McJones quickly tilted to hit Hunter Henry in the end zone. This was his third touchdown pass in the game. (0:18)

In the 10th week of the 2021 NFL season, there was a big explosion, some unlikely upsets and... a draw. After suffering a surprising loss last weekend, the Cowboys and Bills bounced back with unbalanced victories. Dallas and Buffalo, along with New England and Kansas City, led by 40 points in important victories.

Tampa Bay lost its second straight game because Washington frustrated Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. After the Dolphins blocked Lamar Jackson and the Ravens on Thursday night, it was the second shocking incident of the week. The Titans faced off against the Saints, and the Colts survived the game against the Jaguars. The Lions-Steelers game entered overtime, and before Pittsburgh close end Pat Freiermuth fumbled for the ball within the shooting range, the two teams exchanged possessions, which resulted in a tie. Detroit still hasn't won this season, but it is guaranteed not to lead 0-17.

In the afternoon game, Aaron Rogers and the Packers played against Russell Wilson and the Seahawks. When the Panthers defeated the Cardinals, Cam Newton scored twice in the game back to Carolina. The Broncos and Vikings also prevailed. Patrick Mahoms and the Chiefs looked like their former selves in the Raiders rout on Sunday night, and Kansas City was ranked first in the AFC West.

Our NFL Nation reporter responded to the main points and lingering questions in this week’s action. In addition, each of them uses their current team confidence rating to look at the bigger picture—the 0-10 level of their perception of the prospects of each team this week. let's start.

Jump to game: CLE-NE | Article 10 | TB-WSH | BUF-NYJ ATL-DAL | JAX-IND | DET-PIT | BAL-MIA CAR-ARI | Hai-GB | MIN-LAC PHI-DEN | KC-LV | LAR-SF

Note: The 49ers have rediscovered their identity against the right team at the right time. Just when their season seemed to be slipping away, the Niners had to face the Rams, who have now defeated the Rams five times in a row. Facts have proved that when San Francisco returns to the old scarred body style, this is the way to heal all their ailments. After coach Kyle Shanahan challenged them to make at least 40 attempts before the game, this was most evident in the 44 runs of 156 yards. Combining opportunistic defense and another gem of receiver Dibo Samuel, this is exactly what the 49ers want to be. --Nick Wagner

Can Niners build on this victory? They should. It seems hard to believe that when it comes to sixth and seventh places, the NFC playoffs are still a mess, and the nine-man team is in the middle with a score of 4-5. In the three games against Jacksonville, Minnesota and Seattle, the trio has a record of 9-18, and the nine-man team has the opportunity to do more than just involve themselves in the conversation. This will require more performances, such as Monday night, so far there have been very few performances. But if there is a victory that should be used as a springboard, it is this victory. - Wagner

Wagner's confidence rating (0-10): 5.3, higher than 4.3. After the worst performance of the season last week, the Niners dropped a full point, which means that it is appropriate for them to get the same rebound after being in their best form.

Next game: Jaguars (1pm Eastern Time, Sunday)

Note: The Rams have a chance to beat the Arizona Cardinals, the NFC leader in the West. They also doubt whether they have the ability to participate in the Super Bowl LVI, although they have worked hard to build a roster to compete for the championship, recently joined All-Pro outside linebacker Von Miller and Pro Bowl receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The offense has been taken in consecutive losses. The Titans took an important step in the game against the 49ers, and the defense team failed to end the game against the 49ers, who scored more than 90 yards twice and swallowed time. -Lindsay

Can the Rams fight back? Both the Titans and the 49ers punished the Rams with the physical brand of football, and the Rams were unable to fight back after they found themselves in a 14-point hole early in both games. Rams coach Sean McVeigh’s offense is known for his passing ability and complex game design. If the situation requires, he must find a way to adjust and win some games in the trenches. --Tiri

Thiry's confidence rating (0-10): 7.6,​​below 7.9. The Rams regressed when they should have stepped on the accelerator this season. The loss of Robert Woods, the receiver of the season due to a torn left anterior cruciate ligament, is a major blow. Without him and the addition of Beckham, it remains to be seen how the offense adapts.

Next game: At the Packers (4:25pm EST, November 28th)

Note: If this is the Chiefs, they will win the AFC Western Conference for the sixth consecutive season. They played the best game of the season in the most important game so far, and now ranks first in the AFC Western Conference with a score of 6-4. In the past eight seasons, the Chiefs have a winning streak of at least five games. They have now won three games in a row. If they beat the Cowboys next week and the Broncos on December 5th, they could win five games. --Adam Techer

Are there similarities between the Chiefs' 2019 and this season? They were 6-4, and they were at the time, although the journey to get there was different. Aside from the record, the biggest similarity is that the defense appeared at the right time. After losing 163 points in the first five games, the Chiefs have scored 78 points in the last five games. -Teicher

Teicher's confidence rating (0-10): 8, which is higher than 6.5. This is a huge leap for a team that may be rounded to the expected state at the correct time of year.

