NFL Week 10: What We Learned from each Sunday game

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• REWATCH: Giants-Panthers on NFL+ Premium

Jeremy Bergman's takeaways:

1. Carolina's cast of characters comes through. No Diontae Johnson, traded to Baltimore. No Adam Thielen, sidelined again. No Jonathon Brooks, still not active. No Miles Sanders, injured midgame. No problem for Bryce Young, Chuba Hubbard and the pesky Panthers. Carolina secured its first winning streak since the first three weeks of the 2021 season -- and the first of the Young era -- with a gutty win in the trenches in Germany. Hubbard, fresh off signing a $33.2 million extension, ran for a career-high 153 yards (+71 over expectation) and a score on 28 carries, pacing the Panthers' attack from start to finish; his only blemish was a reflexive fumble late in the fourth quarter that thankfully led to zero Giants points. Young's 126 yards on 15-of-25 passing won't impress in the box score, but the embattled second-year QB looked more self-possessed and elusive Sunday than he had all season. He was sacked just once and picked up 30 rushing yards on two scrambles. (Lost in the fourth quarter chaos will be Young's third-and-7 conversion to rookie Xavier Legette, a perfectly placed ball toward the sideline while under pressure.) Hubbard and Young were matched on the defensive side of the ball by D.J. Wonnum, making his Carolina debut, and A'Shawn Robinson. Wonnum was a menace, earning six QB pressures in 48 snaps. Robinson wasn't far behind, tallying four in 51 and logging the all-important forced fumble on Tyrone Tracy Jr. to start overtime. Eddy Pineiro's ensuing field goal sealed the win for Carolina, a team effort from an undermanned unit.
2. Time's up for Dimes. As the Giants inch closer, loss by loss, to being eliminated from playoff contention, so goes Daniel Jones, moving closer, misfire by misfire, to the bench. The sixth-year QB's 10th start of the season might have just been his last in New York, but it wasn't unfamiliar to Giants fans. There were misreads, underthrown balls in the middle of the field, overthrown passes along the sideline, hapless sacks and, of course, interceptions. Jones (22 of 37 for 190 yards) had three critical errors in Sunday's slog in Munich. His first: Midway through the second quarter, Jones was sacked on a third-and-1 flea-flicker, missing two open receivers downfield. Next: With New York marching into the red zone on the ensuing drive, Jones' second-and-13 pass was deflected by Jadeveon Clowney and intercepted by Xavier Woods, another opportunity squandered. Last: After a Hubbard fumble in the fourth quarter set up Jones and Co. with a chance to take the lead, the QB misfired behind Tracy in the flat, leading Josey Jewell, draped on the RB in coverage, to corral a pick. New York's loss wasn't all Jones' fault. The QB did, after all, help lead three scoring drives in the second half; Graham Gano missed a second-quarter field goal; and Tracy's fumble on the first play of OT sealed the deal. But Jones is not elevating the players around him. Another loss after the bye will basically assure another postseason-free winter in East Rutherford, and a Jones benching, for reasons on the field and in his contract, should follow.
3. Giants, Panthers flip places at top of draft order. Forget the playoff picture. The loser of Sunday's game was the real winner, at least in terms of draft positioning. Carolina entered the proceedings with the No. 2 pick. Now at 3-7, the Panthers will likely exit Week 10 near the bottom of the top 10. Meanwhile, the Giants, at 2-8, are more likely to begin Week 11 with the top pick in the draft than a mid-range selection. With its QB position as curious as ever, New York would prefer to be on the clock sooner rather than later, especially with time running out on their playoff hopes in 2024.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Giants-Panthers (via NFL Pro): Bryce Young completed 10 of 12 passes against zone coverage for 85 yards, including his first career touchdown against such coverage. Entering Week 10, Young had thrown zero touchdowns and nine interceptions on 444 attempts against zone coverage.

NFL Research: Chuba Hubbard is the third player to have at least 150 rushing or receiving yards and one rushing TD in an international game in NFL history (Chris Ivory in 2015, Travis Etienne Jr. in 2022). Hubbard (born in Edmonton, Canada) is the first foreign-born player to have at least 150 rushing or receiving yards in an international game in NFL history.

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• REWATCH: Patriots-Bears on NFL+ Premium

