After going 6-8 in my picks last week, it's time to go back to the basics in this incredibly unpredictable NFL season. Time to put up or shut up. We're in Week 10 and there's a fantastic slate of games on the schedule. All 32 teams are in action this week, however due to the Thursday night game already complete (an embarrassing home loss for Rives and the Chargers to the their division rival Raiders) we have 15 games to pick today. Let's not waste anymore time with details, ONTO THE GAMES!
Titans visit Panthers: I picked Tennessee last week to 'upset' the Bengals at home, I thought Chris Johnson would finally break out of his slump, and lastly, I said Cincy's rookie QB had to finally slow down. I was wrong on all three. Carolina is fresh off their bye week and I like Cam Newton to run and throw all over the Titan defense today. Panthers win by 10.
Pittsburgh looks to rebound in Cincinnati: Great division matchup here. With the Bengals at 6-2, every football fan across the country is wondering - are they for real? The Steelers are coming off a last-second home loss to the hated Ravens and need this one badly to avoid going 0-3 in the division. As much as I want to pick the Bengals, gotta go back to the basics. Big Ben has just enough weapons to use on Cincy's top three NFL defense and the Pitt D will frustrate Dalton into a few turnovers to shift the game in the Steelers favor. Pittsburgh comes out on top by 7.
Saints collide with Falcons in ATL: Any time these two teams get together we're usually treated to one helluva game, today will be no different. Drew Brees vs. Matt Ryan. The dirty birds think they've recovered their mojo and New Orleans looks like serious competition for the unbeaten Packers down the road in the playoffs. I believe the Saints are the better team but they're not playing in their dome. The Falcons thrive off playing in front of their home crowd, narrowly defeat the Saints by 4.
Rams stumble into Cleveland: Talk a battle of lowly teams, the Browns have lost four of five games and St. Louis has only one win this season. Can't afford to waste much time on this game, home team takes advantages of multiple St. Louis miscues. Brownies win by 5.
Colts host Jaguars, trying to avoid tenth straight loss: Many are saying this is Indy's best shot at a victory for the rest of the season. They might be right, but I still don't see it happening. Jacksonville's defense will rise to the occasion and their rookie quarterback will put just enough points on the board. The home teams goes into their bye week at 0-10 and need to seriously start considering the tough reality that they could go 0-16 this season. Jax wins by 10.
Bills clash with Cowboys in Big D: Talk about must win for each team. If Dallas wants any shot at winning their division they gotta have this game. The Bills are coming off a disheartening home loss to the Jets and desperately need to get back on the winning track to prevent this season's promising start from derailing like so many past failures. Romo will be challenged by the Buffalo defense and Fred Jackson needs to have a huge day for the Bills to have a chance. This one will definitely come down to the wire. While I would love to pick Buffalo here, I think their youth shows late in the game. Cowboys by 2 in the game of the day.
Tebow leads Broncos into KC: The Broncos are following the lead of their emotional leader Tim Tebow and have been surprisingly more competitive since the change at quarterback. Matt Cassel hopes to help his team rebound from a dismal performance last week when his Chiefs were beat down in a blowout by the previously win-less Dolphins. Two very inconsistent teams in a rocky division with no clear front-runner. Again, I'd love to go with Tebowmania but he's on a roller coaster ride this season. Last week was a nice up, so we're do for a big fall. KC rebounds, beats Broncos by 10.
Struggling Skins wander into Miami: The Dolphins played their best game of the season last week, thrashing the Chiefs in Kansas City. Washington has hit their typical mid-season slump, losing four in a row. Don't expect things to get better any time soon. Miami has too many good players on their team and the Redskins injuries continue to mount. Phins win a wild one over the Skins after a touchdown drive late in the 4th quarter. Miami wins by 6 and has a two game winning streak!
