See which teams inched closer to a playoff berth as the chase heats up!
Week 10 played host to the most exciting finish to a game of the 2020 season, as the Arizona Cardinals stunned the Buffalo Bills by connecting on a “Hail Mary” pass with one second left on the game clock (see above).
Winners
Arizona Cardinals
I bet you didn’t have to guess who was going to be listed first here… Cardinals QB Kyler Murray hoisted up a last second “Hail Mary” pass to the end zone and superstar wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins managed to come down with it over three defenders, snatching the win away from the Bills; what a euphoric way to win, and a grueling way to lose. I still don’t know how Hopkins managed to come down with the ball there, but he certainly made a humungous statement that he is the best wide reciever in the league. With the miraculous win, the Cardinals are now tied for first in the NFC West at (6-3), and one could argue that they should be (7-2) because of their disappointing loss last week at home to Miami.
Miami Dolphins
Ladies and gentlemen, the Miami Dolphins are (6-3) and rookie Tua Tagovailoa is unbeaten in his first three games starting at quarterback. In order to put this remarkable turnaround into perspective, think back to last season after the team traded star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Pittsburgh Steelers; there were numerous reports that other players wanted out of Miami as well due to their poor record. Second year head coach Brian Flores has turned things around for the notoriously struggling franchise and it looks like he found his franchise quarterback. Flores will be a contender for NFL coach of the year and no one should be sleeping on Miami anymore in 2020.
New England Patriots
After losing four games in a row, Cam Newton and the Pats have won two straight games, including a week 10 upset victory over the heavily favored Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football. The nonstop heavy rain allowed the Patriots to do what they do best; run the football and control the time of possession. Running back Damien Harris rushed for over 100 yards and the Patriots defense (along with the rain) held reigning MVP Lamar Jackson in-check. Don’t look now, but New England is (4-5) and sits only a couple games back of the Bills and Dolphins for first place in the AFC East; it’s not over yet folks.
Los Angeles Rams
One of the most underrated stories of the 2020 NFL season is how dominant the Rams defense has been playing. They forced MVP favorite Seahawks QB Russell Wilson to commit three turnovers en route to a 23-16 win over their NFC West rivals. The game didn’t even feel that close as Russell Wilson was under immense pressure from the Ram’s stout defensive line all game. After missing the postseason last year, the Rams sit in a three team tie for first place in the NFC West at (6-3) and arguably will have their biggest test of the season next Sunday night in Tampa against the Buccaneers.
Losers
Baltimore Ravens
After Sunday night’s loss rainy to the Patriots, Baltimore has now fallen four games behind the Steelers in the AFC North and finds themselves tied with the Browns for second place. What’s more concerning is that the Ravens have been battered by the injury bug this season and their explosive offense doesn’t strike fear into teams nearly as much it did last year. The schedule doesn’t get any easier for Baltimore as the Titans visit M&T Bank Stadium next Sunday for the first time since their stunning playoff upset victory in the divisional round last season.
Tennessee Titans
Ever since losing to the Steelers after starting the year out undefeated, the Titans have not looked like the same elite team we saw in September and most of October. Their defense struggled to stop Colts QB Philip Rivers, and their special teams unit arguably had the worst performance of any other unit in the NFL in a single game this year. I am still baffled that star WR A.J. Brown only managed to have one catch the entire game this past week. I know the Titans love to pound the rock with Derrick Henry, but they need to realize when they need to throw the ball as well if they want to be considered an AFC Championship contender.
Green Bay Packers
I know what you’re thinking, the Packers won their game.. so why are they one of my four “losers” for this week? They struggled to beat (probably the worst team in the NFL) the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lambeau Field. Despite starting a backup rookie quarterback, the Jaguars hung in there and gave Green Bay a serious run for their money, but came up short by a score of 24-20. One could argue that if Green Bay played this poorly against any other team besides the Jets, they likely would have lost. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will have to play much better if they have any hopes of advancing to the Super Bowl this year; I expect far better out of them.
Philadelphia Eagles
Just as it began to look that they was going to run away with the NFC East Division title, QB Carson Wentz and the Eagles lost by ten points on the road to an inferior Giants team that played extremely hard. I know that the Eagles offensive line and receivers have been banged up all season, but they really need to find ways to win games like this if they want to lock up the division title. Instead, the Giants have reintroduced themselves back into the division picture, despite star RB Saquon Barkley being out for the season with a torn ACL. Philly is no longer a lock to win the NFC East due to their inconsistent play, and Eagles fans are certainly starting to regret their team paying Wentz all that money in the offseason.
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