NFL Week 10 grades from around the league

Like an underdog boxer executing a perfect 12-round plan, the Commanders (5-4) pounced on the Eagles early and preyed on a wobbly favorite's mistakes. Washington replicating this game script will be difficult, as it ran 51 first-half plays -- an NFL 2022 high -- and kicked 55- and 58-yard field goals. And the NFL's turnover-differential kingpins lost possession four times. Yeah, Jamin Davis' unobserved facemask reduced Philly's chances. But the Eagles left the door open for too long. This win involving more Taylor Heinicke-to-Terry McLaurin action puts Ron Rivera in a spot made difficult only due to the oddly high price the Commanders paid for Carson Wentz. Limitations aside, benching Heinicke could sap this unexpected surge. 

COMMANDERS GRADE: A | NEXT: at Texans (Sun.)

It took a pinpoint Heinicke throw to McLaurin to inflate the frequent Eagle killer's yardage total to 128 -- his fourth 100-yard day against Philadelphia in eight tries -- but Philly's failure to give its offense early opportunities set the tone keyed the spooky second half. The Commanders' ground game (49 carries -- the most by a non-Eagle or Raven team over the past five seasons) jabbing the Eagles (8-1) to death certainly provided a game-flow change for the unbeaten team. Brian Robinson (3.1 yards per carry) and Antonio Gibson (3.3) did not flash like Dameon Pierce last week, but run defense has become an issue for a team without many clear flaws. Brandon Graham's correctly called penalty sealed a bad night for a stacked defense.

EAGLES GRADE: D-plus | NEXT: at Colts (Sun.)

The NFL's refusal to stagger its early-game starts probably hurt Jefferson, whose preposterous fourth-and-18 catch would have shut down sports internet were this duel placed even in the late-afternoon window. At this rate, Jefferson's grab will be part of his Hall of Fame reel. This was the wrong game for the Bills to be missing nearly their entire starting secondary; Jefferson nuked the No. 1-ranked defense for a career-high 193 yards to power Minnesota's 17-point comeback. Celebrating one of the great win-win trades in NFL history (2020's Stefon Diggs deal that produced Jefferson), the Vikings (8-1) showed in Buffalo this surge -- built on one-score wins over mediocre or injury-plagued competition -- signifies a legit Super Bowl contender. Jefferson is driving that pursuit.

VIKINGS GRADE: A-minus | NEXT: vs. Cowboys (Sun.)

Sunday's nightmarish visual reminded of Buffalo's January horror scene . The botched Mitch Morse-to-Josh Allen snap producing a Vikings touchdown represents one of the strangest ways to headline a collapse, but the Bills (6-3) are talented enough that they managed to respond to force overtime. Allen (414 total yards) boosted a shorthanded Bills team's chances; his game-tying drive put this matchup on the game-of-the-year ballot. But the injured QB's two errant tosses to Patrick Peterson also continued a stacked team's slippage from surefire No. 1 seed to possible wild-card team. Buffalo's schedule suddenly looks fiercer than Kansas City's (thanks to the underwhelming AFC West); this loss and Week 3's odd Dolphins box score could cost this Bills team dearly.

BILLS GRADE: C-plus | NEXT: vs. Browns (Sun.)

The Dak Prescott-to-CeeDee Lamb connection (150 yards, two touchdowns) had the Cowboys cruising toward dealing a knockout blow to Mike McCarthy's former team. Instead, a questionable no-call on Jaire Alexander's tight coverage on Lamb led McCarthy to gamble on an overtime fourth-and-3. The Cowboys (6-3) failure to convert led them to (somehow) their first loss in franchise history when leading by 14 points entering the fourth quarter. Now 195-1 with that cushion , Dallas dropped to third in the NFC East. A failure to cover Christian Watson and the inability to bury a reeling Packers team added to the growing list of Aaron Rodgers' Cowboy conquests. 

COWBOYS GRADE: C-minus | NEXT: at Vikings (Sun.)

