Week 10 of the 2024 NFL season just wrapped, which means we're officially into the campaign's second half.

That means different things for different teams. For squads such as the Detroit Lions who are rolling, it was business as usual (or unusual based on how their Sunday Night Football unraveled). For potential contenders on the fringes, the pressure ratcheted up. There was little margin for error.

The week kicked off with a nail-biter between the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. It ended with the Miami Dolphins ending a three-game losing streak—and the Los Angeles Rams' three-game winning streak.

The Kansas City Chiefs remained undefeated after blocking a last-second, would-be game-winning field-goal attempt from the Denver Broncos. And nine games were decided by one score.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey made his long-anticipated 2024 debut. The Dallas Cowboys' Micah Parsons also returned from injury. One helped his team win; the other didn't.

Week 10's action created significant impact on playoff races across the league. And just as they do every week, Bleacher Report NFL analysts Gary Davenport, Kristopher Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski broke it all down, with the biggest takeaways from each contest below.

Miami Dolphins 23, Los Angeles Rams 15

Defense Could Be Key to a Dolphins Run But Kendall Fuller Injury Looms

The Dolphins snapped a three-game losing streak on Monday. While Miami has built a reputation as an offensive team, it outlasted the Rams with a smothering defense.

Leading with defense may be Miami's best strategy as it tries to pull back into the playoff picture.

Miami's offense has been better since Tua Tagovailoa returned to the lineup in Week 8. However, if Miami is going to force its way into the playoff picture, it needs its defense to hold up its end of the bargain.

Even with Tagovailoa behind center, opposing defenses seem to be figuring out how to limit the explosive plays of Mike McDaniel's offense.

The defense largely answered the call against the Rams. While the Dolphins did give up a few chunk plays in the passing game—which will happen against Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. However, they did plenty to disrupt Matthew Stafford with a pass rush led by 38-year-old veteran Calais Campbell, Zach Sieler and rookie Chop Robinson.

The Dolphins tallied just 238 offensive yards, but they recorded four sacks, forced two turnovers and limited the Rams to five field goals.

It wasn't all good for the Dolphins defensively, though. Starting cornerback Kendall Fuller was injured early and ruled out with a concussion. He was replaced by Cam Smith, who was repeatedly targeted by the Rams.

The Dolphins came into Week 10 ranked sixth in passing yards allowed and seventh in passing touchdowns allowed. While Jalen Ramsey has been the star of the secondary, Fuller, a 2024 free-agent addition, has been a strong complement on the other side.

At 3-6, the playoffs are still a long shot, but there's hope. Three of Miami's next four games are against the struggling Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots and New York Jets.

Rams Must Sort Out Offensive Line Issues Make a Push

During their three-game winning streak after the bye, the Rams enjoyed mostly solid offensive line play. L.A. rushed for more than 100 yards in two of three games, while Stafford was sacked only once during that span.

However, the Rams did some shuffling along the line with Steve Avila (MCL) and Jonah Jackson (broken scapula) being activated from injured reserve.

Jackson suited up at center against Miami, while Avila started at left guard. There were issues with the revamped lineup, including a few high snaps that Stafford struggled to corral.

Negative plays occurred frequently, both in the running and the passing games.

The line issues stalled some early drives before they got going, and they repeatedly led to the Rams settling for field-goal attempts in scoring range. Los Angeles was just 3-of-12 on third down, and despite running 68 offensive plays and gaining 20 first downs, it never found the end zone.

L.A.'s lack of scoring cost the Rams in a game where their defense did plenty. The loss drops them to 4-5, which is not where they hoped to be in mid-November.

On a positive note, there's still time for Los Angeles to climb back into the playoff mix. The line should also improve once Avila and Jackson are fully reacclimated. If the line doesn't improve, though, Monday's loss may ultimately be viewed as the one that cost the Rams a shot at the postseason.

Carolina Panthers 20, New York Giants 17

Giants Passing Attack Unwatchable with Daniel Jones. Where's Drew Lock?

Giants head coach Brian Daboll has fought against it, but he must make a change at quarterback.

