Week 10 Picks
Hard to believe, but we are more than half way through the NFL season. Some teams are out of it, cough, cough, Jaguars, Jets, Falcons, Buccaneers, Titans, Raiders, but the rest of the teams are still alive for the playoffs.
There are several games this week that will have an impact on the playoff picture from Browns-Bengals, Chiefs-Bills to 49ers-Saints. The Bengals and Browns kickoff Week 10 Thursday night and my prediction on that game and the rest of this week's game are below.
Week 10 Picks (Home team in CAPS)
BENGALS over Browns: This could be a classic Cincinnati Bengals debacle on Thursday night. First off, the Bengals do not play well on national television, e.g. Sunday night versus New England earlier this season. Second, the Bengals have a tendency to play down to the competition aka Jacksonville and Carolina. Third, Cleveland always seems to give the Cincinnati a game.
The Bengals have a better team, no doubt in my mind about that. The question is though, will they play like it. I think it will be a close game, but Jeremy Hill and the running game will be the difference. Bengals 24, Browns 17.
Kansas City over BUFFALO: The Bills do have an advantage being at home and coming off of a bye, but I like the Chiefs here. Kansas City is 5-3 and they have been in every game this season since losing 26-10 in Week 1 to Tennessee. The Chiefs have won three straight since their bye, albeit against the Chargers, Rams and Jets, but they are in the playoff hunt and a win against the Bills will help their odds.
DETROIT over Miami: I know Miami (5-3) has played well the last three week and that they San Diego last week, but their other four wins have come against Oakland, Jacksonville, Chicago and New England back in Week 1 before the Patriots got rolling. I'm still not sold on the Dolphins and with Calvin Johnson returning this week after missing the last three games with an ankle injury for the Lions, I like Detroit at home.
Dallas over JACKSONVILLE (in London): Dallas struggled last week against the Cardinals without Tony Romo and early signs point to him returning under center this Sunday in London. Brandon Weeden is not the answer at quarterback and if the Cowboys are going to continue to have the success they've had in the first half of the season, they are going to need Romo. The Jaguars are really bad, so even if Romo doesn't play, the Cowboys will beat the Jaguars. Also, I look for running back DeMarco Murray to have another 100-yard rushing performance.
NEW ORLEANS over San Francisco: It still baffles me that the 49ers did not hand the ball off to running back Frank Gore once down in the red zone trailing by three against the Rams last week. Instead, the 49ers threw two passes and Colin Kaepernick fumbled on a quarterback sneak from the one-yard line. Poor play calling and at 4-4, San Francisco is in trouble of missing the playoffs. The Saints are tough to beat at home and they have a few extra days since playing last Thursday night. I like Drew Brees and New Orleans in this one.
BALTIMORE over Tennessee: Baltimore has not played well the last two weeks, giving up 70 points in two losses inside the division to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Good news for the Ravens is that the dreadful Tennessee Titans come to town this week. The Titans have won just two games all year and I look for quarterback Joe Flacco to have a big day in a blowout victory.
Pittsburgh over NY JETS: Ben Roethlisberger has thrown 12 touchdown passes in the last two weeks. As a team, the New York Jets have thrown eight touchdown passes in nine games this season. I think I'll take the Steelers in this one. Good news for the Jets is that fans have raised over $10,000 to put up a billboard by MetLife Stadium to encourage owner Woody Johnson to fire general manager John Idzik.
Atlanta over TAMPA BAY: Atlanta and Tampa Bay are a combined 3-13 and both looked destined to have top 10 picks come draft time. The Falcons put up 56 points and 488-yards on the Buccaneers the first time these two played back in Week 3. I don't expect Atlanta to have the same kind of offensive explosion as they had in the first meeting, but I do expect the Falcons to get the win.
Denver over OAKLAND: The Raiders have yet to win a game (0-8) and now face an upset Denver team who is coming off of a beating from the New England Patriots. Good luck, Oakland.
ARIZONA over St. Louis: Good and lucky win for the Rams last week in San Francisco, but a win nonetheless. The Cardinals are the best team in the NFC and will run over the Rams on Sunday as they continue to run away with the NFC West.
SEATTLE over NY Giants: The Seahawks might have struggled to beat the Raiders last week, but I still think they have one of the better teams in football. The Giants have a short week and they looked awful against the Colts Monday night. I like Seattle to get the win at home.
GREEN BAY over Chicago: In their first meeting this season, the Packers beat the Bears 38-17 in Chicago, quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 302-yards and four touchdowns and wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb combined for 17 receptions for 221-yards and four touchdowns. Since that game, the Bears have gone 1-3 and fell into last place in the division, while the Packers have gone 3-1 and are only a game back of the Lions. Two teams headed in different directions and with the Packers coming off of a bye and being at home does not bode well for the Bears on Sunday.
PHILADELPHIA over Carolina: Mark Sanchez is back. With Nick Foles out for at least the next six weeks with a broken clavicle, Mark Sanchez will get another shot to start in the NFL. He came in for Foles last week against Houston and helped Philadelphia get a 31-21 win and the Eagles are currently in first place in the NFC East. Carolina on the other hand has lost four straight and have given up the fourth most points in the league (236). I think Sanchez will play well at home and help the Eagles get the win on Monday night.
