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The second half of the 2025 NFL season kicks off this week and here are three big games and storylines I will be monitoring closely in Week 10.
The first regular season game to be played in Berlin, Germany, will take place on Sunday afternoon as the Indianapolis Colts take on the Atlanta Falcons. First and foremost, I want to see how the Colts respond to their six-turnover day in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Can Daniel Jones get back on track at quarterback? Will Jonathan Taylor get going again as the Colts look to get physical with Atlanta and control the game on the ground? The Falcons also have a high-end running back in Bijan Robinson, but their approach has been a little different in recent weeks.
Drake London has emerged at wide receiver and Michael Penix has targeted him often. Balancing the passing attack and a Bijan-laden approach would be the best chance for Atlanta to end a three-game losing streak. The Falcons are something of a mystery. They’ve had some good wins against Minnesota and Buffalo but also been blown out by Carolina and Miami. I fancy the Colts to get back up to speed on Sunday.
Heading into Week 10, the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the number two seeds in their respective conferences – I’m not sure too many people would have predicted that at the start of the campaign.
Mike Vrabel has been everything the Patriots hoped he would be at head coach, but a leader on the sidelines can only do so much. He needs a quarterback and New England boast one of the league’s best in Drake Maye, who has blossomed into a star in his second season. His growth has put the Patriots into the playoff mix way sooner than anyone could have expected.
The Buccaneers are 6-2 and while he may have cooled off slightly, let’s not forget that quarterback Baker Mayfield was also in the NFL MVP conversation for much of the early part of the year. He gets some injured players back this week and I think it makes a difference with a home win for Tampa.
The Rams have not lost a game since they fell 26-23 at home to the San Francisco 49ers on October 2. And that was one of the more heartbreaking losses in recent team history, according to head coach Sean McVay; with Kyren Williams fumbling near the goal line.
But the Rams have taken on the look of a complete team and Matthew Stafford is playing at an elite level with nine touchdown passes and no interceptions in his last two games. His receivers – Puka Nacua and Davante Adams – are also playing very well and there is also the defense that can step forward when required.
The Niners will be hoping Brock Purdy can return after missing seven games with a toe injury, but it won’t alter their game plan if Mac Jones remains in the lineup at quarterback. The aim will be to get the ball into the hands of Christian McCaffrey as early and often as possible. CMC leads the NFL with 136 scrimmage yards per game, but I don’t think he alone can beat the in-form Rams, who I believe will keep rolling.
