Around The NFL breaks down what you need to know from all of Sunday's action in Week 11 of the 2025 NFL season. Catch up on each game's biggest takeaways using the links below:
MADRID
EARLY GAMES
LATE WINDOW
SUNDAY NIGHT
- REWATCH: Commanders-Dolphins on NFL+ Premium
Jeremy Bergman's takeaways:
- Dolphins keep slim playoff hopes alive heading into bye. Sunday's slog in Spain was not Miami's best, a major letdown after its assured victory over the perennial AFC East champion Bills in Week 10. But the Dolphins' overtime defeat of the Commanders, filled with missed opportunities and inefficient offense, was enough to keep their season alive. De'Von Achane served as Miami's motor on offense again, averaging 5.7 yards per carry on 20 totes (165 total yards), while Ollie Gordon II served as a pounding change of pace (nine carries, 45 yards). Both were stuffed at the 1-yard line on a critical Commanders goal-line stand in the fourth quarter but also got theirs; Gordon picked up a game-tying TD, and Achane salted away the win in overtime with 22 yards on three carries, setting up Riley Patterson's game-winning kick. Miami's defense stepped up when it needed to, as well. Jack Jones' pick of Marcus Mariota on the first play of overtime (the first such interception in the NFL since Week 5, 2021) essentially sealed the game for the Fins, and the DB's big play was preceded by an NFL season-high 20 combined tackles (10 solo) by Jordyn Brooks. At 4-7, Miami is technically not out of it in a top-heavy AFC playoff picture. After the Week 12 bye, the Dolphins play four teams with a combined record of 12-26 (vs. Saints, at Jets, at Steelers, vs. Bengals) before taking on two teams who currently have comfortable leads in their divisions (vs. Bucs, at Pats). So you're saying there's a chance ...
- Washington D stands up in Quinn's first game as play-caller. After a run of defensive no-shows amid a five-game losing streak, Dan Quinn took over play-calling duties from coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. this week. The result? Washington allowed just 16 points and 311 yards, its fewest since a season-opening win over the lowly Giants. The Commanders bent but rarely broke, stopping four of five Dolphins drives inside the 30-yard line before overtime, including two goal-line stands at the 1-yard line. Down the suspended Daron Payne, Washington found inspired inside pressure from Eddie Goldman and Javon Kinlaw and kept the chance at a win alive. A disciplined pass rush resulted in three sacks from Jonathan Jones, Jacob Martin and Von Miller, and Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu were sturdy in the middle of the field. The marked one-game improvement was still too little, too late, as the offense didn't hold its own and Matt Gay missed two field goals. With the loss, Washington dropped to 3-8, far closer to the top pick in the draft than a wild-card berth.
- Teams with little to lose play to win -- and almost draw. With both Washington and Miami's seasons close to lost, after injuries to stars and underwhelming stretches, both clubs came into Sunday's historic tie in Madrid looking to take chances. They delivered on the efforts, at least. As both teams struggled on third down (9 of 22 combined for the game), the Commanders and Dolphins weren't afraid to go for it on fourth. In the second half, Miami and Washington traded turnovers on downs from inside their opponent's 2-yard lines. Despite being down no more than one score at any time, Miami went for a tie in the third quarter and then the kill in the fourth on fourth-and-goal attempts. Both were stuffed, one by Bobby Wagner on a pass attempt to Jaylen Waddle and the other a gang tackle on Ollie Gordon. Washington was guilty of trying to go ahead with a TD instead of a field goal in between Miami's two attempts, but Marcus Mariota missed Zach Ertz, who slipped on the Bernabeu turf. The Commanders' No. 2 red zone percentage failed them with their season on the line, but with little to lose for both sides, the attempts were worth the risk.
Next Gen Stats Insight for Commander-Dolphins (via NFL Pro): Dolphins RB De’Von Achane ran outside the tackles on 17 of his 21 carries against the Commanders, gaining 109 yards (47.1% success rate) on outside runs compared to just 11 yards on four inside carries (25.0% success rate). Achane recorded a career-high six explosive runs on outside carries, along with 76 yards after contact, the most allowed to a running back by the Commanders this season.
NFL Research: Jordyn Brooks led the Dolphins with 20 tackles in their win over the Commanders. Sunday was Brooks' second game this season with at least 16 tackles (Week 4 vs. Jets), making him the first Miami player with at least two games of 16-plus tackles since Hall of Famer Zach Thomas in 2006.
3-6
6-3
6-3
2-8
4-5
1-8
7-2
7-2
4-5
2-7
8-2
6-3
