We’re ten weeks into the sprint that is the NFL season. We’ve learned a lot and continue to pick up data points as we watch the league unfold. In this edition of the blog, which is covering for no pod this week, we’ll talk prospective playoff teams, MVP candidates and bizarre struggles. But before start our “downs” we have to talk about a firing in New York, as the Giants have relieved Brian Daboll of his duties.

Big Blue Breakup: Well after what seemed to be multiple instances where the Giants could pull the plug, they finally fired Brian Daboll. He was let go on Monday following a Sunday meltdown at Soldier Field that saw the Giants fall to the Bears 24-20. This was the third bad fourth quarter loss of the year for New York, as they have now lost three games where they had a 93, 96, and 99% chance to win. Those are inexcusable losses and no coach can survive them.

It has felt for years like Daboll was surviving off of that outstanding first year where he unexpectedly took the Giants to the playoffs, and ever since has been searching for a QB to help him survive. That quarterback finally presented himself in the person of Jaxon Dart who is blossoming…but even that couldn’t keep the coach in his job. This move likely should have been made a year ago and now replacing him will be critical to continuing growth of Dart, though attracting good candidates shouldn’t be hard given the Giants collection of young players.

First Down

Cardiac Caleb: We kick off our “downs” with the game got Brian Daboll fired, one the Bears won with a pair of fourth quarter touchdown drives led by Caleb Williams. The 24-20 victory moved Chicago to 6-3, and into the sixth spot in the NFC, which is good for a wild card berth if the season ended today. The Bears have won four games this year in dramatic fashion, a turnaround from last year where season collapsed around them due to some back breaking defeats.

While Ben Johnson’s influence as coach has made a huge difference, but Caleb Williams leadership and improved play has been the other catalyst. Number 18 is coming along nicely under center in his first full year under Johnson. Caleb is far from the finished product but he’s got 13 touchdown passes on the year while only throwing four picks, and is completing 60% of his passes. He’s really at his best late in games where he freelances with the ball and creates plays with his legs, like he did at the finish on Sunday. If he can keep this up, the Bears should make it back to the playoffs for the first since 2020.

Second Down

Bills Go Bust: There were clunkers this week and then there was the Buffalo Bills. No wagons were circled in Miami this weekend as Josh Allen and company fell into a 16-0 hole and couldn’t dig their out of it. The offense was once again disjointed and the defense had a letdown Sunday. This was supposed to be the Bills year but now they’ve fallen to 6-3, two games off the Patriots AL East leading pace, who hold the tiebreaker over them with a head to head win in hand. They’re good enough to beat anyone but they’re also erratic enough to lose to anyone.

Third Down

.500 And 1: The “.500” we’re referring to here is Matthew Stafford’s all time record in the NFL as a starter. The Rams win on Sunday against the Niners improved number nine to a .500 record for the first time in his 17 year career. This season he’s playing what is probably the best he ever has in the league. He has an NFL leading 25 touchdown passes, an even more impressive number when juxtaposed with his paltry pair of interceptions. Stafford is perhaps becoming the MVP front runner, but he and his 7-2 LA squad have their eyes on getting him a second Super Bowl ring!

Fourth Down

Mills Mafia: Our final story of the week comes from Houston, where the mafia is quite active. No no not La Cosa Nostra, I’m referring to “Mills Mafia,” the name given to Davis Mills “fans” around the league. The backup QB got the nod Sunday against the Jags for the Texans in place of the injured CJ Stroud, and for three quarters he was his typical underwhelming self. But all of a sudden, trailing 29-10 number ten in the home blue roster to life. The Texans scored 27 unanswered in the fourth and got the go ahead score from Mills on a heroic run. The win pulls Houston to 4-5, good enough to keep them poking around the playoff picture while it drops Jacksonville to 5-4, as they suffered another damaging loss that could stop them from making the dance in the AFC. This game may end up being a footnote to the season but it was certainly a fun moment for Mills.

On twitter you can find Mike @Mike_Sheerin, Tyler @TMon_19 and Sean @SeanMartinNFL. Subscribe to the site by hitting the follow button in the bottom right corner and entering your email address. Check out our Instagram feed @thebroadwaybreakdownsports for special gameday and promotional content. Our podcasts are available on Spotify. Visit the Rangers Ed Shop by clicking the link on our homepage. Check out our mailbag page to join the conversation here on the site and on our partners show, The Rangers Ed Podcast! We’ll be back with more soon.