Next game: against the Cowboys (4:25pm Eastern Time, Sunday)

Note: The Raiders are in trouble and are still in progress-a team that has played 9 games in 17 games and is still searching for its identity. Strange. Maybe they passed after being listless in New Jersey last week, and countless off-field incidents. But the prime time home game, against old opponents, won first place? After losing to the Chiefs 41-14, despite the stakes, the Raiders often seem uninspired and outright sloppy. Las Vegas is experiencing its second two-game losing streak, and now the Bengals will come to sin next week. City, it’s now 5-4. ——Paul Gutierrez

What will the slides in the second half of this year look like? From 6-4 to 7-9 in 2019, 6-3 to 8-8 last year, to 5-2 to 5-4, and to the sinking today, the Raiders moved from the AFC West to the first place in two weeks. One rose to third. Ouch. Losing to the Bengals at home next week will herald this once-promising season. Then you have to start asking if it's time for Marcus Mariotta to start at the quarterback position instead of Derek Carl, just to see what you have in Mariotta before you fully renew Carl. -Gutierrez

Gutierrez's confidence index (0-10): 6, lower than 7. It's not shameful to be overtaken by a better team, but with the wheels spinning like this, Carl throws prayer jump balls and nothing to expect? The Raiders need a big victory.

Next game: against the Bengals (4:05pm EST, Sunday)

Note: The Aaron Rodgers-Russell Wilson shootout ends here. Both looked rusty, Rogers returned from 10 days of COVID-19 isolation, and Wilson returned from finger surgery. Both intercepted in the red zone. This is the first time this season in the NFL game to have two such picks. For Rogers, this is his second red zone interception this season (the other time was in the first week). In the red zone last year, he threw 35 touchdowns without being intercepted. The most certain sign is that Rogers is not at his best: He even made a mistake in several pitches to Davante Adams, and Rogers is usually on the same page as him. Rogers also made a mistake and ran back for Aaron Jones, who might have been a big show. After two games, he threw an end zone interception. Rogers made 23 of 37 shots for 292 yards. Instead of throwing a touchdown, he threw a pick. He previously led 1-5 in games without touchdown passes and at least one interception. ——Rob Demowski

How good is the Packers' defense? If you don't believe that they are legal before Sunday, then you might say that they are enjoying a quarterback feast, and he was obviously not at his best when he returned from injury. But if you think that their fifth overall ranking this week is true, then Sunday's performance should strengthen it. This is their first lockout since they defeated the Buffalo Bills 22-0 on September 30, 2018. The Packers beat Wilson twice in the end zone, once by Kevin King and the other by Adrian Amos. The Packers lead the NFL with five end zone interceptions this season. In the past three games, they played against Kyler Murray, Patrick Mahoms and Wilson, scoring a total of 34 points. ——Dmowski

Demovsky's confidence level (0-10): 7.5, no change from 7.5. After the loss in Kansas City, there was no change last week because the Packers did not panic after losing in quarterback Jordan Love. It is reasonable to think that Rogers will play better once he resumes his normal life.

Next game: At the Vikings (1pm Eastern Time, Sunday)

Note: Russell Wilson was not sharp at all in the first game he missed for a month due to a finger injury. Although the expected timeline for his defeat on his return is impressive, you must be wondering to what extent the fingers are still affecting him. Wilson forced two pitches to lead to interceptions, and made mistakes in several other turnovers. You usually don't see one of the NFL's most accurate and least fond of mistakes by QB. The Seahawks continued their defensive improvement, but made costly mistakes and did not have enough games to relieve Wilson's burden. The result was their first full-time defeat in the Wilson era, and they must now climb a deeper hole with a score of 3-6. --Brady Henderson

Is the sea eagle finished? Not exactly, but they need Wilson's fingers to get better, and they need their defense to continue to turn things around. Considering the opponent, they may have played the best game of the season on that side of the ball, easily against the best quarterback they have encountered in a while. At 3-6, their hopes of winning NFC West seemed to have long ceased to exist. But their schedule has enough winable games (Washington, Detroit, Chicago, San Francisco, Houston) to complete the game with a score of 9-8 and get a wild card seat. But this assumes that there is no disappointment, at least one is upset. It assumes that Wilson's fingers look better than Sunday. --Henderson

Henderson's confidence rating (0-10): 5.1, higher than 4.8. Their defense against Rogers shows that their recent improvement is not a fluke, and this will provide Seattle with an opportunity.

