Consider it or not, Week 10 of the NFL common season already is upon us, and a way of urgency has set in throughout the league with simply 9 weeks remaining earlier than the playoffs.
The second head coach of the season acquired his strolling papers final week. The Saints fired Dennis Allen on Monday and changed him with interim Darren Rizzi as they grasp for options on tips on how to finish their league-worst seven-game dropping streak. The commerce deadline adopted Tuesday, concluding with 25 groups partaking in 18 trades in hopes of fortifying their rosters for the homestretch.
Division races are starting to take form or tighten. An important AFC North showdown befell Thursday evening, when Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens outdueled Joe Burrow’s Bengals 35-34 regardless of a historic evening by Cincinnati vast receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
The motion continues Sunday morning, when the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers face off in Munich, Germany. It continues with seven video games at 1 p.m. ET, three extra within the 4 p.m. ET window and a Sunday evening matchup between the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans. Week 10 concludes Monday evening with the Miami Dolphins visiting the Los Angeles Rams.
Right here’s a have a look at 5 compelling storylines across the NFL this week. (Discover the complete schedule right here.)
1. Acquainted faces in new locations after commerce deadline
Eight gamers modified addresses Tuesday, the ultimate day for groups to make trades. That introduced the full participant strikes this season to 19. In current weeks, we noticed Davante Adams, Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins make their debuts with their new groups. Now we’re about to see one other cluster of gamers attempt to bolster their new groups’ probabilities of contending for division titles, playoff berths and Tremendous Bowl runs.
In-season trades not often dramatically change crew fortunes, however there are some exceptions. Hopkins seems to be like a difference-maker in Kansas Metropolis, the place he recorded two landing catches to assist carry his new crew over Tampa Bay final Monday. Who will make an on the spot impression this week? Cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) is out for the Washington Commanders and Lions cross rusher Za’Darius Smith might not play Sunday, however control two new Steelers acquisitions, edge rusher Preston Smith and vast receiver Mike Williams.
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2. Steelers-Commanders: Assembly of unlikely division leaders
The Steelers and Commanders each reset at quarterback this offseason. The Steelers acquired veteran Russell Wilson hoping the nine-time Professional Bowl choice might assist them win their first playoff recreation because the 2016 season. The Commanders, in the meantime, drafted Jayden Daniels second general, praying he might rescue them from years of dysfunction and ineptitude.
Wilson’s Steelers tenure received off to a gradual begin due to a calf pressure that sidelined him for 5 weeks whereas Justin Fields helped Pittsburgh to a 3-2 begin. However now within the beginning position, Wilson has regarded just like the difference-maker Mike Tomlin envisioned this offseason, going 2-0 and directing the offense to 2 of its greatest outings of the 12 months.
Daniels, in the meantime, has shined as a passer and rusher for probably the most prolific offenses within the league and in consequence is the favourite to win Rookie of the 12 months honors. Halfway by the season, not solely are these groups successful thanks largely to the sparks their new quarterbacks have supplied, however they’re each main their respective divisions. Pittsburgh (6-2) is first within the AFC North and Washington (7-2) leads the NFC East.
Each groups enter Sunday’s contest in Landover, Md., using three-game win streaks however needing victories to carry off divisional foes (Baltimore for Pittsburgh, Philadelphia for Washington). The sport is a reunion for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and the Commanders’ Dan Quinn. In 1994, Tomlin performed defensive again for William & Mary whereas Quinn served because the Tribe’s defensive position coach. The next season, they each landed jobs on Virginia Navy Institute’s teaching employees. Now they’ll attempt to lead their groups to victory and preserve the momentum constructed in the course of the first half of the season. (Steelers at Commanders, 1 p.m. ET Sunday.)
3. Broncos’ subsequent robust take a look at: Visiting the Chiefs
Sean Payton’s Broncos launched into a stunning 5-3 begin to the season regardless of taking part in a rookie quarterback and going by rising pains in different areas. Final week, nevertheless, they ran right into a buzzsaw in Baltimore and received thumped 41-10. They’re in a decent race with the Chargers (5-3) for second within the AFC West and stay hopeful they will finish an eight-year playoff drought.
Their subsequent process received’t be straightforward: Sunday, Denver travels to Kansas Metropolis to tackle the 8-0 Chiefs, who’re the NFL’s solely undefeated crew. Patrick Mahomes boasts a 12-1 document towards the Broncos. His solely loss to them got here in Week 8 final season, when he threw two interceptions and no touchdowns and likewise misplaced a fumble in a 24-9 defeat in Denver.