Eric Edholm's takeaways

1. Maye outplayed Williams in Patriots’ upset. Caleb Williams is now 0 for 2 in rookie QB matchups. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye wasn’t spectacular, but he outplayed Williams and got his first road victory for New England, shocking the Bears at Soldier Field. Maye threw a first-half pick but otherwise looked more composed than Williams did, leading two impressive scoring drives to close out the first half. Most impressive, poise-wise, was Maye hitting Kayshon Boutte for a 23-yard catch inbounds in the final seconds before halftime, spiking it with :01 on the clock and setting up a field goal that put the Patriots up, 13-3. Maye put a few balls up for grabs but otherwise fared well. Williams, however, was under fire all game thanks to New England’s high-pressure defense. Jayden Daniels outplayed Williams a few weeks ago, and now Maye. Bears fans understandably looked pretty defeated with the result.
2. Bears fans expressed their displeasure with offensive showing. After the Bears punted for the fourth time in five first-half possessions, the Soldier Field crowd let them have it with a chorus of loud boos. Those continued as the players went to the locker room down 10. And they were reprised after the Bears punted for the first of four straight second-half possessions. By the time the Patriots upped their lead to 19-3, there were many empty seats in the stands. The Bears’ NFL-best eight-game home win streak came crashing down Sunday in another step back offensively. Since the Week 7 bye, the Bears have been directionless and ineffective on that side of the ball, but Sunday’s showing was the offense’s worst since the first few games of the season. The play-calling was curious at best. The pass protection (nine sacks) was unacceptable. Williams' pocket presence was lacking, and he’s still struggling to develop chemistry with guys like D.J. Moore and Cole Kmet. The Bears had one drive longer than 21 yards and one play longer than 12 yards. It was a crushing loss for their playoff hopes but also for the vibes around this team. The sideline body language didn’t look great at all.
3. Patriots defense smothered Bears all game. The Bears crossed midfield on their first four possessions but got only a field goal out of it, and that’s when the Patriots defense went for the carotid artery. They pressured Caleb Williams and dared him to beat them. That didn’t happen. The Pats collected seven of their nine sacks on blitzes, as the Bears’ depleted offensive line and a rookie QB had no solutions. The nine sacks were their most in a game since Week 9 of the 2022 season. Keion White, Deatrich Wise and Anfernee Jennings led the way, pressure-wise, and the Patriots’ coverage and tackling were both very sound. It was a big win for head coach Jerod Mayo, whose defense turned in its best showing of the season, which was much-needed after some shaky outings in recent games. That’s now two wins and an overtime road loss for the Patriots in their past three games. Their special teams could use some tightening, and there’s still plenty of room for the offense to grow, but this has been a more competitive and productive stretch of ball recently.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Patriots-Bears (via NFL Pro): Keion White generated a team-high six pressures and one sack on 35 pass-rush snaps (17.1%), including a career-high two pressures against double teams. White had only four pressures on 105 career pass rushes against double teams coming into the game (3.8%) but recorded two pressures on seven such rushes against the Patriots (28.6%).

NFL Research: Caleb Williams has been sacked 38 times, which is the second-most sacks for a rookie QB from Weeks 1-10 since 1970 (David Carr, 49 in 2002).

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• REWATCH: Bills-Colts on NFL+ Premium

Michael Baca's takeaways:

1. Allen's electric fourth quarter extends Bills' win streak. Josh Allen has seen better days passing the ball, especially amid an MVP-caliber season in 2024. The Bills' star quarterback doubled his interception total for the season on Sunday, throwing two picks to keep a faulty Colts team within range of an upset. But that all changed late in the game when Allen turned a forgetful day into a relentless display. The Bills put together consecutive 13-play scoring drives in the fourth quarter (10:46 time of possession) to emphatically put the Colts away thanks to Allen, who completed five of seven passes for 67 yards and cleverly rushed for 33 yards to help move the chains in the final frame. As he has all season, Allen seems to flourish in crunch time, much like his two best plays in the first half -- a frenzied 13-yard TD run late in the second quarter and a slick 44-yard dime which set up a field goal before halftime. Allen continued his MVP campaign despite not throwing a TD on Sunday, finishing 22-of-37 passing for 180 yards while adding 50 yards on the ground. He and the Bills now ride a five-game winning streak going into next week's showdown against the undefeated Chiefs. 
2. Another QB change looming for Colts? It's a valid question following Joe Flacco's latest outing. The veteran got off to a rough start, underthrowing an eventual pick-six on his very first attempt of the game and tossing another interception seven plays into the Colts' subsequent drive. It amounted to an early 10-0 deficit, but a great defensive effort from the Colts and Jonathan Taylor's big gains (114 rushing yards) earned Indianapolis a 13-10 lead entering halftime. But Flacco's game-altering mistakes persisted in the second half, losing a fumble when getting stripped on a dropback, holding the ball too long on a sack to create a turnover on downs, and misguiding another throw early in the fourth to doom the Colts. Flacco finished 26-of-35 passing for 272 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions (plus the fumble), and there were plenty of cuts to Anthony Richardson on the sideline with good reason. Two games into Richardson's mid-season benching, Flacco owns a porous 2:4 TD-INT ratio (one TD coming against a prevent defense late Sunday) in consecutive defeats and has the Colts (4-6) on the outside of the playoffs looking in.
3. Nickel cornerbacks show their true worth. Buffalo's Taron Johnson and Indy's Kenny Moore, two of the league's highest-paid nickel CBs, showed out in what was a slippery affair at Lucas Oil Stadium (six total turnovers). Johnson nabbed Flacco's underthrow early in the first quarter and returned it for 23 frenzied yards into the end zone to kick things off, and then sacked Flacco in the second half to ruin a Colts drive. Adding two pass breakups and three tackles to his day, Johnson, who nearly got another pick in the second half, was always in the right place for a Bills defense that caused havoc through four quarters. Moore, widely regarded as the NFL's best nickel, also had a stellar game, impressively undercutting an Allen sideline throw to nab an INT and instantly negate Flacco's fumble on the previous play. Moore was also busy, totaling seven tackles and adding a pair of pass breakups to his day. The two nickels were a 10 on Sunday, and offered a demonstration of how valuable their position can be to a defense.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Bills-Colts (via NFL Pro): Joe Flacco completed 26 of 35 pass attempts for 272 yards and two touchdowns in the Colts' loss to the Bills, but also threw three interceptions and was sacked four times (one strip-sack), resulting in the lowest EPA by a Colts quarterback in a game this season (-13.0). Flacco has now generated -22.1 EPA since taking over for Anthony Richardson in Week 9, the second fewest in the NFL.

