Monday playbook: Playoff return no sure bet for Giants

• Nothing appears physically wrong with Eli Manning, but the Giants offense sure isn't right
• The Ravens looked awesome Sunday, but problems (and the Steelers) loom
• The Saints may just be marching back to relevance after all

Now that you've slept on the scores and digested the stats, here's an in-depth look at Week 10 of the NFL season, with observations and analysis by the USA TODAY Sports team.

While you read this and sketch playoff possibilities for your favorite team on the backs of napkins, the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears will receive updates on their concussed starting quarterbacks.

Ten things we learned in Week 10

1. The Chicago Bears might have to answer to the league about the way they handled quarterback Jay Cutler's concussion during Sunday night's game against the Houston Texans. Cutler got whacked after throwing what was ruled to be an illegal forward pass (Side note: How did that not get overturned after replays seemed to show he hadn't fully crossed the line?), but he did not leave the game immediately. He played two more series before being pulled at halftime. We'll see what the NFL has to say about that. Given the sensitivity of the issue, it wouldn't be a shock to see the league take action.

2. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green will be careful about what he says in interviews. Though he backed up his perceived trash talk (he said he saw holes in the New York Giants defense), Green believes his quote was "definitely taken out of context." After the Bengals' 31-13 blowout, which Green sparked with a 56-yard touchdown to open the game, he tried to explain his remarks to Giants safety Antrel Rolle, who said a clarification wasn't necessary.

"Listen, there's no bad blood," said Rolle, who vowed he would let his pads do the talking. "I go out here. I play with confidence. It's not about smack-talking. A.J. Green, I think he's a very promising receiver. He's only going to get that much better as the years go on. If I see A.J. Green outside of football, we can definitely hang out. I dialed him up throughout the game, told him, 'Good play.' I respect good players, He's a good player, he's a baller."

3. All Russell Wilson does is win. Yes, that's what was said about a certain other quarterback who was on the opposing sideline in Seattle on Sunday, but it suits Wilson, too. Like Tim Tebow, the stats aren't stellar (182.7 passing yards per game) and there are nagging questions (in Tebow's case, it's his release and accuracy; for Wilson, it's his lack of height). But there should be no questions about Wilson's becoming the first rookie quarterback since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to win the first five home games of the season. At home, Wilson has seven touchdowns to only one interception, and the Seahawks keep playing well in one of the most intimidating venues in the league.

4. Nick Foles is not the immediate answer for the Philadelphia Eagles. For anyone who didn't understand why Andy Reid was sticking with Michael Vick and not going with the rookie, maybe now they see why. Foles threw a pick six, had another interception that was negated by a penalty, and he lost a fumble on a sack to seal the Dallas Cowboys' victory. Still, Foles deserves a shot and a full week of practice. He's the Eagles best long-term hope. Too bad Reid won't be around for all the real start of the Foles era in 2013.

5. Peyton Manning is rolling. How do we know that? Because the Denver Broncos' quarterback threw for 301 yards in Sunday's victory over the Carolina Panthers and tied Dan Marino for second on the all-time list of passing touchdowns and the reaction was basically, "Ho-hum, another Sunday for Peyton."

Manning is on pace to throw only 10 interceptions this season, which would tie for the second-fewest in his career. And it's not like he isn't taking his shots down the field. His 46-yard pass to Demaryius Thomas to set up a touchdown in the fourth quarter showed defenses can't just crowd the short area. Manning can still beat them deep.

6. Calvin Johnson is back to his old self. And we don't just mean from a stat standpoint (12 catches for 207 yards and a touchdown Sunday). The Detroit Lions wide receiver went up to get a couple of balls and, from the moment he left the ground, his body positioning said, "That ball is mine!" That's the way he's done it in the past, but not so much this year as he's been dealing with injuries (he has backed off his "nerve damage" and "concussion" assessments) that have been affecting his ability to catch passes. Johnson said he was improving, and he showed it. Now, if he could only help the Lions avoid these slow starts that were again a problem on Sunday (only three points in the first half) and not fumble the ball in a key moment as he did in Minnesota.

7. It's okay to fake a field goal while up by 31 points in the third quarter. That's what the Baltimore Ravens did to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Credit the Raiders players and coaches for taking the "it's our job to stop them" approach. The question, though, is why the Ravens would put that on film instead of hiding it for later?

8. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren't perfect, and they know it. But they're winning. The Bucs won for the fourth time in five games despite their last-ranked pass defense giving up 337 yards, including 80 on a touchdown to open the game. That play was a quick slant that should've been stopped for no more than 10 yards. The Bucs said all last week they have to fix that defense and can't make mistakes like that. They won't beat better opponents if they keep this up.

9. Eli Manning's arm doesn't appear to be tired. That was the, um, report last week from NFL Films' Greg Cosell, who said he formulated that hypothesis and then got it "sort of confirmed" by someone in the know. Manning's arm didn't seem to be tired when he hit Victor Cruz in the hands for what would've been a long touchdown to open the fourth quarter — if Cruz hadn't dropped it. Manning also had plenty of zip on other passes.

"I've asked him over the last couple of weeks how he feels," coach Tom Coughlin said, "and he responds he feels good."

Said Manning, "I'm still making the throws and I don't feel like it's tired."

10. There can be ties in the NFL. It's a lesson we just can't learn enough, apparently — not even after Donovan McNabb made that mistake a few years ago.

"I didn't know you could tie," San Francisco 49ers safety Dashon Goldson said after his team tied the St. Louis Rams 24-24 on Sunday. "When I saw both sides walking onto the field, I was like, 'Where's everybody going?' "

They were going to Jeff Fisher's press conference, where the Rams coach tried to explain why he called a timeout as soon as his team gained a first-and-goal at the 2-yard line with 1:13 to play, thus leaving time for the Niners to tie the game and send it into overtime — the one and only overtime there can be in the regular season, people.

Taking stock

Here's a glimpse at the NFL market and whether we're getting in or getting out.

SELL: The Manning Espionage Academy. Perhaps you've heard that Peyton and Eli Manning share eight common opponents on their schedules this year. Apparently, Peyton's hints aren't doing much good for his little brother.

Eli's Giants have lost two straight — to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, teams the Denver Broncos already have beaten this season. Against them, Eli has thrown three interceptions, zero TDs, lost a fumble and been sacked six times. Meanwhile, the Broncos cruised past the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, the same team the Giants crushed in Week 3. Is Peyton a better student than teacher? Does Eli pay attention? Whatever the reason, the hints are helping only one of them.

BUY: Something nice for somebody special if you're Rob Bironas. We hear the Tennessee Titans' kicker could be getting a lucrative contract extension soon. And there could be other kicker deals done right behind him.

SELL: St. Louis Rams rookie Janoris Jenkins (and fellow rook Chris Givens) being deactivated for violating team rules. He's trying to prove past character issues are behind him. That's not how it's done.

BUY: The New Orleans Saints' resurgence. They might not wind up making the playoffs, but they've clawed back into this thing quicker than could've been expected.

SELL: The talk of Tebow Time with the New York Jets. Come on, seriously, what's that going to do for that team?

BUY: Tony Romo's escapability. It's still there, as he showed on one play against the Philadelphia Eagles when he avoided three sacks and then delivered a throw for a first down.

SELL: Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin's benching Reggie Bush after a fumble. We know Philbin was trying to make a point, but Bush is their best skill player, and it was only his third fumble this season. Let him play. It's the NFL. Guys fumble from time to time. Bush took it well, however, saying, "If I was the coach, I would've benched me, too."

BUY: The resurgence of the Tennessee Titans' ground game. In this space a few weeks ago, we doubted it would continue. But Chris Johnson has averaged 130.4 yards over his past four games.

SELL: The Atlanta Falcons running game. They've got a good offensive line and a reliable running back in Michael Turner. For whatever reason, they just can't get it going like in years past.

BUY: The Cincinnati Bengals' foundation. A.J. Green, Andy Dalton, Geno Atkins and a few others form a strong nucleus. Their schedule and current standing two games out of a playoff spot will keep them from making any real noise this season, though.

SELL: The New England Patriots pass defense. They allowed 337 yards to Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Buffalo Bills. They're still nowhere near where they want to be, even if Devin McCourty saved the day with his interception in the end zone.

BUY: Cranky Bud Adams. Just about every time the Titans owner has threatened to make sweeping changes, players and coaches have responded — dating back to 1999 when he grew impatient with a slow start. After he put then-coach Jeff Fisher's job on the line, the team finished 13-3 and reached the Super Bowl. Fisher eventually received contact extensions. Well, the Titans responded again Sunday, whipping the Dolphins 37-3.

Week 10 awards

Comeback player of the week — Andy Dalton: The Bengals quarterback threw for a career-best four touchdowns while torching the Giants and pulling his 4-5 Bengals out of a four-game losing skid.

