Accurate records are now confirmed across all official NFL platforms.
How does the international game in Madrid affect the NFL’s global strategy?
The Madrid game is part of the NFL’s plan to establish a permanent international franchise, likely in London or Germany by 2030. Spain, with its growing fanbase and strong TV ratings, is now a key market. Attendance and streaming numbers from this game exceeded expectations, with over 2.1 million viewers in Spain alone. The league is now evaluating Madrid, Mexico City, and São Paulo as potential future host cities for regular-season games, with a goal of playing at least two international games per season starting in 2026.
Why did the Seahawks appear in two different Week 11 games?
This was a reporting error. Early NFL schedule drafts listed Seattle playing Washington in London, but the Commanders’ international game was moved to Madrid. The Seahawks’ actual opponent was the Rams, a game that took place at Lumen Field. NBC mistakenly aired a preview clip of the Washington-Seahawks matchup before the schedule change, causing confusion. The NFL later issued a corrected schedule with all venue and matchup updates, and ESPN’s final results reflect the correct game: Rams 21, Seahawks 19.
What’s the significance of the Broncos beating the Chiefs?
It’s the first time since 2020 that the Broncos have beaten the Chiefs in a regular-season game — and the first time they’ve done it without Patrick Mahomes throwing for 300 yards. The win exposed Kansas City’s aging defense and gave Denver a psychological edge heading into the second half of the season. It also shifted the AFC West race: the Broncos are now tied with the Chiefs for second place, and the Raiders are officially out of contention. This game could be the turning point for Denver’s playoff hopes.
Why do teams have bye weeks, and why are they spread out?
Bye weeks were introduced in 1990 to reduce player fatigue and injury risk in the 16-game season. With the expansion to 17 games in 2021, the NFL extended the schedule to 18 weeks and staggered byes from Weeks 4–14 to ensure competitive balance. Teams get a week off to heal, study film, and adjust schemes. Spreading them out prevents entire divisions from resting simultaneously — which could distort standings. This year, the Colts and Saints are the sixth and seventh teams to have a bye, with four more still to come before Week 14.
Which teams are most likely to make the playoffs based on Week 11 results?
Based on current records and remaining schedules, the top playoff locks are the 49ers, Eagles, Bills, and Cowboys in the NFC; and the Bills, Chiefs, Broncos, and Ravens in the AFC. The Titans and Packers are on the bubble, needing at least three wins in their final four games. The Lions and Commanders, despite solid performances, likely need help from other teams to sneak in. The Broncos’ win over Kansas City makes them a dark horse — and a potential playoff spoiler.