NFL Research: This is the first 8-2 (or better) start for the Bills since 1993, the last season in which Buffalo made the Super Bowl (XXVIII).

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• REWATCH: Vikings-Jaguars on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Minnesota '100 percent confident' in Darnold despite turnover struggles

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Vikings made things way tougher than they needed to be. The Vikings rolled up nearly triple the yards and first downs that the Jaguars did Sunday, but needed to hang on until the final minute of the game to finish them off in Jacksonville. The Vikings moved the ball fairly well in the first half, but Sam Darnold threw two first-half interceptions. The first went off Justin Jefferson’s hands, but the second INT snuffed out a 16-play Vikings drive, as Darnold misfired badly to Jefferson for his second end-zone pick of the season. He finished with three picks -- and nearly threw a fourth -- all while targeting Jefferson. There were other setbacks, such as two costly Cam Robinson penalties (one a late hit versus his former team on one of Darnold’s picks) and Darnold taking a bad late sack that knocked them out of field-goal range. The Vikings held on, but they were fortunate their lack of efficiency didn’t hurt them worse. Sixty-one of the Vikings’ 82 offensive plays were run in Jacksonville territory, but they scored only 12 points and never found the end zone.
2. Jones’ late turnovers were costly for Jaguars. Subbing for an injured Trevor Lawrence (left shoulder), Mac Jones had a shot at redemption Sunday in his first start in almost a year and his first for the Jaguars. Jones led the Jaguars on the game’s only touchdown drive on Jacksonville’s second possession, setting up the score with a nice throw to Gabe Davis and finding a little rhythm early. But that quickly was snuffed out, as Jones started feeling pressure, completing only eight of 13 passes for 52 yards with two interceptions over the final three quarters. Jones was responsible for all three Jaguars turnovers, and all of them came in the final 6:35 of the game. The Jaguars had plenty of chances to tilt back momentum with the score still close, but a fumbled snap, a badly underthrown pick and a miscommunication with Davis (or a badly overthrown pick?) with less than two minutes left doomed them. The Jaguars couldn’t stop the Vikings on defense on the final possession, losing their third straight.
3. Romo comes up big for the Vikings in NFL debut. The Vikings signed 27-year old John Romo to replace injured rookie kicker Will Reichard, and Romo was terrific in his NFL debut after toiling on the rosters and practice squads of the Saints, Lions and Bears -- with long periods of unemployment in between -- the past few years. Romo was 4 for 4 on field-goal tries, and though all of them were 45 yards or shorter, he did what he had to do in a game when the Vikings were 0 for 5 in the red zone. Romo’s final kick with 4:22 left, giving the Vikings a 12-7 lead, was the shakiest of the lot, barely slipping inside the right upright. The former Virginia Tech kicker also did his job on kickoffs, with four of the five going for touchbacks. Reichard had come up big time and time again, helping the Vikings to their hot start. But they don’t win their seventh game of the season without Romo’s accuracy. 

Next Gen Stats Insight for Vikings-Jaguars (via NFL Pro): Josh Hines-Allen generated eight pressures on 34 pass rushes (23.5%), his most pressures in a game this season and his fifth game with at least five pressures. Hines-Allen faced former Jaguars tackle Cam Robinson, generating eight pressures on 30 matchups (26.7%). Overall, Robinson allowed 11 pressures on 42 pass blocks (26.2%), tied for the most pressures Robinson has allowed in his career.

NFL Research: Teams with zero touchdowns and at least three turnovers were 0-147 since 2010. The Vikings are the first team to win such a game since the Packers did it against the Vikings in 2006.

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• REWATCH: Broncos-Chiefs on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Chenal's FG block keeps Chiefs' undefeated season alive

