2025 NFL Week 10 Winners and Losers and Top Takeaways

This week's trade deadline added to an already shifting NFL landscape.

Case in point: Thursday's outcome between the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders.

At 8-2, the Broncos—not the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills or Philadelphia Eagles—hold the NFL's best record going into this weekend's action. Also, the Indianapolis Colts won on Sunday after making a huge move to acquire cornerback Sauce Gardner.

Meanwhile, the Raiders traded away their top wide receiver, Jakobi Meyers, to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and, unsurprisingly, couldn't muster much in the passing game against an elite defense.

Stay tuned as Bleacher Report's NFL analysts—Brent Sobleski, Gary Davenport, Kris Knox and Moe Moton—break down the biggest takeaways, as well as the winners and losers, from each contest.

Score: Chargers 25, Steelers 10

Chargers Takeaway: Los Angeles' Abundance of Talent Will Compensate for Key Injuries

Without their starting tackles, the Chargers are a flawed team, but they have enough talent to overcome key losses and win games with their physical identity. 

In the victory over the Steelers, Justin Herbert took five sacks, but he connected with Ladd McConkey four times for 107 yards and a touchdown. Third-string running back Kimani Vidal recorded 25 carries for 95 yards and a score. On the defensive side of the ball, rookie sixth-rounder RJ Mickens introduced himself on the prime-time stage with an interception.

The Chargers' injuries will hurt them in certain situations, but don't discount this team's playoff hopes and what it can do in January.

Winner: Chargers Defense

Los Angeles' defense limited Pittsburgh to 221 total yards, forced three turnovers and only allowed two out of 11 third-down conversions, taking a lot of pressure off the offense. 

The Steelers entered this game having scored at least 21 points in six consecutive outings, but they faced a formidable defense and fell behind early. The Chargers stifled Aaron Rodgers and didn't give up explosive plays over the top, which allowed them to control the game from start to finish.

Steelers Takeaway: Offensive Woes Will Be Pittsburgh's Downfall

Offensively, the Steelers don't do anything particularly well. They entered Week 10 outside the top 20 in passing and rushing yards.

Under center, Rodgers can still sling the ball accurately with a 68.7 percent completion rate, but Pittsburgh doesn't have a reliable high-volume pass-catching threat other than DK Metcalf.

The Steelers can light up the scoreboard against below-average defenses, as they did against the Cincinnati Bengals. They can take advantage of field position off turnovers, which is what happened last week against the Indianapolis Colts.

However, a decent unit can disrupt Pittsburgh's offensive rhythm. The Chargers' 12th-ranked scoring defense held the Steelers to a season-low 10 points.

Pittsburgh must figure out its offensive identity, a difficult task without a consistent ground attack or a strong group of receivers to take coverage away from Metcalf. 

Loser: QB Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers

Rodgers didn't throw well outside the pocket in the loss to L.A. He completed 16 of 31 pass attempts for 161 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He had his worst outing since the Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. 

The 41-year-old threw a pass that bounced off wideout Calvin Austin III's hands in the fourth quarter, but the Steelers were already trailing 22-3 at that point.

Rodgers' first-half inaccuracies put Pittsburgh's offense in tough spots, further compounding the team's inefficiencies within the passing attack.

Score: Lions 44, Commanders 22

Lions Takeaway: Let Dan Campbell Cook with Play-Calling Responsibilities

Dan Campbell is more than just a CEO-type head coach. With a play-call sheet in hand and direct communication to his offense, he called the shots for the Lions' 44-point road output in Washington. Detroit scored on eight consecutive drives and kneeled to ice the game on its ninth possession. 

Perhaps Campbell felt the offense needed a new voice after last week's slow start, and his play-calling led to several explosive gains.

Winner: Lions' Speedy Skill Players

Jahmyr Gibbs ran all over the Commanders defense, racking up 142 yards and two scores on the ground. He also caught three passes for 30 yards and a touchdown. Jameson Williams caught six passes for 119 yards and a touchdown.