Watson's Minnesota drop did well to epitomize the first half of this Packers season -- a mess the team's receiver stubbornness did well to create. The second-round pick's myriad injuries kept him from offering much of a bounce-back effort; he changed that nine weeks after the first-play snafu. Watson smoked the Cowboys for 107 yards and three touchdowns, being the first Packer rookie wideout to post 100-plus yards and catch three TDs in a game since James Lofton. Watson is blessed with a better quarterback than the Hall of Famer had, and with Romeo Doubs out, the North Dakota State alum -- a 6-foot-5 talent with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash -- has a chance to help Rodgers rescue this nearly lost year. This will still be an uphill battle.

PACKERS GRADE: A-minus | NEXT: vs. Titans (Thu.)

A 49ers defense steadily seeing bodies return shut down the Chargers after halftime, continuing a season in which Herbert tumbles off the superstar tier. This is mostly not the third-year standout's fault. The Week 2 rib injury, an injured mess of a receiver situation and being saddled in an unremarkable scheme -- though Keenan Allen and Mike Williams' absences are limiting OC Joe Lombardi, too -- have hindered Herbert. The Bolts (5-4) totaled 52 yards after halftime, with Herbert seeing his limited QB adversary (Jimmy Garoppolo) make more plays down the stretch. Until the Chargers have their receivers back, they are a non-factor.

CHARGERS GRADE: B-minus | NEXT: vs. Chiefs (Sun.)

The 49ers' Christian McCaffrey-George Kittle- Deebo Samuel trio presents tantalizing options for the season's second half. But their tertiary skill-position staffers came through in Sunday's comeback win. Overcoming a fumble, Brandon Aiyuk kept pulling down high targets -- including a third-and-10 snag to set up San Francisco's game-winning TD -- during an 84-yard night. In his first game back after a severe MCL sprain, Elijah Mitchell posted 89 rushing yards on 18 totes -- four more than CMC logged. These two performing at this level gives Kyle Shanahan by far his most options since his 2017 Bay Area arrival. Armed with a defense capable of dominance when relatively healthy, the 49ers (5-4) are lurking for the second straight year.

49ERS GRADE: B-plus | NEXT: vs. Cardinals (Mon., in Mexico City)

Jonathan Taylor's 66-yard touchdown headlined a 147-yard performance, pleasing many fantasy GMs who took him first overall. Matt Ryan showed signs of life against a perpetually struggling Raiders defense. Given the freedom to bench Sam Ehlinger -- an option not believed to be available to Frank Reich -- Jeff Saturday quieted a swarm of criticism. Saturday and assistant QBs coach Parks Frazier, given the Colts' play-calling gig after his superior (Scott Milanovich) reportedly declined it, entered Sunday as one of the least experienced power duos in NFL history. It might not last, but the Colts (4-5-1) are in better shape compared to a few would-be AFC contenders.

COLTS GRADE: B-plus | NEXT: vs. Eagles (Sun.)

One of those would-be contenders, the Raiders have received less scrutiny compared to the Colts or Nathaniel Hackett's Broncos outfit. But they are now 2-7 after another defensively inept offering. While Josh McDaniels may be creeping toward joining Hackett on the one-and-done radar, the Raiders have bafflingly managed to remain defensively brutal regardless of the coach. Patrick Graham is the ninth defensive coordinator since the Raiders' Super Bowl XXXVII berth; he will be the ninth D-coordinator to helm a bottom-half defense in that 20-year span. The Raiders (28th in points allowed) allowed Taylor to go off and permitted a 39-yard Ryan scramble (featuring a cutback). The Raiders hit Ryan once; Chandler Jones now enters Week 11 with a half-sack.

RAIDERS GRADE: D | NEXT: at Broncos (Sun.)

The Chiefs turned the ball over three times, fumbling twice and seeing a Patrick Mahomes pass land in Andre Cisco's arms. The Trevor Lawrence-Christian Kirk connection also delivered some nice moments. But this matchup involved teams multiple tiers apart. Each of Mahomes' four touchdown passes -- highlighted by Kadarius Toney's catch/hop routine, which featured regular-season NBA 3-point space -- went to a wide-open receiver. Most of Jacksonville's secondary pieces were in place before the Doug Pederson-Trent Baalke duo took over running the show. After devoting much of their defensive resources to the front seven this offseason, the Jags (3-7) will address their DB corps more in 2023.

