NFL Week 10 Takeaways: What We Learned Sunday
Week 10 provided stunning results for both NFL fans and gamblers across the globe. Here are some of our most-significant takeaways from a wild weekend in the league.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21 – Seattle Seahawks 16
Country Roads
Tampa controlled this game from its onset, and Seattle’s late attempt at a comeback was futile. Perhaps the Buccaneers have found their rhythm heading into the bye week; the team beat Seattle on the ground, and Brady was nearly perfect on this day. Many questioned the Buccaneers’ right to be favored in this contest, but they surely spurned those who doubted them Sunday morning.
Consequently, the party had to end for Seattle. And although the team’s comeback was fueled by Tampa Bay’s miscues, the plays made by Seattle’s offense should not go unnoticed. The Seahawks are a proven threat in the NFC and still atop the NFC West.
The Germans got a good one, and the crowd’s rendition of John Denver’s “Country Roads†at the game’s end was one of the most remarkable moments of the season.
Minnesota Vikings 33 – Buffalo Bills 30
Game of the Year
Their record was fortunate, their competition was favorable and their legitimacy as a 7-1 team was doubted. It was a 27-10 lead for the Bills, and these claims were all but validated. The Vikings’ comeback was, in a word, stunning – and there was no shortage of remarkable plays along the way. The victory could be argued as fortunate, but Minnesota’s comeback took some guts, and they are nipping at the heels of the Philadelphia Eagles for the no. 1 seed in the NFC. Cheers, Minnesota.
Two quick takeaways regarding this game: Justin Jefferson was likened to NFL great Randy Moss on the broadcast today, and deservingly so. He looked like the best WR in the NFL today. Secondly, Josh Allen is not the MVP of the NFL. Allen was both the reason the Bills built their lead and the reason they lost the game. Allen has now thrown four red zone interceptions in the last two weeks and has played alarmingly frantic in crucial moments this season.
Detroit Lions 31 – Chicago Bears 30
Run Fields, Run
It is indescribable how impressive Chicago QB Justin Fields has been over the past month. The Bears lost this game, but it sure didn’t feel that way. In a sense, any loss which further validates Fields as the team’s franchise QB is a win. It has been said before: the Bears are not built to win this season, but they surely are set for the future.
It is exciting again to watch the Bears play football. Expect Chicago to give teams fits for the rest of the season.
Tennessee Titans 17 – Denver Broncos 10
All D, All Day.
Except for a few plays, this was unsurprisingly the lowest scoring game of Sunday’s slate, and neither team was particularly impressive. The Titans gutted out the victory, as they so often do. The Broncos were once again propped up by their defense, and let down by their $240 million dollar man, Russell Wilson.
Denver is cooked, and Tennessee is in the driver’s seat in the AFC South. Nothing has changed.
Kansas City Chiefs 27 – Jacksonville Jaguars 17
Unfair Fight
It is difficult to beat the Chiefs kicking field goals, and it is even more challenging when your kicker cant make them. Jacksonville fought, but they could not defend opposing QB Patrick Mahomes, and the team is clearly not yet on the level of the Chiefs. Kansas City continues to compile wins as the Jags look to the future. The result of this game is no breaking news.
Miami Dolphins 39 – Cleveland Browns 17
The Music Doesn’t Stop
Life is easy with such dynamic pass-catchers in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. It is made even easier with a coach who has consistently out-schemed the opposition. The Dolphins are operating at an unrivaled level of offensive efficiency, and QB Tua Tagovailoa is playing with the decisiveness of an MVP quarterback. This marks four straight victories for Miami, and the Dolphins are looking a lot like contenders in the AFC.
New York Giants 24 – Houston Texans 16
Giants Drumbeat
The Giants were relentless with their use of RB Saquon Barkley, and the Texans could only stay in this game for so long. I say with admiration that New York does nothing especially well, yet they continue to find unique paths to victory. First-year HC Brian Daboll has turned around the Giants much quicker than anticipated, and we should see this team in the playoffs. Bravo.
Pittsburgh Steelers 20 – New Orleans Saints 10
Hungry Dogs
The Saints are spiraling, and their future is glum. The team lacks a signature victory on the season, is uncertain about their starting quarterback and is heading staring at a top-10 draft pick which they’ve traded away to the Eagles. Conversely, the Steelers themselves do not have legitimate postseason aspirations, although this victory signals they are still a formidable opponent. The team’s defense was boosted by the return of All-Pro T.J. Watt, and the offense was as efficient as it has been all year. Rookie QB Kenny Pickett has his limitations as a player, but his poise has been impressive. Continue to back the Steelers as a home underdog.
Indianapolis Colts 25 – Las Vegas Raiders 20
The Game Josh McDaniels was Out-Coached by a Center
Say what you will about Jim Irsay’s decision to hire former player Jeff Saturday as interim head coach, but Indianapolis clearly played inspired today. Saturday’s reinsertion of Matt Ryan at QB was surprising, but effective, and the Colts’ success in the run game with RB Jonathan Taylor was brilliant to see again. This was an amazing win for Indianapolis, but let’s talk about the Raiders briefly:
Las Vegas is now 0-6 in one-score games and has fallen to unimaginable depths in HC Josh McDaniels’ first season with the team. Such disappointment tends to bring with it change. One way or another, change is on the horizon for the Raiders. It is beginning to look like it may be a one-and-done year for McDaniels and that Derek Carr may be playing for another franchise in 2023.
Green Bay Packers 31 – Dallas Cowboys 28
Lambeau Magic
Under normal circumstances, this would have been the game of the day. The Packers were teetering on the brink of turmoil, and their inspiring performance Sunday evening provides them a new lease on life this season. The team beautifully married their play-action game with an efficient ground attack, and the game played at their tempo for its entirety. Perhaps we were too quick to dismiss Green Bay amid their recent woes on the road. Suddenly and surprisingly, the Packers may be a force to be reckoned with in the NFC.
Arizona Cardinals 27 – Los Angeles Rams 17
Quarterback Doesn’t Matter
For some indescribable reason, the Cardinals tend to play much better on the road. Arizona HC Kliff Kingsbury is now 16-4-2 ATS as a road underdog, and that success appears to be independent of whomever is starting at quarterback for the team. It is doubtful still that Arizona is any good, but they should never be overlooked by bettors in this spot.
Conversely, the Rams problems persisted, and backup QB John Wolford was never going to be the answer. To add injury to insult, All-Pro WR Cooper Kupp is feared to have suffered a serious ankle injury. The Rams have fallen precipitously from their Super Bowl high, and there is no reclamation on the horizon in 2022.
San Francisco 49ers 22 – Los Angeles Chargers 19
That’s a Touchback
Who knows what may have transpired if the officials had correctly ruled a touchback in the game’s waning moments.
Regardless, the difference between how good the 49ers are and how good the 49ers can be is drastic. The team’s allure is obvious, and the apparent mismatch was enticing, but we need not fall into the trap of betting on a team’s potential. San Francisco eked out a victory to improve to 5-4 on the season, but they are far from the NFC powerhouse they may very well be by the season’s end.
Additionally, much credit is due to the Chargers. They were unanimously counted out yet in control for the entirety of this game. Health permitting, the Chargers will have their say in the AFC, and I am more than excited to watch Justin Herbert duel with Mahomes next Sunday night.
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