Dolphins at top of the class; Raiders fail
Week 10 featured the NFL’s first regular-season game in Germany, an overtime thriller in Buffalo, Mike McCarthy’s return to Lambeau Field, Jeff Saturday’s head coaching debut and concluded with the Commanders putting a blemish on the Eagles’ record.
There were eight one-score games and three contests decided by three points or less. Seventeen teams have at least five wins and the Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans are the only teams with fewer than three wins.
How much of an influence did coaches have on the outcomes in Week 10? USA TODAY Sports examined the performances of NFL coaches. Here are their grades for Week 10:
Dolphins staff: A
Mike McDaniel and the Dolphins coaching staff has the team surprisingly on top of the AFC East through 10 weeks. McDaniel’s offensive scheme has Tua Tagovailoa playing the best football of his pro career.
Tagovailoa passed for 285 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, resulting in a 135 passer rating in Miami’s 39-17 win over Cleveland.
Opposing teams are having a difficult time covering Miami’s speedy playmakers and Tagovailoa is confidently delivering with accurate passes. These three passes were some of the best throws of the week.
⬤ Tagovailoa’s 14-yard touchdown pass to WR Trent Sherfield was on a rope.
⬤ The dime to WR Jaylen Waddle on an out route.
⬤ Tagovailoa goes through his progressions and hits Waddle in stride.
In the win, Tagovailoa became the second player in NFL history with at least 275 passing yards, three touchdown passes and a passer rating of 135 or higher in three consecutive games, per NFL research.
A lot of credit needs to be given to the Dolphins for designing a scheme that gives Tagovailoa and the offense an opportunity to thrive.
Giants staff: B
The Giants’ game plan was to exploit Houston’s league-worst run defense. Saquon Barkley had a season-high 35 carries and the running back delivered in a major way. Barkley gashed the Texans for 152 rushing yards.
Most of Barkley’s rushing yards came on outside runs.
The Giants ran the football 47 times for 191 yards and a touchdown in the 2416 win. Their dominant rushing performances allowed them to possess the football for over 33 minutes.
Bears staff: C
The Bears coaching staff earned a C grade for the second consecutive week because the team put up a valiant effort in a loss.
Chicago produced 258 rushing yards in the 31-30 loss to the Detroit Lions. The Bears became the first team in NFL history to rush for at least 225 yards in five consecutive games. However, Chicago’s 1-4 in those games. The Bears, who are in the midst of a rebuild, haven’t been able to win games in large part because their defense has given up over 30 points in the past three contests and they’ve had a lack of execution late in games, which typically happens to young teams.
The Bears have the top rushing offense in the NFL. They have 2,017 rushing yards this season and are just the second team with at least 2,000 rushing yards in their first 10 games of a season since 1980, joining the 2019 Baltimore Ravens, per NFL research.
In Sunday’s loss, Chicago’s offensive line and tight ends created a wide-open hole on a read option. Fields found the open spaced and used his speed and vision to knife through the open area for a 67-yard touchdown.
Rams staff: D
Playing without quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Rams were booed at halftime after they were held to a meager 77 total yards in the first half, the fewest under coach Sean McVay, per the Fox broadcast.
The Rams finished 3-for-11 on third down in the 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. They were held to 190 passing yards and 66 rushing yards.
The Rams have yet to find a consistent threat on offense outside of wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Other receivers have a difficult time separating from coverage.
Furthermore, the Rams have the worst rushing attack in the NFL. McVay hasn’t been able to generate a balanced offense with his personnel or play calls.
Raiders staff: F
Week 10 showed that somehow the Raiders are more dysfunctional and unorganized than an Indianapolis Colts team with a novice head coach and firsttime offensive coordinator.
Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams and quarterback Derek Carr were some of the many frustrated players after the team’s 25-20 loss to the Colts.
“I love Josh (McDaniels), I love our coaches. They’ve had nothing but success, way more success than I’ve ever had. I’m sorry for being emotional. I’m just pissed off by some of the things that a lot of us try and do, just to practice, what we put our bodies through just to sleep at night. For that to be the result of all that effort pisses me off,” Carr said postgame. “It’s hard knowing what some guys are doing. Like I said, just to practice, what they’re putting in their body just to sleep at night, just so we can be there for each other. I wish everybody in that room felt the same way about this place. As a leader that pisses me off, if I’m being honest.”
The Raiders were booed by their home fans after Sunday’s loss. Las Vegas has lost three straight games. They are struggling in all three phases.