With Campbell calling the plays, Gibbs and Williams could continue to post gaudy stat lines as focal points of the Lions' offensive attack.

Commanders Takeaway: Leadership Must Address Poor Judgement

In the first half of the Commanders' matchup with the Lions, the referees ejected Daron Payne for punching Amon-Ra St. Brown between plays. Moments later, Javon Kinlaw drew a flag for making contact with an official. Both veterans made inexplicable decisions, worsening Washington's losing situation.

The Commanders' locker room leaders need to hold Payne, Kinlaw and anyone who allows their frustrations to boil over accountable for their actions, or else this season could lead to an offseason roster sweep of several veterans.

Loser: HC Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders

Quinn fielded an undisciplined squad. He's also a defensive-minded head coach who watched his team give up points on every drive except for Detroit's final possession, which ended in victory formation. 

Washington faced a tough challenge without starting quarterback Jayden Daniels, but there's no excuse for its putrid defensive performance and the misconduct from a couple of veterans on that side of the ball.

Score: Seahawks 44, Cardinals 22

Seahawks Takeaway: Seattle Looks Like a Scary NFC Threat

The Arizona Cardinals haven't been particularly good this season, even if they looked decent against the Dallas Cowboys a week ago. We can only read so much into a Seattle Seahawks win over Arizona at home, even a dominant one.

This was a dominant victory, though, and it highlights just how dangerous Seattle could be in the postseason. Aside from a series of turnovers that helped the Cardinals climb back into the game a little, the Seahawks looked good in almost every area.

With a top-five scoring offense and top-five scoring defense, Seattle just keeps rolling and is set for an epic Week 11 clash with the Los Angeles Rams.

Winner: Seattle's Pass Rush

The Seahawks' pass rush was simply fantastic against the Cardinals. Linebacker Tyrice Knight and edge-defender DeMarcus Lawrence were its biggest stars.

Seattle jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter when Knight stripped Jacoby Brissett and Lawrence returned the fumble for a touchdown.

The Seahawks broke the game open in the second quarter when Knight and Lawrence did the exact same thing for a second time.

Cardinals Takeaway: Offensive Issues Aren't All Kyler Murray's Fault

Earlier this week, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Cardinals and quarterback Kyler Murray are expected to have lengthy discussions about their future together. That came after head coach Jonathan Gannon announced Jacoby Brissett would get another start.

Not so coincidentally, the Cardinals were scoring an average of five points per game more with Brissett behind center than they were with Murray at quarterback.

However, Sunday's performance was another ugly one that showed why Murray wasn't the only thing holding the Cardinals back.

The offensive line struggled to protect for most of the afternoon, and Arizona OC Drew Petzing failed to get much of anything going until well into garbage time.

Loser: QB Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

If the Cardinals decide to move off of Murray next season, that could open the door for Brissett to get an extended run as the bridge starter—he's under contract through 2026.

However, Sunday's loss could be a serious setback for any potential Brissett-to-QB1 surge.

While the 32-year-old didn't have a terrible game statistically, he too often collapsed in the face of the pass rush or failed to get the ball out before it hit home. He took five sacks and had two fumbles that were returned for touchdowns—unacceptable numbers for any starting QB.

Score: Rams 42, 49ers 26

Rams Takeaway: Ground Game is Evolving at Perfect Time

There are plenty of reasons why the Los Angeles Rams loom as one of the biggest threats in the NFC. They have a Hall of Fame quarterback, two terrific receivers, and a defense that, while perhaps not elite, does a great job of keeping points off the board.

They also have a strong rushing attack that is finally incorporating 2024 third-round pick Blake Corum. He recorded double-digit carries for the third straight game and averaged a solid 4.3 yards per carry while spelling Kyren Williams (72 yards, 2 TDs).

Now is the perfect time for L.A. to forge a powerful two-back rotation. The playoffs may bring bad weather and road games, and a strong rushing attack can help overcome both.

Winner: QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

For the second straight week, it's hard not to point to Matthew Stafford as the big winner in L.A. He threw for another 280 yards and four touchdowns on Sunday, bringing his regular-season total to 2,427 yard and 25 touchdowns.