On Sunday, Daniel Jones missed open pass-catchers multiple times because he struggled to see the field, which upset Daboll in the first half.

To make matters worse, Jones threw two interceptions in the red zone. If he had taken better care of the football, this game wouldn't have gone to overtime with rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. fumbling deep in Giants' territory.

Jones hasn't thrown a touchdown pass in four of his last five games, and he's dimmed explosive rookie wideout Malik Nabers' shine. Nabers has eclipsed 59 receiving yards in just one of his last four outings.

Though the Giants are well outside of playoff contention, they need a fresh pair of eyes and a bigger arm under center to field a respectable aerial attack.

Daboll has shot down questions about a quarterback switch, but it's time to bench Jones for Drew Lock.

Panthers' Chuba Hubbard Emerging as a Top Workhorse Running Back

Early this week, the Carolina Panthers signed running back Chuba Hubbard to a four-year, $33.2 million extension, and he deserves every penny.

Hubbard thanked the Panthers with his best outing on the ground this year, racking up a career-high 153 yards and scoring a touchdown in a 20-17 win over the Giants.

Coming into Week 10, Hubbard ranked fifth among ball-carriers in rushing yards (665), averaging five yards per carry. If the Panthers avoid blowouts in the second half of the season, he could be in the mix for a rushing title.

Hubbard's emergence could also limit rookie second-round running back Jonathon Brooks' immediate impact in the rushing attack. Or Carolina can feature Hubbard on the ground and Brooks in the short passing game.

New England Patriots 19, Chicago Bears 3

Patriots Offense Can Be Special with a Top Wide Receiver

Drake Maye's box score numbers from this game won't wow anyone, but he looked far more comfortable than fellow rookie quarterback Caleb Williams under center.

Maye completed 15 out of 25 passes for 184 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Unlike Williams—who has multiple pass-catchers with 1,000-plus-yard seasons on their resumes and a rookie first-round wideout—Maye has a collection of No. 3 receivers at best.

On Sunday, tight end Austin Hooper led the Patriots in receiving yards. DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte paced the wideouts with a team-leading four catches.

Rookie second-round wideout Ja'Lynn Polk flashed with his second career touchdown reception, but it was his only catch of the game.

Maye has the arm strength and mobility to be a dynamic signal-caller. Still, he needs someone in the Patriots receiver room to emerge. If that doesn't happen in the second half of the season, the team should be aggressive adding a high-level free-agent wideout this offseason.

Bears OC Shane Waldron Will Take the Fall for Caleb Williams' Regression

Williams has regressed significantly over the last three weeks. He's struggled mightily with accuracy, completing less than 54 percent of his passes in the last three games.

Williams shouldn't be blamed for the Bears' overall offensive issues—he's been under constant duress, taking 13 sacks over the last two weeks.

Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron has been criticized for Chicago's inefficiencies on that side of the ball, which could cost him his job. The stakes are high for Chicago's OC, working with the No. 1 overall pick from the 2024 draft.

On a three-game losing streak, with three consecutive games against their division opponents, the Bears' offense has to show progress. Otherwise Waldron may be out of a job before Chicago's Thanksgiving Day matchup with the Detroit Lions.

Kansas City Chiefs 16, Denver Broncos 14

Broncos Prove They Can Hang with AFC Heavyweights

Last week, the Baltimore Ravens embarrassed the Denver Broncos 41-10, which led to questions about the legitimacy of Denver's winning record.

It seems fair to say the Broncos are not frauds.

Even though the Broncos dropped to 5-5 with a heart-wrenching loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, they took the reigning champions to the brink of an upset on the road.

Most importantly for the Broncos' offensive outlook, rookie quarterback Bo Nix's rapport with lead wideout Courtland Sutton has grown over the last three weeks. In that span, Sutton has hauled in 21 passes for 292 yards and a touchdown.

The Broncos have to swallow a tough Week 10 loss, but they'll be a thorn in the Chiefs' side in the AFC West.

Limping Patrick Mahomes Worth Monitoring Ahead of Marquee AFC Matchup

The Chiefs narrowly avoided an upset by blocking a field goal to seal a 16-14 victory over the Broncos. Patrick Mahomes took four sacks in the game as Denver swarmed him throughout. At times, Mahomes had a noticeable limp on the field.