Bye: Houston, Indianapolis, Minnesota, New England, San Diego, Washington
Last Week: 10-3
Overall: 93-40-1
There are several games this week that will have an impact on the playoff picture from Browns-Bengals, Chiefs-Bills to 49ers-Saints. The Bengals and Browns kickoff Week 10 Thursday night and my prediction on that game and the rest of this week's game are below.
Week 10 Picks (Home team in CAPS)
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| Jeremy Hill ran wild in his first career NFL start, rushing for 154-yards and two touchdowns against the Jaguars. (The Cincinnati Enquirer/Gary Landers) |
The Bengals have a better team, no doubt in my mind about that. The question is though, will they play like it. I think it will be a close game, but Jeremy Hill and the running game will be the difference. Bengals 24, Browns 17.
Kansas City over BUFFALO: The Bills do have an advantage being at home and coming off of a bye, but I like the Chiefs here. Kansas City is 5-3 and they have been in every game this season since losing 26-10 in Week 1 to Tennessee. The Chiefs have won three straight since their bye, albeit against the Chargers, Rams and Jets, but they are in the playoff hunt and a win against the Bills will help their odds.
DETROIT over Miami: I know Miami (5-3) has played well the last three week and that they San Diego last week, but their other four wins have come against Oakland, Jacksonville, Chicago and New England back in Week 1 before the Patriots got rolling. I'm still not sold on the Dolphins and with Calvin Johnson returning this week after missing the last three games with an ankle injury for the Lions, I like Detroit at home.
Dallas over JACKSONVILLE (in London): Dallas struggled last week against the Cardinals without Tony Romo and early signs point to him returning under center this Sunday in London. Brandon Weeden is not the answer at quarterback and if the Cowboys are going to continue to have the success they've had in the first half of the season, they are going to need Romo. The Jaguars are really bad, so even if Romo doesn't play, the Cowboys will beat the Jaguars. Also, I look for running back DeMarco Murray to have another 100-yard rushing performance.
NEW ORLEANS over San Francisco: It still baffles me that the 49ers did not hand the ball off to running back Frank Gore once down in the red zone trailing by three against the Rams last week. Instead, the 49ers threw two passes and Colin Kaepernick fumbled on a quarterback sneak from the one-yard line. Poor play calling and at 4-4, San Francisco is in trouble of missing the playoffs. The Saints are tough to beat at home and they have a few extra days since playing last Thursday night. I like Drew Brees and New Orleans in this one.
BALTIMORE over Tennessee: Baltimore has not played well the last two weeks, giving up 70 points in two losses inside the division to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Good news for the Ravens is that the dreadful Tennessee Titans come to town this week. The Titans have won just two games all year and I look for quarterback Joe Flacco to have a big day in a blowout victory.
Pittsburgh over NY JETS: Ben Roethlisberger has thrown 12 touchdown passes in the last two weeks. As a team, the New York Jets have thrown eight touchdown passes in nine games this season. I think I'll take the Steelers in this one. Good news for the Jets is that fans have raised over $10,000 to put up a billboard by MetLife Stadium to encourage owner Woody Johnson to fire general manager John Idzik.
Atlanta over TAMPA BAY: Atlanta and Tampa Bay are a combined 3-13 and both looked destined to have top 10 picks come draft time. The Falcons put up 56 points and 488-yards on the Buccaneers the first time these two played back in Week 3. I don't expect Atlanta to have the same kind of offensive explosion as they had in the first meeting, but I do expect the Falcons to get the win.
Denver over OAKLAND: The Raiders have yet to win a game (0-8) and now face an upset Denver team who is coming off of a beating from the New England Patriots. Good luck, Oakland.
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| Head coach Bruce Arians and quarterback Carson Palmer have the Cardinals at 7-1 through nine weeks, the best record in the NFL. (Ric Tapia/ NFL) |
SEATTLE over NY Giants: The Seahawks might have struggled to beat the Raiders last week, but I still think they have one of the better teams in football. The Giants have a short week and they looked awful against the Colts Monday night. I like Seattle to get the win at home.
GREEN BAY over Chicago: In their first meeting this season, the Packers beat the Bears 38-17 in Chicago, quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 302-yards and four touchdowns and wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb combined for 17 receptions for 221-yards and four touchdowns. Since that game, the Bears have gone 1-3 and fell into last place in the division, while the Packers have gone 3-1 and are only a game back of the Lions. Two teams headed in different directions and with the Packers coming off of a bye and being at home does not bode well for the Bears on Sunday.
PHILADELPHIA over Carolina: Mark Sanchez is back. With Nick Foles out for at least the next six weeks with a broken clavicle, Mark Sanchez will get another shot to start in the NFL. He came in for Foles last week against Houston and helped Philadelphia get a 31-21 win and the Eagles are currently in first place in the NFC East. Carolina on the other hand has lost four straight and have given up the fourth most points in the league (236). I think Sanchez will play well at home and help the Eagles get the win on Monday night.
Bye: Houston, Indianapolis, Minnesota, New England, San Diego, Washington
Last Week: 10-3
Overall: 93-40-1
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