Philly Picks Up Key Division Win; Contenders Roll
Week 9 Results: 9-4
Record this season: 86-48
Midway through the season and there’s been something I think most of us want to know, who’s leading the NFL MVP race?
After last week, I’d have to give a slight nod to Drew Brees. While Patrick Mahomes is operating at a machine-like level, in my opinion it’s not as impressive as Drew Brees’ season right now.
Brees is completing 76.3 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,336 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and just one interception with an NFL-best 120.6 Passer Rating.
At 39-years-old, the veteran looks like he’s playing in peak form. Certainly from a mental standpoint he’s as great as he’s ever been, but he’s not just throwing the ball for short yardage accurately, he’s flinging it all over the field. And for that, he’s gotta be the NFL MVP to this point having led the Saints to a 7-1 record.
Also, in New Orleans’ only loss, he threw for 439 passing yards and three touchdowns with a 82.2 percent completion percentage…
Just sayin’.
The NFL Week 10 slate doesn’t have a marque matchup on the docket, with a Thursday night matchup between the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers the only great matchup on paper.
Still, the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints could be surprised with road test in Tennessee and Cincinnati respectfully.
There’s also an NFC East matchup happening on Sunday night in Philadelphia that could go a long way for either team trying to win the division.
The games will be much more important in just a few weeks, but for this week in particular it appears a number of contenders should cruise through the week.
With that said, here are my picks for Week 10 of the NFL season.
Carolina Panthers at Pittsburgh Steelers
This could be lower scoring than I have it, but if I thought that to be the case I’d be ignorantly ignoring the offensive potency of both teams. The Panthers won in their last trip to Pennsylvania, but they’ll find it tougher sledding against a team that typically lights up the scoreboard at home.
Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers 24 Carolina Panthers 19
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets
Neither Josh Allen or Sam Darnold will play. Even if one or the other did, neither team is playing well offensively. The Jets are decimated with injuries on offense, and while Josh McCown is normally reliable, he’s going up against a Bills team that can rush the passer enough to effect his timing.
Prediction: Buffalo Bills 16 New York Jets 10
Arizona Cardinals at Kansas City Chiefs
We all know Kansas City’s offense is great, but their defense has picked it up over the past three weeks. Against one of the worst offenses in the NFL, that unit shouldn’t have much trouble on Sunday at home.
Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs 38 Arizona Cardinals 17
New Orleans Saints at Cincinnati Bengals
A much closer game with A.J. Green in the lineup, but we all know even with him Cincinnati is not a better football team than New Orleans. This could be as hard or as easy as Drew Brees and company make it, and I’m guessing they’ll be looking for blood on Sunday.
Prediction: New Orleans Saints 34 Cincinnati Bengals 16
Atlanta Falcons at Cleveland Browns
The Atlanta Falcons have put themselves back in the playoff conversation with three straight wins. We all know about the offensive weapons and the play of Matt Ryan, but the Falcons defense has slowly put it together as a unit after being torn apart by injuries early in the year. The Browns offensive line is a concern and while the defense creates turnovers, they’ve allowed 70 points over their last two games.
Prediction: Atlanta Falcons 30 Cleveland Browns 20
New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans
The Titans defense can be terrific at times, but against top signal callers they can be had. Tom Brady has just one touchdown pass over the last two weeks, but it’s hard envisioning that continuing if Sony Michel and Rob Gronkowski return as expected.
Prediction: New England Patriots 30 Tennessee Titans 16
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis is playing good football all of late, and there’s really no reason to pick them to lose this one. Surely, there’s always the chance Jacksonville’s defense returns to form, but I’m not seeing it. The Colts defense can bring pressure to disrupt Bortles and with their newfound rushing attack, Luck should have his way with a depleted secondary
Prediction: Indianapolis Colts 24 Jacksonville Jaguars 16
Washington Redskins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Playing a team that’s lost six out of their past seven games would seem like the perfect storm for Washington coming off a 38-14 loss at home to Atlanta, but the Buccaneers have a strong offense. Unless Josh Doctson and Paul Richardson start getting separation on the outside for Alex Smith, Washington’s NFC East lead will disappear here.
Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24 Washington Redskins 17
Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland Raiders
This is about as sure of a lock as you’ll get this week. The Chargers held the Raiders to 10 points in their first matchup and now with Oakland having traded away Amari Cooper, that’s one less pass catcher to work about for a team that can’t run the football and has become increasingly one dimensional. And dysfunctional.
Prediction: Los Angeles Chargers 42 Oakland Raiders 17
Miami Dolphins at Green Bay Packers
The Packers played tough on the road vs the Rams and Patriots, but ultimately came up empty handed. If there’s a team they want to play right now, it’s the Miami Dolphins, who can’t win on the road and have a suspect secondary and run defense to boot.
Prediction: Green Bay Packers 24 Miami Dolphins 7
Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams should be looking at this game as if there’s something to prove. How quickly have people begun jumping off their bandwagon as a lock for the Super Bowl after their defensive woes reached a new low last week vs New Orleans. Look for Marcus Peters to rebound here and get an interception after he was torched by Michael Thomas last week.
Prediction: Los Angeles Rams 36 Seattle Seahawks 17
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia has not been anything like the team we saw last season, but the addition of Golden Tate has the potential to bring a level of scariness that this offense desperately needs minus a consistent rushing attack Dallas’ defense will make it tough, but ultimately the Cowboys offense will be too much to overcome.
Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles 27 Dallas Cowboys 17
New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers
It may be a game that only matters in terms of draft positioning when it’s all said and done, but the reason it may not is if Nick Mullins first start last week wasn’t a fluke. San Francisco would have an odd situation on their hands with a young quarterback who could be used as trade bait, or…
Prediction: San Francisco 49ers 24 New York Giants 13
What are your thoughts on the Week 10 slate of games? Leave your comments below!
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