After suffering an ankle injury last Monday, Kansas City listed him on its injury report but Mahomes logged full practices from Wednesday through Friday. Mahomes may be good to practice next week, but he could show signs of the wear and tear of a grueling season.

The Chiefs need Mahomes at his best going into a matchup with the Buffalo Bills, who have beaten them in two of their last three meetings. If the Bills can get to a hobbled Mahomes like the Broncos did on Sunday, they could be the first team to beat the reigning champions.

Buffalo Bills 30, Indianapolis Colts 20

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills Offense Continue to Find Weapons

Sunday's 30-20 victory over Indianapolis showed a team capable of managing adversity.

Neither Amari Cooper nor Keon Coleman played for Buffalo (8-2) Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts and it didn't matter.

The offense still managed 415 yards and Allen wasn't particularly sharp, either, throwing a pair of interceptions.

Sunday's version of Allen was a bit of a throwback, as he rushed for 50 yards. The quarterback's latest rushing touchdown tied Hall of Fame running back O.J. Simpson for the second-most rushing touchdowns in franchise history.

At wide receiver, Mack Hollins produced his best game in over two years, with a team-leading 86 receiving yards. Khalil Shakir caught at least six passes for the fourth straight contest. And James Cook ran for at least 80 yards for the third time in the last five games.

At 8-2 the Bills have a stranglehold over the AFC East, but this team has higher aspirations. When Cooper and Coleman return in the coming weeks this group will be even more dangerous.

Indianapolis Colts Must Put Anthony Richardson Back into the Starting Lineup

This week's take is the same as last week's: The Indianapolis Colts (4-6) made a mistake by placing Joe Flacco into the starting lineup.

Yes, head coach Shane Steichen said that Flacco is the team's starter for the rest of the season. He also gave Richardson a vote of confidence before benching him. It's OK for someone to admit they made a mistake.

The argument is no longer about the best way for a young quarterback to learn. It's now glaringly obvious that the Colts aren't in a better position to win with Flacco behind center.

Steichen remained adamant that Flacco will continue to start even after Sunday's performance. But no one can look at the veteran's three interceptions, several turnover-worthy plays, a sack on 4th-and-inches and poor overall play against the Bills and think he's the solution.

At a minimum, Richardson's athleticism gives the Colts a stable floor. When everything breaks down, he's not a statue just standing and holding the ball without hope for a first down.

If things continue the way they currently are, so what? Indianapolis already lost two-in-a-row with Flacco starting. At least Richardson provides some hope for the future and legitimate upside.

Steichen and the front office's failure to reassess the situation this weekend and stay the course should be considered organizational malpractice.

Pittsburgh Steelers 28, Washington Commanders 27

Pittsburgh Steelers Are Legit Contenders

The Steelers organization has been among the NFL's most consistent franchises over the decades, but the team fell well short of its Super Bowl standard during the previous three seasons.

The Steelers (7-2) are now back where they feel they belong. Sunday's 28-27 outcome was more proof the Steelers can enter enemy territory against a quality opponent and emerge victorious.

Russell Wilson is now in a groove as the Steelers' starting signal-caller. Since entering the lineup, Pittsburgh has averaged 382.3 yards per game. The veteran quarterback also understands how to feed his star wide receivers.

George Pickens caught five passes for 91 yards and a ridiculous touchdown snag.

Mike Williams, whom the team acquired prior to last week's trade deadline, caught a 32-yard touchdown in his first game for Pittsburgh.

Up front, rookie center Zach Frazier returned to the lineup to solidify that unit.

It's fascinating seeing all of this come together in real time on offense, while still expecting the Steelers defense to be elite.

Pittsburgh is no longer a good story. It's time to look at the Steelers as a legitimate contender.

Commanders' Jayden Daniels Doesn't Terrify Opponents

Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is well on his way to becoming the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. But his standing among the rookie class doesn't automatically make him the type of player that opponents fear, at least for now.