Next game: against the Cardinals (4:25pm Eastern Time, Sunday)

Note: After being targeted 9 times in Weeks 8 and 9, the Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson got the ball against the Chargers. Minnesota gave Jefferson a chance to be the deep-ball threat he designed in this offense and helped the Vikings end their two losses. Kirk Cousins ​​made 5 of 6 shots, aimed at Jefferson's low field goal percentage of more than 10 yards and 1 of 6 deep passes to all other receivers. The star guard completed 9 catches for 143 yards. With 3:02 left in the game, he had a spectacular 27-yard sideline catch in the third and sixth games, his third in the afternoon. Catches the ball. This game proved that when Cousins ​​gave his best playmaker a chance, even if he was covered by defenders, Jefferson would not let him down. - Courtney Cronin

Can the Vikings sustain this effort to make a bigger push? There are many daunting moments in this game, and if the offense is unable to maintain a critical offense in the second half, these moments may lead to another loss. Minnesota's view at the end of the second quarter - when it had a predictable three-pointer with 1:30 left in halftime - and the way the defense allowed the Chargers to score a touchdown on the first possession of the second half It feels like an old story. But the Vikings found a way not to fold, and they hope this will continue until week 11. -Cronin

Cronin's confidence rating (0-10): 4.5, higher than 4. The victory in Los Angeles is important to correct the ship and possibly save the job, but the Vikings will host NFC North opponent Green Bay next Sunday. The pressure will only increase from here.

Next game: against the Packers (1pm Eastern Time, Sunday)

Note: The Chargers watched the AFC West's first place slip from their hands. They can't stop or even slow down the Vikings and RB Darwin Cook, Brandon Staley warned that as the season progresses, they will become stronger and stronger. Cook ran for 94 yards, including key fourth and second transitions before the two-minute warning, to lock the game for Minnesota. No wafer fab was completed in the fourth quarter this week. Thanks to Cook and the Vikings WR Justin Jefferson, the defensive time was too long to give quarterback Justin Herbert a chance in his eighth career comeback victory. --Shelley Smith

How did Herbert get back on track? Herbert made 20 of 34 shots for 195 yards, a touchdown pass, and an interception, which is a far cry from his 356 yard performance against the Hawks the previous week. The pass from his usually reliable receiver did not help, but Herbert continued his ups and downs in the past month. Entering a more consistent pace of the game and the extra help of his skill position players will help Herbert break his current pattern. ——Smith

Smith's confidence rating (0-10): 4.5, which is lower than 6.2. Their defense requires more three-pointers and must leave the field more steadily on the third and fourth turnovers. Without the ball, Herbert would not be able to master the rhythm and perform his magic.

Next game: Against the Steelers (8:20 PM Eastern Time, Sunday)

Note: Wide receiver DeVonta Smith has arrived. On his 23rd birthday, the defending Heisman Cup champion caught four goals on 66 yards and two touchdowns. This is the first as many games of his career, and now he has scored three points in the past two games. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he also became the third Hawks rookie to reach 600 yards in the first 10 games after the merger (DeSean Jackson, 652 yards in 2008; Charle Young, 1973) 609 yards). Smith showed body control and awareness during the 36-yard TD jump against former teammate Patrick Sulting II, which made him stand out in Alabama. His presence, and his continued success on the ground (214 yard dash), will make quarterback Jalen Hertz easier in the long run. -Tim McManus

Did the defender finally understand? Entering the 10th week, the opponent quarterback completed 75.5% of the passes against Philadelphia, which is the highest level allowed in NFL history. Broncos QB Teddy Bridgewater is very efficient this season, completing 70.2% of passes, but he only made 22 of 36 shots (61.1%) within 226 yards. Cornerback Darius Slay came up with the big picture, returning Melvin Gordon III's mistake for 82 yards. The defensive line is very active, and the coverage of the last seven is wider. This is a significant improvement; now they must do it consistently. -McManus

McManus' confidence rating (0-10): 4.8, higher than 3.8. The Eagles do not have to board the plane for the rest of the regular season and have one of the simplest shutdown schedules in the NFL. With the current identity formed in the offense and some positive signals from the defense, the ingredients for the Eagles to achieve a strong result are ready.

Next game: against the Saints (1pm Eastern Time, Sunday)

Note: The Broncos may not be good enough at all to enjoy any prosperity they create. If they can't get healthier or find some consistency in Goodbye Week, it will be the main force that drags them out of the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. As a result of losing to the Eagles at home-it was at the top of this year's disappointing list, before losing to Las Vegas and Baltimore at home-the Broncos defeated Dallas 5-5 in just one week. The best all-around victory since Peyton Manning retired. This is the maddening side of the Broncos. They lost four games in a row after starting 3-0, and now they have a chance to bring their heavily damaged lineup into a bye with a score of 6-4, but they were blocked by a cut shot and made a mistake at 82 yards. Return to touchdowns and continue to make a lot of three-pointers, even if they didn't stop them well. -Jeff Levold

Can the Broncos solve their problems in Goodbye Week? It will help if linebacker Bradley Chubb, who is expected to start practicing sometime after the goodbye, can get back into the lineup. Despite this, the Broncos can still solve their problems by penalties, turnovers, inefficiencies in the red zone, and running defense. But the bottom line is that this team needs to show off. Bridgewater is to a large extent a bystander of the Eagles' loss and return, which just shows that some people will point out what this team lacks. - Legward

Legwold's confidence rating (0-10): 4.5, which is lower than 6.5. After Dallas had a victory that showed some potential, the Broncos exhausted all goodwill with the worst effort of the season.