JAGUARS GRADE: C | NEXT: vs. Ravens (Nov. 27)

An alarming number of injuries, along with other moments of unreliability, led the new Giants regime to cut bait on Toney. The former first-round pick displayed electric ability in brief cameos as a Giant, but multiple hamstring issues ended his New York playing run in Week 2. The Chiefs scooped the shifty performer up for third- and sixth-round picks; the NFL needs to hope the Giants were right. Toney is currently healthy and showed dangerous playmaking chops in a larger Chiefs role, totaling 90 scrimmage yards on six touches. Toney is not exactly a "Tyreek Hill in Round 5"-level buy-low, but the Chiefs' post-Hill receiving corps was already showing growth. A healthy Toney can significantly upgrade Kansas City's offense.

CHIEFS GRADE: B | NEXT: at Chargers (Sun.)

After shutting down the Bengals before a Week 9 bye, the Browns' defense drifted back to irrelevance. Although Cleveland (3-6) interrupted Hill's push for Calvin Johnson's single-season receiving record, letting Jeff Wilson and Raheem Mostert run wild undercut the performance against Tua Tagovailoa's top target. The Browns, who allowed 195 rushing yards, yielded five Dolphins scores on the hosts' first six drives. They also hit Tagovailoa just twice. There are too many highly drafted players here for this defense to rank 31st in points allowed. With a Buffalo date on tap, Cleveland has nearly locked the door on playing any games as a fringe contender with Deshaun Watson this season. Armed with the Browns' 2023 first-rounder, the Texans rejoice.

BROWNS GRADE: F | NEXT: at Bills (Sun.)

Wilson has assimilated in Miami quicker than the team's higher-profile trade addition (Bradley Chubb). While that could have been expected based on the former's familiarity with Mike McDaniel's scheme, the longtime 49ers backup totaling 213 scrimmage yards and two TDs in his first two Dolphins tilts is a bit surprising. Wilson did the most to bring the Browns' defense back to reality, making second-level cuts, supplying punishment, and providing Tagovailoa with an outlet option. Wilson and Mostert combined for 230 scrimmage yards. With the 49ers pivoting to Christian McCaffrey, the ex-San Francisco special-teamers have rocketed back to relevance with the Dolphins (7-3).

DOLPHINS GRADE: A-plus | NEXT: vs. Texans (Sun.)

As the Broncos trudged through their 2022 routine, injuries to an already-shaky offensive line accelerated their near-weekly offensive downfall. By the game's end, Denver was without its starting tackles and down to its third-string center. The Titans teed off on Russell Wilson, back in the Bill Murray/ Andy Samberg role in the 3-6 Broncos' weekly second-half swoon, hitting him 18 times. Wilson, who had called out the Seahawks for their O-line strategy and performance last year, saw a battered Broncos front cave in. Despite the Titans being without Jeffery Simmons and Bud Dupree, they took aim at a QB already slogging through a discombobulated mess of a season. Denver's defense somehow still kept this close, per usual.

BRONCOS GRADE: C | NEXT: vs. Raiders (Sun.)

Tennessee's Malik Willis twofer restricted its receivers from impactful opportunities; the group combined  for three catches in Willis' starts. But the Titans' decision to jettison A.J. Brown is not aging well. Their receivers have largely not made an impact with Ryan Tannehill. Westbrook-Ikhine, however, changed that Sunday. Although a flea-flicker that saw two Bronco defenders fall down buoyed Westbrook-Ikhine's yardage total (119), he beat Kareem Jackson for a key touchdown to close the first half. As the Broncos shut down Derrick Henry, Westbrook-Ikhine -- a 2021 spot starter who became needed this year post-Brown -- did the most to rescue the Titans (6-3). This was their first 100-yard receiving game since Brown's playoff showing.

TITANS GRADE: B-minus | NEXT: at Packers (Thu.)

Colt McCoy is now 3-1 as a Cardinals starter. The 13th-year veteran again stepped in as effective Kyler Murray insurance. But the Cards' defense outplayed the Rams unit. Watt helped set up McCoy to outdo John Wolford, registering a sack and five quarterback hits. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year had not notched a five-QB-hit game since 2019. A premature whistle also nixed a stroll-in Watt TD, which would have been his seventh as a pro. After another injury-wrecked season in 2021, Watt (5.5 sacks, 13 QB hits) is quietly putting together a solid slate. The Cards (4-6) need every bit of Watt's late-career production as they partake in what is easily the most interesting race for an NFC No. 7 seed to date.