The Steelers certainly didn't. When asked to compare Daniels to two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson after Sunday's contest, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin warned reporters to be careful and stated, "That's Mr. Jackson."

It's easy to get excited about a dynamic young player, especially one playing as well as Daniels has. At the same time, it's easy to forget that the other side of the ball fields professionals who aren't easily impressed.

Daniels entered the game having completed over 70 percent of his attempts, but the Steelers held Daniels to 17-of-34 passing. Cam Heyward and crew sacked the rookie three times and hit him on six different occasions.

The dual-threat quarterback never found any openings to break through as a runner. Daniels only trailed Jackson in rushing yardage by a quarterback entering Sunday's action. The former produced all of five yards against the Steelers' stingy group.

At 7-3 with Daniels leading the group, the Commanders should still be excited. However, expectations should probably be altered ever-so slightly after the squad's Week 10 wakeup call.

Minnesota Vikings 12, Jacksonville Jaguars 7

Sam Darnold Miscues Continue to Raise Concerns for the Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings (7-2) are firmly in the playoff picture despite up-and-down play from quarterback Sam Darnold this season.

For the first time in his career, Darnold has looked like a legitimate NFL starter in the Vikings' offense. But recently he's been careless with the football, something we noted last week.

The Vikings were good enough to overcome Darnold's mistakes again on Sunday. But Darnold's decision-making against the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8) raises serious concerns about Minnesota's ability to go deep in the postseason.

Three times against Jacksonville, Darnold threw the ball to the opposition in the end zone or at the goal line. His mistakes marred a 402-yard offensive outing and made a game that probably shouldn't have been close a nail-biter.

Darnold now has six turnovers over his past two games. If he doesn't course-correct before the postseason, his turnovers could send the Vikings home early.

Jaguars Must Lean on Defense to Compete Without Trevor Lawrence

Let's be honest: the Jaguars aren't making a playoff run in 2024. But there's plenty left for Jacksonville to play for—including, potentially, the job of head coach Doug Pederson.

The Jags may have to play the rest of the way without standout quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The 25-year-old missed Sunday's game with an AC joint sprain. According to The Athletic's Michael Silver and Dianna Russini, Lawrence's absence could be long-term:

"The injury could sideline Lawrence for the rest of the season ... the quarterback is still gathering information about his options."

With Lawrence out, Jacksonville will rely on quarterback Mac Jones, a 2021 first-round pick of the New England Patriots. While Jones had a couple of bright moments against Minnesota, he isn't capable of providing the same offensive spark as Lawrence.

If the Jaguars are going to find any positives over the final eight weeks, they'll likely need to lean on their defense, which played surprisingly well against the Vikings. The Jags gave up plenty of yards but had three red-zone takeaways and held Minnesota to five third-down conversions on 14 attempts.

Jacksonville came into Week 10 ranked 31st in total defense and 30th in points allowed. Yet, the defense did more than enough to keep things close with the Vikings.

The loss hurts, but a good defensive performance at least gives Jacksonville something to build on moving forward.

San Francisco 49ers 23, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20

49ers Escape Sloppy Game But Christian McCaffrey's Return is Huge

It's been an odd season for the San Francisco 49ers, marred by injuries, late-game breakdowns and miscues. Mistakes followed San Francisco into Sunday's road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the 49ers survived.

Kicker Jake Moody missed three field goals, and a series of defensive penalties put the Buccaneers in scoring range and allowed them to tie the game near the end of regulation. Fortunately, a seven-play, 39-yard drive gave Moody a shot at redemption. He delivered the go-ahead kick as time expired.

The 49ers still have plenty to clean up, but they got a big boost in the injury department on Sunday. McCaffrey (ankle/Achilles) made his 2024 debut and instantly added a new element to San Francisco's offense.

San Francisco has made the most of McCaffrey's absence with promising play from Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo. But McCaffrey is a different sort of dual-threat back who generates explosive plays in the passing game—a talent he showcased with a 30-yard reception in the fourth quarter.

McCaffrey (six catches, 108 scrimmage yards) is back to being the centerpiece of San Francisco's backfield, and his return gives the 49ers plenty of reasons to believe they can still be title contenders this season.