While New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is beginning to feel like the MVP front-runner, Stafford continues to make a strong case for himself.

49ers Takeaway: Mac Jones Can Hold QB Job as Long as Necessary

A home loss against a division rival is never fun, but this one shouldn't have the San Francisco 49ers scrambling to get Brock Purdy (toe) back on the field.

Mac Jones' fourth-quarter interception essentially ended San Francisco's comeback hopes, but he played incredibly well throughout the game aside from that. He threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns and helped the 49ers make a game of it after falling into a 21-0 hole.

Loser: San Francisco's NFC West Title Hopes

The 49ers are 6-4 and still have a reasonable chance to make the postseason, but they desperately needed to win Sunday's game if they wanted to claim the NFC West title.

They could still win the West of course, especially if the Seahawks win next weekend—Seattle and San Francisco will face off in the regular-season finale.

However, San Francisco needs help, and quite a bit of it.

Score: Texans 36, Jaguars 29

Texans Takeaway: Davis Mills May Have Saved Houston's Season

For a time Sunday, it looked like curtains for the 2025 Texans. With starting quarterback C.J. Stroud in the concussion protocol, Houston was getting walloped by the Jacksonville Jaguars. At the start of the fourth quarter, it was trailing 29-10.

No problem for backup quarterback Davis Mills, though. He peeled off three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in a fourth quarter in which Houston boat-raced the Jags 26-0.

The Texans aren't a team without issues, even after the win. And catching the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South isn't likely to happen. But Sunday's comeback win keeps Houston in the wild-card conversation.

Winner: Texans Edge Danielle Hunter

The Houston defense has been among the NFL's best this season, and the team turned it on when it needed to late against Jacksonville. Danielle Hunter was the star of that defense in Week 10.

Only linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair had more total tackles against the Jaguars than Hunter. No Texans player had more solos than Hunter's five. Oh, and he added 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss and four QB hits.

Jaguars Takeaway: This Collapse Will Haunt the Jaguars for Some Time

After watching the Colts win in overtime Sunday in Berlin, the Jaguars badly needed to take care of business against the banged-up Texans. And for three quarters, it appeared they were going to do just that.

But then came an apocalyptic fourth quarter—a quarter that could be looked back on in a couple of months as the moment when things began to fall apart.

It was a team effort. The offense and defense both essentially vanished. Trevor Lawrence couldn't move the Jaguars offense. The team couldn't slow Houston down, let alone stop them.

It's not easy to take a team seriously as a contender after that kind of faceplant.

Loser: Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence

This isn't just about a fourth quarter in which the Jacksonville offense was non-existent, and it's true that Lawrence's wide receivers were all kinds of beat up in this game.

However, for the first time in franchise history, the Jaguars wasted a 19-point lead, and Lawrence's 158-yard passing effort, five sacks allowed and 74.2 passer rating played a part in that.

Score: Jets 27, Browns 20

Jets Takeaway: It's Tyrod Taylor Time in New York

It's not often a team on a two-game winning streak needs to make a change at quarterback. But when you're the New York Jets, even good news comes with bad.

When the Jets face the red-hot New England Patriots next week, veteran Tyrod Taylor needs to be under center.

Gang Green didn't beat the Browns because of Justin Fields—they won in spite of him. The weather conditions were far from idea, but the Jets QB completed just six of 11 passes for 54 yards, and it's hardly the only time this season he has struggled as a passer.

New York isn't beating New England with 42 passing yards as a team.

Winner: Jets Special Teams

So how did the Jets score 27 points in a game where they had two yards of offense at halftime?

It was all down to special teams.

In the first quarter, Kene Nwangwu returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. The next time a Jets player touched the ball, Isaiah Williams returned a punt 74 yards for a score. It was the first time since 2011 that an NFL team logged back-to-back returns for scores.

Browns Takeaway: Pour One Out For Edge-Rusher Myles Garrett

The Cleveland Browns are a mess in just about every way a team can be.

