Before we look forward to Week 11 in the NFL Season that gets underway on Thursday night with Miami and Buffalo, let’s take a step back and think about what transpired in the NFL in Week 10, and what we can take from there to apply the rest of the way to see if it holds true.
These aren’t really predictions, they are more observations, and things that we took away from the performances of various teams last weekend.
What We Learned
1. The Houston Texans Can Play Smash-Mouth Football
If anyone thought the Texans were a finesse team that danced around, think again. All you need to do is watch the tape from Houston’s road win against Chicago on Sunday night in the rain. The Texans went ground and pound, and went man for man against a tough Bears team, grinding out a 13-6 win to move to 8-1 on the season. Houston can beat you by running around you, or right you through.
2. The New Orleans Saints Could Make the NFC Playoffs
A couple of week ago, New Orleans sat at 2-5 on the season, and appeared on the cusp of a full collapse. But back-to-back wins, including a victory over the unbeaten Atlanta Falcons has spurned a new attitude in the Big Easy. Drew Brees is playing as well as any quarterback, as that Saints offense can really move the ball. If the defense can step up like they have the last two week, we could see New Orleans reel off five or six wins in a row to get back into the picture.
3. Why Can’t The Giants Win In November?
I guess we are at that time of year again when the New York Giants look awful, and appear like they are not a playoff team. Then the switch will be turned on late December, and New York will make a run to a Super Bowl right? Who knows. But the Giants have looked bad the last two weeks especially in a blowout loss to Cincinnati this past weekend.
4. Ties Are Stupid
This isn’t hockey. Sure ties are rare, but they happen. The NFL needs to change their overtime rules to prevent this from happening. The 49ers and Rams tied at 24-24 at the end of overtime on Sunday afternoon. Nothing gained, nothing earned.