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Chiefs escape to remain undefeated. Offensively, the Chiefs remained the same team they've been all season, slowly moving the football down the field with drives of 10, 11 and 16 plays. But unlike past weeks, the Chiefs couldn't impose their will on Denver's defense, and when Patrick Mahomes missed an open Travis Kelce in the end zone on third down, they were forced to settle for a field goal with zero protection against a last-second defeat. The Chiefs stared defeat in the face in the final minute Sunday because when they needed to get a stop to preserve their lead, they failed. Broncos rookie Bo Nix led a patient 43-yard drive that required 13 plays to move into field goal range, and with their timeouts exhausted, all the Chiefs could do was hope for a spectacular play to keep their winning streak alive. Their prayers were answered on the final snap, when a host of Chiefs blasted their way through the interior protection for Denver's field goal unit, clearing a path for Leo Chenal to block Wil Lutz' game-winning try. The play sent Mahomes into a celebratory sprint around the field at Arrowhead Stadium, where the Chiefs have repeatedly proven they're outrageously difficult to defeat. Hopefully, it also serves as a reminder that they'll still need their best efforts to win on a weekly basis.
2. Nix, Broncos deliver performance deserving of win. Denver jumped all over Kansas City in the first half Sunday, racing out to a 14-3 lead by stringing together two scoring drives of 70-plus yards and ending both with touchdowns. The latter of the two scores -- a perfectly placed 32-yard touchdown pass from Bo Nix to Courtland Sutton -- stood as the sign the Broncos were not about to kneel at the feet of the defending champion Chiefs. Nix was sharp all afternoon, completing 22 of 30 passes for 215 yards and the two touchdowns, but Denver's offense wilted in the second half, failing to back a Broncos defense that capitalized on the loss of left tackle Wanya Morris, harassed Mahomes all day (four sacks, 40.8% pressure rate) and gave Denver a legitimate chance to win. Still, Nix delivered in the clutch, completing a key third-down pass to Sutton to move the Broncos into Kansas City's red zone, where they wisely drained the remaining clock and positioned themselves for a game-winning field goal. That's where the true heartbreak arrived, though, as Kansas City blocked Wil Lutz's 35-yard attempt, preserving the Chiefs' undefeated record by the thinnest of margins. It's tough to win games in this league, but the Broncos should feel proud of their efforts Sunday.
3. Steve Spagnuolo's adjustments pay off. Kansas City found itself in an unfamiliar position just before halftime, trailing the Broncos, 14-3, after surrendering two shockingly efficient touchdown drives to a rookie quarterback. Everything was working for the Broncos: They averaged 6.1 yards per carry, and Nix reached halftime with a 14-of-20 passing line for 160 yards and two scores. The Chiefs needed an answer and Spagnuolo delivered, limiting Denver's offense to 68 yards in the second half and keeping them from adding even a single point to their total. This effort bought the methodical Chiefs offense enough time to claw their way back into the game, leading two long field-goal drives to take a 16-14 lead. All of that effort was nearly wasted when the same defense couldn't stop Nix and the Broncos late in the game, allowing them to move into field goal range in the final minute. Fortunately, though, the special teams unit saved the Chiefs, lifting them to a win that might not have been possible had their defense not kept things close in the second half.

Next Gen Stats Insight from Broncos-Chiefs (via NFL Pro): Patrick Mahomes faced pressure on 20 of 49 dropbacks (40.8%), the highest pressure rate he’s faced since Week 8, 2023 (which was also against the Broncos). Mahomes was 5 of 14 for 92 yards when pressured, leading to a -17.8% CPOE, his lowest mark of the season. Meanwhile, his +5.8% CPOE when not facing pressure was his highest mark of the season, and from a clean pocket, he was 23 of 28 for 174 yards and his only touchdown.

NFL Research: The Chiefs lead the NFL with seven one-possession wins this season. The most one-score wins by an eventual Super Bowl champion is nine by both the 2015 Broncos and 1986 Giants.

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• REWATCH: Falcons-Saints on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Saints end seven-game losing streak in first game under interim HC

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Saints snap seven-loss skid in interim coach Darren Rizzi's first game. Bye bye, losing steak. Hello, Rizzi Ball. The Saints defense stood tall late as the offense sputtered, and the home team held on to best their hated rival. Rizzi's club got off to a hot start, leading, 17-7, at halftime, and kept the Falcons off the scoreboard in the final quarter to secure the win. The special teams coordinator took over for the fired Dennis Allen, and the third unit played a key role in the Saints' win. New Orleans blocked a field goal and watched Atlanta kicker Younghoe Koo miss two other field goals. Rizzi came out of the gate aggressively, deciding to go for it on fourth down in the opening drive, which failed. The coach eschewed similar chances to go for it later, opening the door for a Falcons comeback bid. The Saints D, however, smothered Atlanta late, generating a Tyrann Mathieu interception and a big strip sack of Kirk Cousins late that helped secure the win. 
2. Saints offense starts hot, fizzles. Playing with a piecemeal receiver crew, Derek Carr dropped bombs to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who sprinted past the Falcons secondary for 109 yards and two TDs on three first-half catches. Alvin Kamara (109 scrimmage yards) picked up chunk gains and danced through defenders. In the first half, it looked like the offense we saw the first two weeks of the season. Then, in the final two quarters, it appeared as though New Orleans ran out of plays. Carr's crew went three-and-out in five of six second-half possessions, including all four fourth-quarter dives. After generating 265 first-half yards, the Saints earned just 100 in the final two quarters. On the final possession, Kamara dropped a would-be game-sealing deep shot, giving Atlanta one last gasp. Luckily, the D bailed them out. 
3. Cousins authors forgettable game in first NFC South loss. Kirk Cousins experienced a rough afternoon in his first visit to the Caesars Superdome as a division rival. The QB missed passes early and didn't get into a rhythm until the second half. The Falcons offense put up yards (468) and averaged 6.4 yards per play, but bogged down. Atlanta went 5 of 14 on third downs, setting up Koo's misses. Cousins' fourth-quarter interception encapsulated his day, as the QB was just a tick off on the target leading to the pick. While Bijan Robinson churned out yards (116 rushing yards and two TDs), the passing attack was a herky-jerky operation on Sunday. On the final drive, Cousins took a sack and lost the ball, putting the offense in a big hole and burning the final timeout. Following a third-down pass over the middle, the QB took too much time on fourth-and-4. A short throw to Ray-Ray McCloud ended the game without a chance for Koo's redemption. The panicky ending sequence was something we hadn't seen much from Cousins in his first season in ATL. Despite the defeat, the Falcons still hold a two-game lead in the division. 

