21 points separated these two, and Patriots had all of them. Drake Maye was steady for Patriots — 14/23, 262 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT. Josh Hines-Allen was the problem for Steelers — 3.5 sacks — in a losing effort. Total yards: Patriots 298, Steelers 99.

Scoreboard operators earned their money. Steelers 41, Rams 21. Aaron Rodgers did the damage for Steelers — 15/22, 379 yards, 5 TD. Eric Singleton Jr. moved the ball for Steelers — 3 catches, 157 yards, 3 TD. Matthew Stafford has not had a better afternoon this season. Through the air: Steelers 379, Rams 137.

Ava Collins: "Pittsburgh's passing game was too much: Rodgers threw for 407 yards and 5 touchdowns while Carolina managed just 141 through the air, and that gap decided everything in a 45-10 rout." Jaylen Rivers: "Pittsburgh's defense never had to be particularly sharp in a 35-point win, and that's the only thing keeping this from looking like a complete performance — they got to play loose while Carolina's offense couldn't stay on the field."

A long afternoon for Panthers. Steelers by 35. Aaron Rodgers threw for Steelers — 24/40, 407 yards, 5 TD. Michael Pittman did the catching for Steelers — 5 catches, 135 yards, 1 TD. Aaron Rodgers has now cleared 250 passing yards in 6 in a row. Through the air: Steelers 407, Panthers 141.

Jordan Hayes: "Pittsburgh had 472 yards and still lost by 11—that's what 6 turnovers does to you. The Steelers can't win playing hot potato, no matter how many times Aaron Rodgers finds the end zone." Priya Hale: "Baltimore got away with 4 interceptions and 7 sacks allowed—they won because Pittsburgh's 6 turnovers were worse, not because the Ravens' offense ran clean."

Baltimore won 48-37 in a game where both teams abandoned the run entirely—Pittsburgh threw on 84 percent of plays and Baltimore on 81 percent, well above the league average of 62—yet the Ravens still pulled away by 11 points despite Aaron Rodgers throwing for 434 yards and 4 touchdowns alongside 6 interceptions. Lamar Jackson matched those 4 passing touchdowns with his own 4 interceptions, but Zay Flowers caught 3 passes for 163 yards and 2 scores to tip the scales, and Baltimore's turnover margin of plus-11 over the season meant Pittsburgh's 6 giveaways cost them far more than Jackson's mistakes cost Baltimore. The Steelers moved the ball—472 total yards to Baltimore's 409—yet finished at 10-4 while the Ravens, who own a scoring margin 3 points better when adjusted for strength of schedule, improved to 9-5 and look the sturdier team down the stretch.

Texans had it there to be taken. Steelers took it, 17-14. Aaron Rodgers threw for Steelers — 15/27, 261 yards, 2 TD. C.J. Stroud did the damage for Texans — 20/42, 250 yards, 2 TD — in a losing effort. Make it 3 consecutive games past 250 for Aaron Rodgers. Through the air: Steelers 261, Texans 250.

Pittsburgh's 40-23 win over Denver came down to efficiency and balance. Aaron Rodgers completed 20 of 35 for 286 yards and 2 touchdowns while turning it over twice, but the Steelers dominated on the ground with 205 rushing yards and controlled the game's tempo by passing on just 48 percent of plays. Bo Nix stayed busy in a losing effort, going 19 for 46 for 258 yards with 2 scores, while Jaylen Waddle caught 6 for 146 yards and both Denver touchdowns—but the Broncos' 26 rushing yards and 81 percent pass rate left them vulnerable. Pittsburgh's 9-2 record reflects a team that can win without leaning on Rodgers to beat you; Denver's 8-4 record masks a team that had to throw to stay competitive and still fell 17 short.