Dillon Gabriel threw two touchdown passes Sunday, but it's clear he's not the long-term answer at quarterback in Cleveland. Running back Quinshon Judkins averaged less than 3.5 yards per carry, and the Browns' special teams imploded at MetLife Stadium.

Again, though, the Cleveland defense tried to give the team a chance to win, limiting the Jets to 169 total yards and three third-down conversions in 11 tries.

Myles Garrett continued to play like the Defensive Player of the Year, picking up his 11th sack of the season in the loss.

What a waste of a Hall of Fame-caliber career.

Loser: Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel

Can we just admit Gabriel isn't the answer in Cleveland?

Starting Shedeur Sanders would be a media circus, but watching Gabriel dink-and-dunk all game every game is cruel and unusual punishment for a fanbase that has suffered plenty in recent years.

The third-round pick offered just 5.2 yards per attempt on his 32 passes in the rain, but that figure is actually higher than his average entering Week 10.

Score: Bears 24, Giants 20

Bears Takeaway: HC Ben Johnson Is Building an Offensive Juggernaut 

The Bears are fielding their most productive offense in over a decade. They entered Week 10 with the sixth-ranked scoring offense and fourth in total yards. Chicago hasn't finished a season within the top 10 in those two categories since 2013.

Johnson is leading a balanced attack that's within the top 10 in passing and rushing yards. On Sunday, the Chicago offense racked up 262 yards through the air and 169 on the ground, putting on another strong offensive showing.

Winner: QB Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

At times, Williams' pass-catchers let him down with drops, particularly Olamide Zaccheaus, who let multiple on-target passes slip through his fingertips, but the Bears' signal-caller still found a way to lead his team to victory. 

Williams engineered a couple of late scoring drives for a fourth-quarter comeback. The Bears took the lead with fewer than two minutes left in regulation after his 17-yard touchdown run.

We're starting to see his dynamic playmaking ability shine in big moments for a winning squad.

Giants Takeaway: Jaxson Dart Must Learn to Slide 

The Giants offense lost its steam once Dart exited the game. Backup quarterback Russell Wilson took over in the fourth quarter, and he couldn't help Big Blue muster up enough offense to close the game with a 20-10 lead.

New York needs Dart to think about his longevity and how his play style could impact the team in the short term.

On Sunday, the 22-year-old scored his seventh rushing touchdown of the season. He's averaging about six carries per game, though more concerning, the rookie signal-caller willingly absorbs contact on his rush attempts. He lost a fumble, and after that play, the Giants evaluated him for a concussion. 

Dart's play style is exciting for viewers, and he's an effective ball-carrier, but he should learn to slide more often than he takes on contact.

Loser: P Jamie Gillan, New York Giants

Punters barely ever stand out for better or worse, but Gillan earned the mention for the biggest loser in this matchup with his inexcusable mistakes.

To start the game, the Scot kicked the ball out of bounds to set up the Bears at their 40-yard line. Before halftime, the seventh-year veteran's kick didn't reach the landing zone, which drew a penalty.

The Bears didn't score off those mistakes, but they capitalized on Gillan's shanked 26-yard punt in the fourth quarter that allowed them to cut the Giants' lead to four points before their game-winning drive.

Don't be surprised if the Giants cut Gillan after his abysmal outing in Chicago.

Score: Ravens 27, Vikings 19

Ravens Takeaway: Look Out AFC, Here Come the Ravens

The first half of the 2025 season was an injury-marred nightmare for the Baltimore Ravens. They lost key contributors on both sides of the ball, including star quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Most of those players are healthy again now, though—and it shows.

After getting past the Vikings in Minnesota Sunday, the Ravens have peeled off three wins in a row to get within a game of .500. It wasn't a flawless performance by any stretch, but they did enough on both sides of the ball to earn the win.

Baltimore's next three games (at Cleveland, New York Jets, Cincinnati) all appear to be winnable contests. There's a real chance that when the Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14, they will be 7-5.

And the AFC North will be a whole new ballgame.

