Key takeaways and analysis from Week 10 in the NFL

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.

A new MVP candidate

C.J. Stroud was the big story from last week's games. After a historic performance in Houston's win over Tampa Bay, it was only fair that we call off the Offensive Rookie of the Year race early.

Just one week later, it's probably time to take things a step further: Stroud belongs in the MVP conversation, too.

That may seem rich to some, and let's be honest here: Voters usually only consider quarterbacks on the league's very best teams. That hardly means Stroud is undeserving, though.

While his stat line won't read quite as beautifully as last week's five-touchdown effort, Stroud outplaying Joe Burrow in Cincinnati should be considered his most impressive feat yet. The Texans rookie carved up the Bengals to the tune of 356 passing yards and, for the second time in as many weeks, showed the poise of a veteran while orchestrating a late game-winning drive.

Stroud will enter next week on pace for 4,960 yards, 28 touchdowns, and four(ish) interceptions. Most importantly, Houston is now 5-4 and very much a player in the AFC playoff race.

The Texans have done well to improve the roster as a whole, and the upgrade in coaching can't be understated. But this is still a largely mediocre roster that is being elevated by a rookie quarterback playing out of his mind. If that's not value, what is?

Browns go as Deshaun goes

Sunday's dramatic win over the division-leading Ravens was the perfect representation of what is possible for these Browns.

The defense, as we've seen throughout the season, is as good as it gets. The talent is overwhelming, and Jim Schwartz is doing a masterful job of putting his players in a position to succeed. Yet it seemed like the latest standout effort from this group was going to be wasted by another disastrous Deshaun Watson performance.

Watson struggled for much of the first half in Baltimore, completing just 6 of 20 passes for 74 yards. Cleveland couldn't finish drives as a result, settling for three field goals and a 17-9 deficit at the break. But it was a different story from that point forward.

Watson was perfect in the second half, connecting on 14 of 14 passes for 134 yards while leading two consecutive touchdown drives and a 12-play 58-yard march late in the fourth quarter to set up a walk-off field goal.

A two-quarter sample is hardly enough to overlook the mounting evidence that the decision to acquire Watson in a blockbuster and give him a record fully guaranteed contract was a colossal failure. It's going to be impossible for him to live up to that trade. But finding success against a defense like the Ravens', even if for an abbreviated stretch, should be taken as a sign that there's still a way to salvage this thing.

The Browns have to make this work - there's simply no getting out of Watson's contract at any point before 2026, at the earliest. While recapturing his big-play capability would be ideal, this version of the Browns doesn't even need that. An efficient game manager who minimizes mistakes, as we saw Watson do in the second half this week, gives Cleveland an opportunity to go from bubble playoff team to legitimate contender.

Could this be the first step in Watson turning a corner?

Mike Tomlin is inevitable

Somebody explain the Steelers to me. I'm begging you.

With sincere apologies to the die-hard Pittsburgh fans out there, this team should not be good. In fact, I'd still argue it isn't. But you are what your record says you are in the NFL, and the Steelers are somehow 6-3 after Sunday's win over the Packers.

The only explanation is that Mike Tomlin is the greatest coach of this generation. OK, maybe that's an exaggeration, but his ability to consistently get the most out of his teams is incredible.

Pittsburgh finds itself right in the thick of the AFC playoff race despite being outgained in all nine games this year. The reason the team is outgained so regularly?

Some may suggest we simply pass this off as another Vikings-like example of a team overperforming its true talent level and enjoying some unsustainable good fortune in close games. While I'd gladly accept that argument with almost any other team, these aren't unique outcomes for the Steelers. Tomlin is always making this happen.

Pittsburgh miraculously winning six of its last seven games last season made it 16 consecutive non-losing campaigns under Tomlin. Barring a second-half collapse, he's well on his way to making it 17.

It's never a fluke with Tomlin leading the way.

Quick slants

Kyler's impressive return

The Cardinals should be thrilled with the way Kyler Murray looked in his first game back from a torn ACL, and they aren't alone. The star quarterback being comfortable in the new system and showing his rare creativity are promising developments looking to the future. It's also an indication that the Cardinals could win a few games down the stretch and open the door for teams like the Giants and Patriots to get in position for one of the top two quarterbacks in this draft.