Next game: against the Chargers (4:05pm EST, November 28th)

Note: Carolina participated in the NFC playoffs and divisional games—not just because quarterback Cam Newton returned with two touchdowns. Christian McCaffrey looks like himself in his 2019 Pro Bowl. The league's second defense is becoming healthy. The other three teams in the NFC South lost the game on Sunday. The Panthers were second at half time behind the Saints and 1.5 games ahead of the Buccaneers. Mix all of this with the energy that Newton brings, and this seemingly lost season has hope. --David Newton

What are the Panthers' expectations for Newton's progress? Relying on Newton's game against Washington and former Carolina coach Ron Rivera starting next week. After a whole week of practice, he should be ready to handle a larger role after eight games on Sunday. He had a touchdown and passed his first two times. The threat posed by Newton as a base runner opened up McCaffrey's offense, and McCaffrey had 161 yards in three-quarters. Newton will build on this, but there are still a few weeks away from fully mastering the offense. -Newton

Newton's confidence rating (0-10): 5.4, higher than 4.4. Baby steps. Newton still needs to prove that he can perform well throughout the game, but according to ESPN's playoff predictions, the early returns allowed Carolina to jump from 7% to 16% of the playoffs.

Next game: against Washington (1pm EST, Sunday)

Note: Arizona is ugly. From the beginning, the Cardinals looked confused, lacked any energy, and played some very bad football, while quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins sat on the bench and watched. Games like this happen, and for the Cardinals, mid-November is better than mid-January or mid-February. This is the kind of game where you don't watch movies; you keep going. --Josh Winvers

How will this defeat affect the Cardinals? Its biggest impact comes from the standings. This defeat allowed Arizona to break away from the top seed of the NFC and lag behind the Green Bay Packers. This means that as of now, Arizona will not get a wild card round bye. -Winfors

Weinfuss confidence score (0-10): 8.5, lower than 9. It's hard for the Cardinals to lose the game because they have a backup quarterback, and they don't have their top receiver against a very good defense.

Next game: At the Seahawks (4:25pm Eastern Time, Sunday)

Note: Head coach Dan Campbell has not celebrated the victory of the Detroit Lions in his first season, but he at least avoided Sunday's defeat. The last NFL team that did not win was about to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field, but the game ended in a 16-16 draw. Detroit was close again but was unable to deliver, even though the Steelers did not have quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was on the COVID-19 roster. The Lions' ground game generated 229 yards, but quarterback Jared Goff had a difficult day with 114 yards. --Eric Woodyard

Can the Lions run back to D'Andre Swift? Yes, this kind of performance can enhance Swift's confidence. It's not just Swift; even without Jamal Williams (thigh), the Lions' running offense is impressive for the Steelers. Godwin Igwebuike (42-yard TD) and Jermar Jefferson (28-yard TD) scored long shots. However, Swift took on the heavy responsibility in his second 100-yard rushing game, which ended in 130 yards. Campbell said he will be more involved in the advancement of the offensive plan. This is his first opportunity after Goodbye Week. - Woodyard

Woodyard's confidence rating (0-10): 2.5, higher than 1.5. Except for the 44-6 defeat to Philadelphia at home on Halloween, it's hard to question the core of this team. The more important thing is the lack of talent, but this reminds us once again that although the record is not good, this team continues to work hard and has not given up this season.

Next game: At the Browns (1pm Eastern Time, Sunday)

Note: Sunday afternoon was a wrong comedy. The Steelers tied the unwinning Detroit Lions with a score of 16-16. This was the NFL's first draw since the third week of the 2020 season. The game was characterized by a jerking shot on the head of Mason Rudolph; a mistake by Diontae Johnson; multiple penalties on defense; the Lions' 48-yard shot missed; a pass by Pat Flairmut And Fryermut's mistake. With the decisive AFC matchup of the season approaching, the Steelers could not end a winning game in overtime because Rudolf made his 10th career start. Although starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was excluded on Saturday night due to the COVID-19 deal, the Steelers rely heavily on passing games and the results were mixed. Rudolph showed his mobility, but his throw was unstable and he often overturned or missed the target. Then, in overtime, Rudolph hit Johnson on the sideline, which was a big gain, but the wide player fumbled in midfield, trying to get extra yards and turn him over. The Lions missed a 48-yard field goal in the next game, with 4:03 remaining. And most importantly, Pittsburgh was driving into Detroit territory, looking for the last chance to win the game. As a result, Fryermut missed a short pass within 38 minutes of the Lions with 8 seconds left in the game. In order to enhance the hopes of the playoffs in an empty North of the AFC, the Steelers need to defeat the struggling Chicago Bears and Lions, but they are only half done and are about to face challenges. --Brook Pryor

What happened to the running back of the Steelers? The same Steelers controlled the Browns and Nick Chubb's defense to a large extent with a 96-yard sprint two weeks ago, but it was nowhere to be found. The Steelers passed a season-high 130 yards to DeAndre Swift-a result he achieved in the middle of the third quarter. Sunday's performance also marked the fourth time the Steelers have given up more than 200 yards at home since the opening of the Heinz Stadium in 2001. The absence of NT Tyson Alualu and DE Stephon Tuitt and the inability of the Steelers to solve the problem caused the worst. In order to start the third quarter, the Steelers gave up 12, 14 and 42 yards of continuous running-the last time the male The Lions lead. The Steelers suppressed in the late third and fourth quarters, but the damage has already been done. - Pryor

Pryor's confidence score (0-10): 4.3, below 5. The Steelers' four-game winning streak ended in a draw with the Lions, but this happened when Roethlisberger was absent.