Next Gen Stats Insight for Falcons-Saints (via NFL Pro): The Falcons defense blitzed at its second-highest rate of the season (48.1%) in Week 10 against the Saints, but generated only two pressures when blitzing and failed to record a sack (15.4% pressure rate).

NFL Research: Marquez Valdes-Scantling became only the second receiver to gain 100 yards versus the Falcons this year (Rashee Rice in Week 3). 

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• REWATCH: 49ers-Buccaneers on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Samuel admits frustration led to altercation with Moody after missed kick
• READ: McCaffrey happy to be back after ‘long journey and a lot of long days’

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Purdy propels 49ers to victory. Brock Purdy earned every one of his season-high 353 passing yards and two touchdowns in this game, overcoming an aggressive Buccaneers defense that blitzed and registered QB pressures at the exact same rate (42.9%). He did so by spreading the ball around the field, connecting with five different pass catchers for three-plus receptions each and starting the day with a 46-yard catch-and-run touchdown scored by rookie Ricky Pearsall. Purdy's best play -- and the most significant of all -- came on second-and-10 from the Tampa Bay 11 in which Purdy dropped to pass and held the ball for 8.62 seconds, scrambling left and heaving a perfectly placed pass to George Kittle in the back corner of the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown. On a day in which nothing came easy, that score felt as if the 49ers had finally broken through. They needed the entirety of regulation to emerge victorious, and while Christian McCaffrey's 2024 debut certainly gave San Francisco a boost, the 49ers do not leave Tampa with a win if not for Purdy's timely play.
2. Bucs fall despite heroic effort from Baker. Despite being outgained nearly 2:1, Tampa Bay found itself in a tight contest with San Francisco in the second half. It seemed as if the Buccaneers might pull off the upset when Bucky Irving scored a go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter, but after Jake Moody missed a field goal in the fourth, the Bucs found themselves with one more chance to tie or take the lead. That's when Baker Mayfield donned his cape, leading a frantic drive that included a miraculous fourth-down conversion that required him to hold off Nick Bosa with his left arm and fire a desperate pass through traffic to Rachaad White for a fourth-down conversion. That drive appeared destined to finish in the end zone, but two straight runs in a goal-to-go situation produced nothing, and the Buccaneers were forced to settle for a game-tying field goal. Just like last week, they left their fate in the hands of their defense, and for a second straight game they failed to earn the stop they needed, sending the Buccaneers to another loss in a game that was there for the taking.
3. Niners have questions to answer at kicker. In just a season and a half in the NFL, Jake Moody has already had his fair share of experience with missing kicks. It was a problem in the regular season in 2023, crept back up in the postseason, but also seemed to be ironed out prior to Moody's absence due to injury between Weeks 6-8. Moody's first game back from injury renewed those concerns. The second-year booter missed three field goals Sunday, including two from 45 or more yards out, and allowed the Buccaneers to stay in the game through the end. Moody's third miss appeared to spark a confrontation on the 49ers sideline between receiver Deebo Samuel and the kicking unit, underscoring what has already been a strange season for the 49ers in the vibes department. Fortunately for Moody and the 49ers, he was able to sneak his final attempt inside the right upright to send San Francisco home a winner, but not without concerns about the kicking unit's reliability going forward.

Next Gen Stats Insight from 49ers-Buccaneers (via NFL Pro): The 49ers offense recorded season highs in yards after the catch (182), YAC over expected (+76), and 20+ YAC plays (four) in Week 10 against the Buccaneers.

NFL Research: The 49ers are now 17-2 in all games played after their bye weeks since 2022 (best in NFL) and 13-11 in games played before their bye week since 2022. Kyle Shanahan is 43-18 in all games played after the 49ers’ bye week in his career as a head coach, the third-best record in the NFL since 2017.

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• REWATCH: Steelers-Commanders on NFL+ Premium

