NFL Week 10 overreactions, reality checks: Lions biggest threat in NFC to Eagles? Texans win AFC South?

What a loopy Week 10 in the NFL, one of the vital extra entertaining Sundays of the season. The Detroit Lions gained a shootout towards the Los Angeles Chargers on a last-second discipline objective and the Cleveland Browns overcame a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter to dissatisfied the Baltimore Ravens (Cleveland handiest led for 40 seconds!).

This is the primary week in NFL historical past in which 5 video games ended with a game-winning discipline objective at the ultimate play of law, including to the drama that spread out in the Week 10 slate of Sunday video games. There are a number of playoff implications which can be getting into focal point because the calendar hits mid-November, including much more overreactions as the second one part of the season starts.

Which are overreactions and which can be reality? The Sunday slate of video games evidenced some truths across the league. 

Colts are a playoff contender in the AFC

Overreaction or reality: Reality

The Colts are .500 after a win over the Patriots, somewhat frankly caring for industry towards the worst staff in the convention. After Sunday’s win, the Colts are recently tenth in the AFC, sitting inside of placing distance of a playoff berth.

Sure, the Colts are in the playoff hunt, however so are 12 different groups in the AFC. A win over the Patriots was once wanted to keep in the quest, however Indianapolis will want extra from backup quarterback Gardner Minshew down the stretch. 

The bye week can be really helpful for Indianapolis, because the Colts have the Buccaneers (domestic), Titans (away), Bengals (away), Steelers (domestic), Falcons (away), Raiders (domestic), Texans (domestic) to shut out the 12 months. There’s no less than 4 winnable video games there on a positive time table. Perhaps 9-8 might be sufficient for Indianapolis to get in, however the Colts can have to end 10-7 to considerably lend a hand their playoff odds.

They have a shot. 

Texans are going to win the AFC South

Overreaction or reality: Overreaction

Easy to assume this presently with Houston’s huge win over Cincinnati (at the highway) and Jacksonville’s blowout loss to San Francisco. The Texans (5-4) take a seat one recreation at the back of the Jaguars (6-3) consequently, putting in a race in mid-November. Should we point out Houston has the head-to-head tiebreaker over Jacksonville as smartly? 

The Texans have the appearance of a playoff staff with C.J. Stroud obviously being a franchise quarterback — and taking this group to new heights — and the time table is without a doubt in their prefer. Here are the remainder video games for each groups:

• Texans: vs. Cardinals, vs. Jaguars, vs. Broncos, at Jets, at Titans, vs. Browns, vs. Titans, at Colts
• Jaguars: vs. Titans, at Texans, vs. Bengals, at Browns, vs. Ravens, at Buccaneers, vs. Panthers, at Titans

Houston seems to have the better highway, however let’s revisit this after the Week 12 showdown towards Jacksonville. That will paint a clearer image, however the Texans deserve to be in the dialog. 

Bengals are going to leave out the playoffs 

Overreaction or reality: Overreaction

Heading into mid-November, Cincinnati is in final position in the AFC North (although the Bengals are 5-4). Sunday’s loss to the Texans harm, particularly with the Browns coming again to beat the Ravens in Baltimore and the Steelers preserving on to beat the Packers — as each groups are actually 6-3.

Cincinnati’s playoff destiny turns out to be coming to a head over the following 3 weeks. The Bengals get the Ravens in Baltimore, the Steelers at domestic, and the Jaguars in Jacksonville. Thursday’s showdown in Baltimore is also the biggest recreation of the 12 months for Cincinnati, because it can not manage to pay for to pass down to .500 (and provides the Ravens a three-game lead with the head-to-head tiebreaker over them). 

The Bengals are recently out of the final playoff spot by means of the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Texans. With the entire groups in the playoff combine in the AFC, they have got to get started stringing in combination some wins once more — beginning this week. Fortunately, Cincinnati has the head-to-head win over Buffalo. 

Ravens cannot be taken critically as a Super Bowl contender

Overreaction or reality: Reality

The Ravens have been in the making of every other huge blowout victory at domestic, main the Browns 31-17 in the fourth quarter of a recreation they necessarily ruled throughout the first 3 quarters. Then Baltimore went 8 performs for 23 yards the remainder of the way in which, beginning with a Lamar Jackson interception with Baltimore up, 31-24, that was once returned for a landing with 8:18 left. 