Next game: At the Chargers (8:20pm ET, Sunday)

Note: The Bill team's offense has returned to its pre-bye state and played a leading role. Quarterback Josh Allen contacted his receivers, especially Steven Diggs, whose first game of the season was a 100-yard catch. Gabriel Davis also surpassed 100 yards, providing the Bills with two receivers exceeding 100 yards in the same game for the first time this season. Allen made 9 of 13 shots, scored 271 yards, scored two touchdowns, and was intercepted in a low field shot of more than 10 yards-this is the most passes of any quarterback in this season. He made 21 of 28 shots that day and made great progress against Jacksonville. The return of right tackle Spencer Brown had a major impact on the right side of the line. Buffalo had some success in possession, and four different players ended the game with rushing points. Running back Matt Breida played a breakout game, rushing to score and receiving touchdowns. Despite facing a struggling Jets team, the Bills offense seems unstoppable again, because they don't just rely on Allen to get the job done. This is something this team can build. ——Alena Getzenberg

Is the Bills defense the best in the NFL? This is a solid case. Buffalo had four interceptions and was forced to make a mistake in defeating the Jets. Every member of the middle school got a takeaway. The Bills entered the game with a turnover rate (11) ahead of the league and increased that total on Sunday. Without starting DT Star Lotulelei, who was listed on the COVID-19 list before the game, Buffalo held the Jets at 70 yards. Only two teams rushed for more than 100 yards on the Bills defense (the Chiefs and the Titans), and the Buffalo entered the fourth day with the allowed rushing yards (85.6). There are some improvements, such as passing and sprinting, but Bill limits the opponent's ability to keep scoring. -Getzenberg

Getzenberg's confidence rating (0-10): 7.8, up from 7. The Bills need a rebound game and get it, dominate all three stages, and the next test is to maintain this state against tougher opponents.

Next game: against the Colts (1pm Eastern Time, Sunday)

Matt Breida reached the end zone with Josh Allen's 15-yard TD pass in the first quarter, and then sprinted again with 15 yards to the end zone in the third quarter.

Note: Mike White's enthusiasm is fun while it continues. The unknown quarterback, in his third start, suffered a nightmare of four interceptions in the Jets' 45-17 loss to the Bills. Facing the NFL's top-notch defense, White became lax due to poor pitching and poor decisions. Now QB's decision is clear: Coach Robert Saleh should return to rookie Zach Wilson, assuming Wilson's right knee sprain is good. If White played well, they could have defended White again, but now is the time for the Jets to remember the main purpose of the season: to train Wilson into a legitimate NFL starter. Last week, Saleh stated that the quarterback's situation would be resolved "organically." It has, although it is painful. -Rich Cimini

Is this the worst defense in Jet history? Statistically, yes. The Jets allowed 32.9 points and more than 400 yards per game, the worst in team history. Against the helpless one-way Biel team, the Jets lost at least 30 points in their fourth consecutive game-this has only happened five times in their history. Their young cornerbacks Brandin Echols and Javelin Guidry were defeated by Josh Allen & Co. Defensive talent is too bad. General manager Joe Douglas used his first four draft picks on offensive players last spring, and he needs to change the script in 2022. --Simini

Cimini's confidence rating (0-10): 2.5, which is lower than 4. On a golf course in South Florida, Adam Gase must be smiling. The Jets are one of the worst two or three teams in the league.

Next game: against the Dolphins (1pm Eastern Time, Sunday)

Note: The passing and fast break of the Titans is becoming a legitimate issue for the opposing team. This is especially true for Jeffrey Simmons. His five sacks in the past two games show that he has become a single-player sabotage team. Simmons has been winning one-on-one matches and stunt/stunt competitions. After the Titans' defense last season with 19 sacks, 27 sacks in 10 games this season. --Tren Davenport

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Who will become the preferred offensive player for the Titans? Running back Derek Henry didn't go through that door, and wide receiver Julio Jones had to be out for at least the next three weeks after being placed in the injured reserve. Wide receiver AJ Brown made consecutive hits in last week's game, but ended with a 16-yard catch. Every time you play, the defense can't count on turning off the lights. Tennessee needs Brown or someone else to be a player it can rely on when needed. -Davenport

Davenport's confidence rating (0-10): 9, which is lower than 9.5. The Titans' defense against the Saints in the first half looked good. But it struggled in the second half, and the offensive three-pointer won several times. Although the Saints' defense is a good team, the Titans' offense failed to keep New Orleans away when they had a chance. The Tennessee schedule didn't bring too many challenges, but the Titans can't expect to play in this way and win the playoffs.

