17 moments that shaped Week 11 -- and the 2017 NFL playoff race

[purplefaithful]

It took millions of decisions, opinions and steps to make this considerably weird 2017 NFL season go. Some of the essential figures off the field made moves that are decades old: Think back to Jerry Jones buying the Cowboys in 1989, or Bill Belichick resigning as coach of the Jets to take over the Patriots in 2000. Others choices were made as recently as this week, like a certain team benching a certain quarterback under brutally flawed logic.
There's still a lot of time left on the docket for 2017, but in light of a Week 11 in which the league's four best teams -- the Eagles, Patriots, Steelers and Vikings -- each pulled away from the pack with statement victories, let's examine 17 of the most meaningful moments from the past 12 months and break down how they impacted Week 11 and will continue to impact the playoff race to come. This is in relative order of importance, and let's start with that benching to which I alluded:
http://cdn.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/...-decisions

14. Alshon Jeffery turns down a multiyear deal from the Vikings to sign a one-year deal with the Eagles.Has a free-agent decision ever made two teams as happy? While the terms weren't disclosed, the Vikings made a run at signing the former Bears wideout to a long-term deal this offseason, only for Jeffery to decline his shot at staying in the NFC North. The Vikings presumably would have pushed Jeffery into the lineup at the expense of Adam Thielen, who was entering a one-year deal with the Vikings as a restricted free agent. Two weeks later, Minnesota re-signed Thielen to a four-year, $19.2 million extension that looks to be a bargain, as Thielen's 916 receiving yards rank second in the league behind Antonio Brown.
Jeffery eventually decided to take a one-year deal to try to rebuild his value with the Eagles, and he's rounding into shape as a No. 1 receiver on the league's only nine-win team, though he's not hitting the heights of his Bears heyday. An impressive touchdown catch against the Cowboys on Sunday marked Jeffery's third consecutive game with 60 receiving yards and a touchdown, as the 27-year-old has racked up 321 yards and four scores in his past five games. Crucially, Jeffery has been able to play every game this season, which will only help his résumé in free agency next offseason.

[Guest]

1. Case Keenum signs with the Vikings.It's hard to believe, right? Keenum had posted competent but underwhelming numbers during his time with the Texans and Rams, so while I put him on the Perfect 53-Man Roster this August, it was only because the Vikings had managed to sign him to a bargain-basement deal for one year and $2 million to serve as their nominal backup to Sam Bradford and possible bridge to Teddy Bridgewater later in the season. If Keenum spent extended time in the lineup, Vikings fans would know something had gone wrong.

Instead, nothing could be further from the truth. The Vikings have relied on Keenum since Week 2 after Bradford's knee locked up in the opener, and all he has done since is play like a superstar. Keenum's QBR jumped up to 73.9 this season, placing him second in the league behind Watson. He continues to hold on to the football, having gone down to just five sacks and zero fumbles in eight starts. Keenum cycles through his options and repeatedly finds either a safe target or a downfield throw where his receiver will have an advantage and opportunity to make a play. The touchdown pass to Thielen on Sunday was a long run after catch, but it was on Keenum to recognize the blitz and quickly find his hot read. Keenum has posted the league's best QBR (94.1) against the blitz this season, nearly five points better than anybody else.
Even if the Vikings do turn to Bridgewater eventually, Keenum has given his career a big boost. Teams will be evaluating him as a possible starter this offseason, which should allow for a huge raise. Give credit to the Vikings' receiving corps of Thielen and Stefon Diggs, but they're also both playing better with Keenum in the lineup than with anyone else.
I wouldn't say Keenum is the primary reason why the Vikings are 8-2. The defense has obviously played great, and the running game has done its part despite losing rookie second-round pick Dalvin Cook to a torn ACL. Keenum is holding up his end of the bargain, though, and making plays way too frequently for a guy who was basically available for nothing in March.

[Guest]

Read this earlier and had forgotten about the offer to Alshon. Is interesting to think about how things might be world's different today. Or Thielen still ascends to where he's at now and earns an even bigger contract for next season. Who knows... Fun to ponder though.