Going old-school: In Week 11, keep an eye on Jahmyr Gibbs vs. the Eagles

Welcome to a weekly look at the NFL’s next round of games. A peek that will be less quarterback-crazy and more about offensive lines, defense, running games, maybe even the occasional punter, for gosh sakes, and all things that make this the greatest team game ever invented, not the star-driven individualized sport that too many of us try to make it out to be. An effort will be made to keep the tone somewhere between “Old-school” and “Get off my lawn!”

It might be a tad too early to start a wish list for the Vikings’ 2026 draft, but …

If a great running back is available, the Vikings should pounce on him the way the Detroit Lions did that day two years ago when they were chided for selecting Jahmyr Gibbs at a so-called outdated position 12th overall.

The Lions (6-3) head into Philadelphia (7-2) on Sunday night with Gibbs ranked third in scrimmage touchdowns (10) this year and first (41) since entering the NFL.

At 23, Gibbs is one of five players under the age of 24 with 40 or more scrimmage touchdowns. The others are a who’s who of Hall of Famers: Barry Sanders (47), Randy Moss (43), Emmitt Smith (43) and Jim Brown (42).

Gibbs has 34 career rushing touchdowns. That’s 11 more than the Vikings have had as an entire team since Gibbs entered the league.

Running backs shouldn’t be viewed as interchangeable, dime-a-dozen parts. Just look to Detroit to see what a great one is worth.

Nix is preparing to face Kansas City (5-4) as a home underdog. The Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes is 19-2 on the road against the AFC West. One of the losses was in Denver two years ago.

5.5: Average yards per rush allowed by the Buffalo Bills (6-3) as they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3). Josh Allen or no Josh Allen, it’s hard to take the Bills seriously as Super Bowl contenders until they stop the run. They’re 31st in average per carry allowed and face the 25th-highest run percentage in the league. The Bucs’ running game averages 4.0 yards per carry (24th) and 99.8 per game (25th).

The Los Angeles Rams (7-2) host the Seattle Seahawks (7-2) with Matthew Stafford needing four touchdown passes to tie Dan Marino for the second-longest streak of games with at least four touchdown passes (four). Only Peyton Manning (five) had a longer streak. Already the first player in NFL history with four touchdown passes and no interceptions in three straight games, Stafford takes on a Seahawks pass defense that’s allowing only 5.69 yards per pass attempt, fourth best in the NFL. A front-runner for league MVP, the 37-year-old Stafford is trying to tie Rich Gannon (2002) as the oldest first-time NFL MVP winner.

How bad is J.J. McCarthy’s 53.7 completion percentage? Well, it’s worse than Christian Ponder’s rookie season (54.3 in 2011). It’s worse than Tarvaris Jackson’s rookie year (58.0 in 2006). And if McCarthy continues at this rate, it would be the worst completion percentage by a Vikings starter since Rich Gannon completed 52.1% in 1990. Two years ago, McCarthy led major college football in completion percentage (72.3). This is ridiculous. Fix it.

There is reason for concern about the Green Bay Packers (5-3-1) after consecutive home losses to Carolina and Philadelphia. But let’s not totally dismiss the Cheeseheads just yet as they head to Jersey to take on a Giants team that’s 2-8 and one week into its sixth coach (Mike Kafka) in 10 years. The Packers have allowed fewer than 300 yards a league-best seven times this year. They’ve given up six first-quarter points, tied with the 2021 Bills for the fewest by an NFL team since 2000. They’re also the only team in the league that hasn’t surrendered a first-quarter touchdown all season.

Commanders (+2½) at Dolphins: Winning streak! Extend Tua’s contract through the end of his life at $212.4 bazillion, trillion. Dolphins 24-20

Panthers (+3½) at Falcons: Carolina won 30-donut in Week 3, but raise your hand if you trust either of these teams to win or lose. Falcons 17-10

Buccaneers (+5½) at Bills: Dear Buffalo: Now that you know the NFL doesn’t award trophies for beating the Chiefs in Week 9, can you please return to work? Bills 30-27

Chargers (-3) at Jaguars: The Jaguars’ slump is so bad they’ve asked to do what the Chargers did and play the Vikings at home on a Thursday night. Chargers 31-24

Packers (-7) at Giants: You can bet that new Giants starter Jameis Winston will complete a ton of balls to several different targets on both teams. Packers 21-17

Texans (-6½) at Titans: Old friend Danielle Hunter (3½ sacks vs. Jaguars last week) is alive and well on Houston’s league-leading defense. Texans 13-3

49ers (-3) at Cardinals: The 49ers are too beat up to win, but Arizona is too awful not to lose. Flip a coin. 49ers 17-13

Seahawks (+3) at Rams: Seattle taught Sam Darnold something last week that he didn’t learn from Kevin O’Connell — how to hand off to a running back. Rams 34-30

Ravens (-7½) at Browns: Baltimore’s injury report Wednesday: Lamar Jackson DNP (Why bother? We’re playing the Browns this week). Ravens 28-6

Lions (+2½) at Eagles: The Eagles are 7-2 and just played a defensive gem at Lambeau. But, yeah, let’s all cry about the offense and Nick Sirianni. Eagles 20-17

Chiefs (-3½) at Broncos: Only in the NFL would an 8-2 team be an “Upset Special” option at home, where it’s 5-0, and probably still make me look bad. Broncos 24-21

Last week’s pick: Steelers (+3) 27, Chargers 24. Final: Chargers 25, Steelers 10.

Record: 2-7.

Last week/season straight up: 8-6/78-52.