Chris Simms' Team-by-Team Grades for NFL Week 10

Step right into the guidance counselor's office, Aaron Rodgers. It's time to talk about your future. 

Truth is, you still have so much potential. You’re a Hall of Famer, but something's gotta change. And that something is the crowd you run with. 

I'm talking about the Packers. Coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson aren't good influences; the former inserts you in an all-time vanilla offense, and the latter refuses to surround you with any kind of veteran talent.

The future is in your hands, Aaron. I know you're loyal, but the only way to move forward is to rid yourself of the coach-general manager combination you won a Super Bowl with. Will you speak up? Or will your weekly grades continue to suffer?

Dallas Cowboys

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Offense: Keep an eye out for Ezekiel Elliott on my weekly All-22 team. He’s already one of the more powerful runners I’ve seen…ever. Until then, let’s talk about Dez Bryant. He’s somehow Dallas’ forgotten star among all those rookies. For him to suit up after the death of his father and roast the Steelers secondary (see his 50-yard touchdown) was so incredibly impressive.

Defense: Factor out the anomaly of Pittsburgh’s Dan Marino-like fake spike. Did any Dallas defenders blow coverage? Ben Roethlisberger moved the ball between the 30s but settled for field goals. That’s the telltale sign of solid assignment football.

Grade: A+

Philadelphia Eagles

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Offense: Tackle Jason Peters and guard Brandon Brooks are both a shade smaller than an elephant. So coach Doug Pederson knew he could bulldoze Atlanta’s undersized front between the tackles. Power runs from Ryan Mathews softened the Falcons up for quick play-action throws. It was Atlanta’s offense thrown right back at it.

Defense: When is a 10-catch day from Julio Jones a good thing? When his longest catch of the day is 29 yards. Jones can average that number any given Sunday; coordinator Jim Schwartz has to be thrilled his guys held up in coverage.

Grade: A

New York Giants

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Offense: You'd figure the Giants line would struggle to block without its top offensive lineman in Justin Pugh. You'd be dead wrong. Big Blue road-graded a Bengals front full of run-stuffers. Rashad Jennings and Paul Perkins actually broke a few runs and gave Eli Manning some balance. Speaking of Eli, he went out of his way to target Odell Beckham Jr. That's what this team should look like every week.

Defense: Steve Spagnuolo, you genius. New York's defensive coordinator disguised just about everything against Andy Dalton. Example 1: An end-of-game front featuring Olivier Vernon and three linebackers. Example 2: A tricky bracket coverage on Tyler Eifert that Landon Collins stepped right up to intercept.

Grade: A-

Washington Redskins

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Offense: I didn’t know who Ty Nsekhe was until Sunday. But Washington’s reserve left tackle filled in admirably for Trent Williams against a Vikings front that’s pretty damn scary. He’s the latest no-name Redskins player to emerge on offense (see: Robert Kelley and his 97 rushing yards). When Washington wins, it wins up front.

Defense: Halloween is over, but this Washington defense is still frightening. It surrendered 20 unanswered second-quarter points. It held for the second time in three fourth-quarter contests decided by seven points or fewer. Credit Preston Smith (interception, two sacks) for slamming the door on Minnesota once and for all.

Grade: B+

Miami Dolphins

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Offense: Nice to finally meet you, DeVante Parker. His five-catch, 103-yard day showed me some of the skills that made him such a highly touted prospect. That production attracted coverage his way; Ryan Tannehill capitalized with a long post touchdown to Kenny Stills that might not’ve been open if Parker didn’t pick it up.

Defense: Chargers guard Joe Barksdale went to blocking school Sunday. There, he received several lessons in pass protection, courtesy of Cameron Wake. Miami’s veteran defender whupped his assignment constantly. Earl Mitchell and Jordan Phillips afforded him more pass-rushing opportunities by stuffing the run.

Grade: A-

New York Jets

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Offense: The Bryce Petty-led Jets took one step forward and two steps back. Petty hit Robby Anderson for 52 yards…only to miss him on a wide-open touchdown later on. Petty led a 99-yard scoring drive…but went 4-of-12 on third down. The hook-and-ladder touchdown was pretty…but Gang Green almost had to use it to score. It was a production roller coaster all afternoon.

Defense: Darrelle Revis is only capable of playing half a game as New York’s lockdown cornerback. That’s how long he could contain Terrelle Pryor (101 yards on six first-half catches). And that’s how long he could contain Kenny Britt (109 yards on seven first-half catches). His team kept L.A. out of the end zone, but this was a tough game to watch for any Revis fans.

Grade: C-

New England Patriots

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Offense: First things first: When Rob Gronkowski isn’t catching them, you know it’s time to retire the end- zone fade. New England was inches away and uncharacteristically could not produce. Related: This game signals the first time the Patriots struggled to run the football. That’s why, for all its statistical success, New England didn’t really drive the ball until the end of the first half.