Surprise performance — Norv Turner: The normally mild-mannered Chargers coach went off on a postgame question about whether his team's second-half loss to Tampa Bay was unacceptable. "Is it acceptable? No it's not acceptable ... having a blocked punt and having an interception for a touchdown? No. OK? That's not what we're trying to accomplish out there. We're trying to win games." If only his fading team, now 4-5 and putting Turner's job in jeopardy, would show the same fire.

Biggest disappointment — Eli Manning: He continues to struggle and raise questions about the rapport with his receivers, given two more interceptions, which give him four in his past three games. The Giants (6-4), once with a stranglehold on the NFC East, have lost two straight.

Flying under the radar

Jeff Fisher's Rams continue to show progress. And while a tie usually doesn't qualify as reason to celebrate, the Rams (3-5-1) roughed up San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith (concussion) and played the 49ers to a 24-24 stalemate. This season, the Rams have pummeled NFC West quarterbacks Russell Wilson, Kevin Kolb and Smith.

With that San Francisco tie, the Seattle Seahawks (6-4) are in the running for the NFC West title with a fast and physical defense of their own married to Marshawn Lynch's trampling running. Lynch has five straight 100-yard rushing games. If the Seahawks can get Wilson to play more consistently, they can be a wild-card lock.

Everybody is talking about the rookie quarterback crop. But over the past five games, Tampa Bay's Josh Freeman has thrown 13 touchdowns with one interception for the 5-4 Bucs.

Under the microscope

The Raiders have allowed 97 points in consecutive losses. Wasn't former Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen supposed to make them stingier?

Philip Rivers has 12 interceptions, second most to Tony Romo's 13. Rivers continues to shoot his team in the foot with ill-timed turnovers that the Chargers (4-5) aren't good enough to overcome.

Just about everyone in the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area is calling for Jets coach Rex Ryan to start Tim Tebow over Mark Sanchez, who threw his fourth red-zone interception.

We'd be concerned if we were ...

The Ravens. Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (shoulder) and cornerback Jimmy Smith (stomach) were forced to sit out Sunday's romp over Oakland, and safety Ed Reed aggravated a shoulder injury. Baltimore (7-2) heads into the first of two key AFC North showdowns against Pittsburgh over the next three weeks.

The Giants secondary. Cornerback Corey Webster has been a target since Dallas Cowboys receiver Kevin Ogletree victimized him in the season opener. The Giants have allowed nine receiving touchdowns of 26 yards or longer this season.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera. His team has fallen to 2-7 with former Giants GM Ernie Accorsi, now a consultant, evaluating a coaching staff that can't seem to commit to the run.

We'd feel pretty good if we were ...

Drew Brees and the Saints. They're making an amazing second-half run. Knocking off the previously unbeaten Atlanta Falcons is a pretty good way to keep things going after last week's wake-up win over the Eagles.

Von Miller. He got the better of Cam Newton in Sunday's matchup of the 2011 offensive and defensive rookies of the year. Miller had a sack and four tackles for losses, and he pressured Newton into a costly interception, doing Newton's signature Superman move after one of his pressures.

Marvin Lewis. The Bengals have hit the re-set button with woeful Kansas City up next.

Don't be surprised if ...

Coach Tom Coughlin goes back to training-camp mode in run-game blocking with the sputtering Giants during their bye week. They've got a brutal finishing stretch, beginning with a Nov. 25 game against Green Bay, and they've got to get the run game cranking to help get Eli Manning get back into rhythm.

Jets coach Rex Ryan expands Tim Tebow's package of plays, possibly to include a couple of series. Tebow completed all three of his pass attempts against Seattle, but they went for a total of 8 yards.

The Dolphins miss the playoffs. Rookie Ryan Tannehill had a Sunday meltdown with three costly interceptions against the revitalized Titans. And with the Bengals snapping out of it, the AFC North could have three teams make the playoffs for a second straight season.

The Broncos, winners of four straight, lock up the AFC West race by Thanksgiving with upcoming games against San Diego and Kansas City. They've already beaten the Chargers in that memorable second-half comeback from a 24-0 deficit. With a strong finish, they could edge out the New England Patriots for AFC home-field advantage.

Adrian Peterson finishes as the league's leading rusher. Imagine what he could do if he were 100% healthy. The league's leading rusher had 120 of his 171 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown in the final quarter of a 34-24 throttling of the Detroit Lions.

Contributing: Mike Garafolo, Jim Corbett, Nate Davis, USA TODAY Sports