What we realized in NFL Week 10: Regardless of wins, can the Colts and Broncos discover extra consistency? – ESPN

Jonathan Taylor explodes for an 83-yard landing to turn out to be the Colts’ all-time chief in speeding touchdowns. (0:44)
Week 10 of the 2025 NFL season kicked off Thursday with the Denver Broncos narrowly beating the Las Vegas Raiders regardless of two interceptions by quarterback Bo Nix.
Sunday’s motion began in Berlin, the place Indianapolis Colts star Jonathan Taylor turned in the most effective efficiency by a again all season in a win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all of the motion, answering lingering questions popping out of every recreation and detailing all the things else you might want to know for each staff. Let’s get to it.
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ATL-IND | LV-DEN

Atone for the motion: Box score | Recap
Can the Colts clear issues up on offense? Manufacturing has not been an issue for the Colts of their previous two video games. They’ve had over 800 mixed yards in video games in opposition to the Steelers and Falcons. The difficulty is inconsistency on the small print with what has been the No. 1 offense within the NFL most of this season. The penalties, missed blitz pickups, safety breakdowns — all of it was uncharacteristic. And it has occurred two weeks in a row. This week, the Colts overcame it with a sensational efficiency from Jonathan Taylor with 244 yards and three touchdowns, the highest particular person speeding recreation within the NFL this season. However the Colts will wish to clear issues up with a highway recreation in opposition to the Kansas City Chiefs developing after subsequent week’s bye.
Most shocking efficiency: It was clear Sauce Gardner was going to play an vital function after his Tuesday blockbuster commerce to the Colts from the Jets. However Indianapolis wasted no time getting Gardner deeply concerned. He performed your complete recreation and was typically in protection in opposition to Atlanta star receiver Drake London. Gardner additionally had a close to interception, leaping a route on a 3rd all the way down to drive a punt. Gardner completed with a team-high 31 protection snaps. — Stephen Holder
Subsequent recreation: at Chiefs (Nov. 23, 1 p.m. ET)
How far does this loss set again the Falcons’ playoff hopes? The Falcons have misplaced 4 straight and the purpose of creating the playoffs for the primary time since 2017 is slipping away. It stood at 4% on the remaining buzzer of Sunday’s loss. Whereas Atlanta has performed shut in consecutive weeks with elite AFC groups (24-23 loss to Patriots in Week 9), that is hardly a comfort. Atlanta’s protection yielded 519 complete yards Sunday. The Falcons’ offense has sputtered for many of the season, together with 3-for-29 on third downs over the previous three video games, and the protection broke below the stress late in Sunday’s loss. The schedule will get simpler for Atlanta, however nothing has come simple for this staff.
Key stat to know: The Falcons have 13 sacks over the previous two weeks and 6 or extra sacks in consecutive video games for less than the second time in franchise historical past. It is the primary time the Falcons’ protection has six or extra sacks in back-to-back video games since 2002. — Marc Raimondi
Subsequent recreation: vs. Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Atone for the motion: Box score | Recap
Can the Broncos proceed to lean this tough on their protection? Effectively, the blokes on protection say sure. Linebacker Alex Singleton mentioned “no matter we have to do, we do” after Thursday’s win. However historical past would say the Broncos cannot preserve forcing the protection to defend a brief subject. Denver punted seven instances Thursday, had 4 possessions that went for unfavourable yardage and quarterback Bo Nix threw two interceptions. Together with Thursday evening, the Broncos have now gained 5 instances once they have misplaced the turnover battle. They’ve trailed in all however one recreation this season (Week 5 win in Philadelphia). The Broncos nonetheless sit atop the AFC West, however working again J.K. Dobbins put it finest that “ultimately it will chew us within the butt.”
Pattern to look at: The Broncos are within the hunt for a file that has stood since 1984, simply two years after the sack turned an official statistic. With six extra sacks Thursday, the Broncos have 46 after 10 video games. The only-season file, set by the 1984 Chicago Bears, is 72. Denver’s 46 sacks after 10 video games are probably the most since New Orleans had 44 after 10 video games in 2000. — Jeff Legwold
Subsequent recreation: vs. Chiefs (Nov. 16, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Are the Raiders headed towards vital modifications within the offseason? It should not be out of the query. Underneath Pete Carroll, the Raiders have taken a significant step again, particularly on offense. They have been held to below 10 factors 4 instances this season and fewer than 30 factors in 29 consecutive video games. That latter stat is the longest energetic streak within the NFL and second longest in franchise historical past. Chip Kelly’s offense has clearly been ineffective, and quarterback Geno Smith has regressed since reaching two Professional Bowls with the Seahawks. Persistence is a advantage, and Las Vegas will want a ton of it.
Stat to know: Smith’s 12 interceptions are probably the most by a Raiders quarterback of their first 9 video games of a season since Kerry Collins had 12 via 9 video games in 2004, per ESPN Analysis. — Ryan McFadden
Subsequent recreation: vs. Cowboys (Nov. 17, 8:20 p.m. ET)

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