NFL WEEK 10: Rams QB makes MVP case and Patriots stay hot, but one team flat out stinks

HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT

The Packers (5-3-1) haven’t quite lived up to preseason billing as an unstoppable force in the NFC, but taking on Green Bay at a frosty Lambeau is still one of the toughest tasks in the NFL.

Reigning champs Philadelphia (7-2) found that out the hard way in Week 10 on Monday Night Football but still managed to grind out a 10-7 win.

After a scoreless first half, the Eagles took a 3-0 lead going into the fourth quarter of this old school arm-wrestle, before a 36-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Jalen Hurts to speedy wideout DeVonta Smith proved the difference.

The Pack clawed their way back to 10-7 but couldn’t convert a key fourth-and-one, only to have Eagles head coach Nick Siriani make a boneheaded decision moments later to go long on fourth down.

That gave Green Bay QB Jordan Love the ball back with 27 seconds on the clock, who promptly marched down to the doorstep of field goal range.

With the offence unable to inch any closer, Packers kicker Brandon McManus couldn’t convert from 64 yards (which would’ve been the longest field goal ever at Lambeau).

The Eagles’ title defence keeps rolling and the Pack now has two consecutive defeats.

SO HOT RIGHT NOW

Somehow, the scorchingly hot Patriots (8-2) got even hotter in Week 10, even if it took some defensive miscues from their opponent to get a 28-23 win in Tampa Bay (6-3).

Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson lived up to the post-draft hype, making two house calls on runs over 50 yards.

A coverage bust by the Bucs also allowed a 72-yard touchdown, and these proved the difference in an otherwise tight contest.

That’s now seven straight wins for the Pats.

The Rams and Seahawks are level in the NFC West on 7-2, with both teams on four-game heaters after double-digit divisional wins over the 49ers (6-4) and Cardinals (3-6), respectively.

And can we have a serious talk about Rams QB Matthew Stafford’s MVP candidacy? Stafford now has three games in a row with at least four TDs and no interceptions, which is an NFL record.

PLAYOFF PUSH

It’s far too early to really focus on the playoff picture, but it never hurts to keep it in the back of your mind.

Take the AFC North, for example, where the Steelers (5-4) looked in control due to an injury to Ravens QB Lamar Jackson.

Well, Jackson is back and the Ravens have ridden a three-game winning streak to 4-5, with a victory this week, 29-19, over the Vikings (4-5).

Looking ahead, the Ravens have the Browns (2-7), Jets (2-7) and two games against the Bengals (3-6), as well as two games against the Steelers that will most likely decide the division.

And based on how Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers played (spoiler alert: like trash) in a loss to the Chargers (7-3) this week, only a fool would bet against Baltimore.

SIMPLE MATH

It was a case of addition by subtraction for a number of teams in the NFL in Week 10, most notably in New York.

Despite shipping off the team’s two best defensive players (Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams) last week, the Jets rallied for just their second win of the season, beating the equally miserable Browns (2-7).

The Saints also earned their second W, beating division rivals Carolina (5-5) after trading away speedy wideout Rashid Shaheed to Seattle.

The victory also marked the first of the Tyler Shough era, however long that may last in New Orleans (likely not past this season, unless the rookie quarterback can stack more wins).

And Miami (3-7) also seemed bizarrely improved after trading defender Jaelan Phillips and sacking general manager Chris Grier.

The Dolphins beat a heavily favoured AFC East rival in Buffalo (6-3) by stifling the Bills’ league-best rushing attack, which is ironic because Grier was fired for failing to assemble a roster that could bully anyone.

PANIC INDEX

HIGH: The Raiders (2-7) are not good. It’s going to be a long rest of the season.

MEDIUM: The Jaguars (5-4) have now lost three from four and have a resurgent Texans (4-5) nipping at their heels in the division.

MEDIUM: Yes, the Broncos (8-2) are winning with arguably the league’s best defence. But that offence – sheesh!