Breakdowns

11/16/20

2 min min read

Mike T's NFL Week 10 Takeaways

By Mike Tannenbaum

Former NFL Executive

Here are five takeaways from the Week 10 action:

1. ROI for Hopkins and Diggs

With so many top-tier wide receivers available in the 2020 NFL Draft, I must admit I wasn’t sure it was a great idea for the Arizona Cardinals and Buffalo Bills to trade for receivers before the draft. The Cardinals got DeAndre Hopkins and the Bills acquired Stefon Diggs – and both players made incredible plays in a 34-second span at the end of Arizona’s thrilling 32-30 win on Sunday. And it’s worth noting: The teams that acquired Hopkins and Diggs are a combined 13-6. The teams that traded them, the Texans and Vikings, are a combined 5-12.

2. Giant improvement

Coming into their game Sunday in Philly, the Giants ranked 26th in the NFL in third-down defense. In the 27-17 win, they held the Eagles to zero third-down conversions.

3. Saints QB depth chart

For all the ways Sean Payton likes to utilize backup quarterback Taysom Hill, it was telling that it was Jameis Winston who started in the second half of the Saints’ win over San Francisco. Drew Brees was knocked out with a rib injury. Winston was just 6 of 10 passing, but he didn’t turn the ball over. Hill had eight carries in the game, but did not attempt a pass.

4. NFC power rankings

With Brees’ health in question, I now believe the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have passed them as the second-best team in the NFC right now. I’ve got the Green Bay Packers at No. 1, followed by the Bucs and then the Saints.

5. Don’t sleep on Detroit

The Detroit Lions almost blew a big lead against Washington on Sunday. It wasn’t a marquee matchup for the week, but Detroit quietly kept its playoff hopes alive when Matt Prater kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired. The Lions are 4-5, but don’t forget there are three wild cards in each conference this year. Detroit is very much in contention.

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, DeAndre Hopkins, Detroit Lions See More

Mike Tannenbaum

Former NFL Executive

Mike Tannenbaum is a former NFL Executive and current ESPN analyst.  Throughout Tannenbaum’s nearly three-decade-long football career, he has constructed quite an impressive résumé.

Tannenbaum began his career in 1994 as an intern for the New Orleans Saints. In 1995 he became a Player Personnel Assistant for the Cleveland Browns. A year later he would rejoin the Saints after completing his Law Degree at Tulane University Law School.

Tannenbaum’s longest tenure came with his hometown New York Jets from 1997-2012. Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells hired him as the Director of Player Contracts in 1997. Tannenbaum developed in this role and was promoted to Director of Pro Personnel/Assistant General Manager in 2001.

In 2006, Tannenbaum was chosen General Manager/Senior Vice President of Football Operations at 36. Tannenbaum oversaw seven drafts and led the Jets to four winning seasons during his tenure with the team. Before departing New York, Tannenbaum led the Jets to four playoff wins and orchestrated the blockbuster trade for Darrelle Revis.

After a brief break from an NFL front office, Tannenbaum served as the Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the Miami Dolphins. Since leaving Miami, Tannenbaum has joined ESPN as an NFL Front Office Insider. Tannenbaum is a regular on shows such as, ‘Get Up’, ‘First Take’, and ‘This Just In.’ He also teaches Football Business Management: The Inner Workings of the NFL at Columbia University.

In 2019, Tannenbaum founded the NFL’s premiere think tank in The 33rd Team.

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