Jackson could not get the Ravens down the sector to stretch the lead, going 1 of four for 11 yards with an interception in the general two possessions. The Browns by no means had a AFC North highway victory when trailing by means of 14-plus issues prior to Sunday, showcasing the unsuitable aspect of historical past the Ravens have been on.

This has been a development in Baltimore. The Ravens have misplaced 9 video games when main by means of seven-plus issues in the fourth quarter, essentially the most by means of any staff in any three-year span in NFL historical past. New offensive coordinator, similar problems overdue. 

As just right as Baltimore is, exhausting to take them critically as a Super Bowl contender with the blown leads overdue. 

Dennis Allen will have to be fired as Saints head trainer 

Overreaction or reality: Reality

Amazing how Allen were given a moment head training activity in the primary position, particularly since his first go-around was once a crisis. The Saints had every week to get ready for Josh Dobbs — who hasn’t been at the Vikings for 2 weeks but — and their protection gave up 27 issues (which is Allen’s speciality). 

The offense was once if truth be told higher when Jameis Winston was once in there over Derek Carr (who left with an harm), showcasing the issues they have got on that aspect of the ball. With their time table, the Saints will have to be higher than the 5-5 file they recently possess — means above the Falcons and Buccaneers at this level.

Instead, the Saints are not a lot of a contender for the rest. They nonetheless regulate their department destiny (play the Falcons two times and Buccaneers as soon as in ultimate seven video games), however this staff will have to be higher with its susceptible time table. That’s on Allen, who’s 20-43 as a head trainer. 

This is who Allen is. He’s now not getting the Saints to the place they want to pass. 

Steelers are a playoff staff

Overreaction or reality: Reality

At this level, fingers are simply thrown up with the Steelers. Pittsburgh is 6-3 and has been outgained in each and every recreation this season, the primary staff in NFL historical past to have a successful file regardless of being outgained in every of the primary 9 video games. This is the most efficient file all over any nine-game single-season streak of being outgained in NFL historical past.

Pittsburgh recorded its nineteenth win with out scoring 25-plus issues in the previous 3 seasons, tied for essentially the most in any three-year span since 2000. No topic how deficient the Steelers are offensively, they to find tactics to win video games. 

The Steelers are operating the ball extra successfully now, the use of that and their sturdy protection to regulate the go with the flow of the sport. Pittsburgh rushed for 205 yards this week after dashing for 166 the week prior, a method that is running for a staff that struggles to transfer the ball. 

Pittsburgh can handiest get well, even with the brutal time table looming (at Cleveland, at Cincinnati). The Steelers might simply be a playoff staff, surviving the brutal AFC North. 

Lions are Eagles biggest threat in NFC

Overreaction or reality: Reality

The Cowboys beat the Giants by means of 32 issues and the 49ers beat the Jaguars by means of 31. Both San Francisco and Dallas might be extra gifted groups, but Detroit is the only with the simpler file at 7-2 — one recreation at the back of Philadelphia for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

The Lions post 41 issues and 533 yards in successful a shootout towards the Chargers. The key a part of that recreation was once Detroit now not permitting a sack and giving up simply two quarterback hits towards a Los Angeles cross rush that has Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. The Lions’ offensive line can neutralize an Eagles line of defense that is superb at getting to the quarterback, one thing the 49ers and Cowboys have struggled with this 12 months overdue in video games. 

Detroit has a positive time table over the following month sooner than remaining with Minnesota two times and Dallas in its ultimate 3 video games. Based at the time table arrange, the Lions may just if truth be told grasp home-field benefit in the NFC. 

Falcons will have to return to Desmond Ridder at QB

Overreaction or reality: Overreaction

Does it actually topic at this level? The Falcons could not even beat a Cardinals staff that had a quarterback (Kyler Murray) now not play a recreation in just about a 12 months. Taylor Heinicke went 8 of 15 for 55 yards with a landing and Desmond Ridder went 4 of 6 for 39 yards after filling in for Heinicke (who left with a hamstring harm).

Arthur Smith stated he’s going to evaluation the Falcons’ beginning quarterback scenario all over the bye week and select one to get started for the rest of the 12 months. When Atlanta can not beat Arizona to keep in the NFC South race, the entire beginning quarterback place is moot — whether or not its Heinicke or Ridder. 

The Falcons shouldn’t have a franchise quarterback and the offense is not just right sufficient. Heinicke and Ridder are mainly the similar participant.