Ten-seventeenths of the way through the 2020 NFL season and it’s getting interesting. The Steelers are a good football team. The Jets are a bad football team. What else do we know?
There is a 3-way tie atop the NFC West – the strongest division in football. Two weeks ago, Russell Wilson was the undisputed MVP. Now he’s not even the best quarterback in his division.
Tua is fun … and young. Herbert is fun … and young. Kyler is fun … and young. Philip Rivers is old. Tom Brady is old. Aaron Rodgers is old … but still fast.
A lot went on in Week 10. We got a “By the Numbers” section for ya as well as some Scoregami insight. We conclude the weekly wrap up with some 2020 NFL postseason analysis. Week 10 was a fun one. Let’s get into it!
Week 10 by the Numbers
5
The number of consecutive games in which Cardinals’ quarterback Kyler Murray has recorded both a rushing and passing touchdown.
The second-year man out of Oklahoma becomes the first player in NFL history to accomplish this feat.
#KylerTheCreator through 9 Games
– 10 Rush TD, QB single season record is 14 (Cam – 2011)
– 604 rush yards, QB single season record is 1,206 (Lamar – 2019) #KylerMurray needs to average 86 rush yards over last 7 to break the rush yard record. We are watching history. #RedSea pic.twitter.com/Xbr4TJp0NQ— #Everyardmatters (@everyardmatters) November 16, 2020
3
The number of fumbles by Ravens’ center Matt Skura in Baltimore’s Week 10 loss at New England. Due to awful weather conditions and a hand injury, Skura launched 3 wayward snaps that even the great Lamar Jackson could not corral.
Skura definitely wants a couple of those back as his Ravens lost by one score, 23-17.
17
The number of points scored in the Browns 10-7 victory over Houston in Week 10.
This was the fewest number of points scored in an NFL game since San Francisco outdueled Washington in a rainstorm 9-0 in Week 7 of 2019.
Week 10 Scoregami
The Scoregami concept was created by Jon Bois. It is the art of creating weird NFL final scores. Because points are mainly scored in chunks of 3 and 7, most NFL scores tend to be things like 20-17, 27-14, 31-28 … classic football scores.
Oddities like missed extra points, two-point conversions, and numerous field goals can create unusual scores. Scores like 39-12 or 18-8 have never happened in the NFL. This is Scoregami.
There were a few instances of rare scores this past weekend, including a brand new score that has never before occurred in an NFL game.
Arizona beats Buffalo 32-30
This was just the third game in NFL history which ended with a 32-30 score. Each of the previous two involved the Eagles winning – beating the Browns in 1991 and the Texans in 2018.
Sunday’s Week 10 interconference battle between the Bills and Cardinals went to the 4th quarter with Arizona leading 26-23. The Cardinals had scored 2 touchdowns (with 2 XPs) and kicked 4 field goals to get to 26. At that point, Cards’ kicker Zane Gonzalez accounted for 14 of Arizona’s 26 points.
A Bills touchdown with 34 seconds left appeared to be the game-winner as it put Buffalo up 30-26. After a touchback on the kickoff, Kyler Murray and the Cards had two timeouts and 34 seconds to drive 75 yards and put the ball in the endzone.
With time running out, Murray threw a 50-yard Hail Mary and miraculously found top-wideout DeAndre Hopkins in the endzone. Touchdown Cardinals – 2 seconds left.
Had Arizona elected to kick an extra point and take a 33-30 lead – this game would become the 24th in history to finish 33-30 … not that special. Instead, the Cardinals protected their lead by kneeling down on the conversion attempt – sealing the odd 32-30 victory.
Las Vegas beats Denver 37-12
This was just the second game in NFL history to finish 37-12. The first was Seattle beating Arizona in 2005.
On Sunday, the Broncos managed just two field goals through 3 and a half quarters of play – trailing Las Vegas 30-6 midway through the fourth. A Denver TD gave the Broncos an opportunity to try for 2. They couldn’t convert.
The score remained 30-12 until a late Vegas TD made it 37-12.
Had Denver converted the two-point try, the final would have been 37-14. This score has occurred 33 times in history. Had Denver kicked the extra point, the final would have been 37-13. This score has occurred 22 times in history. By missing the try, the final became a rare 37-12.
Tampa Bay beats Carolina 46-23
This was Scoregami!! For the first time in NFL history, a game ended 46-23 when the Bucs doubled up the Panthers in Week 10.
It is quite rare for an NFL team to score 46 points. On Sunday, the Bucs became just the 20th team in history to finish a game with 46 points. We have seen two 46-21 games and one 46-27 game, but never 46 to something in between … until Sunday.
2020-21 NFL Playoff Bracket if Season Ended Today
Let’s talk about potential Wild Card round matchups.
Colts-Raiders
The 4-5 game in the AFC features the weakest division winner (Indy) hosting the first Wild Card (Vegas). The Raiders have won 2 of the last 3 meetings dating back to 2016. Each of the 3 games went over the Vegas total. Las Vegas hosts Indianapolis in Week 14 of this season.
This @fhmoreau block to seal the lane for @IAM_JoshJacobs is 👨🏻🍳😘👌#KCvsLV | NBC | 11.22 pic.twitter.com/1md9jNwa4g
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) November 18, 2020
Eagles-Buccaneers
The 4-5 game in the NFC is a sham. The Eagles will host with a terrible record (possibly 6-9-1) while the Bucs get screwed and must travel to a cold-weather location despite playing a great season and losing only to the Saints.
The Bucs have trounced Philly in both of their previous 2 meetings, with each game going over the Vegas total. These teams do not meet in the 2020 regular season.
Bills-Dolphins
What a thrilling 3-6 matchup this could be in the AFC. Josh Allen is looking to will Bills Mafia into the second round – territory a Buffalonian has not entered since 1995.
The Dolphins are 3-0 since switching from FitzMagic to Tua. No one knows the capabilities of this team with the Hawaiian at the helm … but they’re probably sky high.
The Bills have won 4 straight games in this rivalry, including a 2020 Week 2 31-28 squeaker in Miami.
6-3 for the first time since 2001, but we’re nowhere near being done.https://t.co/wJRSeOYpjw
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) November 16, 2020
Cardinals-Rams
Another divisional rivalry in the NFC’s 3-6 game. The Rams have dominated Arizona as of late, winning 6 straight games both SU and ATS.
These rivals get their 2 games in very late this season – playing in the desert in Week 13 and then closing out the season in LA in Week 17.
Chiefs-Ravens
This 2-7 game is the best potential Wild Card matchup on the board, hands down. These two Super Bowl contenders are destined to meet at some point in the postseason – why not Wild Card weekend?
The Chiefs have won 4 straight games in this rivalry, including wins against Baltimore in each of the last 3 seasons. KC tangled with the Dirty Birds in Week 3 of this season, with Mahomes and Co. prevailing 34-20.
Saints-Seahawks
The Seahawks have fallen from a possible 1 seed to a susceptible 7 seed. Now they must travel to the Dome and play the 2-seed Saints for a shot at getting to Tampa.
The Saints have won the last 2 meetings between these clubs – beating Seattle last season (2019) and again in 2016. Each game was within one score.
Kreighton loves sports, math, writing, and winning — he combines all of them as a writer for WagerBop. His favorite sports to review are MLB, NFL, NBA, NCAAF, and NCAABB.
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