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Wilson-Williams connection completes Steelers' comeback. The trade deadline acquisition paid off immediately for Pittsburgh. Mike Williams caught a Russell Wilson sideline 32-yard shot with 2:27 remaining to help the Steelers overcome a 10-point second-half deficit. It's the type of play Pittsburgh envisioned when they moved to acquire Williams. The Wilson-led offense was up and down much of the day, but the splash plays remain with the veteran in the lineup. Wilson hit George Pickens on a spectacular diving touchdown in the opening quarter and put the ball on the money to Williams late. In the middle, there were some muddling drives, including five in which they didn't earn a first down. Williams made the big play despite taking just nine snaps in the game. The hope is the more Williams gets involved, the fewer deep targets Wilson will be taking to Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson. It's not always pretty, but the Steelers offense remained more effective with Wilson under center. On the final drive, sitting at a fourth-and-1 near midfield, Wilson got Washington rookie Jer'Zhan Newton to jump offsides to end the game.
2. Daniels, Commanders come up short. Jayden Daniels put up his worst numbers in a full game since Week 1. The rookie QB completed a season-low 50% of his passes (17 of 34) for 202 yards with zero touchdowns and took three sacks. Still, Daniels managed the game with aplomb against a good Steelers defense. He got the ball out quickly, completing 12 of 16 quick passes (under 2.5 seconds) for 153 yards, and the ground game scored three short touchdowns. Pittsburgh held the Commanders to a season low in total yards (242) and a season-high six punts. A slow start (three first-quarter three-and-outs) got the Commanders behind the eight ball. Washington took advantage of a Steelers botched fake punt and the halftime turn, scoring touchdowns on the final drive of the second quarter and marching 71 yards on five plays to open the third quarter. Yet, the offense couldn't stretch its lead late, generating just two fourth-quarter first downs, giving the Steelers oxygen. On a fourth-and-9 on the final drive, tight end Zach Ertz was deemed down just short of the sticks, scuttling a potential go-ahead possession. The positive was that even in his worst game against a good opponent, Daniels still gave his chance to win. Despite the loss, Washington showed it's in it for the long haul.
3. Steelers trade moves pay off. Washington didn't have its splash addition, Marshon Lattimore, on the field. Pittsburgh did have Williams and its other deadline acquisition, Preston Smith. The differences were notable. Washington could have used Lattimore on the game-winning touchdown as Benjamin St-Juste got beat over the top. In addition to Williams' late heroics, Smith was credited with a sack when he tripped up Daniels for a loss. The pass rusher also generated three tackles, two for loss, and a QB pressure in just 22 snaps. The Smith acquisition could become even bigger after Alex Highsmith suffered an injury late in the contest.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Steelers-Commanders (via NFL Pro): Terry McLaurin faced Joey Porter Jr. on 22 of his 34 routes in Week 10 (64.7%), catching all four targets for 97 yards against Porter as the nearest defender. Porter pressed McLaurin on 14 of the 22 routes while forcing a tight window on three of four targets.

NFL Research: Mike Tomlin is now 26-6 versus rookie starting QBs, and Russell Wilson is 12-2 vs. rookie starting QBs since 2013. 

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• REWATCH: Titans-Chargers on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Harbaugh gives his QB new name: ‘Beast’ Herbert

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. After Herbert's fumble call was reversed, the Chargers took over. Late in the first half, with the Chargers clinging to a 13-7 lead against the pesky Titans, the game appeared to flip dramatically. Justin Herbert was hit by the Titans’ Jeffery Simmons and fumbled. The ball ended up in the hands of Roger McCreary, who ran it back for a shocking touchdown. But replay reversed the call, giving the Chargers a reprieve. After the Titans stalled in the red zone on their opening drive of the third quarter, the Chargers took control of the second half with touchdown drives lasting 4:27 and 7:10 and giving them an insurmountable lead. All three phases contributed to the strong second-half showing, including a smothering defense, a long kick return from Derius Davis and a balanced offense. Herbert was 5 of 5 for 70 yards and a TD after halftime, also adding three runs for first downs (including a great fakeout of McCreary). Running back Gus Edwards also was back from injury, looking good leading a grinding Chargers run game. They officially ran the ball 10 times on the 11-play TD drive to finish off the TItans. 
2. Second-half blues continue for the Titans. QB Will Levis (shoulder) was able to play, and he was fairly sharp early, helping the Titans take an early lead and keeping it a one-score game at halftime. They cut the deficit to 13-10 with a field-goal drive to start the second half, but the Chargers stacked back-to-back TD drives thereafter, and Levis was sacked five times after halftime. The Titans entered Sunday having been outscored, 125-53, in second halves, including 64-19 in fourth quarters. Only a late Levis-to-Calvin Ridley score allowed Tennessee to “push” with the Chargers in the fourth-quarter point differential, but by that point, the game was academic. This wasn’t a Buffalo level of second-half collapse, but the Titans need to figure out how to play 60 minutes against better opponents. However, the Titans also can blame points they left on the field in the first half. In addition to the defensive score called back, the Titans suffered back-to-back red-zone penalties in the second quarter, knocking them back 20 yards and leading to Nick Folk missing a 49-yard field goal try. Tennessee was 0 for 2 in the red zone prior to the late Ridley TD.
3. Tuli leads strong Chargers pass rush. The past three games, the Chargers’ pass rush has been on fire. That’s now 18 sacks in the past 12 quarters of action, racking up five against the Saints, six against the Browns and then seven more of Will Levis and the Titans on Sunday. Five different Chargers got in the sack column, led by Bud Dupree and Tuli Tuipulotu, who had two apiece. Tuipulotu, in particular, has played very well lately, with 5.5 of those sacks in the past three games and two momentum-stalling sacks in the third quarter Sunday. His emergence has allowed the coaching staff to keep Joey Bosa’s snap counts lower while he navigates a hip injury. Even still, Bosa sacked Levis to knock the Titans out of field-goal range and force a big punt. Interestingly, Khalil Mack (groin) played four first-quarter snaps then never reentered the game, but the Chargers adjusted well and kicked some of their interior players outside. The Titans had success running the ball at times but couldn’t keep the pocket clean for Levis.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Titans-Chargers (via NFL Pro): Justin Herbert scrambled six times (which tied his career high) for 33 yards, one touchdown and three first downs against the Titans on Sunday. Herbert has attempted a scramble run on a career-high 5.8% of his dropbacks this season while averaging 8.1 yards on such carries, the second most in his career. Herbert was also efficient as a passer on the day, completing 14 of his 18 attempts for 164 yards and a touchdown, resulting in his third-highest completion percentage over expected in a game of his career (+13.4%).

