2019 NFL Week 10 Recap

By Rob Woodfork
November 11, 2019 | 2:36 AM

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 11: Tight end Jacob Hollister #48 of the Seattle Seahawks catches a pass for a touchdown over strong safety Jaquiski Tartt #29 of the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter of the game at Levi's Stadium on November 11, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. — <b><i>Seahawks 27</i></b> <b><i>49ers 24 (OT)</i></b> In what was <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1191161869802917888?s=20">the game of the year in more ways than one</a>, defense dominated most of the way (a combined 10 sacks, seven turnovers and two defensive touchdowns) before unheralded field goal kickers threatened to make this the first tie game on Monday Night Football since 1983. But Russell Wilson solidified his status as MVP frontrunner by saving us all from the dreaded non-result and pulled Seattle within a half game of San Fran in the best division in football.

Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) heads for the end zone for a touchdown after recovering a fumble by Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) during the first half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. — <em><strong>Rams 12</strong></em> <em><strong>Steelers 17</strong></em> Minkah Fitzpatrick is the first Steeler in 35 years to score a defensive TD in back-to-back games and has five picks in only seven games in Black and Gold. If Pittsburgh makes the playoffs, he has to be in the mix for Defensive Player of the Year. And reigning DPOY Aaron Donald got a safety in his Steel City homecoming, but his Rams look lost in a division (and conference) where the margin for error won't allow them to sneak into the playoffs without a dramatic turnaround. Jared Goff is looking more like Joe Flacco every day.

Green Bay Packers' Aaron Jones runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Green Bay, Wis. — <em><strong>Panthers 16</strong></em> <em><strong>Packers 24</strong></em> What's old: Riverboat Ron Rivera gambles late by going for a rushing touchdown in the final seconds, falling short in snowy Green Bay. What's new: The Packers enter their bye week 8-2 with Aaron Rodgers playing second fiddle to Aaron Jones and the best defense they've had in years. What a time to be a Pack fan.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) breaks the tackle of Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore (23) to score a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. — <b><i>Dolphins 16</i></b> <b><i>Colts 12</i></b> The lone team the Redskins have beaten this year has done something the 'Skins haven't: Won consecutive games. Given Cincinnati is still winless — on a day when the Dolphins, Jets and Falcons all won, no less — and Joe Burrow played his way into being the favorite to be picked #1 overall in the draft; Miami may get Tua without the tanking after all.

TAMPA, FLORIDA — NOV. 10: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rushes during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Raymond James Stadium on Nov. 10, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. — <b><i>Cardinals 27</i></b> <b><i>Bucs 30</i></b> The Bucs defense ended Kyler Murray's NFL rookie record streak of 211 straight passes without a pick and the run game was solid … but Jameis Winston reiterated why he's never to be trusted in fantasy football.

New York Jets strong safety Jamal Adams, right, strips the ball from New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, left, during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. Adams scored a touchdown on the play. — <b><i>Giants 27</i></b> <b><i>Jets 34</i></b> A week after getting <a href="https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/ny-daniel-jones-boom-mic-20191106-5riaqdatjbdjpnadynoxwp5wae-story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">waylaid by a mic</a>, Daniel Jones got the same treatment from a sagging Jets defense that managed to sack him six times; even though Leonard Williams was on the other sideline having way less fun <a href="https://nypost.com/2019/11/07/leonard-williams-wont-spare-sam-darnold-if-opportunity-arises/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">than he expected</a>. Whatever <a href="https://www.nj.com/giants/2019/11/giants-pat-shurmur-not-concerned-about-job-security-im-built-for-this.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pat Shurmur is built for</a>, it shouldn't include losing to the second-worst team in football to fall into Big Blue's longest losing skid in five years.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) is sacked by Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (97) and defensive end Vic Beasley (44) in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. — <b><i>Falcons 26</i></b> <b><i>Saints 9</i></b> In the upset of the year (and <a href="https://twitter.com/BFawkesESPN/status/1193685016607260672?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">maybe the decade</a>), Atlanta played like a team, <a href="https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/quinn-looking-last-eight-games-new-season/8vHxITMiCCz0o5XqfDLlaJ/#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">treating its second-half slate like a new season</a>. Unfortunately, it's too late to save it.

