NFL scores, news and highlights: What happened Sunday in Week 10

We’re through 10 Sundays of the 2014 NFL season. Let’s take a look at what happened this week.

by Louis Bien, Eddie, and Ryan Van Bibber

Nov 10, 2014, 5:46 AM UTC

Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

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NFL schedule and results: Complete coverage of Week 10

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1. Steelers fall to Jets 20-13, NFL remains very confusing

By Eric Sollenberger

Michael Vick evidently took his preparation fairly seriously this week as he helped the Jets overcome the red-hot Steelers in a 20-13 upset. The game also put the Cleveland Browns into sole possession of first place in the AFC North.

The Steelers came out flat after back-to-back offensive explosions against the Colts and Ravens. Their timing was off from the get-go and their play calls were bizarre, to say the least. It was highlighted by a goal-line stand where Todd Haley called a designed pass to OLB James Harrison and two runs to slow-footed LeGarrette Blount that went for -8 yards.

On the other side, the Jets played extremely well on defense, pressuring Roethlisberger and limiting Le'Veon Bell to 36 yards rushing. Jets safety Jaiquawn Jarrett had a career day with two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and a sack. The Jets kept the Steelers out of the end zone until a late fourth quarter 80-yard pass to rookie Martavis Bryant. Vick was efficient if unspectacular, and Chris Ivory ran violently, helping the Jets hold their own in time of possession despite being outgained on the day.

Following back-to-back weeks of dominating their opponents offensively the Steelers are looking a whole lot less intimidating and a whole lot more vulnerable as they prepare for a playoff run.

The Jets still have a long way to go, but they’ve proven in games against Pittsburgh and New England that teams that take them lightly do so at their own risk.

Cleveland’s lead in the division could change at any week; the top and bottom of the AFC North is separated by a 0.067 winning percentage. The Steelers aren’t out of it at all, but they can’t stop losing games they should win.

2. The Lions just cleared a big hurdle

By Louis Bien

Outside of a Week 3 win against Green Bay, the Lions were starved for quality wins heading into Week 10. Detroit’s other five wins came against opponents who had a combined 13-28 record on the season.

On Sunday, the Lions beat the Miami Dolphins for their second win against a team with a winning record this season. For a franchise that isn't used to sustained success, another win against a quality opponent feels big. It confirms something we thought we knew but weren't quite sure of: The Lions are pretty damn good.

That's not to say they aren't without flaws. If Calvin Johnson hadn't made a timely return, the Lions might not have won. Matthew Stafford came alive to lead a game-winning drive, but he had also gone quiet after his 49-yard touchdown strike to Megatron in the first quarter.

But the Dolphins weren't pushovers. Like the Lions, they boast a defense in the upper echelon of the NFL and an offense with enough weapons to make plays when needed. Ryan Tannehill was proficient, and looks to be in the midst of becoming a viable long-term starting NFL quarterback.

Now the Lions faces two incredibly tough litmus tests -- on the road to the Cardinals and the Patriots -- before facing division foes in four of their final five games. Somehow, the Lions are 7-2 and still have everything left to prove, but on Sunday they looked as capable of being a contender as they have at any point in recent memory.

3. The Cardinals are much better than Bruce Arians’ cliches

By Ryan Van Bibber

That's five wins in a row for the Cardinals, an NFL-best 8-1 on the season. Their eighth win didn't come easy ... or cheap. Carson Palmer went down in the fourth quarter. The early reports are he tore his left ACL, in the same knee he wrecked in 2006. Drew Stanton took over, the Cardinals scored three touchdowns in less than four minutes of clock time and Bruce Arians sewed it all together with the kind of positivity that would put your best HR consultant to shame.

St. Louis played three quarters of solid defense. Austin Davis was solid and the Rams took a 14-10 lead into the fourth quarter. Arizona grabbed the lead when Stanton connected with John Brown for a beautiful 48-yard touchdown. The Cardinals defense did the rest of the work. Davis threw two consecutive picks after that. Patrick Peterson had both of them, and returned the second one for a touchdown. Antonio Cromartie put the last nail in the coffin with a 14-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

Stanton finished the game 3-for-5 with 85 yards and a touchdown. But, this isn’t his first time taking his turn in Arizona’s never-ending carousel of quarterback sadness. It was more than enough for Bruce Arians to go all-in on his back up.

AZ's Bruce Arians to QB Drew Stanton: "Drew, I'd give you a game ball. But hell, everyone expected you to do that." http://t.co/UXda6qgWrC
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) November 10, 2014

Bruce Arians: "There is no doubt in my mind we can win a Super Bowl with Drew Stanton." Told to @SI_PeterKing
— Tom Leyden (@TomLeyden) November 10, 2014

He might be right. The Cardinals have more than quarterback play going for them with a league-best +12 turnover differential (tied with New England) and a defense that’s holding opponents to just 18.1 points per game. They’ll need everything going their way against the Lions next week.

Next week ...

The aforementioned Lions at Cardinals game pits the two best defenses in the NFC against each other, possibly the two best teams in the NFC, depending on the outcome of Philadelphia's game on Monday night. Another pair of surprise teams go head-to-head in Week 11. The Dolphins host the Bills for the second spot in the AFC East and the chance to push their record to 6-4.

Tom Brady and the Patriots head to Indianapolis to face Andrew Luck and the Colts. It's a game that could wind up determining who gets one of the AFC's first-round byes in the playoffs. Speaking of potential shootouts, the Eagles and Packers get together in Green Bay next week.

Desperation is on the agenda for Week 11 too. The Saints and Bengals will both be looking to avoid their second straight loss in New Orleans.