Next game: against the Texans (1pm EST, Sunday)

Note: It’s almost a repeat of last week. The Saints’ offense got into trouble and failed to reach the goal long before it became active in the fourth quarter. However, the unfortunate trend forced the Saints to catch up when the offense was exhausted, with RB Alvin Kamara and LT Terron Armstead missing for the 10th week, and QB Jameis Winston and WR Michael Thomas missing. The Saints also couldn't overcome the problems of kick-off errors, two missed extra points and cruel penalties. -Mike Triplet

Do the Saints stick to Trevor Siemian in the quarterback position? Once again, Simian's performance in the fourth quarter may be enough to keep him in this role. He struggled sometimes, especially when he knocked the Saints out of the sack of shooting range before halftime. But his passer also continued to disappoint him. Nonetheless, the Saints need to consider every option to add vitality to this offense-and Thasom Hill is an obvious solution they must consider. - triplets

Triplett's confidence rating (0-10): 6.5, which is lower than 6.7. The Saints played a wonderful game with the top teams of the AFC. But their flaws are still fully exposed. They need Kamala to recover as soon as possible.

Next game: At the Eagles (1pm Eastern Time, Sunday)

Note: The Colts should have defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Jets in the past two games. If they want to continue to participate in the playoffs, even if the game is over, that must happen. But the real test now is: their next two games are against teams that have a record of winning and can enter the playoffs if the playoffs start today. The Colts played against Buffalo in week 11 and played against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers at home in week 12. The Colts have not beaten a team with a winning record this season. Considering the performance of the Colts, you have to wonder when it will happen when you have to persist against the Jaguars after taking a 17-0 lead. -Mike Wells

Will the Colts get the killer instincts they talk about? Do not. They said they needed to extend their 19-point lead in the overtime loss to Baltimore, and then said it again after losing a 14-point lead to Tennessee. Considering that they are in the second half of the season, if the Colts were to do this, they would have developed it a long time ago. --Wells

Wells' confidence rating (0-10): 3.9, which is lower than 4.3. The Colts gave up nearly 500 yards to the Jets in Week 9, and they kept an underperforming Jaguar team until the end of the fourth quarter. For the two teams with the top five picks next spring, this can't happen.

Next game: At Bill (1pm EST, Sunday)

Jonathan Taylor kept his legs twitching and crossed the goal line to score a touchdown for the Colts.

Note: This season is going deep, the Jaguars' offense is like this: a team that needs everything to function properly to function. This rarely happens, which is why the Jaguars average only 17 points per game. Sunday's performance was typical: five turnovers, too many penalties (including TE Chris Manhertz's three-pointer), difficulty separating receivers, Trevor Lawrence indecisive or off-target, and terrible three-pointers. There was no help on the road. The Jaguars did not request an exemption for DeSean Jackson or Odell Beckham Jr. (Jackson as the team’s only speed catcher would be a great help.) The Jaguars must seriously upgrade their organizers, and this has to wait until Offseason, so expect more of the same. —— Mike Diroko

Has the Jaguars' defense turned? It seems so. After limiting Buffalo (the highest scoring team in the league) to two field goal percentages for a week, the team gave up 16 points on Sunday (the Colts scored a touchdown in a blocked punt pass. ). They had trouble with Jonathan Taylor early, but closed him in the second half. The frontcourt is under great pressure, and the midfielder reduces the chances of allowing big games. -Di Rocco

DiRocco's confidence score (0-10): 3, lower than 4. The Jaguars struggled offensively and gave up the blocked punt for TD, but still had a chance to win the division game away.

Next game: against the 49ers (1pm Eastern Time, Sunday)

Note: The Cowboys consider the loss to Denver last week to be an anomaly and are eager to prove it in Sunday's game against Atlanta. How does the 43-3 victory over the Falcons sound? The Cowboys separated Atlanta with 29 points in the second quarter. Ezekiel Elliott scored twice and added a 2-point conversion. Dak Prescott passed his second touchdown pass to CeeDee Lamb. A week later, Nahshon Wright bounced a deflected punt on his arm, allowing Denver to keep the ball. 29 points are the highest scored by the Cowboys in any quarter. The Broncos' exposed defense allowed 58 yards in the Falcons' first offense, but only 19 yards for the rest of the second half. The second half has all the relevance of the preseason, but the Cowboys made their own point: The Broncos' defeat was a one-time loss. --Todd Archer

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How important are the next three games to the Cowboys? The next three games, against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Las Vegas Raiders and the New Orleans Saints, will determine the legitimacy of the Cowboys as a Super Bowl contender. At 7-2, they looked like they were right in the combination, especially in the game against the Falcons; but if they can win three games, the Cowboys will compete for home court advantage in December. Playing against Patrick Mahomes and Derek Carr in five days will be a challenge, and winning in New Orleans is no easy task. The Cowboys ended the regular season with five of their remaining eight games away, so it would be a good thing to have at least two victories in the next three games. -- Archer

Archer's confidence level (0-10): 9, higher than 8.4. After losing to the Broncos last week, it dropped to 8.4. How the Cowboys dismantled the Falcons, it went back to 9 points. You think the offense will rebound based on personnel. Defense was more difficult, but after giving up on the first shot, Atlanta closed.