Winner: Baltimore Ravens Pass Defense

The Baltimore pass defense has struggled for much of 2025. The unit headed to Minnesota allowing the fifth-most passing yards per game in the league.

The Ravens were outgained by the Vikings Sunday, allowing 245 yards through the air. But the Baltimore defense made plays when it needed to, picking off Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy twice. Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins also paced the team in total tackles with seven.

Vikings Takeaway: Vikings Need More Balance on Offense

At 4-5, the Vikings are running out of margin for error if they want to make it back to the postseason in 2025.

And if Minnesota is going to turn things around and start stacking some wins after three defeats in four games, it has to have more balance offensively.

The Vikings averaged a robust 6.7 yards on the ground against the Ravens, but the team ran the ball just 18 times total, while McCarthy attempted 42 passes.

Minnesota isn't going to win with any consistency by relying on an uneven young quarterback to carry the offense.

Loser: Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson

Given McCarthy attempted 42 passes Sunday, one would think his superstar wideout had himself a day.

One would be wrong, though.

Jefferson did lead the Vikings with 12 targets in the loss, but while Jalen Nailor caught five passes for 124 yards and a score, the four-time Pro Bowler was held to just four receptions for 37 yards.

Score: Patriots 28, Buccaneers 23

Patriots Takeaway: New England Has More Than Drake Maye

For all of the discussion regarding Maye's maturation into a top-tier quarterback and a potential MVP candidate, the Patriots now own a 8-2 record because they have a good all-around team. The situation is not a one-man show. 

The Patriots entered Sunday's contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers featuring a top-eight defense. The group is stout up front, as evidenced by six tackles for loss. The Bucs may have multiple injuries at wide receiver, but plenty of talent still exists among the position group.

However, New England still made life difficult on Tampa quarterback Baker Mayfield. 

In the trenches offensively, Mike Vrabel's front five kept Maye mostly clean against one of the league's most aggressive defenses. The ground game also blossomed by averaging 157 rushing yards per contest over New England's last four outings.

Winner: RB TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

Breakout game achieved. The Patriots' second-round rookie exploded for 147 yards and two touchdowns. 

Henderson brings a big-play element to New England's offense that completely changes the math for opposing defenses. The 23-year-old ball-carrier produced touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards, including the victory-sealing score with less than two minutes remaining. 

The Patriots' burgeoning run game takes pressure off of Maye. The quarterback doesn't need to be perfect every week. Instead, he can hand it to Henderson, with a good possibility that it becomes a chunk play.  

Buccaneers Takeaway: Tampa Bay Fortunate to Play in NFC South

The Buccaneers have lost two of their last three games. Obviously, injuries have played a factor, but a team can't make excuses if it wants to win a division title. 

Even with Sunday's loss, Tampa Bay still holds a 1.5 advantage over the Carolina Panthers, who also lost. Carolina had a prime opportunity to close the gap yet fell to the New Orleans Saints, who entered the meeting with one win. 

The Atlanta Falcons also fell short against the Indianapolis Colts in overtime. Thus, Tampa is the only team in the NFC South with a winning record. 

The Bucs' division lead is tenuous, though. Mayfield and Co. face the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Rams over the next two weeks before reentering divisional play. 

Loser: Head Coach Todd Bowles

Bowles isn't just the Buccaneers' head coach; he's also the team's defensive play-caller. Tampa surrendered three touchdowns of 55 yards or longer and gave up another pass of 54 yards. 

An aggressive approach is all well and good until the opponent can handle the pressure, as the Patriots did. If Bowles wants to live by the sword, then there will be days when his defense gets gashed. 

"It starts with me," he told reporters after the contest. 

Score: Dolphins 30, Bills 13

Dolphins Takeaway: Head Coach Mike McDaniel Hasn't Lost the Locker Room

After a blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9, Miami relieved Chris Grier from his general manager duties, but according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, McDaniel will remain the head coach for the remainder of the season.

Though former players saw quit in the Dolphins' performance last week, the team hasn't given up on this regime or the season. Miami led for its entire Week 10 matchup with Buffalo and knocked off a Super Bowl-caliber squad trying to catch the New England Patriots for the division lead.

