The tenth week of the NFL brought us the best collection of games that we have seen in the 2022 season so far. It also featured the game of the year.
The Minnesota Vikings came back multiple times to beat the Buffalo Bills 33-30 in overtime. The two came into the game with a combined record of 13-3 and both teams with Super Bowl hopes. This game had everything a fan could possibly ask for. It featured two balanced offenses combining for 987 yards in a classic QB shootout. The Bills ended the first half up 24-10, highlighted by running back Devin Singletary’s first two touchdowns of the season for Buffalo. After a Tyler Bass field goal to put Buffalo up by 17, the first play for the Vikings was an 81-yard scamper by Dalvin Cook.
On the next drive, the Bills got deep in the red zone, but Josh Allen was picked off by Patrick Peterson, and Minnesota rode the momentum to another touchdown drive. This time it was fullback John Ham who ran it in. However, Greg Joseph missed the extra point to leave the deficit at four. After a Buffalo three-and-out, Minnesota got the ball on their own 24. Three plays later, they faced a 4th and 18 when Kirk Cousins had a desperation heave into tight coverage, where his superstar receiver Justin Jefferson leaped up, reached behind with one hand, ripped the ball out of his defender’s hand and maintained possession while falling to the ground for a 31 yard gain. A very “Odell-esque” type of play, and one of the best catches we have ever seen. He finished with 10 catches, 192 yards and a score.
The Vikings were inches short on a 4th and goal with 50 seconds left of the game. All Buffalo needed was a QB sneak and the game was theirs. However, Allen dropped the snap in the endzone and the Vikings recovered it for a touchdown. Allen was able to make up for his mistake by driving 69 yards in 39 seconds to set his team up in field goal range to send the game to overtime. Minnesota won the toss and started the extra period with a field goal. Allen then drove his team down to the Vikings’ 20 and made a pass for the end zone, but was intercepted by Peterson once again. It was the game that fans did not want to end, but Minnesota came out victorious on the road. Kirk Cousins has yet to lose in a non-primetime game this season, which has resulted in the creation of the nicknames “Noontime Nightmare” and “Kirk Thugginz.”
Another shocking game this week was the 2-6 Detroit Lions edging out the 3-6 Chicago Bears 31-30. The Bears were up 24-10 entering the fourth quarter, when the Lions tied the score in three minutes thanks to a D’Andre Swift run and a Jeff Okudah pick-six. The Bears reclaimed the lead shortly after with a 67 yard touchdown run from Fields, but missed the extra point. Detroit finished their comeback with a one yard run by Jamal Williams to win the game. Even in the loss, the Bears still had the best rush attack in the league, rushing for 258 yards as a team, with 147 of them coming from Fields. The young QB had a total of four touchdowns and has shown major progress this season. With this win, the Lions have already matched last season’s win total with three.
The previously 8-0 Philadelphia Eagles lost to division rival Washington Commanders, breaking their attempt at a perfect season. Philly, a team who had three turnovers coming into the game, committed four on Monday night. Taylor Heinecke game managed perfectly and is now 3-1 as a starter this season filling in for Carson Wentz.
Jeff Saturday won his first game as an NFL coach, as his Indianapolis Colts defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 25-20. The Raiders have had a chance to win the game with the offense on the field for six of their seven losses this season and have come up short all of those times. They have been a massive disappointment this season.