Defense: Jamie Collins reportedly earned his ticket from New England for refusing to play assignment football. But that’s a problem for Bill Belichick’s entire defense, not just its castoff star. Russell Wilson repeatedly broke contain against three-man (and even two-man) fronts. He also made some impossible throws against man coverage, so take these critiques with a grain of salt.

Grade: B-

Chicago Bears

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Offense: Jon Gruden once told me you have to see your throw first. Jay Cutler should heed that advice; he threw two interceptions that left me dumbfounded. The first one was a straight throw to Brent Grimes. The second was a chuck-and-pray with pressure in his face—and that was returned for six. Cutler also was stripped in the red zone and showed no feel for the pass rush. It's time to move on.

Defense: As bad as the offense was, the defense was that good. Ignore the final score because Chicago's Willie Young-Leonard Floyd-Pernell McPhee trio raised ten kinds of hell on every Bears snap. It's a shame they'll be remembered for the play they didn't make—the winding, backpedaling Jameis Winston escape act—rather than the handful of "wow" plays they created in Week 10.

Grade: D+

Green Bay Packers

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Offense: My apologies to Davante Adams. I’ve been so critical of Green Bay’s pass-catching weapons this year, but he earned some slight separation in Week 10. The rest of the Packers receiving corps? I stand by my previous statement. They’re reliant on Aaron Rodgers to deliver perfect footballs. 

Defense: When an offense like Green Bay’s is struggling, it sure helps to have a dominant defense. You know what doesn’t help? Letting DeMarco Murray run 75 yards into the end zone untouched on the Titans' first possession. Marcus Mariota had his way with Green Bay’s banged-up secondary as well. 

Grade: D-

Minnesota Vikings

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Offense: Sam Bradford might not have protection or a running game, but at least he has an offensive coordinator who knows it. Old standby Pat Shurmur calls the perfect plays for his longtime pupil—shallow crosses and in-cuts help Bradford see targets when pass-rushers crash in. If only Shurmur could spark a running game to match…

Defense: Washington was without one of the NFL’s best pass protectors. So the Vikings defensive line finally had a big game, right? Wrong. Minnesota managed only one sack against Trent Williams’ replacement. Kirk Cousins had a clean pocket from which to operate. It also allowed Robert Kelley to rip off solid runs all game.

Grade: C+

Cincinnati Bengals

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Offense: Tyler Eifert caught a deep ball out of a gimmick formation. Jeremy Hill broke a neat little touchdown. Can you remember any other notable Bengals plays? I thought this team was too talented to go 2-of-11 on third down or be held to under 275 total yards.

Defense: I'll start with the positive. Dre Kirkpatrick's leaping interception of Eli Manning was as good as you'll see this year. In fact, the secondary did a nice job limiting Odell Beckham Jr.'s impact. But the defensive line was worse than bad. Geno Atkins couldn't get a push against reserve O-linemen. Carlos Dunlap couldn't get an edge on Ereck Flowers.

Grade: C

Cleveland Browns

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Offense: Cody Kessler starts? Cody Kessler is benched. Josh McCown starts? Josh McCown is benched. Coach Hue Jackson’s quarterback carousel keeps spinning. It’s no coincidence his offense couldn’t score a single point after swapping signal-callers.

Defense: Pat yourself on the back, Browns defense. You hung tough for about 38 minutes on a short week, despite being on the field all night. Stars such as Jamie Collins and Joe Haden looked good. You even forced two Joe Flacco turnovers! That’s all a coach could realistically ask for.

Grade: D-

Baltimore Ravens

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Offense: Joe Flacco needs to be more careful. His interception-throwing problem has loomed over this offense since Week 1. Until Flacco fixes it—or coordinator Marty Mornhinweg hands the offensive keys over to Kenneth Dixon or Terrance West—we’ll see long stretches of ineptitude like we saw in the first half last Thursday night.

Defense: To say Baltimore shut down the Browns’ running game is a huge understatement. Its front seven might be the stoutest in the NFL. Once Cleveland swapped quarterbacks and fell into a hole, Terrell Suggs took off. He’s showing glimmers of the pass-rushing nightmare he once was.

Grade: B+

Pittsburgh Steelers

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Offense: Heads up, Mike Tomlin. The gutsy two-point tries only endear you to your players if they work. If not, Ben Roethlisberger and Co. have to chase the points you left by not trotting Chris Boswell out there. They’re capable of doing so—especially when Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown rekindled their connection—but it’s tough to deal with.

