The second half of the 2025 common season is formally underway within the NFL. Because the calendar dives deeper into November, now’s in regards to the time when groups both sink or swim. In Week 10, we began to see somewhat little bit of separation in some pockets of the league.
In Minnesota, the Baltimore Ravens proceed to claw themselves again into the playoff dialog, profitable their third straight recreation, with the newest coming towards the Vikings. In the meantime, New England prolonged its lead within the AFC East not solely with a win on the street over Tampa Bay, however with Buffalo’s gorgeous loss to the Dolphins. Miami’s inconceivable victory wasn’t the one upset of the week, nevertheless, because the Saints took down the Panthers.
There was a lot to digest from Sunday’s motion, however what are the developments that we should always take severely, and what are some which can be extra fluky? Beneath, we’ll work out which overreactions from Week 10 are simply that and that are legit.
NFL Week 10 winners and losers: Mike Vrabel has Patriots rolling; Panthers, Vikings sink once more
Cody Benjamin
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
Jonathan Taylor has been sensational in 2025. Otherworldly even. He simply tallied 244 yards and three touchdowns (together with the game-winner in extra time) towards the Falcons in Germany. These 244 yards speeding had been essentially the most by any participant in a recreation this season. It is also his fourth three speeding landing recreation of the yr (tied for the second-most in NFL historical past). Talking of touchdowns, his 15 speeding touchdowns via his first 10 video games are essentially the most since LaDainian Tomlinson did it in 2006 when he went on to win MVP. Like we mentioned, insane.
Nevertheless, let’s not get misplaced within the second. Prefer it or not, the NFL MVP award is de facto the MV-QB award, so Taylor has an enormous uphill battle to interrupt these norms. Even when it is shut, the tie will go to the quarterback.
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Talking of quarterbacks and the MVP race, it is Matthew Stafford who needs to be checked out as the favourite popping out of Week 10. The Rams signal-caller has been nothing in need of prolific. In a 42-26 bludgeoning of the 49ers, Stafford accomplished 24 of his 36 passes for 280 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. That’s the third straight recreation Stafford has thrown a minimum of 4 touchdowns with zero picks, making him the primary quarterback to perform that feat in NFL historical past. Stafford is at present on a streak of twenty-two passing touchdowns with out an interception, which is the second-longest streak all time. He is solely trying as much as Tom Brady in 2010 (26 straight), who he went on to win MVP that yr.
Buffalo’s Tremendous Bowl window has closed
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
Possibly essentially the most gorgeous consequence from Week 10 was the Buffalo Payments being blown out by the Miami Dolphins, 30-13. This loss was compounded by the Patriots defeating the Buccaneers on Sunday, which prolonged their lead within the AFC East. Now, Buffalo trails New England by two video games within the win column for first place within the division, and is at present dropping within the head-to-head tiebreaker. Past the place Buffalo at present sits within the standings, the jarring consequence does carry questions on whether or not or not this crew has missed its window for a championship. That might be a little bit of a stretch, nevertheless. Sure, Buffalo has its deficiencies — together with at extensive receiver — however with Josh Allen underneath middle, this crew nonetheless has a championship ceiling, even when that comes through a wild-card entry.
Jaxson Dart wants to alter his play model
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
When you watch Jaxson Dart this season, it is each entertaining and scary each time he tucks it and runs. The Giants‘ first-round rookie can dazzle along with his legs, and he rushed for 66 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday. Nevertheless, he additionally takes far too many arduous hits, and as soon as once more left the competition after struggling a concussion. That put Russell Wilson underneath middle, and New York ended up blowing a double-digit fourth-quarter result in the Bears with him underneath middle. This needs to be a lesson for the younger sign caller. Whereas his dual-threat potential makes him a tantalizing prospect, he wants to choose and select his spots higher with a purpose to be accessible to his crew from wire to wire.
Tyler Shough is franchise QB for Saints
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
New Orleans notched its second win of the season on Sunday and the primary underneath rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, logging a 17-7 victory over Carolina. Within the profitable effort, Shough accomplished 19 of his 27 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns. These are stable numbers for the second-round choose, however is it sufficient to have the Saints balk on the likelihood of choosing a quarterback prospect atop the 2026 NFL Draft? We’re not there but. If Shough strings collectively a couple of extra of those performances, the dialog could be had. Till then, nevertheless, New Orleans ought to proceed to scout the nation for its potential QB1 of the longer term.
Brian Daboll would be the subsequent coach fired
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Getting into Sunday, you’ll have had Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel atop the bingo card of the following NFL coach to be fired. After the upset win over Buffalo, nevertheless, he’ll stay to teach one other week. The identical will not be mentioned for Brian Daboll. The New York Giants coach was already sitting on the new seat, and the temperature has solely continued to rise after his membership’s Week 10 loss to the Chicago Bears. This was one more blown fourth-quarter lead by the Giants. Not solely have they misplaced back-to-back video games when main by 10 or extra factors within the fourth quarter, however the membership is now 0-4 on the street in video games when main by 10-plus factors on the season general. That is a recipe to get fired, regardless of if Jaxson Dart left with an damage or not.
San Francisco has left the playoff dialog
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
The Niners had been blown out by the Rams at house, and at the moment are behind each L.A. and Seattle within the division race, together with falling to the No. 8 seed within the convention. Whereas that is a grim image, San Francisco continues to be very a lot within the playoff dialog. That is largely due to a cupcake schedule over the following month-plus the place they need to be favored in most, if not all, of their contests. The 49ers go to the Cardinals subsequent week, host the Carolina Panthers in Week 12, after which face the Browns in Cleveland in Week 13. After the bye, they host the Tennessee Titans. That is a pocket the place a four-game profitable streak may be very potential, which might instantly put San Francisco at 10-4 heading into the ultimate three weeks.
Baltimore has entered the playoff dialog
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Immediately, the Baltimore Ravens have gained three video games in a row and sit only a recreation underneath .500 exiting Week 10. At 4-5, they’re only a recreation behind the Steelers for first place within the AFC North after Pittsburgh fell to the Chargers on Sunday evening. They’re additionally solely a recreation behind Jacksonville for the ultimate wild-card spot. Wanting forward, the Ravens face the Browns in Cleveland earlier than back-to-back house video games towards the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens will doubtless be favored in all three of these contests and, supplied they deal with enterprise, you are taking a look at a 7-5 squad driving a six-game profitable streak as they gear as much as face the Steelers for the primary time this season in Week 14. As shocking as it could have sounded once they dropped to 1-5 earlier this yr, the Ravens are firmly within the playoff dialog.
Steelers vulnerable to lacking the playoffs fully
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Additional emphasizing that time above, Pittsburgh is now 5-4 and instantly barely hanging on to first place within the AFC North. Whereas their narrowing result in the Ravens within the division would be the focus, there’s an actual menace that Mike Tomlin’s membership misses the playoffs fully. They at present have a worse document than the Chargers (7-3) and the Payments (6-3). Pittsburgh has already misplaced the head-to-head tiebreaker with Los Angeles and can play Buffalo in Week 13. On high of that, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are a crew at present on the surface trying in on the playoff image that may doubtless soar into the fray down the stretch. With Okay.C. coming in, a crew might want to exit, and that might find yourself being the Steelers, particularly if Baltimore leapfrogs them within the division.
