Jackson Bates‘ 52-yard walk-off FG capped a huge comeback win for the Lions; after another blowout loss, the Cowboys are now blaming the sunlight; and the 49ers managed to overcome some internal issues to win a thriller over the Bucs.

Broncos Falling Back of the Pack

The Denver Broncos took a nice step forward in 2023 even if they did miss the playoffs for the eighth straight year. However, with the way things started this year — winning five of their first eight — it looked like the drought would end.

But with back-to-back losses (including a crushing defeat on Sunday against KC), the Broncos have blown any remote chance they had of winning the AFC West, and now their grip on a playoff spot is getting very tenuous.

And as difficult as this week’s loss was to swallow — having a would-be game-winning field goal blocked as time expired — there was a lot of good to take from this effort for Denver, not the least of which was the emergence of rookie running back Audric Estime.
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He took over as the team’s lead back, logging 14 carries, and while he wasn’t as efficient as the week before (see video below), this bodes very well for his Fantasy value going forward, so add him immediately as it’s very seldom that a lead runner can be snagged off the wire. It’s also clear that Estime is driven; he’s going to take something from this loss.

Denver’s fifth round pick this year had never had more than five totes in any game before this, and while he’s still seeking his first career touchdown, his future suddenly looks much rosier.

Former Notre Dame star Estime is powerful and runs with excellent balance, but he’s not adept at stopping and then starting in the backfield. For Week 11, consider him a mid-range RB3 with upside potential.

NFC East Showdown

The Philadelphia Eagles slipped to 11 wins last year after a 14-win campaign in 2022, but are rolling this season, shaking off a meh start for five straight wins to take over the NFC East lead with a 7-2 mark.

On Thursday the Eagles have a chance to secure their division lead at home against the 7-3 Commanders. It’s a huge game that should be very tight, but oddsmakers favour Philly (currently three-point faves as per FanDuel).

On Sunday, the Birds absolutely bitch-slapped the hapless Cowboys, 34-6. Quarterback Jalen Hurts continues to put a slow start behind him, enjoying another dominant game (14-for-20, 10.1 YPA with two touchdown passes and another two rushing scores). Okay, so he throw his first interception in six games and was sacked five times, but that was offset by his most efficient rushing game this season. Not that he needed it in a blowout, but Hurts managed this performance with very little help from DeVonta Smith, and that’s rare footage.

Any concern that Hurts’ ankle was still a problem was definitely laid to rest with this effort.

He isn’t throwing as many passes this year, but less has been more as he’s put up the best completion rate of his career and his picks are way down after a career-worst 15 last season. Hurts is arguably enjoying the best campaign of his five-year career.

In fact, entering Week 11, we’d rather have him than any quarterback not named Lamar Jackson.

RotoRob Tune of the Day

The late Patti Page was mostly known for her work in the pop and country genres. Here’s “Pretty Boy Lonely,” a B-side from one of her 1963 singles.

The post NFL Today: Audric Estime Emerges in Denver first appeared on RotoRob.