Week 10 already, and it's do or die time for a lot of teams as a bunch of the top seeds already seem to be spoken for. Who's going to make it happen?
GAME OF THE WEEK - New England Patriots (8-0) at New York Giants (5-4), NE by 7 - If people think this one is going to be a blowout, I'd say they're most likely wrong. The Giants once again seem to have the make of a team that can frustrate them. While they're not as defensively strong as they were in their two Super Bowl seasons, they can still get after the QB and can still make enough plays on offense to stay with them. I think the Patriots win, but I think the Giants give it a good fight. Patriots 24, Giants 20
THURSDAY NIGHT - Buffalo Bills (4-4) at New York Jets (5-3), NYJ by 2.5 - Really big game for the AFC East and AFC wildcard picture. Could very well be an elimination game here for these teams. Rex Ryan going back to the Meadowlands will most certainly be the story here. The Bills are the more talented team, but are they disciplined enough to go on the road in a short week against a divisional rival in an uber important game and pick up the win? Fuck it, it's Rex Ryan, why not. UPSET! - Bills 20, Jets 16
Detroit Lions (1-7) at Green Bay Packers (6-2), GB by 11 - Man, I'm almost tempted to pick the Lions here, given how fucking terrible the Packers have looked for 7 of the last 8 quarters of play. It's pretty clear at this point that the Packers are incapable of beating high-quality competition. Fortunately for them, the Lions are not that, and they haven't won in Wisconsin since 1991. If the Packers lose this, just consider them done. Packers 33, Lions 16
Dallas Cowboys (2-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5), TB by 1.5 - Dallas's record over the last six games just goes to show how incredibly valuable Tony Romo is to this team, and how all his haters should stfu. Tampa is at home and has played surprisingly well against certain competition this year, but Dallas is absolutely desperate for a win and has at least been competitive in most of its games. If they're going to take one before Romo gets back, it'd be this one. UPSET!- Cowboys 24, Bucs 20
Carolina Panthers (8-0) at Tennessee Titans (2-6), CAR by 4.5 - The Panthers have been really impressive with a determination to prove themselves. They're easily the class of the NFC at this point, and even though the Titans managed to surprise New Orleans, they just don't have enough muscle to get past a team that's this physical. Panthers 23, Titans 17
Chicago Bears (3-5) at St. Louis Rams (4-4), STL by 7.5 - Interesting matchup here. The Bears showed signs of life against the Chargers, but the Rams are a ground and pound physical sort of team, which the Bears certainly are not at this point. Then again, St. Louis tends to lose games it should win. Still, I'm going to take the Rams at home in a tight one. Rams 20, Bears 17
New Orleans Saints (4-5) at Washington Redskins (3-5), NO by 1 - Both of these teams are tough to figure out, but especially the Saints, who had no business losing at home to the Titans last week but did anyway. Playing on the road against the Redskins, they should still be able to pull out the win, but again, they're impossible to figure out. Saints 27, Redskins 17
Miami Dolphins (3-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (4-4), PHI by 6 - The Dolphins are starting to fall apart once again after winning a couple straight under their new coach. The Eagles need this game to keep pace in the NFC East. They should get it. Eagles 24, Dolphins 13
Cleveland Browns (2-7) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4), PIT by 4.5 - Probably no Ben Roethlisberger, definitely no Leveon Bell. I think the Browns can steal one from the battered Steelers. UPSET! - Browns 17, Steelers 14
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) at Baltimore Ravens (2-6), BAL by 6 - I'm probably overthinking this game, but I really think the Jaguars can win here. They've got a surprisingly potent passing attack, and the Ravens' offense hasn't done enough to prove they're capable of being a big time scoring threat. I think the Jaguars manage to outgun them for the upset. UPSET! - Jaguars 24, Ravens 20
Minnesota Vikings (6-2) at Oakland Raiders (4-4), OAK by 3.5 - Really good matchup here, one I'm looking forward to hopefully watching. Two opposite teams, with the Vikings being a methodical, defensive team and the Raiders starting to show off a high-flying offense with a defense that relies on turnovers. Playing at home I'm going to take the Raiders, but this one could really go either way. Raiders 27, Vikings 23
Kansas City Chiefs (3-5) at Denver Broncos (7-1), DEN by 6.5 - The Chiefs have fared surprisingly well without Jamaal Charles, but there's no way they're getting past this defense. Broncos 17, Chiefs 10
Arizona Cardinals (6-2) at Seattle Seahawks (4-4), SEA by 3 - Another big-time matchup, one that probably means the season for the Seahawks at this point. The Cardinals are the better team, but the Seahawks are desperate and playing at home. I think they manage to grind it out. Seahawks 23, Cardinals 17
Houston Texans (3-5) at Cincinnati Bengals (8-0), CIN by 11 - The Bengals could very well be the best overall team in the league right now. They shouldn't have an issue with the Texans. Bengals 34, Texans 13
BYES: Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers
NOTE: I won't have time to write my picks for a couple days, but wanted to get this up today!