Defense: The Steelers had a shot to put Dallas down late in the first quarter. But from 2nd-and-18, they forgot to tackle Ezekiel Elliott on an 83-yard screen. Force a punt there and the complexion of the game changes. Pittsburgh doesn’t have a guy who can transcend a scheme and go make a stop.

Grade: B-

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Offense: This wasn't an easy start for Jameis Winston. Left tackle Donovan Smith might as well have stayed home; Pernell McPhee and Leonard Floyd took turns taking him behind the woodshed and messing Winston's rhythm up. The former first overall pick needed to make some magic and did. My jaw hit the floor when he eluded six defenders and found Mike Evans.

Defense: Brent Grimes had himself a throwback game. He took the fight to Alshon Jeffery and made it tough for Chicago to find its top receiver. Then, he opened the floodgates when he picked Jay Cutler off. Chris Conte closed the door with a pick-six, and the duo of Noah Spence and Robert Ayers slammed it shut with game-swaying sacks.

Grade: B+

Atlanta Falcons

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Offense: Can Atlanta win as a one-dimensional team? Not if its powerful passing game stumbles like it did at Lincoln Financial Field. With Devonta Freeman (49 rushing yards) an afterthought, Matt Ryan and Co. could only score two field goals in the first half. A gigantic drop from Julio Jones didn’t help matters.

Defense: We’ve seen Dan Quinn’s inexperience work against his defense before. We just saw it again in Week 10; Atlanta’s coach tried a 4th-and-5 conversion with four minutes to play. It failed, and the defense couldn’t stop Philadelphia from widening its lead to two scores.

Grade: C

Carolina Panthers

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Offense: Cam Newton was Superman for half a football game. He threw Howitzers through impossible windows in the first 30 minutes; Carolina’s receivers caught balls that beat defenders there by a millisecond. He also supplied the Panthers run game (34 yards on six carries) and owned third down. Kansas City eventually adjusted—but damn, Cam. Factor out the Eric Berry pick-six later on, and he threw a perfect game.

Defense: Kansas City didn’t find the end zone once on this defense’s watch. Remember: Eric Berry’s pick-six was the only touchdown the Chiefs scored. And Cairo Santos’ fourth field goal only happened after Marcus Peters stripped Kelvin Benjamin in Panthers territory. They played well enough to win.

Grade: B-

New Orleans Saints

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Offense: Oh, running backs in space on Denver’s linebackers? What a novel concept. I applaud Sean Payton’s ability to look at a team like the Falcons and assimilate what worked into his own game plan. You’d be shocked at how many coaches won’t run a play that another team found success with.

Defense: This Saints defense out-sacked the Denver Broncos six to one. Let that simmer for a moment. This was easily the most complete defensive performance in New Orleans in years. Rookie Sheldon Rankins looks right at home on a front that harassed Trevor Siemian all game. I think we’re talking about a Saints victory with a fully healthy Delvin Breaux, too.

Grade: B

Jacksonville Jaguars

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Offense: It's hard to win football games when your quarterback can't make the most routine of NFL throws. Blake Bortles couldn’t throw a simple out route—unless it was to Kareem Jackson for a 42-yard score the other way. Later on, a short swing pass careened off T.J. Yeldon’s foot instead of, you know, his hands.

Defense: Young teams are expected to commit stupid mistakes; that’s how they learn. Jacksonville isn’t learning, and that’s the signal of an undisciplined club. Take Dante Fowler Jr., who hit Brock Osweiler late and nearly let Houston score an end-of-half field goal. Or the rest of the run defense for letting Akeem Hunt convert a 3rd-and-16 draw play.

Grade: C-

Houston Texans

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Offense: You can’t call Brock Osweiler a franchise quarterback. You also can’t call him a pocket one; those kind quarterbacks can throw for over 100 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Luckily, Houston’s running game was rolling and Osweiler’s bad throwing day (14-of-27 for 99 yards) could be placed in the rearview mirror. This offense belongs to Lamar Miller.

Defense: Houston needed some kind of defensive magic to stay in the win column. Six plays in, Kareem Jackson provided it in the form of a pick-six. Romeo Crennel’s group didn’t allow Chris Ivory an inch on the ground, and it stuck with Jacksonville’s receivers. That’s how you get a win.

Grade: B

Tennessee Titans

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Offense: Looks like DeMarco Murray’s toe is fine. He went 75 yards on the best run defense in football—on his first carry. Murray wasn’t the most dominant Titan on offense, either. That award goes to Delanie Walker, who carved up Green Bay’s secondary (124 yards on nine catches) and gave Marcus Mariota a security blanket in a breakout game.

Defense: Aaron Rodgers was always going to make throws against Tennessee’s zone. But coordinator Dick LeBeau was masterful in the way he kept the impact of those throws to a minimum. His secret? A three-man pass-rushing rotation featuring Derrick Morgan, Brian Orakpo and rookie Kevin Byard. All three guys made their presence felt off the edge.

