It’s just after the halfway point of the 2024 NFL season, but some teams look like they’re on the verge of planning for next year.
No squad should be feeling that more than the Dallas Cowboys, who dropped another laugher at home, leading to team owner Jerry Jones melting down over the sun and curtains. The Cowboys could be on the brink of massive changes in the coaching staff and on the roster; they still have eight games left to play.
Another team that may see some systemic changes this offseason is the Chicago Bears, whose offense is broken, with rookie No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams struggling to take off.
Here are the winners and losers from Sunday of Week 10.
WINNERS
The Lions, somehow, find a way
Their quarterback threw five interceptions and they faced a 16-point deficit at the half, but the Detroit Lions pulled off an improbable comeback, scoring the game’s final 19 points and shutting out the Texans in the second half en route to a 26-23 victory.
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Detroit (8-1) needed a 58-yard field goal and 52-yard game-winning kick as time expired, but it retained its one-game lead atop the NFC. And, as they have all season, the Lions found different ways to win. The defense clamped down and forced Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud into interceptions in two of the first three drives of the second half. The rushing game, after gaining just 23 yards on 13 carries in the first half, controlled the line of scrimmage late, picking up 82 yards and a score on 19 second-half carries.
Mike Tomlin takes down another rookie QB, Steelers get signature win
In his career, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is now 26-6 (.813) against teams who started a rookie quarterback. More importantly, after a 28-27 win over the Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh (7-2) has steadily climbed up the AFC standings, has had its decision to turn the team over to Russell Wilson affirmed and took down a dynamic young team that was making its case as a contender.
The Steelers held rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to a 50% completion rate and a QB rating of 68.5 — both of which are his lowest totals of the season. Pittsburgh’s defense showed it’s capable of defusing speed and athleticism in opposing offenses. With Wilson, the deep ball is more consistent. And so, the Steelers now head into a battle for first place in the AFC North next week against the Ravens (7-3).
Cardinals defense is tightening up down the stretch
With their 31-6 demolition of the reeling (though talented) New York Jets, the Arizona Cardinals added more evidence pointing to a defense that’s ascending, a quarterback and offense that are become more versatile and a team on the rise.
Arizona (6-4) has now gone two weeks and some change without allowing a touchdown — the second-to-last possession of its Week 8 win over the Miami Dolphins, and a stretch of 19 series. The Cardinals nearly doubled up the Jets in yardage, outgaining New York 406-207. Kyler Murray has done a tremendous job protecting the ball and has thrown just three interceptions this season, one over his last five games. Arizona could become one of those teams opponents simply don’t want to see in the second half of the season.
LOSERS
It’s time. Blow up the Cowboys
Yes, Dak Prescott missed Sunday’s thrashing at home against the Eagles and is expected to miss the rest of the season. That doesn’t absolve the Cowboys (3-6) for the abject failure that this campaign has become.
Dallas is completely inept at home, losing all four games at AT&T Stadium this season by a differential of -94 points. Mostly behind backup Cooper Rush, the Cowboys posted only 49 passing yards. Dallas cannot run the ball effectively and it struggles to stop the rush. The roster is suddenly old and filled with holes. Inexplicably, the Cowboys made the trade for receiver Jonathan Mingo, even though they were so obviously headed toward a lost season. It’s not time to double down; it’s time to start over.
Broncos nearly get there, learn tough lessons
Denver has been a nice surprise. The Broncos entered Sunday 5-4 and took the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs down to the last play of the game. All Denver had to do was convert a chip shot field goal through in the final seconds.
But the kick protection of the left side of the line disintegrated, kicker Wil Lutz was too deliberate given the context of the potential game-winning kick, and the Broncos learned that NFL teams absolutely cannot let up until the final whistle blows — especially when playing against the NFL’s best teams. The Broncos (5-5) have an excellent defense, one that held the Chiefs (9-0) to one of four conversions inside the red zone and one of three in goal-to-go scenarios.
This Bears offense is broken beyond repair
The Bears scored three points against a New England Patriots team that entered Sunday with two wins, and Chicago has now failed to score a touchdown on any of its last 23 possessions, spanning two full games.
Chicago (4-5) converted only one of its 14 third-down tries (7.1%) and gained just 142 yards against the Pats. In fact, going back the last three games, the Bears have converted 6 of 40 third-down attempts (15%). Despite boasting a roster full of playmakers, Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron has failed to effectively scheme players open. Pre-snap penalties are frequent, and play calling remains disjointed. Significant changes should be coming this offseason – if not sooner. Making matters worse: Chicago’s remaining schedule is brutal, with all six division games and a showdown against the 49ers remaining.
Falcons can’t generate pass rush, struggle to rise to legitimacy
Honestly, all things considered, the Atlanta Falcons’ loss to the NFC South-rival New Orleans Saints didn’t hurt them all that much. Atlanta (6-4) remains two games ahead of the Tampa Buccaneers (4-6) in the division, and the Saints and Carolina Panthers, despite winning their respective games Sunday, almost certainly won’t compete.
But the Falcons have glaring issues that prevent them from progressing to the level of dependable contenders in the NFC – namely a moribund pass rush that cannot impact games. Atlanta blitzed Derek Carr on 48% of his 25 dropbacks, the highest rate the Falcons have brought pressure this season. They didn’t generate a single sack, and Carr threw just seven incompletions.