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Can the Broncos make it two in a row? Cornerback Pat Surtain II stated this week, “It’s a great alternative for us to showcase what we’ve received,” and if anybody’s as much as the problem of stopping Mahomes, it’s Surtain, who’s thought to be the highest cornerback within the NFL.
Denver’s biggest concern, nevertheless, is likely to be its personal offense versus Kansas Metropolis’s protection. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix has delivered shiny spots this season, however this week he should face the unit led by mastermind Steve Spagnuolo. Spags makes life tough for many quarterbacks, however his defenses are likely to feast on rookie quarterbacks particularly. Since 2019, Spagnuolo owns an 11-1 document towards rookie quarterbacks, and his Chiefs have gone 5-0 at residence towards Denver throughout the identical span. Spagnuolo will ship all types of pressures, disguise coverages and plant seeds of doubt in Nix’s thoughts. How will Payton equip his rookie to cope with the problem? (Broncos at Chiefs, 1 p.m. ET Sunday.)
Rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. has helped flip the Cardinals’ tide. (Matt Kartozian / Imagn Photos)
4. Arizona Cardinals’ rise
Is it time to begin viewing the Cardinals in a unique gentle? Thought-about non-factors within the NFC West after a 1-3 begin to the season, the Cardinals have since received 4 of their final 5, together with three straight, to enhance to 5-4. Arizona is now atop the division standings because it hosts the New York Jets on Sunday.
An authoritative 41-10 victory over the Rams in Week 2 was the one early-season spotlight for Arizona. However after a 42-14 loss to the Commanders, Jonathan Gannon’s crew rebounded with a 24-23 win at San Francisco in Week 5. They misplaced to the Packers in Week 6, however back-to-back comeback victories over the Chargers and Dolphins preceded a convincing win over the Bears final week, and now the Cardinals discover themselves as the one NFC West crew with a successful document.
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There’s lots to love about this crew. Quarterback Kyler Murray is doing a great job of taking good care of the soccer whereas distributing it to a various forged of weapons that embody tight finish Trey McBride and vast receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. Harrison, a rookie, has proven flashes of dominance (his six-catch, 111-yard efficiency in Week 8 carried Arizona to victory over Miami). Working again James Conner ranks sixth within the NFL in dashing. Defensively, the Cardinals have displayed enchancment and hope to obtain a lift with their commerce for Baron Browning.
Whereas Arizona seems to be trending in the proper route, the Jets have endured a difficult season and misplaced 5 straight earlier than final week’s win over Houston. Aaron Rodgers, Garrett Wilson and Adams lead the Jets offensively, however the unit has but to stay as much as expectations. New York’s protection has surrendered 330-plus yards in three of its final 4 video games below interim head coach/defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who changed the fired Robert Saleh. The Jets’ largest weak spot is stopping the run, so a heavy dose of Conner and fellow backs Trey Benson and Emari Demercado with Murray sprinkled in might assist pave the Cardinals’ approach to success. (Jets at Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday.)
5. Detroit Lions: Ripe for an upset?
On one hand, the Lions — with a 7-1 document and using a six-game win streak — are one of many hottest groups within the league. A lot of the time, they seem like the very best crew in all the NFL. However might Dan Campbell’s imposing group be upset Sunday evening at Houston?
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Jared Goff is main the NFL with a completion share of 74.9 and in current weeks has accomplished 100, 72, 88, 80 and 81.8 % of his throws for 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. The Lions can win fairly. They will win ugly. Detroit’s protection is among the many greatest within the pink zone, permitting touchdowns solely 43.48 % of the time (fourth greatest) and solely 37.5 % within the final three video games mixed.
The Texans are coming off a bye, nevertheless, and though Las Vegas has them as 3 1/2-point residence underdogs, DeMeco Ryans’ boys are 3-0 when boasting a relaxation benefit from a bye or mini-bye. Offensive manufacturing has dipped lately for the Lions (225 yards towards Tennessee in Week 8 and 261 towards Inexperienced Bay in Week 9). In the meantime, Detroit’s protection has allowed at the very least 130 dashing yards in 4 of its final 5 contests. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud will command loads of consideration, and never having his prime two receivers will hamper his efforts. Working again Joe Mixon has 5 100-yard performances in six outings this season, nevertheless, and will exploit Detroit’s weak spot on this division and place his crew for a powerful outing. (Lions at Texans, 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday.)
(Prime photograph: Joe Sargent / Getty Photos)
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