Dobbs does it again

The Joshua Dobbs story just keeps getting better. A bit of a letdown after a sensational Vikings debut would have been understandable - especially against the Saints' stout defense. But Dobbs made the most of a week in which he finally got practice reps, some time to dive into the playbook, and the opportunity to learn the names of his teammates. The veteran quarterback was once again the key factor in the Vikings' pivotal win, throwing for 286 yards and a touchdown while adding 44 yards and a score on the ground. This is a playoff team if Dobbs keeps up his level of play.

Lamb, Cowboys on a heater

CeeDee Lamb is unstoppable right now. The Cowboys wideout hauled in 11 receptions for 151 yards in a blowout win over the Giants, making him the first player in NFL history to record three straight games of double-digit catches and 150-plus yards. Lamb taking another step toward the league's elite has been a key factor in Dallas lighting up the scoreboard, but he's not doing it alone. Offseason trade acquisition Brandin Cooks actually bested his running mate with 173 receiving yards against the Giants, and Dak Prescott has quietly been playing the best football of his career over the last few weeks. This offense is shaping up to be a juggernaut.

49ers' pass rush takes over

The 49ers entered this week tied for 17th with 23 sacks. Those numbers were a little misleading - San Francisco had still been generating pressure at a high level - but finishing more plays in the backfield was always the key for this defense to get back on track. That's exactly how it played out this week. The Jaguars' offensive line was helpless against the 49ers' stacked front, giving up five sacks and 10 quarterback hits. The highlight was trade deadline acquisition Chase Young teaming up with former Ohio State teammate Nick Bosa for a key strip sack on Trevor Lawrence. This defense is going to be just fine when it matters most.

Dan Campbell is the best

It's fourth-and-2 on your opponent's 26-yard line with 1:47 to play in a 38-38 game. Most coaches would have a hard time passing up a 44-yard field-goal attempt for the lead, but not Dan Campbell. Neither defense was getting stops in this shootout, and the Lions coach wanted to be sure his team was the one in control. Campbell was rewarded for his faith in his offense when Jared Goff and Sam LaPorta connected for the first down, giving Detroit the ability to run out the clock and try a shorter kick. That's how you play to win.

That's it for Mac

Mac Jones is cooked. Personally, I blame the Patriots. Jones was likely never going to be in the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks, but who could have seen this coming after an outstanding rookie campaign? Some wild staff changes in the two seasons since have stonewalled his progression, and we're now at a point where it's best for all parties to get a fresh start. A brutal red-zone interception late in Sunday's loss to the Colts resulted in Jones being benched (for the third time this season) in favor of Bailey Zappe for a last-gasp two-minute drill. There's nothing else to see here.

Packers progress

The Packers are in completely foreign territory at 3-6, so it's only natural for every loss to feel like a new low. The scoreboard won't tell a different story this week, but there are some positives to take away from the defeat in Pittsburgh. Most notably, Jordan Love was able to connect on several big plays en route to a season-high 289 passing yards. The Love hype has simmered after a hot start to the campaign, but it's important to remember that an incredibly young offense hasn't exactly been the most helpful supporting cast. The flashes still provide some hope for the future.

An undrafted steal

I wasn't super high on Keaton Mitchell coming out of East Carolina this year, so I can't be too critical of teams for seeing it the same way. For any legitimate concerns about his vision as a runner, though, the athletic gifts were undeniable. The rare explosiveness, which we saw in last week's breakout and on Sunday's electric 39-yard touchdown, is something you just can't teach. These are the kinds of players teams should be taking swings on late in the draft. You'll have your share of misses, but the hits will be spectacular. Mitchell's home run ability is a fantastic fit in the Ravens' offense.

Stat of the week

MNF lookahead

Broncos vs. Bills

This is as must-win as must-win gets for Buffalo. The Bills are sitting at a disappointing 5-4 after losing three of their last five games. Their two wins over that stretch (Giants and Bucs) weren't the most convincing efforts, either. While the Broncos might seem like the perfect get-right opponent, their recent improvements culminated in a Week 8 victory over the Chiefs. Buffalo's need for a win becomes all the more pressing when you consider the upcoming schedule. A 5-5 record heading into a stretch of games against the Jets, Eagles, Chiefs, Cowboys, and Chargers would be cause for concern.