Breaking down all NFL Week 10 games in 1,000 words
We’ve made it to Week 10 of the 2020 NFL season, where there are key divisional battles and playoff races heating up all over the league.
Best mismatch for Colts: Take away the best weapon. Derrick Henry faces the Colts’ run defense, which is best in football with 3.3 yards per carry allowed.
Best mismatch for Titans: Win in the red zone. Tennessee scores a touchdown on 80 percent of drives inside the 20-yard line, second-best in football. Indy ranks 19th (66.7%) defensively there.
Stat to know: Tennessee is worst in the NFL giving up third down conversions (55.4%) while Indianapolis is 28th (38.0%) in the metric. Who wins that battle?
Best mismatch for Texans: Make a play. Houston checks in second with 12.8 yards per completion. If the Texans are to win, they need big plays from Deshaun Watson in the passing game.
Best mismatch for Browns: Avoid errors. Baker Mayfield has been prone to interceptions in his career, but Houston ranks last in picks (2) and interception rate (0.7%).
Stat to know: Cleveland ranks fourth in yards per carry (5.0) and now gets Nick Chubb back after more than a month of inaction.
Best mismatch for Jaguars: Give Jake Luton a shot. The Packers rank T-29th in pressure rate (18.1%) and 29th in QB knockdown percentage (5.6%).
Best mismatch for Packers: Ball security. Green Bay has fumbled a league-low three times while Aaron Rodgers has two interceptions. Without huge mistakes, the Packers win.
Stat to know: Look for a ton of completions. Green Bay and Jacksonville rank 31st and 30th respectively in completion percentage against (70.3 and 70.1%).
Best mismatch for Eagles: Force the issue. Philadelphia ranks sixth in pressure rate (25.4%). This is a problem for Daniel Jones, who has 13 turnovers on the season. Only Carson Wentz (14) has more.
Best mismatch for Giants: Create negative plays. The Eagles are racked with injuries to their line. New York checks in T-8th in sacks (22) and 12th in tackles for loss (40).
Stat to know: The Eagles score points on 30.2 percent of their drives, only better than the New York Jets.
Best mismatch for Buccaneers: Force long downs. Tampa Bay is tops against the run (3.3 YPA) and ranks second in sacks (29). Get the Panthers in long down and distances.
Best mismatch for Panthers: Control the ball. Carolina is second in yards per drive (39.6) and first in time per dive (3:20). The Panthers can shorten the game.
Stat to know: Carolina has missed 77 tackles. Only the Jets have missed more.
Best mismatch for Football Team: Hold it right there. Washington has allowed only 745 yards after the catch, second-best in the NFL. The Lions may struggle to get chunks, especially with Kenny Golladay banged up.
Best mismatch for Lions: Get off the field. Washington ranks 29th in yards per play (4.9) and is 27th on third down (38.1%). The Lions have to give Matthew Stafford a litany of chances to make plays.
Stat to know: Washington ranks second in sack percentage (10.5%) while Detroit is 21st in the metric offensively (6.7%).
Best mismatch for Bills: Throw it, Josh. Buffalo is fourth in yards per attempt (8.2) and sixth in yards per completion (11.9). Josh Allen needs to wing it around.
Best mismatch for Cardinals: Make them kick. Buffalo is average in the red zone (61.5%), ranking 16th. Arizona’s defense is third-best at 50.0 percent. In a high-scoring game, that could be the difference.
Stat to know: Buffalo ranks third on third-down conversion rate (50.5%).
Best mismatch for Broncos: Take some time. The Raiders rank 31st in blitz percentage (17.8%) and are only 19th in pressure rate (21.0%). Drew Lock will have a chance to find his weapons.
Best mismatch for Raiders: Don’t try it. Denver has a team completion rate of 57.6, worst in the NFL. Las Vegas’ defense ranks 10th in completion percentage against at 63.7.
Stat to know: Denver averages 2:23 per offensive drive, worst in the NFL.
Best mismatch for Chargers: Run the rock. Miami ranks 29th in YPC against (4.9), allowing the Chargers to get Justin Herbert in a great spot for play-action attempts.
Best mismatch for Dolphins: Take some shots, Tua. The Chargers are last in blitz percentage (13.6%) but still 27th in air yards allowed (1,402). Miami should dial up deep balls.
Stat to know: Miami has the worst rushing attack in football, averaging 3.6 yards per carry.
Best mismatch for Bengals: Win the passing game. Pittsburgh ranks 31st in yards per completion both offensively (9.8) and defensively (12.7). Joe Burrow needs to find receivers quickly and the defense must make tackles on short routes.
Best mismatch for Steelers: Get to Joe. The Steelers rank first in QB hits (83), sacks (32), hurry rate (16.1%) and pressure rate (36.1%). In related news, Cincinnati’s line is atrocious.
Stat to know: Cincinnati ranks 32nd in run defense, allowing 5.2 yards per carry.
Best mismatch for 49ers: Hit Drew Brees. San Francisco ranks eighth in pressure rate (24.6%) and second in hurry rate (13.2%). Getting to Brees is essential for the Niners.
Best mismatch for Saints: Tough to run. New Orleans has given up the fewest rushing yards (642) and ranks third in YPC (3.5) against. Making Nick Mullens throw is a recipe for success.
Stat to know: New Orleans completes an NFL-best 74.2 percent of its pass attempts.
Best mismatch for Seahawks: Break a big one. Los Angeles allows 19.0 yards per punt return, by far the most in football. Seattle ranks sixth in yards/punt return at 11.9 yards.
Best mismatch for Rams: Throw at will. Seattle has allowed an NFL-worst 1,892 air yards. Jared Goff should be looking for big plays throughout.
Stat to know: A classic matchup. Los Angeles is allowing a league-low 4.7 yards per play. Seattle’s offense is second with 6.5 YPP.
Best mismatch for Ravens: No chance by air. New England has a league-worst touchdown pass percentage of 1.3 percent. Baltimore’s defense is tied for best in the metric at 3.2 percent.
Best mismatch for Patriots: Get to Lamar Jackson. Baltimore is 30th in sack rate against (8.9%) and is without All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley. Look for Bill Belichick to bring creative blitzes.
Stat to know: New England has been penalized just 26 times, fewest in the league.
Best mismatch for Vikings: Make them throw. Chicago has the second-worst rushing game (3.7 YPA) and has been penalized 65 times, a league high. Minnesota must force long down and distances.
Best mismatch for Bears: Money downs. The Bears are best in football stopping third downs (31.0%). Minnesota struggles to convert, ranking 25th (39.2%).
Stat to know: Minnesota averages 6.6 yards per play, best in the NFL.