Next game: Chiefs (4:25pm Eastern Time, Sunday)

Note: The Falcons may enter the playoffs, but after the Falcons’ worst defeat since Kansas City’s 56-10 defeat in 2004, it would be a fallacy to call them contenders for any major event this season . Atlanta faced its toughest opponent since this week in the No. 2 game in Dallas on Sunday. His reaction was so bad that backup quarterback Josh Rosen came in and finished the fourth quarter. In some ways, it shows mediocrity outside of the top five teams in the NFC. Sometimes these games are unusual, but considering the Falcons' lack of depth and obvious defensive loopholes, this is a reality for them. The Falcons may be in conversation about a playoff bid, but even if this happens, don't expect too much if they get there. -Michael Rostein

What can Atlanta do at the receiver? This may be a long-term problem at this point, but it is clear that the team’s receiver depth is lacking because Calvin Ridley is on the non-football injury list and the return date is unknown. Atalanta's receiver performed particularly poorly against Dallas. Did not receive the ball until the second half. In theory, the team’s top receiver, Rassell Gage (although Kyle Pitts and Cordarel Patterson lead him as close ends and running backs), was taken in the first three quarters. Aims 3 times and no catch is recorded. This is the second time in three weeks that he has not brought meaningful passes to the Falcons. ——Rosstein

Rothstein's confidence rating (0-10): 4, lower than 4.5. Atlanta is an ordinary team, but it does not have the players or depth to compete with the best teams in the NFL.

Next game: against the Patriots (8:20 PM Eastern Time, Thursday)

Note: So far, Washington has played the best game of the season. The defense is great, keeping Tampa Bay to 273 yards. This was also the second game in which WFT's defense kept the opponent under 300 yards. Washington intercepted the Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady twice, leading by 10 points. The combination of pressure and good coverage caused Brady to throw the pass away or get into danger. Although he lost the Terminator Chase Young with a knee injury in the first half and played without teammate Montez Sweete, his jaw was injured, but the defense still did it. The quarterback Tyler Haynik, who lost to the Buccaneers in the playoffs last season, was outstanding. He threw for 256 yards and scored a touchdown. --John Keim

Can WFT withstand so many injuries? Washington lost Yang, probably because of a torn ACL, and there will be no sweat for the next three to five weeks. It's thin at the near end—though Logan Thomas may be back soon—and receivers. It is difficult to maintain a high level of competition. On the defensive end, Washington has young players James Smith-Williams and Casey Tuhill who can start. But this is a thin group without much experience. However, WFT has shown great courage in disrupting Tampa Bay and has performed well recently. When the pirate looked ready to take over the game, it did not flinch. This says it all, and hope that Washington can be as strong as 2020, when it won five of the past seven games. ——Kem

Keim's confidence rating (0-10): 5, up from 3. Washington played better; it just couldn't convert scoring opportunities. It finally did. And now, playing in Carolina, it's fair to see whether Washington can continue the winning streak to eventually generate momentum.

Next game: At the Panthers (1pm Eastern Time, Sunday)

Antonio Gibson was stopped, but his offensive line allowed him to move to the end zone for a touchdown.

Note: Last year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stood out from their goodbye week. They looked like championship contenders and never lost another game in the process of winning the Super Bowl LV. This year, when facing the worst pass defense in the league in Washington, the Pirates looked terrible from the bye. They gave up 19 touchdowns in the last 10 minutes and lost all hope of winning 29-19. In the fiercely competitive NFC, they fell behind with a score of 6-3. To make matters worse, defensive tackle Vita Vea was sent off due to injury. Quarterback Tom Brady made two interceptions in the first quarter for the third time in his career. Tyler Haynik had too much time to pitch, completing 81.25% of his passes, and the home team scored each of the first four offenses for the first time since 2016. The melee-it did a few times, fired Hynek five times, and caused 11 tackles due to the loss-it couldn't end in the third game. --Jenna Lane

Can the Pirates reduce free throws? This is what they hope to correct after Chicago's defeat in week 5 of last season. Although this was the focus of the week, it did not happen. They were fined six times within 43 yards, which included a critical neutral zone violation against William Gorston and a false start to offensive winger Tristan Wilfs before halftime. In the third quarter, a defensive pass interference call to Dee Delaney brought Washington from the Tampa Bay 14th line to the 1 yard line, and Antonio Gibson completed a touchdown. -Lane

Ryan's confidence index (0-10): 6, lower than 8. Bucs allowed a 2-6 football team and the league's worst second-tier team to completely dominate them on the road; there is no good feeling today.

