NFL Research spotlights the best nuggets from each slate of games. Here are the most eye-popping statistical accomplishments from Week 11 of the 2024 NFL season.
1) Jared Goff perfect, prolific once again in dominant victory
Five interceptions against the Texans in Week 10? That ended up as a win.
A perfect passer rating against the Jaguars on Sunday? Also ended in a win.
Goff and the Lions are 9-1 -- the best start for Detroit since it started 10-0 way back in 1934.
Goff has had several marquee games this season, with Week 11 being the fifth time this season he has had a completion percentage of at least 80 in a game -- the most by a player in a single season in NFL history (minimum 15 pass attempts in each game).
This was the second time in Goff's career he has had at least 400 yards passing while also maintaining a perfect passer rating, which makes him the only player with multiple such games in his career. All other players have combined for just five such games.
2) Saints win big thanks to Taysom Hill showcase
It happened. Week 11 was the "Taysom Hill Game." At least once per year, twice if we're lucky, NFL fans are treated to the statistical anomaly that is a peak Hill performance.
In the first quarter of New Orleans' game against the Browns there was a three-play sequence that perfectly summarized Hill's uniqueness: The QB/RB/WR/TE/ATH completed an 18-yard pass on second down, immediately after that caught a 3-yard pass, and then followed it up with a 10-yard rushing touchdown.
The dual, nay, triple threat that is Hill, finished with seven carries for 138 rushing yards and three touchdowns, went 1-of-2 passing for 18 yards and an interception and caught eight of 10 targets for 50 yards receiving. For all we know, he snuck in a few snaps on special teams and defense, as well. (OK, Next Gen Stats confirmed that he, in fact, did not play defense, but he did register 11 special teams snaps.)
While there are a multitude of ways to combine Hill's passing, rushing and receiving stats to put him in unique company, here is a simple one:
Hill is one of just two players since 1950 with at least 100 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns and eight receptions in a game. On Sunday, he joined Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who achieved those numbers in 2002 against the Broncos.
Just for fun -- Hill also became the first player with three rushing touchdowns, 50 receiving yards and a passing interception since the Dallas Texans' Frank Jackson (whose many positions Pro Football Reference lists as FL-FB-SE-WR-HB) did so in 1961 against the Broncos.
3) Bo Nix continues ascending with his best performance yet
After starting his NFL career 0-2 with no touchdown passes and four interceptions, Nix has quietly turned into one of the more efficient quarterbacks in the league.
He has 14 passing touchdowns to just two interceptions since Week 3, the third-best ratio during that span behind Justin Herbert and Lamar Jackson (minimum five starts).
In the Broncos' 38-6 dismantling of the Falcons, Nix finished 28 of 33 for 307 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions. He became the first rookie in NFL history to complete at least 80 percent of his passes while throwing for at least four touchdowns and 300 yards.
4) Andrew Van Ginkel sacks his way to impressive company
Quietly one of the most impactful signings of the offseason, Van Ginkel reuniting with Brian Flores in Minnesota has proven to be a perfect pairing. (Flores was the Dolphins head coach when they drafted Van Ginkel in 2019.)
The former fifth-round pick out of Wisconsin had another multi-sack day in a 23-13 win over the Titans, bringing his season total up to 8.0 sacks.
Van Ginkel is now the third player with at least 8.0 sacks and multiple pick-sixes in a season since sacks were first tracked in 1982, joining Terrell Suggs in 2008 and Hall of Famer Jason Taylor during his 2006 Defensive Player of the Year campaign.
5) Brock Bowers stacks up more accolades despite loss to Dolphins
Bowers has not gotten the love he deserves for what has been a historic season, possibly an unfortunate side effect of all the losing that's occurred in Las Vegas, but his performance on Sunday is too impressive to ignore.
The 21-year-old ended his day with 13 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown against the Dolphins, the most receptions by a rookie tight end in NFL history.
Bowers (706) became the first tight end since Hall of Famer Mike Ditka in 1961 to have 700-plus receiving yards in his first 10 career games, and he joined Odell Beckham Jr. (71) as the only players with at least 70 catches through their first 10 career games.
He's now had at least 90 yards receiving in four different contests, trailing only Mike Ditka (six in 1961) for the most performances with 90-plus receiving yards by a rookie tight end all time.
Bowers (10) also tied Jeremy Shockey for the most 10-catch games by a rookie tight end all time.
Look past all those season-long numbers and focus solely on his most recent receiving line -- 13 catches, 126 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown -- and you'll find that he is the only rookie in the common draft era, regardless of position, to ever reach those thresholds in a single game.
Research shoutouts: Tony Holzman-Escareno (@FrontOfficeNFL), John Todd and Blake Warye (@bwaryeofblake)
