Week 10 brings several intriguing NFL matchups, and the season has provided enough evidence to identify many teams’ strengths and weaknesses. Three areas stand out ahead of Sunday’s games: Houston’s passing attack, the Cincinnati–Pittsburgh matchup, and whether Kirk Cousins can help improve Minnesota’s offense.
## Texans may lean on C.J. Stroud’s passing
The Houston Texans run the ball on 37.1% of their plays, the 24th-highest rate in the NFL. Through nine weeks, they have gained 697 rushing yards, a total that suggests the ground game has not been a major strength. Houston has instead shown a clear willingness to rely on quarterback C.J. Stroud.
That approach could suit the Texans against Cleveland. The Browns use man coverage on 43% of their defensive plays, the highest rate in the league. Stroud has been productive against that coverage: he has completed 40 of 66 passes for 411 yards and seven touchdowns, with no interceptions. He has taken just one sack against man coverage.
Stroud has also looked to the slot frequently in those situations, recording 44 targets to slot receivers against man coverage. Tank Dell and Xavier Hutchinson could therefore be involved as Houston looks to exploit the matchup. Given the Texans’ limited rushing production and Stroud’s results against man coverage, Houston may continue to put the ball in its quarterback’s hands.
## Bengals and Steelers set for a Sunday night test
Cincinnati and Pittsburgh meet in a classic AFC North matchup, with first place in the division at stake. The Steelers’ offense may have an opportunity to attack Cincinnati’s run defense, which has struggled against outside runs. The Bengals have allowed an EPA of -0.25 against outside runs, and opponents have found ways to make their linebackers move laterally.
Pittsburgh is a top-five rushing offense, though its approach differs from teams that rely heavily on zone schemes. The Steelers primarily use man-running concepts, but that does not prevent them from getting runners into open space. Tosses and pin-and-pull plays can help them attack the edges.
A successful running game could also create opportunities through the air. Cincinnati’s linebackers have had difficulties against play-action looks, giving Aaron Rodgers a potential path to find receivers over the middle.
The challenge for Pittsburgh is limiting a Cincinnati passing attack led by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The Bengals have been especially effective from shotgun, leading the league in EPA per pass, pass success rate, passing yards and passing touchdowns in that formation.
Cincinnati has lined up in shotgun on 75% of its plays, the highest rate in the NFL. Pittsburgh most often responds to shotgun looks with Cover 3. Against those situations, the Steelers have allowed a 42.6% success rate and an EPA per play of -0.2. They rank ninth in the league in EPA allowed per pass against shotgun formations.
Burrow’s numbers against Cover 3 make the matchup particularly compelling. He has thrown for 926 yards and five touchdowns against the coverage, with two interceptions and an EPA per play of 0.19. Pittsburgh has experience defending shotgun offenses, but slowing Burrow and Cincinnati’s receivers will be a significant test.
## Can Kirk Cousins improve Minnesota’s offense?
The Minnesota Vikings’ offense has struggled, so Kirk Cousins’ arrival could offer a boost. He is familiar with the franchise and head coach Kevin O’Connell, and he has played like a top-12 quarterback this season. Those credentials provide reason for optimism, but they do not guarantee an immediate turnaround.
Minnesota’s rushing attack remains a major concern. The Vikings rank among the league’s bottom five rushing offenses and are 29th in EPA per rush. That weakness matters because O’Connell’s offense depends on the run game to support the passing game. Without an effective ground attack, the offense has struggled regardless of who is taking the snaps.
There are also differences between the Vikings’ offensive tendencies and the approach Cousins has been accustomed to. One notable contrast involves personnel: Cousins has operated with 12 personnel roughly 50% of the time, while Minnesota uses 11 personnel on 54% of its plays, often shifting into 12 personnel. The Vikings’ use of 11 personnel can mean seeing more defensive backs on the field.
Minnesota’s offensive line and lack of rushing production remain concerns. Still, Cousins does not necessarily need to perform at a top-12 level for the Vikings to make progress. If he can provide top-20 quarterback play, the offense could become more efficient and support a defense capable of carrying a larger share of the workload.
A dramatic change should not be expected immediately. A more measured improvement—with Minnesota moving the ball more reliably and reaching 20 points comfortably—would be a reasonable target.