Tristan Wirfs Injury is Latest Setback in Buccaneers Season

The Buccaneers appeared to be one of the NFL's better teams early in 2024. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has picked up where he left off as a 2023 Pro Bowler, and new offensive coordinator Liam Coen had the offense rolling.

The Bucs keep playing competitive ball, thanks largely to Mayfield's determined play.

But injuries have prevented Tampa from gaining traction in the playoff picture. Wideout Mike Evans is still out with a hamstring injury and fellow receiver Chris Godwin is out for the year with a dislocated ankle.

Unfortunately, the injury hits continued against San Francisco. Star left tackle Tristan Wirfs suffered a knee injury in the first half and did not return. He may have avoided a season-ending injury, but the three-time Pro Bowler is likely to miss time.

"The initial diagnosis for Tristan Wirfs is an injury to his MCL, source said," NFL Media's Ian Rapoport posted on X. "He'll have an MRI to determine the full extent, but if that diagnosis holds, that would give Wirfs a likelihood of returning this season."

Tampa is entering the bye week, which will give Wirfs some recovery time. But any extended absence would be another massive blow to the Bucs. Wirfs is arguably the team's most important player, aside from Mayfield.

The Buccaneers have a chance to get back into the playoff mix with upcoming games against the Giants, Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders. Pushing back into the postseason picture, though, will be a challenge if Wirfs isn't in the lineup.

New Orleans Saints 20, Atlanta Falcons 17

Coaching Change Gives Saints a Spark

The New Orleans Saints snapped their seven-game losing streak with a 20-17 win over the rival Atlanta Falcons. While the win isn't going to save the 3-7 Saints' season, it does provide some hope for the future.

Following last week's loss to the Panthers, New Orleans fired head coach Dennis Allen and replaced him with special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi. While in-season coaching changes don't always deliver noteworthy results, this one had a positive impact for the Saints.

Poor tackling, self-inflicted mistakes and a low-effort brand of football plagued the Saints during their losing streak. While Sunday's game wasn't perfect—New Orleans was flagged eight times for 70 yards—the Saints appeared to be far more motivated than they've been recently.

There just seemed to be a different vibe surrounding the Saints with Rizzi running the show.

"Rizz is the type of coach and the type of leader and the type of man that really can kind of command a man. I think he knows what buttons to push to motivate his guys," safety Tyrann Mathieu said before the game, per Josh Wilson of SI.com.

The Saints got a huge helping hand from receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (3 catches, 109 yards, 2 TDs), while quarterback Derek Carr played arguably his best game since New Orleans' 2-0 start.

But this was a total team win for the Saints, who appear to be better than their record might indicate. That should help them attract strong coaching candidates in the offseason. Rizzi, now 1-0 as the interim coach, could be among them.

Falcons Need Better Execution to Be Contenders

At 6-4, the Falcons have a fairly sizeable lead in the NFC South. The 4-6 Buccaneers are their biggest challengers, and Atlanta has already won both head-to-head matchups.

The Falcons are hoping to do more than just appear in the postseason. They went all-in on quarterback Kirk Cousins to become legitimate contenders.

But true contenders find ways to win in difficult situations. Atlanta just isn't one of those teams yet.

Finishing drives was a big issue against the Saints. The Falcons settled for field-goal attempts four times, and Youghoe Koo uncharacteristically missed three of them. Atlanta was just 6-of-16 on third- and fourth-down conversion attempts.

Atlanta's final two drives ended with a Cousins interception and the clock expiring.

Poor execution cost the Falcons a game in which they amassed 181 rushing yards, 469 total yards, 11 more first downs than the opposition, and allowed just three second-half points.

It would take a sizeable collapse for the Falcons to cede the division over the final eight weeks, but a sloppy performance like Sunday's could oust them from the postseason very quickly.

Los Angeles Chargers 27, Tennessee Titans 17

Chargers Have the Offensive Talent Needed to be Postseason Threats

The Los Angeles Chargers were reportedly interested in adding a wide receiver before Tuesday's trade deadline. According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Los Angeles "looked into" adding former Chargers receiver Mike Williams, who landed with the Steelers instead.