CARDINALS GRADE: A | NEXT: vs. 49ers (Mon., in Mexico City)

Only seven teams have followed up a Super Bowl title with a sub-.500 season. The Rams (3-6) are barreling toward joining that club. Considering their offseason commitments and perpetual all-in-ness, this is becoming a run at the most disappointing Super Bowl title defense ever. The 1999 Broncos (6-10) lost their stars; the '82 49ers (3-6) and '87 Giants (6-9) played through strike years. This Rams edition losing its only real source of offense (Cooper Kupp, who left with an ankle injury) could be a death blow. The Lions holding the Rams' 2023 first-rounder represents a new wrinkle among underwhelming defending champions. Even with a wounded O-line, it is amazing matters have deteriorated to this place in L.A.

RAMS GRADE: F | NEXT: at Saints (Sun.)

Again, coaches and players do not tank. But performances like Sunday's are in the Texans' front office's best interest. The Texans dropped to 1-7-1 -- 1.5 games clear of everyone but the Raiders -- after their Giants loss. Two red zone turnovers -- a Dameon Pierce fumble and Dane Belton's end zone interception, as Davis Mills targeted journeyman wideout Phillip Dorsett in double coverage -- kept them on the one-win line. As the Browns slink toward a sub-.500 season, GM Nick Caserio's rebuild -- which is being allowed to proceed at an old-school pace -- could have two top-10 picks in 2023.

TEXANS GRADE: C | NEXT: vs. Commanders (Sun.)

On a day that included Kadarius Toney reawakening (to some degree) in Kansas City, Kenny Golladay drew a torrent of boos after a short-range drop. The Giants are low enough on explosive aerial options that it is difficult for them to create big leads, even against the NFL's worst team. Slayton is doing his best to help the cause. The fourth-year wideout's 36-yard grab set up the first Giants touchdown; his 54-yard catch-and-run score put away Houston. Slayton, after an offseason in which he was both buried on the depth chart and forced into a pay cut (on a rookie salary), sidestepped multiple Texan defenders on the play. With Golladay a massive bust and Wan'Dale Robinson developing, Slayton is New York's unquestioned WR1. He took a circuitous route to get here.

GIANTS GRADE: B-plus | NEXT: vs. Lions (Sun.)

After an Achilles tear in Week 1 of last season, Okudah had to win a position battle just to start this season. Since his tough rookie year and sophomore absence, the highest cornerback drafted since 1997 (Shawn Springs) has begun to reward the Lions (3-6). The Bears only looked Okudah's way twice; one of those turned the game. Okudah took a Justin Fields pass back for six to knot the game at 24, completing a 14-point Detroit rally -- one that turned the Ohio State product's latest dual-threat display into a losing effort. Aidan Hutchinson and Julian Okwara sacking Fields to close out the win represented a nice boost to embattled DC Aaron Glenn, but Okudah's improvement doubles as big-picture Lions success.

LIONS GRADE: B-plus | NEXT: at Giants (Sun.)

Fully unleashed as a runner after nearly a season and a half playing the wrong role, Fields continued his breakthrough by rushing for 147 yards. He dropped a 67-yard TD on the Lions, showcasing the 4.44-second 40 speed that has given the Bears hope their pattern of homegrown QB failures will cease. The Bears became the first team since the 1976 Steelers to rush for 200-plus yards in a fifth straight game . But the Lions still put up 31 points, the final seven after a game-winning -- thanks to a Cairo Santos PAT miss -- drive from a Lions team lacking some of its receivers and having traded T.J. Hockenson. This battle of NFC North rebuilds provided a good reminder of the Bears' standing, Fields' stats notwithstanding.

BEARS GRADE: C-plus | NEXT: at Falcons (Sun.)

