Week 10 of the 2023 NFL season: What Sunday’s games Taught Us
Colts score a season-low 10 points but still manage to get back to.500. As of Week 10, only one NFL team this season had scored more than 20 points in every game: Indianapolis. Even though they broke that run in Germany on Sunday, Shane Steichen’s team still came out on top. Together with outstanding defensive play from the Colts, Indianapolis won the game by scoring when it mattered most on offense. Late in the first quarter, on a fourth-and-goal play from the 1-yard line, Jonathan Taylor’s number was called. The standout running back showed incredible patience on the touchdown run. 18 of 28 for 194 yards, INT, Gardner Minshew, was
Colts score a season-low 10 points but still manage to get back to.500. As of Week 10, only one NFL team this season had scored more than 20 points in every game: Indianapolis. Even though they broke that run in Germany on Sunday, Shane Steichen’s team still came out on top. Together with outstanding defensive play from the Colts, Indianapolis won the game by scoring when it mattered most on offense. Late in the first quarter, on a fourth-and-goal play from the 1-yard line, Jonathan Taylor’s number was called. The standout running back showed incredible patience on the touchdown run. 18 of 28 for 194 yards, INT, Gardner Minshew, was
The New England quarterback’s patience is wearing thin. With just over four minutes remaining and the Patriots trailing four points, Mac Jones was benched for the team’s last drive of the game after throwing a horrifying interception in the red zone. Bailey Zappe then sealed New England’s doom with yet another horrible selection, ensuring a lengthy journey home from Frankfurt. It was particularly difficult to understand Jones’ underthrow given that Mike Gesicki was wide open for the game-winning touchdown. The turnover served as an illustration of New England’s red-zone woes throughout the game (0 for 4), which eventually
showed to be the deciding factor in a low-scoring match. For an offense that saw Rhamondre Stevenson (88 yards) and Ezekiel Elliott (54 yards) provide a potent rushing attack, it is obvious where the weak point was. Despite being pressured for five sacks in the first half, Jones completed 15 of 20 passes for 170 yards (INT), and the Patriots allowed no sacks after the break. But Jones appeared uneasy at times, and the play-calling didn’t exactly seem to believe in the starting quarterback. When questioned by reporters following the game, Bill Belichick declined to name his starting quarterback for the following week.
Germany’s defensive line feasts on Indianapolis. Dayo Odeyingbo led a Colts defensive front that established the tone early on with a career-high three sacks. In the first half, Kwity Paye and Tyquan Lewis also contributed to the sack fest. Additionally, DeForest Buckner’s play up the middle deserves recognition (one tackle for loss, two QB hits). The Patriots’ offensive line made every effort to double-team the 3-technique, but this made it possible for Buckner’s teammates to pursue Jones. In the afternoon, the Colts recorded nine quarterback hits and did itall without doing a lot of blitzing. Despite the Colts going without a sack in the second half, maybe the persistent pressure made Jones reluctant to throw downfield. With a game-high 15 total tackles, Zaire Franklin continued his incredible season. Jones and Zappe’s mishandled passes to safeties Julian Blackmon and Rodney Thomas proved to be advantageous as the game came to a close.
The next generation stat for the game is that in Week 10, Mac Jones was under pressure on 12 of his 27 dropbacks (a 44.4% pressure rate). Jones applied ten of his twelve pressures on four-man rushes.
The Patriots’ 2-8 start is tied for the worst in Bill Belichick’s tenure, according to NFL Research (the team also started 2-8 in 2000, when Belichick made his New England debut).
C.J. Stroud wins big on the road as the Texans overcome a late error. The rookie quarterback kept up his incredible performance, showcasing deft pocket movement and flawless accuracy. He produced eight pass plays with a yardage or more. The quarterback did make some mistakes on Sunday, though. Early on, Stroud fumbled twice within scoring range. With a third-and-two to seal the game and a 10-point lead, Stroud threw a poor pass to Tank Dell, who was picked off, setting up a Bengals touchdown. Stroud undershot Dell once more deep on third down during the subsequent drive. Upon a
Cincinnati field goal tied the game, Stroud answered. The rookie led a quick drive, hitting Dalton Schultz for a 25-yard gain and threading the needle to Noah Brown to set up the game-winning field goal. The drive proved Stroud’s mettle. Seemingly a shoo-in for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Stroud tossed his hat into the MVP discussion as the upstart Texans moved to 5-4.
