NFL Week 10 Preview/Predictions

Graphic creds to Brad Stewart.

By: Joe Smeltzer
Hello, all. Week 10 is here. Bradley W. Stewart is off this week, while the rest of us are ready to roll. Let's get into it.
1:00 
Saints (6-2) at Bills (5-3)

Update: Matt Forte will not be playing for the Jets. But the Bucs are without Jameis Winston, so, yeah. Still go with New York. Talk about a toss-up game. New Orleans is the hottest team in the NFL, having won six straight after starting the season 0-2, while Buffalo has yet to lose at home this season. Although I love the Saints defense and think that they are a threat in the NFC, because of the home field advantage, I'm going to take the Bills in this one.
Before last Thursday's debacle at the Meadowlands, LeSean McCoy was starting to catch fire. I expect the Bills running back to get back on track Sunday. That, along with steady quarterback play from Tyrod Taylor and Buffalo's stout defense, will be enough for the Bills to get a big win in their pursuit of their first playoff berth in almost two decades.

Bills 24, Saints 21

Where's A-Rod?
Packers (4-3) at Bears (3-5) 

Ok, probably won't be this lopsided. (Photo creds to PackersHistory.net)

It's so obvious, but it's true. Green Bay is nothing without Aaron Rodgers. So get ready, Chicago. Your former "Monsters of the Midway" won't feel like little brothers Sunday, and could even finish ahead of the Packers in the NFC North. Bear down, Chicago Bears.


Bears 27, Packers 16

Will the Browns win?

Browns (0-1999) at Lions (4-4) 

Remember when Browns fans almost killed an officiating crew by throwing glass bottles? Good times. (Photo creds to Cleveland.com)

Two of the worst franchises in NFL history are in the Motor City this week. The difference between Cleveland and Detroit is that one of them is playing up to its reputation, while the other is halfway decent. I don't have to tell you which one is which, do I?

Browns Lose 

Bengals (3-5) at Titans (5-3) 

Photo creds to titansonline.com

I'm not crazy about Tennesse yet. The Titans don't  have that "it" factor that would establish themselves among the NFL's elite. However, they have a lot more going on than Cincinnati does. 

Besides playing at home and being an all-around better football team than the Bengals, another thing that the Titans have going for them is that Marcus Mariota knows how to do his job under pressure, which would neutralize one of Cincy's biggest strengths, which is rushing the quarterback. If Mariota can avoid Carlos Dunlap, Carl Lawson and the rest of the Bengals pass rush, Tennesse will be well on it's way to moving to 6-3. 

Titans 30, Bengals 21

Jets (4-5) at Bucs (2-6) 

Photo creds to NY Daily News

If somebody had told me before the season that the bloody Jets would go on the road to take on Jameis Winston and Mike Evans and be expected by me to get a win over Tampa Bay, I would have questioned that person's sanity.  But here we are.

I had high hopes for Tampa Bay going into the season. I thought that the Bucs had finally figured it out, and were poised to not only make the playoffs but had a reasonable shot at a Super Bowl berth as well. Dude, I was way off. 

Tampa stinks, and the Jets running back duo of Matt Forte and Bilal Powell doesn't. It's still a bold pick, but give me New York's other team in this one. 

Jets 24, Bucs 20

Vikings (6-2) at Redskins (4-4) 

I have a gut feeling about this game. Minnesota is a good football team, and they have been superior to Washington this season. But the Redskins might have something going. The 'Skins showed great resolve last week in Seattle, and maybe that will propel them to make some noise in the second half of the season. 

Since the Vikings have won five of their last six, I figure they have to come back to earth at some point. I think that Kirk Cousins will build off of last week's heroics, Washington will win a classic, and all of a sudden, the 'Skins will have won two straight. Might not be enough to scare Philly yet, but its a start.

Redskins 28, Vikings 24

Chargers (3-5) at Jags (3-5) 

Rookie RB Leonard Fournette is back (Photo creds to USA Today FTW)

Jacksonville showed tremendous character last week. Not only did Doug Marrone show who he is by benching Leonard Fournette, but his team showed who it is by pounding its opponent anyway, beating Cincinnati, 23-7. 

Fournette looks to be back Sunday, and I expect him to be back with a vengeance. The Jags are sitting pretty right now, and as long as Fournette and Jalen Ramsey don't prove to be distractions, Jacksonville will be good to go. 

Steelers at Colts

Donny Chedrick has that covered right here.

4:05

Texans (3-5) at Rams (6-2)

Aaron Donald is a hoss, in case you don't know. (Photo creds to Fantasy Pros)

LA is rolling. Arguably the NFL's biggest surprise this season, the Rams are in the driver's seat of the NFC West, and there is no reason to expect a Texans team that just lost to Jacoby Brissett to stop this train from rolling. The Rams will stay hot, while the Texans will be left to wonder what this season could have been if DeShaun Watson had stayed healthy. 

Rams 38, Texans 14

4:25

Cowboys (5-3) at Falcons (4-4) 

Photo creds to The Telegraph

Yes, Ezekiel Elliot is MIA. But believe it or not, I still expect the Cowboys to run the football. Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden are two established and capable running backs, and even if left tackle Tyron Smith can't go, the Cowboys still have an elite offensive line that will go against an Atlanta run defense that allows over four yards per carry on average. I also feel that while both quarterbacks will come to play Sunday, Dak Prescott will get the best of Matt Ryan with a thrilling game-winning drive in the final minutes. Love it or hate it, the boys will keep on rolling. 

Cowboys 27, Falcons 24

Who the Hell Cares?

Giants (1-7) at 49ers (0-9) 

Listen to the first 15 seconds of  "Puke" by Slim Shady. Then put it on a three-hour loop. That's probably a solid alternative to watching this game. 

Who cares what the score is? Or who wins? Honestly. 

Sunday Night

Patriots (6-2) at Broncos (3-5) 

Photo creds to pinterest

Remember in 2015, when Bum Osweiler ended the Patriots 13-game winning streak at Mile High on Sunday Night Football? Yeah, that's not happening again. After a rough start to the year, New England is back to being New England, and Denver will pay.

Patriots 34, Broncos 13

Whereeeeesssss Jay?

Monday Night

Dolphins (4-4) at Panthers (6-3) 

Photo creds to CNBC.Com

I have to tip my hat to Cam Newton. After that embarssing display in the Windy City Oct. 22, the Panthers have regrouped and won two in a row. The main reason for Carolina's success has been its defense. The Panthers have allowed just 20 points the past two weeks, and I can't see how Jay Cutler and the Jay-Ajayi-less Dolphins can score any more than 10 against Luke Kuechly and a fierce Carolina unit.

Panthers 24, Dolphins 9