You’re not supposed to win a game when your quarterback throws five interceptions.
But on Sunday night, the Detroit Lions did just that with a stunning comeback victory over the Houston Texans.
Jared Goff became just the third QB since 1991 to win a game when throwing the ball to the other team on five separate occasions.
“I’ve been through a whole lot worse than that. Mentally, I’ve been to the bottom,” Goff told reporters after the games. “I never lost confidence.”
Goff’s mental fortitude mirrors that of the entire Lions team that never believes they are out of a game, no matter how daunting the odds. And it sure helps that they have the talent to back up that belief.
It’s one of the many reasons why many consider them the best team in football, even with the Kansas City Chiefs still being undefeated.
With the Lions now 8-1, it’s looking increasingly likely that all roads in the NFC will go through Detroit.
Here are some other takeaways from Week 10:
Chiefs keep the dream alive
The 1972 Miami Dolphins had the champagne ready.
With the Denver Broncos needing just a 35-yard field goal to hand the lone remaining undefeated team in the NFL its first loss of the season, it looked like it was only a matter of time before the only undefeated team in league history could celebrate once again.
But the Chiefs had different ideas and pulled off a miraculous field goal block to improve their 2024 record to a perfect 9-0.
It hasn’t been pretty for the Chiefs this season, with only two of their nine wins coming by more than one score.
But they don’t ask how, just how many.
The win put the Chiefs in the driver’s seat for home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs, with a chance to essentially lock it up in a pivotal showdown with the Buffalo Bills next Sunday.
“Any way you win is good in this league,” Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes told reporters after the game. “You live for these moments. When you grow up playing football, you live for the walk-off whatever-it-is. And I’m glad we get to experience it together.”
If the Chiefs can keep finding ways to win like they did Sunday, they might get to experience becoming the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls come February.
Cowboys in shambles
You know it’s bad when the sun is one of the main topics of discussion after the game.
The Dallas Cowboys were embarrassed at home in an NFC East clash with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Dallas’s performance was so pitiful, it had star WR CeeDee Lamb calling for curtains to be installed at their home stadium.
Lamb appeared to lose a possible TD catch in the sun during the game. When asked if AT&T Stadium needs curtains over the windows, the star wide receiver said, “Yes, 1,000 per cent,” per Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who is never shy to speak his mind, sees things a little differently.
“Well, let’s tear the damn stadium down and build another one? Are you kidding me? Everybody has got the same thing,” Jones said, per The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “Every team that comes in here has the same issues. I’m saying, the world knows where the sun is. You get to know that almost a year in advance. Someone asked me about the sun. What about the sun? Where’s the moon?”
The whole debate would be laughable for Cowboys fans if the team were in the hunt for a playoff spot. But at 3-6, and starting QB Dak Prescott possibly out for the remainder of the season, the sun debate just adds insult to injury in a disappointing season.
Bears, Jets hit rock bottom
Chicago Bears and New York Jets fans look away.
Two teams that came into the season with a sense of optimism typically unknown to both franchises are once again looking at a lost season.
A healthy Aaron Rodgers was supposed to elevate the Jets to Super Bowl contenders status. But the Jets have looked anything but through 10 weeks of the season, and looked particularly abysmal in a 31-6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10.
Rodgers and the Jets’ offence managed just 207 total yards of offence and finished with a season-low six points.
It’s particularly painful for the Jets who did everything they could to turn this season around — they fired their head coach and made a big splash to acquire Rodgers’ old running mate in WR Davante Adams.
There was a sliver of hope after the Jets beat the Texans in Week 9, but at 3-7, the Jets will now need a miracle to turn this season around.
It’s a similar story for the Bears, just with a QB 18 years younger than Rodgers.
No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams was supposed to be the Bears’ saviour this season and even had Chicago off to a 4-2 start. But since the team’s Week 7 bye, Williams and the Bears’ offence has looked like a unit that doesn’t have a clue.
Things were particularly bad Sunday, as the Bears didn’t have a drive longer than 21 yards, didn’t have a play over 12 yards and were held to just 142 yards of total offence.
The Bears faithful let the team hear their displeasure multiple times throughout the game with a chorus of boos.
Unlike the Jets, the Bears haven’t fired their head coach. However, with the future of their franchise struggling and the offence looking anemic, it would make sense for head coach Matt Eberflus to be on the chopping block sooner rather than later.
It might be too late for this season, but a strong end to the season could be crucial for Williams’ confidence heading into his sophomore year.
Let Russ cook
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the more under-the-radar teams this season.
Even though they came into Week 10 6-2, their name was rarely mentioned when talking Super Bowl contenders.
But Russell Wilson and the Steelers made a statement on Sunday with a 28-27 win over star rookie QB Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders.
No one has questioned the Steelers’ defence, but there were certainly questions about whether Wilson and the Pittsburgh offence would hold this team back.
But since Wilson returned to the starter’s gig in Week 7, he ranks sixth in the league in total EPA gained on throws of 20-plus yards despite only playing three games, per NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
One of those throws was a deep TD to trade deadline acquisition Mike Williams late in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback.
It’s time to label this Steelers team as a legit contender.
Metchie’s feel-good story
Canadian WR John Metchie caught the first touchdown of his career in the Texans’ loss to the Lions.
It’s quite the comeback story for the Texans WR, as he missed his entire rookie season in 2022 after he was diagnosed with leukemia.
Not only did Metchie catch his first score, but the Brampton, Ont., native also led the Texans in receiving yards with five catches for 74 yards.
With Stefon Diggs done for the season, there is certainly some room for Metchie to build on Sunday’s performance in the second half of the season.
