NFL Weekly Recap: Week 10

The NFL season is now 55% of the way through, and the sloppy play and lower scoring continue to be a common theme. Let’s take a look at the highs and lows from Week 10, as well as some trends at the midseason mark.

Turnovers

Giveaways are up across the board in 2023 in comparison to the previous three seasons. Here is the average number of giveaways per game from 2019-2023, and a brief Jameis Winston note that seems appropriate after Sunday’s game:

• 2023: 2.75 per game (412 giveaways in 150 games)

• 2022: 2.61

• 2021: 2.60

• 2020: 2.60

• 2019: 2.77 (Winston’s 30 touchdown, 30 interception season)

Scoring

With giveaways up, scoring is also down. It likely can be attributed to the multitude of quarterback injuries resulting in poor play from the backups.

The lack of continuity also plays a factor as there were three teams that started a different quarterback for the third straight week. A cacophony to the ears of any offensive playcaller.

• Giants: Tyrod Taylor, Daniel Jones and Tommy DeVito

• Cardinals: Josh Dobbs, Clayton Tune and Kyler Murray

• Vikings: Kirk Cousins, Jaren Hall and Josh Dobbs

Looking at scoring totals from 2020-2023, there has been a decline year after year. Here is the average points per game by a team each year.

• 2020: 24.8

• 2021: 23.0

• 2022: 21.9

• 2023: 21.8

Walk-Offs

Six teams kicked game-winning field goals as time expired in Week 10.

The Browns, Texans, Lions, Cardinals, Seahawks and Broncos all were victorious at the buzzer via the right foot of their kicker.

This set an NFL record for the most walk-off kicks in a week.

Stars of the Week

In the NFC, Dak Prescott shined against the division rival Giants with a 400-yard, four-touchdown performance.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith deserves a nod as well after a 369-yard outing plus a game-winning drive that set up Jason Myers’ field goal at the buzzer.

While in the AFC, Coleridge Bernard (C.J.) Stroud IV followed up his heroic Week 9 performance with another game-winning drive in Cincinnati to upset the Bengals.

Due to the Ohio State alum’s efforts, this is now the third straight season the Bengals sit at 5-4 after nine games.

Where’s the Locker Room?

The Netflix documentary continues to build.

New Minnesota Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs is building quite the script for a future film. When he arrived at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, a Vikings staffer had to direct him to the home team’s locker room.

He may need some help off the field, but on the field, nobody needs to show Dobbs where to go despite his limited knowledge of the playbook.

The Vikings sent the Saints back home with a 27-19 loss that moved Minnesota 1.5 games ahead of the Buccaneers for the NFC’s 7th seed.

To make things even crazier, Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is now out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury that will require surgery.

What does that have to do with Josh Dobbs?

During Cleveland Browns training camp, Dobbs was the backup to Watson before being traded to Arizona. The Cardinals then sent Dobbs to Minnesota before the trade deadline. What a big miss for Cleveland.

Also, it’s not entirely out of the question that Minnesota steals an NFC North title while starting three different quarterbacks in a season.

With two games in Week 16 and 18 against Detroit, who currently sits atop the division at 7-2, and matchups against weaker opponents such as Denver, Chicago and Las Vegas, don’t be shocked if Josh Dobbs leads a late-season surge.

Rocco Pellegrino is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email rdp5387@psu.edu