The NFL Week 10 was full of surprises and thrilling finishes, as five games ended with game-winning field goals as time expired. Here are some of the highlights and grades from the Sunday games.
The Denver Broncos earned an A for their stunning 24-22 win over the Buffalo Bills on Monday night. The Broncos were 10-point underdogs and had lost four of their last five games, but they played with grit and determination to upset the AFC East leaders.
The Broncos defense was the key to the victory, as they sacked Josh Allen four times, forced two turnovers, and held the Bills to just 4.6 yards per play. The Broncos also ran the ball effectively, with Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams combining for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries.
The Bills, on the other hand, got a D for their disappointing performance. They failed to capitalize on their opportunities, as they missed two field goals, had a touchdown overturned by a penalty, and fumbled the ball away in the final minute. Allen had a decent game, throwing for 282 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw an interception and lost a fumble.
The Bills are now 7-3 and still lead the AFC East, but they have some tough games ahead, including a rematch with the New England Patriots in Week 13. The Broncos improved to 6-4 and are still in the hunt for a wild card spot in the AFC.
Browns beat Ravens in a wild shootout
The Cleveland Browns got an A for their thrilling 33-31 win over the Baltimore Ravens in a game that featured six lead changes and 864 total yards of offense. The Browns snapped a three-game losing streak and handed the Ravens their third loss of the season.
The Browns offense was explosive, as Baker Mayfield threw for 376 yards and four touchdowns, with no interceptions. He connected with Jarvis Landry for two scores, and also found Donovan Peoples-Jones and David Njoku for big plays. Nick Chubb ran for 102 yards on 18 carries, and Kareem Hunt added 51 yards and a touchdown on 11 touches.
The Ravens offense was also impressive, as Lamar Jackson threw for 343 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 68 yards and a score. He led the Ravens on a game-tying drive in the fourth quarter, finding Mark Andrews for a 14-yard touchdown with 1:09 left. However, the Ravens defense could not stop the Browns from driving into field goal range, and Chase McLaughlin nailed a 51-yarder as time expired to give the Browns the win.
The Ravens got a B for their effort, as they showed resilience and fight, but also made some costly mistakes. They had two turnovers, missed a field goal, and allowed the Browns to convert 10 of 16 third downs. The Ravens are now 7-3 and still lead the AFC North, but they have a tough schedule ahead, including a rematch with the Browns in Week 14. The Browns improved to 6-4 and are still in contention for a playoff spot in the AFC.
Other notable games and grades
- The Arizona Cardinals got a B+ for their 25-23 comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons, as Kyler Murray returned from injury and threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner to DeAndre Hopkins with 19 seconds left. The Cardinals are now 8-2 and lead the NFC West.
- The Dallas Cowboys got an A+ for their 49-17 blowout win over the New York Giants, as Dak Prescott threw for 375 yards and four touchdowns, and Ezekiel Elliott ran for 121 yards and a score. The Cowboys are now 7-3 and lead the NFC East by three games.
- The Detroit Lions got a B for their 41-38 shootout win over the Los Angeles Chargers, as Jared Goff threw for 392 yards and three touchdowns, and Matt Prater kicked a 54-yard field goal as time expired. The Lions are now 4-6 and have won three of their last four games.
- The Houston Texans got a C+ for their 30-27 upset win over the Cincinnati Bengals, as C.J. Stroud made his first NFL start and threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns, and Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 37-yard field goal as time expired. The Texans are now 2-8 and snapped a seven-game losing streak.
- The Indianapolis Colts got a C for their 10-6 win over the New England Patriots in Germany, as Carson Wentz threw for 178 yards and a touchdown, and the Colts defense held the Patriots to just 201 total yards. The Colts are now 5-5 and are still in the mix for a wild card spot in the AFC.
- The Minnesota Vikings got a B- for their 27-26 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints, as Kirk Cousins threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns, and Dalvin Cook ran for 94 yards and a score. The Vikings are now 6-4 and are in the thick of the NFC playoff race.
- The Pittsburgh Steelers got a C- for their 23-20 win over the Green Bay Packers, as Ben Roethlisberger threw for 205 yards and a touchdown, and the Steelers defense sacked Aaron Rodgers five times. The Steelers are now 4-6 and snapped a four-game losing streak.
- The San Francisco 49ers got a B+ for their 22-16 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, as Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 249 yards and a touchdown, and the 49ers defense held the Chargers to just 4.3 yards per play. The 49ers are now 6-4 and are still in the hunt for a wild card spot in the NFC.
- The Seattle Seahawks got a C for their 29-26 win over the Washington Commanders, as Geno Smith threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns, and Jason Myers kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired. The Seahawks are now 7-3 and are still in contention for the NFC West title.
- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got a B- for their 20-6 win over the Tennessee Titans, as Tom Brady threw for 211 yards and a touchdown, and the Buccaneers defense held the Titans to just 3.9 yards per play. The Buccaneers are now 6-4 and are still in the race for the NFC South title.