CINCINNATI — Below is a preview and breakdown of the key games from week 10 of the NFL season as well as previews and predictions for all games this week.
Thursday Night Football: Baltimore Ravens @ Miami Dolphins – 8:20 p.m. on FOX and NFL Network (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Kristina Pink) Radio: Westwood One (Ian Eagle, Ross Tucker)
The Ravens just keep finding ways to win, as they overcame a 14-point deficit Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Will falling behind by double-digits eventually catch up to them? Maybe, but not tonight against a team like Miami if it were to happen.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagavailoa is questionable with a finger injury, but will it matter even if he does play? The Dolphins did manage to win last week with backup quarterback Jacoby Brisett, but the Ravens are a much different animal than the Texans.
Game pick: Ravens 34 Dolphins 14
Atlanta Falcons @ Dallas Cowboys – 1 p.m. on FOX (Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen, Pam Oliver)
What was that from Dallas last week? Getting outplayed at home by a Denver team that just traded away one the franchise’s all-time greatest defensive players in Von Miller? They were the inferior physical team, they had too many dropped passes and they were just beaten soundly on their home turf.
Atlanta is an interesting team. Every time I’m ready to write them off, they win a game to get back in the race just as they did last Sunday at New Orleans. But then every time I’m ready to buy stock in them, they lose a game they should win like week eight against Carolina.
This Sunday’s game is not a game Atlanta should win, and I don’t think they will. Dallas is the better team and should be motivated after getting blown out at home last week.
Game pick: Cowboys 30 Falcons 23
Cleveland Browns @ New England Patriots – 1 p.m. on CBS (Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Evan Washburn)
The Browns sure looked good last week against the Bengals, but can they have that kind of performance again this week and throughout the season? Perhaps due to the adversity Cleveland faced last week with the Odell Beckham Jr. drama and their season being on the line prompted them to be so focused that that’s what led to that performance. But can they show that focus now with expectations now back surrounding them?
I’ll tell you one team I wouldn’t want to face right now; the New England Patriots. They’ve won their last three games, and they’re winning by running the football and making opportunistic plays on defense. In addition, rookie quarterback Mac Jones is getting better each week. He’s not flashy, but he’s accurate and efficient, and that’s how Tom Brady was in his first years with the Patriots… and it translated to three Super Bowl titles.
This is a big game in a wide open AFC playoff race. Both teams not only have shots at a wild card but also their respective division titles. Cleveland is the more explosive team and the more talented team, but can they deliver as that and with expectations back surrounding them? So many times in the past the Patriots would face teams in big games that had more talent and more explosiveness to them, and New England’s efficiency and smarter play would win them the game. I think that will, once again, be the case in this game.
Game pick: Patriots 24 Browns 21
Seattle Seahawks @ Green Bay Packers – 4:25 p.m. on CBS (Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson)
While we didn’t get Rodgers-Mahomes last week, we are going to get Rodgers-Wilson this week. They’re two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and this will be the first time the two quarterbacks have squared off since the 2019 NFC Divisional playoff game.
Aaron Rodgers returns after his controversial bout with COVID-19, and that should help the Packers immensely. They are simply a much better team when Rodgers is under center, and last Sunday proved that. In the first eight games with Rodgers under center, the Packers offense was dynamic and lethal, especially the Rodgers to Davante Adams connection. Against a Seattle defense that’s been atrocious this season, Rodgers and Adams should be licking their chops for what they could do offensively in this game.
Seattle actually did a good job of treading water while Russell Wilson was out with a broken finger. They only went 1-2 without him, but both losses were by three points each and their defense actually gave them opportunities to win both games. They may be well behind in the NFC West race, but a wild card berth is still plausible. That potential run towards a wild card berth starts Sunday with a marquee road win at Green Bay. Russell Wilson has won many big road games in his career, but is winless in four trips to Lambeau Field in his career.
Game pick: Packers 31 Seahawks 24
Sunday Night Football: Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders – 8:20 p.m. on NBC (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya) Radio: Westwood One (Ryan Radtke, Rod Woodson)
A crucial AFC West showdown. All four teams in the AFC West have exactly five wins, making the standings a log jam.
In prior years, this was the time of season when the Raiders would begin to fall out of the race and the Chiefs would start to wrap up the AFC West and the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
I don’t know if that will be the respective fate of the two teams this season. I keep hearing and thinking the Chiefs are going to rediscover their lethal attack on offense, but I just haven’t seen it. Meanwhile, the Raiders have already faced a two-game losing streak and rebounded nicely from it with two straight wins. But could their upset loss to the Giants last week be the beginning of another mid-to-late-season swoon?
Bengals fans will have their eyes on this game as they play at Las Vegas next Sunday.