Winner: S Minkah Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins 

Fitzpatrick led a spirited performance by the Dolphins defense. He logged five tackles, a pass breakup, an interception and made a key stop on the Bills' two-point conversion attempt.

The 28-year-old drew trade buzz before the deadline, but Miami may want to keep him around to lead its scrappy defense.

Bills Takeaway: Mounting Injuries Are a Concern

Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid left Sunday's game with a hamstring injury. They lost rookie defensive end Landon Jackson (knee) for the contest as well.

Though Jackson has only appeared in three games, the Bills need him with only a few edge-defenders healthy. To fill the void, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones moved to the outside. 

Buffalo's passing attack and pass rush could struggle without a key pass-catcher and a lack of depth on the edge.

Loser: QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Until Sunday, the Bills hadn't turned the ball over since coming off their Week 7 bye. They gave it away to the Dolphins three times. Allen committed two crucial turnovers.

In their opening possession of the second half, the Bills marched down the field deep into Dolphins' territory, but Allen threw an interception in the end zone. In the fourth quarter, he fumbled on Miami's side of the field. His mistakes thwarted Buffalo's second-half momentum.

Score: Saints 17, Panthers 7

Saints Takeaway: Tyler Shough Offers Glimpse of Hope Under Center

There hasn't been much for New Orleans Saints fans to cheer about in 2025. And despite Sunday's win, the team will likely still be in the market for a quarterback in the 2026 draft.

For the first time this season, though, rookie Tyler Shough offered a flicker of hope that there might just be something there with the 26-year-old.

Granted, his performance came against a mediocre Panthers defense, but Shough still had far and away the best game of his young career, with 19 completions in 27 attempts for 282 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Winner: New Orleans Saints Wide Receiver Chris Olave

Olave was the subject of more than a little trade speculation at the deadline, but the Saints were wise to hang on to the Ohio State product. He scorched the Panthers for 104 yards and a touchdown on five grabs.

Panthers Takeaway: Bryce Young Isn't The Guy in Carolina

At 5-4 entering Week 10, the Panthers were one of the NFL's more surprising teams this year.

However, after watching their offense sputter most of the afternoon in a loss to the hapless Saints, something has become evident: The Panthers were winning in spite of Bryce Young, not because of him. He isn't the long-term answer under center in Carolina.

The 2023 first overall pick completed 68 percent of his passes Sunday, but for a paltry 125 yards with an interception. It was the fifth time in 10 games that he has failed to eclipse 150 passing yards.

Loser: Carolina Panthers RB Rico Dowdle

Young wasn't the only Panther who struggled Sunday. After all but carrying the Carolina offense in recent weeks, running back Rico Dowdle was shut down by the Saints, gaining 53 yards on the ground on 18 carries.

Score: Colts 31, Falcons 25 (in overtime)

Colts Takeaway: Indianapolis Overcomes Adversity

Good teams overcome. The Indianapolis Colts didn't last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but Shane Steichen's crew found a way against the Atlanta Falcons.

Everyone has now seen that things don't need to be perfect for the Colts to emerge victorious. They're talented enough to not play well and still win. The group kept fighting against the Falcons despite multiple miscues that could have tanked the team's effort. Instead, Indianapolis responded.

The Colts are now 8-2 despite a poor showing on third down (two of 12), seven penalties—including a pair of excellent kick returns called back—two turnovers (four total fumbles), seven sacks surrendered and missed tackles in the backfield.

Indianapolis is a squad capable of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

Winner: RB Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

When in doubt, hand the ball to the NFL's best running back, Jonathan Taylor. The Colts did exactly that when it mattered most against the Falcons.

His 83-yard touchdown gallop will be the lasting memory from the first NFL game played in Germany. he carried the ball 32 times for a staggering 244 rushing yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning score in overtime.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the two-time Pro Bowler forced 11 missed tackles during the contest and gained an unbelievable 228 yards after contact.