Grade: A+

San Francisco 49ers

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Offense: Colin Kaepernick had his best game since the Harbaugh era. His supporting cast? Not so much. They picked the most inopportune times to not match his play. I counted five drops by 49ers receivers. And all three of Kaepernick’s sacks happened on third down. There’s still plenty to work on here.

Defense: For the first time in a long time, the 49ers’ defensive output looks encouraging. Eli Harold and DeForest Buckner both found the sack column. Linebacker Gerald Hodges caught an interception. And hey! San Francisco’s run defense bottled up David Johnson (55 yards on 19 carries). Not great, but not bad.

Grade: C

Arizona Cardinals

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Offense: Arizona’s offensive output makes sense…if it played the Seattle Seahawks. Two touchdowns in five red-zone trips is not good enough against the NFC’s most porous defense. Carson Palmer played like he's performed all year—hot and cold. That's the M.O. for his career; last season was the outlier.

Defense: I like the defensive effort and output. I don’t like the defensive scheme. Coordinator James Bettcher looked disinterested in deploying any sort of spy on Colin Kaepernick. So, time after time, San Francisco picked up yards on plays made by the quarterback. Make an adjustment, Arizona.

Grade: C

Los Angeles Rams

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Offense: L.A.’s offense went cross-country and outscored an opponent. That doesn’t make this group any more fun to watch, though. Case in point: A 1st-and-goal from the Jets’ 7-yard line somehow became a 3rd-and-goal from the 20. I’m worried about Todd Gurley, too; his lack of vision means straight-line runs are L.A.’s best hope at something resembling a run game.

Defense: Anytime you hold a team to fewer than 300 yards, you played well. With that said, L.A. is lucky it faced Bryce Petty and not a seasoned quarterback. The Baylor product missed a wide-open touchdown throw that would’ve changed the game. Jeff Fisher’s defense is also fortunate to deploy a punter who can boom 78-yarders. That’s a huge defensive boost.

Grade: B-

Seattle Seahawks

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Offense: Linebackers aren’t going to be able to cover C.J. Prosise. The rookie out of Notre Dame showcased playmaking ability (153 total yards) by the pound against a stout New England defense. If Prosise can do that, we’ll see Russell Wilson catch fire (348 passing yards) in plenty of contests to come.

Defense: If Seattle had a checklist on how to beat New England, it ticked every box. Manage Gronkowski to three catches? Check. Keep LeGarrette Blount under four yards a carry? Check. Force a couple of Tom Brady turnovers? Check and check. All this on a short week on the road and in New England. Wow.

Grade: A+

Denver Broncos

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Offense: I don't care that Denver won. Trevor Siemian is still squarely on the hot seat after another up-and-down performance. He's running out of excuses; Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders both showed up to play in Week 10. Devontae Booker has installed himself as another weapon out of the backfield. If No. 13 can't curb his interceptions, Denver might need to turn to Paxton Lynch.

Defense: You know what the best part about this Broncos title defense is? They're doing all the same things they did in 2015—forcing turnovers, swatting kicks and scoring touchdowns—and it doesn't get old. Justin Simmons' leaping block feels just as dramatic as last season's Bradley Roby-Jamaal Charles fumble recovery that started this run off. I've come to expect these plays, but each one feels new.

Grade: B+

Kansas City Chiefs

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Offense: Give Alex Smith some credit for leading a ball-control offense back from three scores down. It didn't need to be so difficult, though. Smith missed a wide-open Tyreek Hill for a touchdown early in Week 10; he was Captain Checkdown from that point on. Receivers standing alone in the end zone didn't get as much as a glance because they were too far away. Come playoff time, that'll hurt Kansas City again.

Defense: Eric Berry's weaving pick-six was a thing of beauty. I'd be remiss if I didn't credit All-22 safety Daniel Sorensen for forcing Cam Newton into throwing a pass he shouldn't have. Sorensen played a linebacker role and came up the A-gap on a delayed blitz like a bat out of hell. Berry was there on the back end to feast on the leftovers.

Grade: B

San Diego Chargers

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Offense: Tony Lippett was playing wide receiver at Michigan State a few seasons ago. Now, he's intercepting multiple Philip Rivers throws like it's no big deal. That underscores the lingering problem with San Diego's offense. Melvin Gordon can break out for a few weeks, but if Rivers struggles, San Diego will be stuck in the mud.

Defense: No Denzel Perryman. No Jatavis Brown. No Manti Te'o. San Diego was down to its fourth-stringers and somehow still produced. Jay Ajayi was held to 79 rushing yards. If you told me those were his totals, I would've thought the Chargers won handily.

Grade: C-