After turning Alvin Kamara loose and shutting out the Raiders, the Saints have totaled 23 points over their past two games. New Orleans (3-7) is now in last place in the NFC South. The team averaged 1.9 yards per carry in Pittsburgh, seeing Andy Dalton commit two more turnovers. The Saints sacked Kenny Pickett six times but could not stop a previously listless Steelers run game. This has devolved into a forgettable Saints slate; a large number of prime-years veterans on this roster are stuck. This season might, however, be driving up the price the franchise can ask for if/when it trades Sean Payton's rights. The Super Bowl-winning HC is missed.

SAINTS GRADE: D-plus | NEXT: vs. Rams (Sun.)

Najee Harris has yet to justify his 2021 first-round investment. He had topped out at 74 yards in a game this season, one coming after an offseason Lisfranc injury. But the ex-Miami Hurricane led the way in elevating an offense that still ranks 31st in scoring. Harris' 20-carry, 99-yard showing represents a big day for this ground attack, and emerging backup Jaylen Warren totaling 77 scrimmage yards, supplemented the retooling offense. This marked the 3-6 team's biggest rushing day since Le'Veon Bell's 2016 snow-game showing in Buffalo. Harris and Warren will likely be running behind a new O-lineman or two in 2023, but the backs displayed some juice behind the current blockers.

STEELERS GRADE: A-minus | NEXT: vs. Bengals (Sun.)

Resembling the unit teams were slicing up in September, the Seahawks' defense could not hold down the Buccaneers in Munich. Tampa Bay skated to a 21-3 lead, seeing its run game awaken and wide receivers streaking wide open. Julio Jones' 31-yard touchdown involved scant Seahawks resistance, setting the tone for a game in which the Bucs went 10-for-13 on third downs. The Seahawks did not hit Brady once. Fortunately for Seattle (6-4), Tampa Bay dialed up a Tom Brady receiving opportunity -- Tariq Woolen's NFL-leading fifth INT -- to steer this game from blowout territory. Although Clint Hurtt's unit has improved, there are still kinks to iron out as the team attempts to hold off a more talented 49ers team in the second half.

SEAHAWKS GRADE: C-minus | NEXT: vs. Raiders (Nov. 27)

Playing days after his father's death, White showed his talent in front of a new audience and led the way to the Buccaneers' best win since Week 1. The fourth-year linebacker dropped Geno Smith twice for sacks, the second of which a stripping the surging Seattle QB in the red zone to keep the Bucs (5-5) comfortably ahead. This was White's seventh multi-sack game of his career. Since White came into the league in 2019, only three linebackers -- all edge rushers -- have more such games. White's total leads all non-rush 'backers by four in this span. Despite coverage hiccups that ding him in advanced metrics, White is likely months away from a top-market extension. 

BUCCANEERS GRADE: A-minus | NEXT: at Browns (Nov. 27)

Already forcing Arthur Smith into game plans that limit the Falcons' top aerial threats, Marcus Mariota took the team out of the game Thursday night. His careless throws -- including a fourth-quarter blind fling -- did well to cost Atlanta (4-6) a winnable game. This was not supposed to be a year in which the Falcons vied for an NFC South title; both the Panthers and Saints were better positioned. Effectively two games behind the Buccaneers due to Tampa Bay's controversially obtained tiebreaker, the Falcons will need to consider Desmond Ridder soon. The third-round rookie will benefit from a late-season audition. Is the gap between Mariota and Ridder still big enough that the rookie cannot see action if the Falcons are still contending?

FALCONS GRADE: D | NEXT: vs. Bears (Sun.)

The Panthers' Christian McCaffrey insurance plan ran wild on the Falcons this season. After gouging Atlanta for 130 yards -- on 31 carries, the most by a Panther since Nick Goings in December 2004 -- Foreman finishes this series with 248 yards, four TDs, and a two-point conversion. The 236-pound back has parlayed his role as Derrick Henry's backup -- a role he only inherited after a few others, including Adrian Peterson, were unsuccessful -- into a place alongside a gaggle of free agency-eligible backs. The Panthers (3-7) would be wise to lock up Foreman on a reasonable deal before then. His extensive time out of football (seven carries from November 2017 to November 2020) translates to more mileage left on his odometer. 

PANTHERS GRADE: A-minus | NEXT: at Ravens (Sun.)