Every week during the NFL season, we provide an in-depth analysis of the highs, lows, and everything in between from the latest round of professional football. This week, we witnessed standout performances from Drake Maye and Bo Nix, who pulled off significant upsets against the league's last two undefeated teams. Additionally, Baker Mayfield outperformed Sam Darnold, while Geno Smith struggled further in a tough season. The New York Jets continued to make the same errors, and much more transpired. Welcome to our Winners and Losers breakdown.
Drake Maye is emerging as a star quarterback. Signs of his breakout were evident in New England’s first four games, but Sunday night served as a national showcase for the talented 23-year-old quarterback. He led his team to a 23-20 victory over the previously undefeated Buffalo Bills. Maye's statistics were respectable, averaging 9.1 yards per attempt and 0.06 EPA per dropback against Buffalo, but they don’t fully capture his exceptional performance in the game's crucial moments.
After taking what appeared to be a dirty hit from Buffalo’s Terrel Bernard, who was flagged for unnecessary roughness, Maye's game shifted into high gear just before halftime. In the second half, he averaged over 10 yards per dropback and achieved an impressive 86% completion rate. While it's uncertain if this surge was coincidental or a testament to his competitive spirit, it was a remarkable response during a high-stakes game against the division favorite.
Also shining in this matchup was Stefon Diggs, who wreaked havoc on the Bills' secondary in his first game back at Highmark Stadium since being traded in the 2024 offseason. Diggs caught 10 of his 12 targets for 146 yards, showcasing his ability to make pivotal plays, even though he didn’t score a touchdown. Maye set up the game-winning kick with a perfectly placed pass to Diggs, who made several key receptions reminiscent of his previous connection with Josh Allen.
Despite the loss, the Bills had a better EPA average on both runs and dropbacks and controlled the time of possession by nine minutes. However, they struggled with turnovers, losing the turnover battle 3-1, with Allen throwing his second interception of the season and the team fumbling twice. New England's defense managed to contain Buffalo’s usually potent run game, but the Bills had opportunities to win. Ultimately, the game hinged on a few critical moments, and Maye and Diggs capitalized on them effectively.
Sean Payton secured his signature victory as the head coach of the Denver Broncos, showcasing one of the best coaching performances of the season against the Philadelphia Eagles. Payton's strategy focused on controlling the clock and the ball, leading to a successful ground game that amassed 127 rushing yards on 27 designed runs, with a 42.9% success rate. This approach helped mitigate the Eagles’ formidable pass rush and set up Bo Nix for success in the air.
Although Nix struggled initially, he found his rhythm and guided two touchdown drives to erase the Eagles’ lead in the second half. His most impressive moment came when he connected with Courtland Sutton for a crucial third-and-15 conversion during the game-winning drive. Payton's decision to go for a two-point conversion, which Nix executed with a sprint-out pass against the Eagles' man coverage, ultimately gave the Broncos their first lead.
While Payton's offense gained much of the spotlight, the defense also played a significant role in this victory. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph made crucial adjustments after a shaky start, switching from man coverage to two-high zone coverages, effectively neutralizing the Eagles' deep passing game. As a result, the Eagles were held scoreless after their early touchdown, allowing Payton and Nix to secure a hard-fought win on the road.
The matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks delivered an instant classic, culminating in an exhilarating 38-35 victory for the Buccaneers. Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold put on a show, combining for a staggering 720 passing yards and six touchdowns while boasting an impressive 85.1% completion rate.
Both quarterbacks thrived, averaging over 10 yards per dropback and making several high-quality throws under pressure. Darnold's ability to escape a sack and find Tory Horton for a touchdown was pivotal, but Mayfield's scramble-drill touchdown pass to Sterling Shepard proved decisive in the high-scoring affair. While both quarterbacks had standout performances, Mayfield’s composure and decision-making helped him edge out Darnold in this thrilling contest.
