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Twice in NFL history had a game finished 44-22. Then it basically happened twice at the same time in the late afternoon window of Week 10 (the Detroit Lions thrashing the Washington Commanders and the Seattle Seahawks jolting the Arizona Cardinals). You can’t predict ball.
Before we get to the best and worst of Week 10, here are some must-reads from USA TODAY:
32 things we learned in NFL Week 10
Winners and losers: Bills faceplant in South Florida
The Sauce Gardner trade didn’t solve any of the Colts’ actual issues
Jarrett Bell’s midseason NFL awards
One quick point at the top: the MVP conversation is clarifying itself. Jonathan Taylor had another historic day, another three-piece in the end zone. He began Sunday’s festivities by saying ‘morgen’ and leading Indianapolis to a 31-25 overtime victory, walk-off touchdown included, in Berlin. Matthew Stafford continues to play some of the best ball of his career – which is saying something – and Sean McVay has the Rams offense looking unstoppable. Sam Darnold and Drake Maye – both winners Sunday, both the QBs of two-loss teams – have also separated themselves, although they’re not of the Stafford and Taylor top-tier status.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Three numbers that helped tell the tale that was Week 10:
73-27: The record of Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson through his first 100 career games, a 27-19 victory over the Minnesota Vikings moving him past Ken Stabler. Only QBs with more wins through their first hundred games: Patrick Mahomes (78), Tom Brady (76) and Roger Staubach (76).
5-93-1: The stat line by Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in a 44-22 over the Arizona Cardinals. He joins the Steelers’ Antonio Brown (2014) and Cowboys’ Michael Irvin as the only receivers in NFL history with at least 75 receiving yards in his first nine games of any season.
11: The number of missed tackles forced by Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane – the most he’s ever had, according to Next Gen Stats. Maybe he’s just always outrunning people. He had 225 all-purpose yards as the Dolphins took out the Buffalo Bills, 30-13. Good for Mike McDaniel, rallying the team in the first game after the firing of GM Chris Grier. His team had lost seven in a row coming into this one against Buffalo, but it feels like the Dolphins always at least played the Bills tough.
HOT READS
The best NFL reads from USA TODAY:
Are the meek inheriting the NFL? At least for Week 10.
Here’s a look at the playoff picture going into Monday night’s big game at Lambeau.
The tragic death of Marshawn Kneeland leaves waves of despair.
A-? D+? NFL midseason grades for every team.
Why Brian Daboll doesn’t deserve to coach Jaxson Dart.
A former Cowboys star scored not one, but two touchdowns for his new team. He plays defense.
Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown did Donald Trump’s dance as a touchdown celebration with the president in attendance. A Commanders defender was ejected in the 44-22 loss.
RIP to former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who died Sunday at the age of 84.
Tagliabue’s legacy included a passionate embrace of diversity
INJURY ICYMI
We’ll focus on one injury here. Brian Daboll has been coaching for his job in 2025 the minute last season ended. That means running his rookie quarterback – whom Daboll adores! – until he takes a massive hit, fumbles and leaves with a concussion? It’s a masters-level display of malpractice.
ONE THING THAT BLEW MY MIND
Matthew Stafford became the first player in NFL history to throw four touchdowns and zero interceptions in three straight games. The Rams should be undefeated and have one of the best matchups in the Week 11 slate against the Seahawks (also 7-2) with first place in the NFC West on the line. Stafford was the winner of a USA TODAY NFL experts’ poll on the MVP race, as he should have been, and the 37-year-old is by far the frontrunner through 10 weeks.
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?!
The leader of the free world took eight minutes and 30 seconds to be a part of the FOX broadcast during the Commanders-Lions game as Trump became the first sitting president to attend a regular-season NFL game since Jimmy Carter in 1978. Jonathan Vilma, the color commentator, tried on two separate occasions to make a “six seven joke.” The only joke was Vilma. (The entire Trump appearance felt forced and, above all else, unnecessary. I did laugh heartily when he tried his hand at play-by-play and basically described a 4-yard run in the red zone with “woOooOw.”)
RUN IT BACK
The Jacksonville Jaguars played a marathon-esque game against the Las Vegas Raiders last week and were back on the road this week against the Houston Texans. They were going to break eventually. Houston scored 26 points in the fourth quarter to pull out a miraculous 36-29 victory; Will Anderson Jr. forced a fumble on the final play that was returned for a touchdown by Sheldon Rankins. It would have been a Texans’ win without the score, but we should never take a big-fella TD for granted. Danielle Hunter is one of the league’s most underrated players and that defense is the definition of nasty.
FANTASY PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jonathan Taylor walked away with 49.6 points (according to ESPN’s full-point PPR records) to finish atop the fantasy podium. It’s the second time in three weeks he’s been the No. 1 fantasy player.
De’Von Achane (40.5) was this week’s runner-up with two touchdowns and 174 rushing yards to go with 6 catches for 51 receiving yards.
MNF BETTING PREVIEW (AND A LOCK ): Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers
The spread has stayed below a field goal and moved in favor of the Eagles, but the Packers are still favored by one point with a total of 45.5 (as of Sunday night). This feels like a make-or-break spot for Green Bay. If they win, they cement themselves as contenders with the stigma of playing down to worse opponents. If they lose, well, maybe it’s a third straight No. 7 seed.
The pick: Packers -1 (all odds courtesy of BetMGM)
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