Michael McQuaid of Pro Football Ireland looks at some of the key storylines ahead of the tenth week of the 2025 NFL season, which got under way last night when the Denver Broncos defeated the Las Vegas Raiders at Empower Field.
Colts and Falcons Berlin bound
The NFL comes to the German capital for the first time this weekend, when the Indianapolis Colts face the Atlanta Falcons at the iconic Olympiastadion. This is the penultimate international game of the season, with Madrid hosting the Washington Commanders and the Miami Dolphins next week.
Back when the NFL schedule was released, this would not have been seen as a marquee matchup, but look at how the season has gone so far. In the most unpredictable circumstances, Germany will welcome a 7-2 Colts team who are buoyant, following a blockbuster midweek trade for cornerback Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets.
The draft capital (two first round picks in 2026 and 2027) is large, but this is a serious statement of intent from head coach Shane Steichen and his team. It highlights one key factor - this team are ready to win now and they see the 2025 season as their opportunity to chase for a first Lombardi trophy since 2007.
They do need to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend. The Steelers defence made Daniel Jones look shaky - something we haven't seen since his time at the New York Giants.
With that, the Colts finished the game last week with six turnovers. Jones had two lost fumbles and two interceptions. As lethal as this Indianapolis team has been through nine weeks on both sides of the ball, many eyes will be on Berlin to see how this offence reacts to a poor outing.
The Atlanta Falcons are in the top ten in total takeaways this season - they have four fumble recoveries and seven interceptions. However, there are two major concerns.
Firstly, they are about to go up against a phenom in Jonathan Taylor at running back. Outside of a difficult performance last week against the Steelers, Taylor has been playing at an MVP level, averaging 106.3 rushing yards through the first eight weeks of the season when he has played, with an insane average of 1.8 touchdowns per game.
The other element for the Falcons is that while they are impressive with takeaways and pressure, they are at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to points scored per game (17.9).
It's frustrating, but could Sunday be a serious opportunity to right their wrongs?
Birds in Green Bay
This weekend brings some super games and the Philadelphia Eagles facing the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football is no exception.
The Pack had a poor performance against the Carolina Panthers last week, but this was a stunner of a loss that nobody saw coming.
The real issue was the way that Matt LaFleur’s team started, slow and without any movement on their offence. Panthers running back Rico Dowdle looked like a Hall of Fame inductee in Lambeau last weekend. Add to that the season-ending injury for Tucker Kraft, and it was a day to forget for Green Bay.
How will they regroup going up against what can be a formidable Eagles side? We know the Packers are good, but can they take the step up and be an elite team?
When you add a weapon such as defensive end Micah Parsons, you need more production. Green Bay are currently ranked 12th in the league in sacks. We know how good Jordan Love can be, but the team isn't inside the top ten in points.
For the Eagles, it’s all about rest and recovery.
The Super Bowl champions sit at 6-2 and crucially, they are coming off a bye week.
Let’s make that news better, Eagles fans. Both Saquon Barkley and AJ Brown have been full participants in practice late this week, with both most likely back for this huge clash.
Last time out, Barkley turned back the clock to his early days with an iconic 65-yard touchdown against his former employers, the New York Giants.
While AJ Brown didn’t play in the game, we know what he can do if he is given the opportunity. His last outing against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 7 was one of the best performances he has had in his career, with two touchdowns in the game.
With Barkley and Brown back, the Eagles are a force to be reckoned with.
If you are going to stay up for a game this season, this is probably the one.
NFC West battle
As the leaves fall in early November, one thing that always remains the same is the excitement of football out west. This weekend sees the high-flying Los Angeles Rams travel to Levi’s Stadium to face the San Francisco 49ers.
The Niners have been efficient without their starting quarterback Brock Purdy. At the time of writing, it is still undecided if he will return this weekend from a turf toe injury, but Mac Jones has certainly looked comfortable in the Bay Area through the first half of the season, ensuring his team sits at 6-3 going into Week 10.
The 49ers have been decimated by injuries and other issues. What Jones has been able to do through this is commendable, never mind the fact that we now see Christian McCaffrey starting to come back to his formidable best.
The only issue?
The Rams are heading into town.
Remember in late July when there were question marks about Matthew Stafford's fitness and future in the league? That narrative has been quickly put to bed and the Rams are vying for favouritism to win the NFC in late January.
In the last three games, they have won by a combined 66 points. They’ve only allowed an average of 15.9 points per game this season.
Sure, the New Orleans Saints are not the cream of the crop in the league, but just look how Sean McVay’s team played against them last week, especially when they continued to go all out in the fourth quarter when the game was done.
This is a team that is hungry for success and I won’t be surprised if they are back at Levi’s Stadium in early February for Super Bowl LX.
Lions set to restore pride
After a loss to the Minnesota Vikings last week, the Detroit Lions have an opportunity to bounce back against a banged up Washington Commanders side, who will play in Madrid next weekend against the Miami Dolphins.
The Lions are 5-3 entering this week and amazingly, each time they have lost a game since 2022, they have won the next one.
It’s easy to say that this is a key game for them, but it is. The NFC North is red hot, with the fourth-placed Vikings sitting with a 4-4 record. That’s how close it is.
That being said, the Lions face the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers (never mind other NFC opponents) to finish the season.
For Dan Campbell, this is a win and move on scenario.
Jets plan on delayed gratification
One for another day, but how about the New York Jets, folks?
We mentioned Sauce Gardner at the top of this piece, but it wasn’t just one player. Quinnen Williams, a stalwart of the team in recent years, was traded to the Dallas Cowboys.
For Jets fans feeling a little weary this week ahead of hosting the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, remember.
New York now has two first round picks in the NFL Draft, with three first-rounders in 2027.
It might be hard now, but good things could come to those who wait. It is the Jets, after all.