Game pick: Chiefs 31 Raiders 28
Monday Night Football: Los Angeles Rams @ San Francisco 49ers – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN (Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Louis Riddick) ESPN2 (Peyton and Eli Manning and guests) Radio: Westwood One (Kevin Harlan, Kurt Warner)
I don’t think this will be an entertaining game, and that’s with Sean McVay and Kyle Shannahan as the two head coaches in this game.
I was ready to buy stock in the 49ers after their road win at the Bears, but then they followed that win with a blowout loss at home to an Arizona Cardinals team playing without quarterback Kyler Murray.
The Rams also struggled last week, getting outplayed physically by the Tennessee Titans. There really isn’t a lot of shame in that, but it was still a double-digit loss at home. But now with the latest acquisition in Odell Beckahm Jr., their offense has a chance to be really dynamic. And what they’ll have going for them in this game is going up against a banged up 49ers defense.
Game pick: Rams 30 49ers 20
Other week 10 games
New Orleans Saints @ Tennessee Titans – 1 p.m. on CBS (Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, Melanie Collins)
This is a really intriguing matchup. Two teams that aren’t flashy but are fundamentally sound and good. Tennessee vaulted to the top of the AFC with their impressive win at the Rams last Sunday, and a favorable schedule after this Sunday will give them every opportunity to stay in that top spot in the AFC.
New Orleans lost a heartbreaker last Sunday just one week after posting a signature win over Tampa Bay. Is that loss the first of several more to come especially with quarterback Jameis Winston out for the season with a torn ACL, or will their running game and defense be able to carry them to the playoffs? Another player they won’t have in this matchup? Running back Alvin Kamara, who is the Saints offense.
Game pick: Titans 31 Saints 21
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts – 1 p.m. on CBS (Andrew Catalon, James Lofton, Sherree Burruss)
I think the Colts are the best team with a losing record in the NFL. They have rebounded nicely from their 0-3 start and very easily could be 6-3. When they are able to run the ball, they are tough to beat. And when their defense plays at the level its capable of playing at, they are even tougher to beat.
Jacksonville is coming off a win over Buffalo, and it was impressive. But can they follow that up with a second straight win to show true progress instead of just occasionally pulling off a surprise win?
Game pick: Colts 24 Jaguars 14
Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets – 1 p.m. on CBS (Spero Dedes, Jay Feely)
Speaking of losing to Jacksonville, Buffalo’s weaknesses were on full display in their loss to them. Their offensive line has taken a massive step back from last season, and they are going to need to improve especially considering Buffalo is a pass-happy offense to the extreme.
For the Jets, Mike White will once again get the start at quarterback as rookie Zach Wilson continues to rehab from a sprained MCL.
Game pick: Bills 27 Jets 20
Detroit Lions @ Pittsburgh Steelers – 1 p.m. on FOX
Pittsburgh has been playing much better football recently, winning their last four games and playing the kind of football that should strike fear into fans of the Bengals, Browns and Ravens.
Game pick: Steelers 28 Lions 14
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Washington Football Team – 1 p.m. on FOX
A rematch of last year’s NFC Wild Card matchup last year. That game was close this past January. I don’t think this Sunday’s game will be. Tampa Bay is a top five team in the league while Washington has vastly underachieved this season despite a talented roster. Plus, Brady playing after a bye week and coming off a loss in which he did not play means he will likely put up monstrous numbers.
Game pick: Buccaneers 41 Football Team 21
Carolina Panthers @ Arizona Cardinals – 4:05 p.m. on FOX
Did anybody ever think Cam Newton would be back with Carolina? He’s not starting this Sunday, but he is waiting in the wings to help Carolina make a potential playoff push. Until next week when he likely will start, the Panthers will have to beat, perhaps, the best team in the league in Arizona potentially with Kyler Murray under center for the Cardinals, who is questionable with an ankle injury to play this Sunday.
Game pick: Cardinals 30 Panthers 20
Minnesota Vikings @ Los Angeles Chargers – 4:05 p.m. on FOX
This is an interesting game. Minnesota is really good… at finding ways to lose. But they are actually are a good team, with as much firepower on offense as any team in the league.
The Chargers bounced back with a win last week, but they let Philadelphia hang around till the gun. I sensed upset when I saw this game on the docket, and I don’t second guess my senses.
Game pick: Vikings 27 Chargers 24
Philadelphia Eagles @ Denver Broncos – 4:25 p.m. on CBS (Greg Gumbel, Adam Archuleta, AJ Ross)
Speaking of Philadelphia, they’re competitive. Especially when they’re running the football. And running games travel, including to the Mile High City in mid-November.
Denver looked promising in their win over Dallas last week. But what I always wonder with a win like that is was that win just a one-game wonder? For this game, I think the answer to that question is yes.
Game pick: Eagles 27 Broncos 20
Let me be Frank and Cut to the Chase 