NFL Research: Prior to missing a 49-yard field goal try in the second quarter, Nick Folk had made his previous 38 straight attempts of 50 yards or less.

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• REWATCH: Jets-Cardinals on NFL+ Premium

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Kyler, Cardinals dominate Jets to stay atop NFC West. Arizona kept rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin', winning a fourth consecutive contest by wiping the floor with the Jets. Kyler Murray was sensational, avoiding pressure and making tough throws look routine. The QB didn't have a pass hit the ground after the first quarter, completing his final 17 balls before taking a seat midway through the fourth quarter of the blowout. Murray finished 22 of 24 for 266 yards, with a passing touchdown and two rushing scores. The Cards were unstoppable Sunday, rolling through Gang Green. Arizona scored on its first five drives. After three straight TDs to open the game, the only thing that stopped the Cards from making it to pay dirt on all four first-half drives was the waning clock that forced a field goal. Arizona rolled up 406 yards and a whopping 28 first downs, without barely even trying in the fourth quarter. Everything Arizona called worked. Even when the Cardinals got behind the sticks on early downs, Murray always had an answer. It was complete and utter domination from Jonathan Gannon's club that, at times, looked like it was playing with its food. It's the type of win that underscores the Cardinals have staying power. Good teams wallop bad ones at home.
2. Are the Jets' playoff hopes dead? Last week's win offered optimism. Sunday's dismal performance washed it away with tsunami-force winds. The offense moved the ball early but couldn't finish in the red zone, settling for field goals. Then the bottom fell out, and Aaron Rodgers' crew flopped about. Gang Green generated just 207 total yards, went 0 of 3 in the red zone, and scored a season-low six points. The offense is an amalgam of disjointed plays, never deciding what it wants to be. Rodgers struggles under pressure, and the offensive line can't keep him clean or open holes. Perhaps turning one of those early drives into a touchdown might have made a difference, but given how porous the defense has become, it likely wouldn't have even mattered. New York's D has more holes than a Whac-a-Mole board. The Jets can't tackle. They can't stop the run. They can't cover. They rarely get pressure. They bust coverages with regularity. Arizona didn't have a drive shorter than six plays on the afternoon and had three drives of 10-plus plays, including a 103-yard touchdown possession to open the third quarter (88 yards plus 15 yards in penalties). The Jets' schedule remains easy, but at this point, we can't expect this club to rattle off enough wins to remain a threat.
3. Cardinals defense continues to keep teams out of the end zone. Arizona hasn't allowed a touchdown in two weeks and hasn't let an opponent hit pay dirt in three consecutive home games. Gannon's defense flies around, greater than the sum of its parts. Twelve Cardinals recorded at least one QB pressure on Sunday, but none more than two. Budda Baker was once again all over the field, destroying the Jets' game plan. The heat-seeking missile generated nine tackles, a sack, three tackles for loss and a pass defensed. Arizona's defense plays so soundly that it makes life miserable on offenses. The back end plays on a string, not allowing easy completions, and the front gets just enough pressure to discombobulate quarterbacks. And even when they give up yards, Gannon's Cardinals bow up in the red zone, keeping yet another opponent out of the end zone.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Jets-Cardinals (via NFL Pro): Kyler Murray completed 22 of 24 passes for 266 yards and a TD against the Jets (career-high +21.6% CPOE), including each of his last 17 passes. The odds of Murray completing each of his last 17 passes based on the probability of each attempt: 1 in 408 (0.245%).

NFL Research: The Cardinals allowed fewer than 10 points for the second consecutive game in Week 10. Arizona had allowed double-digit points in 52 straight games prior to Week 9 (longest active streak).

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• REWATCH: Eagles-Cowboys on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Parsons feels worse for Martin, players than McCarthy during trying year

