Week 10 of the 2025 NFL season produced dramatic swings, late meltdowns and statement performances. The Broncos narrowly beat the Raiders on Thursday despite two interceptions by Bo Nix. Sunday featured Jonathan Taylor’s running clinic in Berlin, comeback wins by the Bears and Texans, the Rams avenging a Week 5 loss to the 49ers and the Chargers throttling the Steelers in the late window. Our roundup of the key takeaways:
L.A. Chargers 25, Pittsburgh 10
– Chargers: The win helps their playoff case but doesn’t prove championship bona fides. Protection issues persisted (Justin Herbert pressured 12 times, sacked five), but Ladd McConkey’s resurgence (4 catches, 107 yards, TD) is a positive. McConkey now leads the team in receiving yards.
– Steelers: Aaron Rodgers had perhaps his worst game as a Steeler — 16-for-31, two INTs, multiple sacks and an end-zone safety. Pittsburgh managed just 2-of-11 on third down and only 11 first downs on 12 possessions, a disturbing offensive collapse.
Detroit 44, Washington 22
– Lions: After last week’s loss, Detroit exploded for 546 yards. Dan Campbell appeared to take more offensive control; Jahmyr Gibbs scored his 41st career TD, joining Barry Sanders as the only Lions with 40+ TDs in their first three seasons.
– Commanders: Washington has lost four straight by 20+ points, the franchise’s worst such stretch since 1954. Injuries and poor play leave a bleak outlook despite some upcoming winnable games.
Seattle 44, Arizona 22
– Seahawks: A dominant win despite three turnovers. A big day on the ground (198 rushing yards) could mark a turnaround for the run game. DeMarcus Lawrence returned two fumbles for TDs; Tyrice Knight forced the fumbles.
– Cardinals: Protection woes are glaring — five sacks allowed and two strip-sacks returned for TDs. Trey McBride’s 9 catches for 127 yards was a silver lining; he’s extended a streak of 5+ catches in 11 straight games.
L.A. Rams 42, San Francisco 26
– Rams: Matthew Stafford threw four TD passes for a third straight game, becoming the first QB with four TDs and zero INTs in three consecutive games. LAR sits at 7-2 and appears among the NFC’s best, though kicking remains a concern.
– 49ers: Defensive injuries have put enormous pressure on the offense to outscore opponents. Mac Jones has played well in Purdy’s absence (319 yards, 3 TDs), complicating the QB picture when Purdy is healthy.
Houston 36, Jacksonville 29
– Texans: Backup Davis Mills orchestrated a massive comeback (after C.J. Stroud missed the game), throwing fourth-quarter TDs and scrambling for the go-ahead score. Danielle Hunter’s 3.5 sacks led a defense that shut out Jacksonville in the fourth quarter.
– Jaguars: This collapse will sting. Up 29-10 with 1:33 left in the third quarter, Jacksonville gave the game away in one of the worst late losses in franchise history. Trevor Lawrence was without top pass-catchers; the offense went cold down the stretch. Playoff odds dropped significantly after the loss.
Baltimore 27, Minnesota 19
– Ravens: Baltimore’s defense continues its turnaround, forcing multiple turnovers and recording three takeaways in recent games after a poor start to the season. They’ve won three in a row and shown newly consistent ability to win close games.
– Vikings: J.J. McCarthy flashed early but threw two INTs and had several tipped passes; Minnesota also self-inflicted penalties and special-teams mistakes that turned momentum.
N.Y. Jets 27, Cleveland 20
– Jets: After two blockbuster trade rumors, New York responded with a complementary win. Will McDonald IV had four sacks; special teams provided two return TDs (kickoff and punt), a rare and decisive combo.
– Browns: Cleveland remains in a downward spiral regarding the draft picture; Jerry Jeudy had his best game of the season after coordinator change, but the offense couldn’t compensate for turnovers and special teams issues.
Miami 30, Buffalo 13
– Dolphins: A strong all-around effort against Buffalo, including consistent pressure on Josh Allen and tackling that limited the league’s top rushing attack to season-low yards. Miami may be trending toward competence, though their results are still streaky.
– Bills: A sloppy offensive day — three turnovers in Miami territory and three scoreless quarters — produced a disappointing loss. Injured pieces and an erratic passing game remain concerns.
New England 28, Tampa Bay 23
– Patriots: A gritty win in humid conditions against the NFC South leader bolsters their case as a top AFC team. Rookie TreVeyon Henderson posted explosive speed marks and big plays, giving New England a dynamic edge.
– Buccaneers: The offense had a lull after an early TD and finished 5-for-13 on third down. They surrendered multiple explosive plays, which proved decisive.
Chicago 24, N.Y. Giants 20
– Bears: Caleb Williams delivered another late-game resurgence (fourth game-winning drive), including a scrambling TD to take the lead. Chicago overcame numerous drops and a conservative offensive first half.
– Giants: Rookie Jaxson Dart’s mobility has been a double-edged sword; he was concussed after heavy contact and had to be evaluated. New York has now blown multiple late leads this season, raising questions about closing games and ball security.
New Orleans 17, Carolina 7
– Saints: Rookie Tyler Shough took a step forward in his second start (282 yards, 2 TDs). Chris Olave’s deep TD helped swing momentum and hinted at a potential offensive revival if Shough continues to grow.
– Panthers: A tough loss that halts momentum; Bryce Young was error-prone and the team must rebound quickly with a challenging remaining schedule.
Indianapolis 31, Atlanta 25 (in Berlin)
– Colts: Jonathan Taylor ran for 244 yards and three TDs — the season’s top rushing performance. Indianapolis continues to produce explosive offensive outputs but needs to clean up penalties and protection breakdowns.
– Falcons: Four straight losses have the playoff hopes fading. Defense gave up big yardage in a game where Atlanta’s offense continues to sputter.
Denver 10, Las Vegas 7
– Broncos: Defensive resolve carried Denver, and they’ve piled up sacks across the season. Bo Nix’s turnovers and a sputtering offense mean the team’s reliance on defense can’t be permanent.
– Raiders: Offense has regressed under new staff; Geno Smith’s interception total through nine games is a warning sign. Organizational overhaul chatter will increase if offensive struggles persist.
Other notes and trends
– Momentum swings and late-game collapses defined Week 10: Jacksonville’s collapse and the Giants’ blown leads are emblematic of teams that must address fundamentals and situational execution.
– Quarterback and offensive playcalling shifts continue to shape narratives: Aaron Rodgers’ struggles in Pittsburgh, Mac Jones’ strong stint in San Francisco, Caleb Williams’ late-game heroics and Davis Mills’ unlikely comeback highlight how QB play is driving team fortunes.
– Special teams mattered big: Jets’ dual return scores, Browns’ and other teams’ kick/punt plays changed field position and swing outcomes.
– Defensive resurgence stories: Ravens and Broncos defenses have been transformative for their teams, while the Lions’ offense exploded against a vulnerable Washington unit.
Looking ahead
Week 11 and beyond will test whether teams that surged (Rams, Seahawks, Colts in spots) can sustain performance and whether struggling clubs (Steelers’ offense, Jaguars, Giants, Raiders) can right course before the season’s second half. Playoff pictures will shift quickly with so many momentum-driven results; discipline, health and quarterback play will be decisive.
(Report compiled from team reports and game recaps from Week 10 action.)
