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Following a busy trade deadline, Week 10 of the 2026 NFL season features crucial contests across the league as playoff races intensify. While high-profile games draw major headlines, several under-the-radar matchups carry significant postseason implications, divisional rivalries, and notable quarterback debuts.
Deshaun Watson Faces Former Team as Texans Visit Browns
The Cleveland Browns (5-4) host the Houston Texans (3-5) on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX. Quarterback Deshaun Watson returns to action for Cleveland after missing last week’s contest with a concussion. The game holds added personal significance as Watson faces the franchise that selected him 12th overall in the 2017 draft and where he played through 2021.
Both teams are fighting to maintain position in the AFC playoff race. Cleveland currently sits ninth in the conference standings, just outside the postseason bubble, while Houston ranks 11th. Projections by CBS Sports indicate that a Cleveland victory increases its playoff probability from 19.0% to 52.6%, whereas a Houston win boosts its postseason odds from 16.75% to 50.1%.
The game presents compelling tactical battles. Houston ranks third in passing offense at 296.4 yards per game, while Cleveland’s defense has allowed the sixth-fewest passing yards at 201.0 per contest. Houston’s pass rush tied a franchise record with eight sacks last week, which could create challenges for Cleveland’s offensive line. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud enters following a five-touchdown performance, while Cleveland aims to snap a two-game losing streak.
Rookie Fernando Mendoza Makes First Start for Raiders Against Seahawks
The Las Vegas Raiders travel to face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS. Following the trade of Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings before the deadline, top overall pick Fernando Mendoza will make his first NFL start for Las Vegas. Cousins left Vegas after posting 2,340 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and eight interceptions across nine starts, leading the team to a 4-5 record.
Mendoza faces a formidable test against a Seattle defense that leads the league by allowing just 155.1 passing yards and 244.2 total yards per game. Although Las Vegas ranks fifth in passing yards per game at 259.7, its rushing attack ranks second-to-last at 71.3 yards per contest.
Seattle is also adjusting its offensive lineup. With Sam Darnold sidelined, backup quarterback Drew Lock is set to start his second consecutive game while managing elbow and oblique injuries. Seattle may rely more heavily on its ground game against a Las Vegas defense that allows a league-high 151.2 rushing yards per game.
Steelers and Bengals Clash in AFC North Showdown
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals close out Sunday’s schedule at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. Both AFC North rivals enter the matchup with 6-2 records and four-game winning streaks. Pittsburgh currently holds the divisional lead and the AFC’s No. 4 seed due to a 2-1 division record, while Cincinnati occupies the No. 6 seed with a 1-1 divisional mark.
This meeting marks the second clash between the teams this season, following Pittsburgh’s 30-27 victory in their first contest. The outcome could prove decisive in head-to-head tiebreakers for the division title later in the year.
The two teams enter under different circumstances. Pittsburgh returns rested following a bye week, whereas Cincinnati travels home after competing in an international game in Madrid. One team’s four-game winning streak will come to an end on Sunday night.