While fans may have welcomed a buyer's approach to the trade deadline, it continues to look like Los Angeles has the playmakers necessary to reach the playoffs and potentially win in January.

The running game got a boost on Sunday with the return of Gus Edwards, who spent the past four games on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Edwards (10 carries, 55 yards) didn't produce gaudy numbers against the Tennessee Titans. However, he allowed L.A. to utilize a committee approach to the running game instead of relying almost exclusively on J.K. Dobbins.

With a stronger backfield, the Chargers can control the tempo on the ground. With receivers Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey and Joshua Palmer all healthy and building chemistry with Justin Herbert, L.A. can also employ offensive balance.

Pairing all of that with the league's top-ranked scoring defense—one that recorded seven sacks on Sunday—makes Los Angeles the type of team that should concern opponents when it's playoff time. With home games against Cincinnati and Baltimore up next on the schedule, we'll soon get an idea of just how dangerous the Chargers can be.

Time Off Seems to Have Helped Titans Quarterback Will Levis

Before a shoulder injury forced the Titans to turn to quarterback Mason Rudolph, Will Levis looked like one of the biggest liabilities on the roster. The 2023 second-round pick—who may or may not be Tennessee's quarterback of the future—wasn't seeing the field well or taking care of the football.

Levis was responsible for a whopping 10 turnovers in his first five starts of 2024.

Rudolph isn't Tennessee's long-term answer, and the Titans turned back to Levis against the Chargers. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the team isn't quite ready to turn the page on the Kentucky product.

"What has been made clear to me: The Titans still need to see what they have in Levis, and the evaluation is not complete," Fowler wrote on Saturday.

While Levis was far from perfect against a terrific Chargers defense, he appeared to be more poised and more efficient than he was early in the season. A garbage-time touchdown padded the 25-year-old's stats, but he still finished 15-of-23 for 175 passing yards, two touchdowns and 41 rushing yards.

More importantly, Levis didn't turn the ball over. His ability to flash athletic ability and arm talent while taking better care of the football—in the face of a relentless pass rush, no less—should be viewed as growth.

Levis couldn't do enough to make this a competitive game, and there's still a strong chance that Tennessee targets a new signal-caller in the 2025 draft. After spending the first month-and-a-half of the season as a weekly NFL meme, though, it was a positive step for the young signal-caller.

Arizona Cardinals 31, New York Jets 6

The Jets Are Still a Mess

After the New York Jets beat an injury-riddled Houston Texans squad in Week 9, general manager Joe Douglas talked about changing the narrative after a rocky stretch.

But the Arizona Cardinals gave the Jets a reality check on Sunday, humbling them in every way possible.

The Jets are much closer to a team that will have a top-10 pick in the 2025 draft than a club primed to go on a midseason run for a playoff spot.

Since Gang Green fired Robert Saleh, a defensive-minded head coach, its defense has regressed. Even with a collection of high-level playmakers, Aaron Rodgers cannot carry a football team like he did in Green Bay.

The Jets can forget about a midseason turnaround or postseason aspirations. They're an abject mess, and the next front office regime and coaching staff will have to clean up 1 Jets Drive next year.

Kyler Murray Is Officially Back to Pro Bowl Form

If you remember Kyler Murray's Pro Bowl years in 2020 and 2021, imagine that player with more experience and a slightly better supporting cast. That's what you're seeing in Murray this season.

Running back James Conner played with Murray in 2021, but the Cardinals have a stronger pass-catching group now than they had that year.

As a result, Murray looks like a dynamic player again, after injuries cost him 15 games between 2022 and 2023. In 10 games, he's thrown or rushed for 16 touchdowns, which includes three scores from Sunday's win over the Jets.

Murray's rapport with rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. continues to blossom. Trey McBride has emerged as one of the league's top pass-catching tight ends. Rookie running back Trey Benson and second-year wideout Michael Wilson are solid complementary playmakers.

Murray is the maestro of an ascending dynamic offense as he leads a rising playoff contender in the NFC.

