Honestly, if you stepped away from your TV for five minutes during the Week 10 NFL games, you probably missed a season-altering moment. We’ve hit that point in the year where the "pretenders" start falling off the map and the real heavyweights stop playing with their food. But this Sunday? It wasn’t just about the favorites winning. It was about the absolute chaos in the playoff race.
Take the Miami Dolphins, for instance. Nobody—and I mean nobody—saw them hanging 30 points on the Buffalo Bills. Coming into the weekend, the Bills looked like the safest bet in the AFC East. Instead, Jaylen Waddle and the Miami offense finally found their rhythm, snapping a five-game losing streak against Buffalo in a 30-13 shellacking. It was the kind of game that makes you question everything you thought you knew about the divisional standings.
The Berlin Breakout and Rushing Royalty
The NFL took its show to Germany this week, and the fans in Berlin got a front-row seat to the Jonathan Taylor show. The Colts' star running back didn't just play well; he basically carried the entire franchise on his back across the Atlantic. Taylor put up a staggering 244 rushing yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner in a 31-25 overtime thriller against the Falcons.
It's rare to see a single player dictate the terms of a game like that. Every time Atlanta thought they had a handle on the Indianapolis offense, Taylor would rip off a chunk play. His 83-yard touchdown run was a reminder of why he’s firmly in the MVP conversation as we head into the winter months. The Colts moved to 8-2 with that win, keeping pace with the big dogs at the top of the AFC.
Lions and Seahawks: The Blowout Kings
While the Colts were grinding it out in the mud (or the German equivalent), the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks decided to turn their games into track meets.
- Detroit Lions 44, Washington Commanders 22: Jahmyr Gibbs is officially a problem for defensive coordinators. He averaged 9.5 yards per carry on his way to 172 scrimmage yards. Washington simply had no answer for the Lions' speed.
- Seattle Seahawks 44, Arizona Cardinals 22: Sam Darnold continued his career resurgence, posting a 111.8 passer rating. The Seahawks' defense has become a no-fly zone, and they are now 7-2, comfortably leading the NFC West.
Week 10 NFL Games: The Upsets That Ruined Your Parlay
If you bet on the favorites this week, I'm sorry. Your bank account is probably hurting. The "Upset Alert" was screaming all afternoon. The most jarring result had to be the New Orleans Saints taking down the Carolina Panthers 17-7. It wasn't a pretty game—hardly any Saints games are lately—but rookie QB Tyler Shough managed to guide them to a win that effectively threw cold water on the Panthers' momentum.
Then you have the Jets. Yes, those Jets. They managed to grind out a 27-20 win over the Cleveland Browns. It wasn't because the offense was explosive; in fact, they only had 62 yards at halftime. But Kene Nwangwu and Isaiah Williams decided to take over on special teams, returning a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns, respectively. It’s the kind of "ugly win" that coaches love because it proves you can find a way even when your quarterback is struggling.
The Sunday night cap between the Chargers and Steelers was another physical slugfest. The Chargers walked away with a 25-10 victory, largely because Jim Harbaugh’s squad is starting to look exactly like a Jim Harbaugh squad: tough, disciplined, and relentless in the trenches.
🔗 Read more: Monday Night Football: Why the Hype Never Really Faded
Why the Playoff Picture is a Total Mess
After the Week 10 NFL games, the "In the Hunt" graphic on your screen is getting crowded. The Chicago Bears are currently the team no one wants to play. Caleb Williams pulled off another late-game miracle, leading two scoring drives in the final four minutes to beat the Giants 24-20. The Bears are now 6-3, and they are breathing down the necks of the Lions and Packers in the NFC North.
Over in the AFC, the Texans survived a massive scare from the Jaguars. It took a Will Anderson strip-sack of Trevor Lawrence—which Sheldon Rankins returned for a score as time expired—to seal a 36-29 win. If Jacksonville had won that, the AFC South would be a three-way tie. Instead, Houston stays alive in the wild-card race while the Jaguars are left wondering how they let a 17-0 lead slip away.
Actionable Insights for the Week Ahead:
- Watch the Waiver Wire for Special Teams: If your fantasy league rewards return yards, Kene Nwangwu (Jets) is a must-add after his 99-yard TD.
- Sell High on the Bills: Their defense is dealing with massive injuries (Ed Oliver, Michael Hoecht), and the loss to Miami exposed some serious cracks in their secondary.
- Buy the Chargers' Defense: They’ve held opponents to 20 points or fewer in 12 consecutive quarters. They are a safe bet for low-scoring "Under" totals in the coming weeks.
- Monitor the NFC North: With the Lions, Bears, and Packers all within a game of each other, divisional matchups in the next three weeks will effectively decide who gets a home playoff game.
The road to the Super Bowl usually gets paved in November. Based on what we saw this week, that road is currently full of potholes, unexpected detours, and a whole lot of Jonathan Taylor.