The NFL's MVP award may have become quarterback-centric, but Taylor should be the leading candidate to claim the hardware through 10 weeks of play.

Falcons Takeaway: Michael Penix Jr. Is Far Too Inconsistent

The Falcons had every opportunity to put the game away Sunday, but they didn't. Penix is a significant reason why.

To be fair, not every mistake falls on the quarterback. Wide receivers dropped a few passes, the offensive line struggled to pick up stunts, and the Atlanta defense couldn't slow Taylor when it mattered the most.

At the same time, Penix's inconsistency as a passer is maddening. He'll throw a beautiful on-target pass, as he did with a touchdown connection to Drake London. Then, he'll outright miss throws because of poor mechanics and erratic touch. He also doesn't do much when flushed out of the pocket and asked to create outside of structure.

These issues were present during his collegiate days. Unfortunately, they haven't been improved upon, and the Falcons are wasting high-end skill position performers as a result.

Loser: RB Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

While the Colts leaned on an elite running back to help them win the game, the Falcons refrained from doing so with Bijan Robinson, who resides in the same stratosphere as a playmaker.

Robinson had nine total touches in the second half. Most of those came on first down. When the Falcons needed a touchdown to take a fourth-quarter lead, the coaching staff leaned on fellow running back Tyler Allgeier.

Robinson is one of the league's best. He's not treated like it, though, and he had the opportunity to see firsthand how another (winning) team properly leans on an elite back.

Score: Broncos 10, Raiders 7

Broncos Takeaway: Another Slow Start Doesn't Derail Winning Streak

The Denver Broncos are creating a pattern with each performance. The offense starts slowly and doesn't play well until relatively late into the contest. Meanwhile, their standout defense makes sure the opponent doesn't muster much, either.

For example, the Broncos produced six yards in the first quarter Thursday against the rival Las Vegas Raiders. The offensive performance didn't improve drastically as the game progressed, either.

In total, Denver managed 220 yards and averaged 3.9 yards per play. Quarterback Bo Nix averaged nearly 215 passing yards entering this game, but he's completed less than 60 percent of his passes in three of the last four contests.

On the other hand, the Broncos defense surrendered only 188 yards, while creating six sacks and 11 quarterback hits.

Winner: LB Nik Bonitto, Denver Broncos

Bonitto reentered the NFL Defensive Player of the Year conversation with Thursday's outing. Granted, he has been consistently disruptive for the entire season despite going three straight games without a sack. But he was a game-wrecker against the Raiders.

The 26-year-old registered 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hits. More importantly, his explosiveness off the edge made him a constant presence in Las Vegas' backfield. The Raiders' offensive tackles simply couldn't handle his speed rush.

The entire Denver defensive front attacks, with the ability to get home. However, Bonitto is the first name every opponent must circle and try to slow as part of their gameplan.

Raiders Takeaway: Change May be Necessary

The Raiders hired the oldest head coach in NFL history and brought in a veteran quarterback with the thought of winning this season. The plan hasn't worked.

They're now 2-7. It's possible this squad may not have another two wins in it to match last season's record, especially with the Dallas Cowboys, the Cleveland Browns defense, Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos (again) and Philadelphia Eagles as its next five opponents.

With Geno Smith dinged up and hobbling off the field, Pete Carroll should see an opportunity to make a switch at quarterback.

The Raiders can get a look at Kenny Pickett. If he shows promise, the organization can move forward. If he fails to improve anything, Vegas will be in a much better position to finally draft a quarterback during next year's first round.

Loser: QB Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders

Smith hasn't played well this year, but the Raiders have provided the veteran with little to no help. Everywhere a person looked the team failed its quarterback.

The offensive line is in tatters, with three backups in the lineup by the end of Thursday's contest. Unsurprisingly, the Broncos defensive front served as a tsunami crashing over the 35-year-old signal-caller.

The Raiders also traded away their WR1 two days earlier. Tyler Lockett managed five receptions for 44 yards. Otherwise, the rest of their wide receivers caught three passes for 32 yards.

Smith doesn't have a chance based on how the offense is currently constructed.