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Eagles roll over rival. After a rocky first quarter, Jalen Hurts and Co. settled in before halftime, capping the first half with an impressive seven-play drive that covered 84 yards in a mere 85 seconds. Hurts found Dallas Goedert in the end zone after evading the blitz to end that drive, then led a shorter scoring drive in the third quarter that ended with another touchdown pass, this time to 6-foot-6 Johnny Wilson for the first scoring reception of his career. On their next possession, the Eagles officially put the Cowboys to bed, covering 83 yards in seven plays and ending with a Hurts touchdown run. In four second-half possessions, the Eagles went touchdown, touchdown, field goal and field goal. They obtained two of those four possessions via turnovers, dominating their rival and proving the gulf between the two teams is only growing wider.
2. Parsons' return provides boost, but not enough to fix Cowboys' issues. For a quarter or so, Dallas made this rivalry renewal interesting. Micah Parsons registered a team-high five pressures (despite only playing 53.8% of snaps), including two quick pressures and two sacks as part of a defense that posted 16 pressures and five sacks before the Eagles sat Hurts in the fourth quarter. That impact made things a little difficult for Philadelphia, which turned it over twice in the first half. But eventually, it became clear such an improvement on the defensive side wouldn't be enough to carry the Cowboys. Their offense is exponentially worse with Dak Prescott on the sideline due to a hamstring injury. The Cowboys lack an explosive threat outside of CeeDee Lamb, which was true when Prescott was in the lineup and is only magnified without him. There's no solving this quickly. It's going to be a dark winter for Dallas, which will only precede an intriguing offseason that could end up being a significant one. The biggest downside: Dallas still has a handful of prime-time games on its slate and zero answers for its problems.
3. Eagles defense thrives. Dallas was always going to have a rough afternoon once it lost Prescott to injury last week, but even the most pessimistic Cowboys fans couldn't picture Sunday going this poorly. That, of course, was the product of operating with a backup quarterback against Vic Fangio's defense, which is gaining plenty of steam over the last month. The Eagles dominated in the turnover margin, forcing five takeaways and holding Dallas below 200 total yards of offense. When Dallas had two red zone possessions in the first half, it got just three points out of it, fumbling away the first possession into the end zone and gaining just one yard before settling for a field goal. Cooper Rush finished his day with a final line of 13-of-23 for a whopping 45 yards. It got so ugly, the Cowboys eventually pulled Rush for Trey Lance, who found the going just as difficult. Dallas' success rate fell below 40 percent on the day, it only converted three of 14 third downs and never threatened the Eagles once Philadelphia pushed the lead to 21-6. Fangio can wear this win proudly as the director of an ascending unit. The Eagles are playing complementary football at the perfect time as we near Thanksgiving.

Next Gen Stats Insight from Eagles-Cowboys (via NFL Pro): Jalen Hurts was pressured on a season-high 53.6% of dropbacks, but still managed to complete seven of his nine such attempts for 115 yards and two touchdowns.

NFL Research: Jalen Hurts has eight rushing TDs in his last four games, which is the most by any QB in a four-game span in the Super Bowl era.

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• READ: Goff becomes first Lion to overcome five INTs since 1944
• READ: Bates nailing game-winner ‘almost feels too scripted’

Grant Gordon's takeaways:

1. Goff throws five INTs before rallying Lions in wild one. A wonder of exactitude who had gone without an interception since Week 3, Jared Goff has four games this season with four or fewer incompletions. On Sunday night, though, he was just plain awful for the majority of the game, tossing his share of balls into the turf and throwing a career-worst five interceptions. Then he just went ahead and exemplified Detroit’s mettle, helping the Lions to a ridiculous rally. Trailing, 23-7, in the third with four INTs by that point, Goff and the Lions’ comeback began with a David Montgomery touchdown run to cut the score to 23-13. However, Goff threw his fifth interception on the ensuing Detroit drive and it seemed as though the Lions were destined for an ugly loss. It wasn’t to be, though. The embattled QB went 4 of 5 on the drive that followed, culminating with a touchdown toss to Amon-Ra St. Brown. Kicker Jake Bates concluded the next two Lions drives with field goals, including a 52-yard game-winner to come away the hero. However, it was Goff’s resilience that kept Detroit going. Not since Matt Ryan with the Atlanta Falcons in Week 11 of 2012 had a QB won a start in which he threw five picks, per NFL Research. That changed in stunning fashion Sunday night for Goff and the Lions.
2. Stroud, Texans offense go silent in second half. Houston entered Sunday banged up on both sides of the ball, but the Texans defense stood tall in the first half and the offense produced 23 points. However, quarterback C.J. Stroud and Co. didn’t touch the scoreboard in the second half. The closest they came was a missed Ka'imi Fairbairn 58-yard field goal with less than two minutes to go in the game. Considering they were without Will Anderson, Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs, Houston coming up short against a red-hot Detroit squad doesn’t seem all that bad on paper. But the Texans had this one and they let it fall from their grasp on a day in which the defense forced five turnovers. Stroud threw two picks himself and was an ugly 5-of-13 passing for 68 yards in the second half. With Collins likely on the way back soon, there is promise ahead, but the porous play of the offensive line remains a massive concern. For a team trying to take the big step toward becoming a Super Bowl contender, this is a loss that will -- and should -- hurt. It might’ve been an upset had it won, but this was one Houston had and let get away.
3. Davis-led Detroit D rebounds in second half. Jared Goff did his defense no favors with his five picks, but Carlton Davis did his best to even the score. Davis recorded two interceptions, both coming in a second-half shutout. In a game that got downright silly, Goff threw his last two picks on drives immediately after Davis picked off Stroud. Never mind that, the Lions defense stood strong in the second half and, for the game, held Houston to 248 yards of offense and a miniscule 56 yards on the ground. Davis had the highlights, but in a game in which nothing much was pretty, Detroit got notable contributions from Brian Branch, Jack Campbell, Alim McNeill and many others to garner a hard-hitting triumph.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Lions-Texans (via NFL Pro): Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter entered Week 10 with an NFL-best 54 QB pressures. Despite playing without Houston DE Will Anderson, Hunter still posted a game-high eight QB pressures and a 33.3 pressure rate. 

NFL Research: Jared Goff (five) and C.J. Stroud (two) combined to throw seven interceptions. It was the most combined INTs in an NFL game since Rams-Bears in Week 14, 2018. In that game, Goff, then playing for the Rams, threw his previous career high of four INTs.