Week 10 is usually when the "pretender" labels start flying. Honestly, it’s the most dangerous time of the year for fans. You look at the standings, see a team with eight wins, and assume they've got a ticket to the Super Bowl. But if we learned anything from this past weekend, it’s that a 20-point blowout in November can be a total lie, and a gritty three-point win in the rain might be the only thing that actually matters.
The 2025 season just hit its turning point. We saw a Berlin classic, a legendary quarterback performance in Santa Clara, and a few divisional upsets that basically lit the AFC East on fire. If you aren't paying attention to the tiebreakers right now, you're going to be very confused come January.
The Berlin Masterclass and the Jonathan Taylor Revival
If you stayed up for the international game, you saw something special. The Indianapolis Colts moved to 8-2 after a 31-25 overtime thriller against the Falcons at the Olympiastadion. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement. Jonathan Taylor put up 244 rushing yards. 244! That’s the kind of production that makes people start whispering "MVP" in the same breath as "running back" again.
His 83-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter was ridiculous. He looked like the 2021 version of himself, just hitting a gear that nobody else on the field could find. But here’s the thing people miss: Daniel Jones actually struggled. He turned the ball over twice and got sacked six times. The Colts are winning despite some of the passing game hiccups, but when you have a guy like Taylor averaging over seven yards a carry, you can hide a lot of flaws.
✨ Don't miss: What Time Did the Cubs Game End Today? The Truth About the Off-Season
Why the NFC West is a Total Mess Right Now
The Los Angeles Rams are officially scary. They hung 42 points on the 49ers, and Matthew Stafford looked like he was playing a video game on easy mode. He finished with four touchdowns, and honestly, he probably could have had six if they didn't take their foot off the gas.
- Matthew Stafford’s Stat Line: 401 career touchdowns now.
- The Davante Adams Impact: He caught a crucial two-yard TD and then sat out late with an oblique issue, but Sean McVay said it wasn't serious.
- The 49ers Problem: Mac Jones had to step in, and while he found George Kittle for a late score, that defense looked gapped.
Meanwhile, in Seattle, the Seahawks are just destroying people. They went up 35-0 on the Cardinals before most people had finished their first coffee. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is playing like a possessed man—he had over 80 yards and a score in the first quarter alone. We are headed for a Week 11 showdown between the Rams and Seahawks that will likely decide who gets to host a playoff game and who has to travel to Philly or Detroit.
The Lions and the "Trump Dance"
Detroit just keeps rolling. They went into Washington and handled business 44-22. The most talked-about moment wasn't even a play, though. Amon-Ra St. Brown hit the "Trump dance" after a touchdown, which immediately went viral. Dan Campbell has this team playing with so much confidence that it doesn't even feel like a "Lions" season anymore. It just feels like a juggernaut doing juggernaut things.
🔗 Read more: Jake Ehlinger Sign: The Real Story Behind the College GameDay Controversy
The Biggest Upset Nobody Saw Coming
The Buffalo Bills were 8.5-point favorites going into Miami. They left with a 30-13 loss that felt even worse than the score looked. After beating the Chiefs in Week 9, the Bills looked like the best team in the AFC. Then Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle happened.
Josh Allen had two turnovers, and the Dolphins' defense—which has been middle-of-the-road all year—suddenly looked like the '85 Bears. This loss is a disaster for Buffalo's playoff seeding. It gives the New England Patriots a two-game lead in the AFC East. Drake Maye is officially the real deal, leading the Pats to a 28-23 win over the Bucs. If you told me in August that the Patriots would be 8-2 and the Bills would be fighting for a Wild Card spot in November, I would’ve told you to stop watching preseason highlights.
The Ugly Side of Week 10: Injuries and Ejections
It wasn't all highlights and celebrations. We saw some big names go down, and the fallout is going to be felt for weeks.
💡 You might also like: What Really Happened With Nick Chubb: The Injury, The Recovery, and The Houston Twist
- Jaxson Dart: The Giants rookie QB suffered a concussion in the loss to the Bears. Without him, that offense looked completely lost.
- Garrett Wilson: He went down with a knee injury for the Jets. Even though they beat the Browns 27-20 thanks to some wild special teams play (two return TDs on consecutive plays!), losing Wilson for any length of time is a death blow to that passing game.
- Daron Payne: The Commanders' defensive anchor got ejected for unnecessary roughness against the Lions. It basically opened the floodgates for Detroit’s run game.
The AFC Playoff Picture (It’s Crowded)
Right now, the Colts, Broncos, and Patriots are all sitting at 8-2. That’s a logjam at the top. The Broncos beat the Raiders 10-7 in a game that was frankly painful to watch, but a win is a win. Bo Nix played what might have been his worst game, yet Denver is still on a seven-game winning streak.
The Steelers dropped to 5-4 after losing to the Chargers on Sunday night. Justin Herbert was sacked five times, but he still managed to pick apart a Pittsburgh defense that looked tired. The AFC North is now wide open because the Ravens beat the Vikings 27-19. Lamar Jackson is just lurking, waiting for the Steelers to trip up one more time.
Actionable Insights for Week 11
If you're looking at the betting lines or setting your fantasy lineups for next week, keep these things in mind.
- Watch the Injury Reports: Specifically Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) and Davante Adams (oblique). If Kincaid is out, the Bills' offense becomes one-dimensional very fast.
- The "Home Dog" Rule: The Cardinals are getting crushed by the media right now, but they usually play better after a blowout. Don't write them off yet.
- The Seattle/LA Factor: If you have any players in the Rams-Seahawks game, start them. It’s going to be a shootout at SoFi.
Go check your local waiver wires for Tyler Shough. The Saints rookie just got his first NFL win and threw for 282 yards. He’s starting to look comfortable, and with the Panthers and Giants on the horizon, he might be a sneaky play for the rest of the month.
The NFL is a week-to-week league, but Week 10 just gave us the roadmap for December. The pretenders are being weeded out, and the true contenders are finally showing their teeth. Don't get distracted by the records—look at how these teams are winning. A 10-7 ugly win for Denver is a lot more sustainable than a lucky 30-point explosion from a team that can't stop the run. Keep an eye on the trenches; that's where the January games are actually won.