Cardinals fly into Philly: At the beginning of the season this would have been one of the better games on this week's slate. Former Eagle QB Kevin Kolb leads his new team into Philly to prove Andy Reid chose the wrong quarterback. High-powered offenses scoring points in bunches. Sadly, neither seem likely. Kolb will miss another game due to injury, DeSean Jackson is inactive today for Philadelphia after he missed a team meeting Saturday. Not to mention, both teams are a combined 5-11. The Eagles are on severe life support after their devastating home loss to the Bears last Monday night. Arizona is fresh off an overtime victory on their field over the Rams, in which rookie sensation Patrick Peterson returned a punt 99 yards for the game-winning touchdown. All that being said... I expect an angry Eagles team to take the field Sunday and punish the Cardinals with a heavy dose of RB LeSean McCoy. Philly crushes Cards by 17.
Texans travel to Tampa: Intriguing match-up today by the bay. Houston has kept the ship steady despite mammoth injuries to key players. At 4-4, the Bucs need this win to stay in pursuit of the division title. The Texans are trying to win their seventh game and present themselves as serious contenders in a wide open AFC Conference. As tempting as it is to go with Tampa, Ben Tate and Arian Foster have formed an unstoppable tandem. I like the Texans to move to 7-3 and beat the Buccaneers by 7.
Ravens go west to face Seahawks: Potentially a let-down game for Baltimore? No, they had their one ugly game in Jacksonville last month and Seattle is a mess. Granted the 'Hawks do play better at home and the Ravens won't be as jacked up as they were last week in Pittsburgh. Still, Suggs and Lewis will feast on a pathetic Seahawk offense that can't seem to find its niche. Ravens by 13.
Bears host Lions with payback in mind: The Bears were humbled in Detroit four weeks ago on MNF in a game that meant so much to the Lions. This heated division match-up now means the world to each team. With serious playoff ramifications on the line, expect this game to be one of today's best. Megatron will get his for Detroit but Chicago's defense will get the last laugh. Bears hold off Lions by 9.
Giants go west to take on Niners: An instant classic. This may not be the last time these two NFC contenders meet this season as a game in January is a realistic possibility. San Francisco has surprised the league this year roaring out of the gates at 7-1, their only loss by three points in overtime to the Cowboys. The Gmen come into this game after winning a major heavyweight bout last week in New England. Can Alex Smith outplay Eli Manning? Will Frank Gore run wild on Tom Coughlin's D? Two big questions that will absolutely determine the outcome in this game. I like the 49ers to win a back and forth battle, holding off a late New York charge in final minutes to hold on by 4.
Jets/Pats Part II: New England gave Rex's crew a heavy batch of their own medicine four weeks ago in Foxboro, grounding and pounding the Jets all day long for a nine point victory. Now the rivalry shifts to the Meadowlands where Gang Green has had great success against Brady and Belichick since Ryan and Sanchez have taken over the J-E-T-S. The Patriots come into this game on a two-game losing streak. The last time NE lost three straight games was nine years ago, wow! The Jets crushed the Bills last Sunday in Buffalo forcing a three-way tie for first place in the AFC East. This a must-win for each team and should provide us with a clear frontrunner for the division crown. As maligned as the Pats defense has been, I expect them to put forth a valiant effort tonight and keep the Jets offense in check. The chess match of Brady vs. Ryan is always a compelling, entertaining one to watch. Rex loves to pressure the New England quarterback but Tom Brady knows what's coming. Should be a fantastic game and I like the Patriots to finish the game with a long methodical drive, defeating the home-team Jets by 7.
Vikings take on Packers in GB: Minnesota played the Packers closely in a narrow six point loss two Sundays ago. However that game was at home. Now they go on the road to Lambeau Field. The Packers are 8-0 and overcame a huge hurdle last week in San Diego, sneaking out of town with a 45-38 victory. Christian Ponder played remarkably well in their first meeting, which was his first NFL start. But the rookie will undergo some growing pains on Monday night. Green Bay's defense shines bright as the Pack wins handily, beating the Vikes by 16.
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