Philadelphia Eagles 34, Dallas Cowboys 6

Rookie DBs Igniting Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles took control of the NFC East with Sunday's 34-6 victory over the rival Dallas Cowboys. The 7-2 Eagles are now half a game ahead of the Washington Commanders, who lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Eagles' biggest improvement from last season to this season is their secondary. General manager Howie Roseman understood the assignment after his squad finished next-to-last in pass defense during the 2023 campaign, hence why the Eagles used their first- and second-round draft picks to select cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and corner/safety Cooper DeJean, respectively.

Entering Sunday's contest vs. a Dak Prescott-less Dallas offense, Philly had surrendered 63.7 fewer pass yards per game than a year prior.

Philly's defense was unforgiving, yielding just 49 passing yards. Superstar wide receiver CeeDee Lamb produced all of 21 yards.

Mitchell's overall performance won't be fully reflected in the box score, though he did defend two passes against the Cowboys. But he's constantly competing with the NFL's best receivers each and every week and doesn't back down.

DeJean, meanwhile, slid into the nickel spot once healthy and ready to play a high number of snaps. Entering Sunday's contest, DeJean posted the league's third-highest coverage grade since the start of Week 6, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Eagles don't have the same glaring weakness as a year ago, thanks to this year's rookie class.

Dallas Cowboys' Season Is Sunk No Matter Who Is at Quarterback

Reality check time: with Dak Prescott's season-ending injury, there's no way this Cowboys roster can compete. Instead, the organization should be full speed ahead toward April's draft.

On Sunday, Cooper Rush and Trey Lance combined to complete 17 of 29 passes for a whopping 66 yards. Neither is capable of saving the Cowboys' offense.

Attention turns to the offseason, despite whatever Jerry Jones says about wanting to win this year. The 3-5 Cowboys aren't worth the effort.

Dallas sits just outside the top 10 selections in the 2025 NFL draft. Without Prescott in the lineup, any wins are fruitless for this team. The Cowboys will continue to compete, of course. But this is a team in serious need of talent at multiple spots.

Names such as Colorado's Travis Hunter, Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan, Ole Miss' Tre Harris, Boise State's Ashton Jeanty and Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka are officially on the radar.

Detroit Lions 26, Houston Texans 23

Detroit Lions Safety Brian Branch Fits Squarely Into NFL Defensive Player of the Year Conversation

During a night where so many things could have or went wrong, Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch seemingly did everything right.

The Lions' 26-23 victory over the Houston Texans featured seven interceptions between the two quarterbacks, an offensive lineman intentionally stripping the ball from his own quarterback, the running games averaging a combined 2.7 yards per carry and two 50-plus field goals that barely squeaked inside each of the goal posts. It was a wild evening.

However, Branch looked like the same dominant player he's been all season. The second-year defensive back led the Lions with 10 tackles. He also registered a tackle for loss, two defended passes and a quarterback hit.

With Aidan Hutchinson out of the lineup due to a broken tibia and fibula, the Lions had to adjust knowing they weren't going to get consistent pressure off the edge. Za'Darius Smith should help once he's in the lineup. Still, Detroit's defensive unit lost its centerpiece.

Branch entered the professional ranks as a hybrid. He played both corner and safety with the Alabama Crimson Tide. Last season, he primarily lined up over opposing inside receivers. This year, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn deployed Branch as a defensive weapon from the safety position.

"This scheme puts me in the right positions where I'm able to get more picks," Branch said, per Tim Twentyman of the Lions official site. "That's what I like more about safety than nickel. I've got more eyes on quarterback instead of just playing in man. There's more stuff I can do at safety."

The strength of the Lions defense is now on the back end. Branch will lead this group throughout the rest of the season. If he continues to make plays all over the field, as he did Sunday night, he'll be in the mix for the league's top defensive player.

Silvering Linings Emerge For Houston Texans Even With Sunday Night Football Loss

The Texans won't have any excuses for Sunday's loss to the Lions after allowing 19 unanswered second-half points. But a few bright spots should be noted.