Despite Darnold's impressive display, the Seahawks faced setbacks from early-game mistakes, including penalties and a missed field goal, that set them back significantly. Ultimately, the Buccaneers’ ability to capitalize on opportunities ensured their victory, leaving Seattle to reflect on missed chances in a game that slipped away.
In the 37-22 loss to the Cowboys, the Jets struggled to contain Dallas's offense, allowing over 31 points per game. Quarterback Dak Prescott threw four touchdowns, exploiting the Jets' defensive flaws. With fumbles continually plaguing the Jets, including a critical turnover by Breece Hall, the team’s chances of victory were severely hampered.
Glenn's comments about patience come at a time when fans are growing weary of the team's ongoing issues. History shows that rebuilding efforts can take time, as seen with other teams, but the Jets need to demonstrate improvement soon to avoid further discontent among their fan base.
Another difficult week for Geno Smith, who suffered a rough outing in a 40-6 defeat against the Indianapolis Colts. This marked Smith’s third poor performance in four weeks, raising questions about his viability as a starting quarterback. Needing 36 attempts to reach 228 passing yards, Smith threw two interceptions, further deepening the struggles of his season.
Despite entering the week as the league leader in interceptions, Smith's accuracy has significantly declined, ranking 23rd in completion rate over expected. His inability to make crucial plays has left the Seattle Seahawks in a precarious position, particularly as they try to rally from early game deficits.
While Smith's struggles are not the sole reason for Seattle's challenges, his performance has become emblematic of the team’s larger issues. The Seahawks need to assess their quarterback situation carefully as they seek solutions to turn their season around.
In a promising turn of events, Spencer Rattler secured his first NFL victory as the quarterback for the New Orleans Saints in a 26-14 win over the New York Giants. Rattler completed 31 passes for 225 yards without throwing an interception or taking a sack, showcasing his growth and potential as a starting quarterback.
Rattler has shown significant improvement throughout the season, defying earlier perceptions of his decision-making abilities. He has only thrown one interception in 11 starts and demonstrated a calm presence in the pocket. His deep connection with Rashid Shaheed for an 87-yard touchdown kick-started the comeback against the Giants, marking a pivotal moment in the game.
With this victory, Rattler became the first quarterback drafted by the Saints to win a game since 1998, raising the possibility of a more prominent role in the team's future. If he continues to perform at this level, Rattler could solidify his place as the starting quarterback.
After a promising start to the season, Justin Herbert's MVP campaign has taken a downturn, with the Los Angeles Chargers losing two consecutive games, including a 27-10 defeat to the Washington Commanders. Over his past three games, Herbert has thrown four interceptions and suffered 11 sacks, raising concerns about his ability to lead the offense effectively.
The Chargers' offensive line has struggled significantly since Joe Alt's injury, contributing to Herbert's increasing pressure, with over 47% of his dropbacks resulting in pressure. Although some of Herbert's interceptions have been unfortunate, including one that was tipped at the line of scrimmage, the mounting challenges have put a damper on his earlier success.
With hope on the horizon, Alt's anticipated return could ease some of the pressure on Herbert and improve the Chargers' offensive performance. The team must find a way to stabilize their line to give Herbert a fighting chance to regain his form.
In a remarkable turnaround, Cam Ward led the Tennessee Titans to a thrilling 22-21 comeback victory against the Arizona Cardinals, showcasing his growth as a rookie quarterback. Following a humiliating 26-0 loss to the Houston Texans, Ward's performance marked a significant improvement.
Despite the Cardinals initially holding a 21-6 lead, Ward capitalized on critical turnovers by Arizona, leading a seven-play touchdown drive that sparked the Titans' comeback. His ability to stay focused and execute under pressure was evident as he made crucial throws down the stretch, ultimately guiding Tennessee to victory.
Ward's performance not only earns him praise but also signals a potential shift in the Titans' trajectory. If he can maintain this level of play, the team may have found a promising leader for the future.