Next game: against the Giants (8:15pm EST, November 22)

Note: Mike Jones looks like an experienced veteran, he has the best performance this season, which increases the possibility of this team entering the playoffs. For the Patriots, the most promising thing is that Jones has experienced a few so-so games in the first two weeks, which raised questions about whether he might hit the rookie wall. He scored against the Browns (19 of 23 shots, 198 yards, 3 touchdowns), demonstrated a more consistent accuracy and decision-making ability earlier this season, and he maintained it in the third game Stable and in a key position-and the long-term situation. The Patriots have proven that they can continue to control the ball, and as Jones and the passing game find their best form, their offense looks the best of the entire season. -Mike Rice

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How far can this team go in the playoffs? After signing a large number of high-paying free agents during the offseason and cleverly bringing Jones together, the Patriots gathered at the right time to play their best football. This can be said to be their best performance this season, because they are facing a team with similar playoff ambitions. When they play like this—weaving efficient passing, physical movement, and opportunistic defense with a special team—the Patriots can beat any team in the NFL. In a league where things are changing rapidly, one of their next challenges is not to relax their vigilance after winning four consecutive games. - Rice

Reiss' confidence rating (0-10): 6, which is higher than 5.3. In different times, all this seems familiar: the weather in New England is getting colder and colder, and the Patriots are starting to play their best football, hoping to make progress in the playoffs.

Next game: At the Falcons (8:20 PM Eastern Time, Thursday)

Knowledge point: A week after looking like a contender in the AFC, the Browns are playing like a team worth watching the playoffs at home. Cleveland's one-season roller coaster continued to lose ground in New England, which exposed the Browns' defense and QB Baker Mayfield, who only completed two passes to the wide receiver. Despite Sunday's disastrous defeat, Cleveland can still rebound into the playoffs. But now the room for error will be minimal. --Jack Trotter

What happened to Cleveland's defense? The Browns could not put pressure on QB Mac Jones, could not leave the court for the third time, and could not force a turnover. It also dominates the trenches, trying to stop the run between tackles. Cleveland has a talent for top-level defense, as demonstrated by his performance in Cincinnati last week. But the Browns' defense has often failed to show this season. This is why, so far, they have not reached it in the end. -Trotters

Trotter's confidence rating (0-10): 5.9, which is lower than 7.8. Gone are the weekly consistency, reliability, and flexibility that defined the Browns' entry into the playoffs in 2020.

Next game: against the Lions (1pm Eastern Time, Sunday)

Note: The Dolphins defense is back, guys. So far, this has been a slow build, but Miami flashed some of last season’s defensive strength in its loss to the Bills in Week 8, and improved it in the following week, forcing the Texans to make four turnovers. And control the Texans to 9 points. But Thursday night’s effort against the Ravens was the team’s best performance of the season, effectively shutting down quarterback Lamar Jackson and the NFL's second-ranked offense for four quarters. The defensive coordinator Josh Boyer launched 24 onslaughts on his defensive guards and pressured Jackson 20 times-the former MVP's career first. Miami's defense scored in Xavien Howard's recovery from an error and kept Baltimore's rushing yards under 100 yards. This is the type of defense the Dolphins look forward to most at the beginning of the season. --Marcel Louis-Jacques

Can this team advance to the playoffs? For the next five weeks, Miami played away against the Jets, and then again at home against the Panthers, Giants and Jets after a bye in the 14th week. These teams entered Week 10 with a total record of 9 wins and 17 losses. Within four weeks, the Dolphins didn't even have to leave Miami. There is no doubt that this is a long opportunity, but this victory on Thursday doesn't feel like a fluke, but a long time. If Miami can climb back to 0.500 before facing the Saints in Week 16, that will make the last three weeks of the season interesting. --Louis Jacques

Louis-Jacques' confidence rating (0-10): 6, higher than 3.7. My biggest leap in any direction this season. If Thursday night is the new normal, the Dolphins have figured out how to win the games they should win, and there will be many such games.

Next game: At the Jets (1pm Eastern Time, Sunday)

Note: The Ravens need to better protect Lamar Jackson. In the game against the happy Dolphins in the Blitz, he was duressed 20 times in his career. When Jackson was pressured 14 times or more in a game, Baltimore was 0-3. The offensive line will never go all out because Pro Bowl left tackle Ronny Stanley (ankle) is out this season. But when left back Ben Cleveland and right tackle Patrick Mecari leave the injured reserve team, pass protection should improve. - Jamison Hensley

Is there a problem with this offense? There should be some worry. The Ravens have gone from leading the NFL (31.2 points) in scoring during the first two full seasons with Jackson as a starter to scoring no more than 17 points in two of the past three games. Baltimore is struggling with a slow start and low three-point efficiency, which makes you wonder if the injury has caught up with this offense. But Jackson is one of the most dangerous organizers in the league. If he can get hot again, the Ravens should score again. —— Hensley

Hensley's confidence rating (0-10): 7.5, which is lower than 8.3. The Ravens are still at the top of the AFC North, but they lost to the Dolphins by a double-digit advantage, with only two decisive victories this year.

Next game: At the Bears (1pm Eastern Time, Sunday)