Let's start with the fact that the 6-4 Texans still sit atop the AFC South, with a two-game lead over the Indianapolis Colts in the win-loss column and two head-to-head victories over their rival. Also, Houston just went punch-for-punch with arguably the best team in football right now.

From a micro level, some promising aspects showed up against the Lions.

First, John Metchie III emerged as a legitimate contributor, with five receptions for 74 yards and his first career touchdown grab.

Metchie can help fill the void left by Stefon Diggs after his season-ending injury.

Second, the Texans were far more physical in the trenches than they have been during the previous three outings. The offensive line in particular did a better job overall in setting the tone physically and protecting quarterback C.J. Stroud. Jarrett Patterson taking over at center, while Juice Scruggs bumped over to left guard had a positive impact.

Again, head coach Demeco Ryans won't be happy with the outcome, nor should he. Still, Sunday's loss wasn't all bad for the Texans.

Baltimore Ravens 35, Cincinnati Bengals 34

The Ravens Defense is a Mess

The Bengals and Ravens played an overtime thriller just a few weeks back. And while Baltimore emerged victorious, veteran cornerback Marlon Humphrey told reporters ahead of Thursday's rematch that he's well aware how badly the defense struggled in that game.

"We felt like we should have lost," he said. "We won the game, but we did not play well, especially the secondary alone. Like I said, there were a lot of contested catches, but we allowed big plays—too many big plays—so we're hoping to try to limit the passing attack and get going."

Once again in Week 10, the Ravens squeaked by the Bengals—this time in Baltimore. Once again, quarterback Lamar Jackson, running back Derrick Henry and the Ravens offense dissected the Bengals defense with ease.

And once again, the Ravens almost lost—because the defense was awful against the pass.

This is not a new problem for the Ravens. Entering Week 10, they had the NFL's best run defense and the league's worst pass defense.

The 280 yards and change Baltimore allowed through the air entering Week 10 is going up. Joe Burrow ravaged the Ravens Thursday night to the tune of 428 yards and four scores. Ja'Marr Chase caught three of those scores, topping 250 receiving yards.

Mind you, the Bengals didn't have Tee Higgins for this game. They knew Burrow would lean on Chase—and there was absolutely nothing the Ravens could do about it.

It's not like the team is unaware of this deficiency. The Ravens traded for veteran cornerback Tre'Davious White at the deadline, but he wasn't even playing in Los Angeles—he's no solution.

Jackson may well be the NFL's MVP (again). Henry could be the first running back to gain 2,000 rushing yards in a season twice. But this Ravens team isn't playing in New Orleans in February.

Not with a non-existent secondary.

Zac Taylor Will Get the Blame, but Defense Costs Bengals in Week 10

After the Bengals waxed the Las Vegas Raiders last week, Joe Burrow was rather morose in the post-game presser, telling reporters the win really didn't mean anything:

"Just how this season has gone, knowing what's ahead of us, knowing what we're going to have to do to get back into this, one win isn't going to make or break our season. I'm going to keep striving for perfection every day, every game. Until that happens, what's there to be happy about?"

As it turns out, his attitude was foretelling.

The fifth-year quarterback certainly can't be blamed for Thursday's devastating loss in Baltimore. Burrow threw for a whopping 428 yards and four scores. Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase went ballistic, catching 11 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns.

Those are actual numbers—but they weren't enough.

It will be head coach Zac Taylor who bears the brunt for the loss. And to be fair, there are valid reasons to criticize a couple of his decisions. He eschewed two long field goals for fourth-down attempts that both failed, including a relatively modest 51-yarder.

Those are questionable calls. Going for two and the win at the end of the game wasn't.

The 389 yards of offense the Ravens amassed Thursday isn't a ridiculous number. But it could have been much higher. Baltimore spent much of the game marching up and down the field at will on Cincy's 25th-ranked scoring defense. The Bengals got no pressure on Lamar Jackson, and he carved them up as a result.

Taylor went for two because he had no reason to believe the Bengals could get a stop in overtime.

And unless that defense magically improves, Burrow and the Bengals won't have to worry about two losses to the Ravens by a combined four points that have erased any chance of winning the division.

Because they won't be in the playoffs at all.