Tennessee Titans defensive back Joshua Kalu (46) blocks a 52-yard field goal attempt by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (7) on the final play of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 35-32. — <b><i>Chiefs 32</i></b> <b><i>Titans 35</i></b> Here's your weekly reminder that Kansas City doesn't have much beyond Patrick Mahomes and the passing game. The defense got torched by Ryan Tannehill at a critical juncture and <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/11/10/titans-say-they-timed-chiefs-cadence-to-block-last-second-field-goal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the predictable special teams</a> got the potential game-tying field goal blocked emphatically like Dikembe Mutombo was coming off the edge. The Chiefs are in trouble.

CLEVELAND, OH — NOV. 10: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns throws a pass past Star Lotulelei #98 of the Buffalo Bills during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on Nov. 10, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland defeated Buffalo 19-16. — <b><i>Bills 13</i></b> <b><i>Browns 19</i></b> Buffalo has the record (6-3) we thought Cleveland would have at this point in the season, and the 3-6 Browns have the record we suspected the Bills would have at this point of the season. This game was less upset and more course correction, especially for the team with a QB <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/11/06/baker-mayfield-shaved-out-of-superstition-then-because-i-didnt-deserve-it/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">constantly correcting his facial hair</a>.

Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (10) avoids a tackle byf Detroit Lions defensive end Trey Flowers (90) during the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. — <b><i>Lions 13</i></b> <b><i>Bears 20</i></b> Maybe it was <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bears/ct-cb-chicago-bears-matt-nagy-defense-zach-ertz-20191104-2axoxwq7znci3lmysuaqm4zoe4-story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt Nagy's positivity</a>, maybe it was <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/11/07/mitchell-trubisky-bears-halas-hall-televisions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitchell Trubisky turning off the TVs, </a>but it was probably more about <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/11/05/stafford-on-pace-to-lead-nfl-in-passing-yards-with-help-from-lions-bad-defense/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the red hot Matthew Stafford</a> being sidelined for the first time since 2010 and Detroit's defense continuing to disappoint.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA — NOV. 07: Clelin Ferrell #96 of the Oakland Raiders sacks Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers at RingCentral Coliseum on Nov. 07, 2019 in Oakland, California. — <b><i>Chargers 24</i></b> <b><i>Raiders 26</i></b> In the last prime time game at the Oakland Coliseum, Clelin Ferrell had <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1192659624366874625?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of the best performances</a> by a rookie Raiders pass rusher and Josh Jacobs punched in the game-winning touchdown. I'm not ready to say the Silver and Black is back, but their first-round picks from last year's fire sale are certainly making it look like <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/11/08/jon-gruden-is-making-a-case-for-coach-of-the-year/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jon Gruden knows what he's doing after all</a>. And it looks like the beginning of the end for Philip Rivers in powder blue. His performance was uglier than his hideous 57.5 QB rating would imply, and at 38 years old; it's probably not his last stinker.

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The NFL’s biggest upset, an even bigger passer rating and the quietest locker room headline this week’s NFL recap.

Quarterback Alex Smith’s grueling road to recovery chronicled in ESPN program

By CNN
April 28, 2020 | 10:34 PM

NFL quarterback Alex Smith suffered a gruesome leg injury that put his career in jeopardy and had him fighting for his life, and his long and grueling road to recovery is chronicled in an upcoming one-hour program from ESPN called "Project 11." The leg injury occurred Nov. 18, 2018, in the third quarter of a game between the Washington Redskins and Houston Texans. After being sacked by the Texans' J.J. Watt and Kareem Jackson, Smith suffered a spiral and compound fracture of the right tibia and fibula.

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