Week 10 of the NFL contains some apparent mismatches

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The Steelers 52-21 win over the Panthers got week 10 of the NFL season under way.  This week doesn’t have the glamour matchups of the previous week, but there will probably be some surprises.  Here’s a quick peek.

Lions @ Bears:  I really think the Bears are the better team, but they’ve been the better team in two of their losses.  This will be a good test to see if Mitch Trubisky is maturing as a QB.  The Lions are far from an elite team, but they’re better than the cream puffs the Bears have played in the last two weeks.  I like the Bears, but not with a high degree of confidence.  Pick:  Bears

Redskins @ Buccaneers:   Both of these teams are coming off a loss.  The Bucs defense is in disarray but the Redskins offense may not be potent enough to cash in.  Ryan Fitzpatrick is back at the QB helm for the Bucs.  I think that’s a good move.  I just don’t think it will be enough to make up for the Bucs weak defense, even against an average Redskins offense.  Pick: Redskins

Patriots @ Titans:  After playing in a couple of high profile teams in the NFL, the Patriots come up against one of the most vanilla teams in the NFL, the Titans.  The Titans are coming off a big win over the Dallas Cowboys but I would be hard pressed to  pick them over the Patriots.  This could be a trap game for the Patriots, but I think they can be focused enough to ring up a win.  Pick:  Patriots

Cardinals @ Chiefs:  I like the Cardinals chances even less than the Titans.  I don’t see any reason why the Chiefs and phenomenal QB, Patrick Mahomes, won’t roll up a lot of points.  Cardinals rookie QB, Josh Rosen, may be able to put a few points on the board against a relatively weak Chiefs defense.  Just not enough.  Pick: Chiefs

Bills @ Jets:  Here’s a case of bad on bad football.  Both teams have started rookie QBs, and both rookie QBs will probably miss this week due to injury. In the Jets case, that probably won’t matter  this week.  Josh McCown is a pretty good backup.  In fact, at the moment, he may be the best quarterback on either of these two teams.  If Josh Allen doesn’t start this week, that leaves the Bills with Derek Anderson and Nathan “Pick 6” Peterman.  As a rule of thumb, always pick against Anderson and/or Peterman.  Pick: Jets 

Saints @ Bengals:  I’ve had a tendency to underrate the Saints this season. I won’t make that mistake this week.  The Bengals have been better though inconsistent this season.  Drew Brees and the Saints offense figure to carry the day.  Pick: Saints

Falcons @ Browns:  The Falcons seem to be gaining momentum after a slow start.  The Browns seem to be better than a two win team, but they sit at 2-6-1.  I think the Browns are catching the Falcons at a bad time.  The Browns remain an interesting team to watch and I think they could come up with the upset, but I’m picking the Falcons on Sunday.  Pick:  Falcons

Jaguars @ Colts:  So just how much disarray are the Jaguars in?   Quite a bit.  I think that will be on display Sunday.  Andrew Luck is having an excellent season after coming off a shoulder injury last year.  Luck has thrown for 23 TDs against 8 picks.  Both teams come in at 3-5 and this game is vital if either team has even faint playoff hopes.  Luck is with the Colts Sunday, so I like them.  Pick: Colts 

Chargers @ Raiders:  Raiders coach, Jon Gruden, has done a great job in spotting talent on the Raiders roster and dispatching it throughout the league.  Quick disclaimer:  Getting a first round pick for Amari Cooper was a pretty good deal.  Still, the Raiders roster for the 2018 season is really bare.  That’s not true of the Chargers.  Philip Rivers leads a loaded offense and the defense is having a solid season.  It’s a pretty powerful combination.  Pick: Chargers

Dolphins @ Packers:  The Dolphins are a victim of bad timing.  The Packers are coming off tough losses to the Rams and Patriots.  The Packers figure to take it out on the Dolphins.  Plus, after facing Jared Goff and Tom Brady, Brock Osweiler will probably seem like a day at the beach.  In each of their last two losses, the Packers were killed by late fumbles.  Don’t expect that to be an issue Sunday.  Pick: Packers

Seahawks @ Rams:  The Rams are no longer undefeated after last Sunday’s loss to the Saints.  It’s possible they could have a letdown week.  The Seahawks are capable to winning on any given Sunday behind resourceful QB, Russell Wilson.  The elements for an upset are there, but I’m still going with the favorite.  Pick: Rams

Cowboys @ Eagles:  The Cowboys picked a WR for Dak Prescott to throw to in Amari Cooper, but it wasn’t enough last week.  The Eagles also picked up a WR, Golden Tate, from the Lions.  The Eagles have been sluggish this season, but at 4-4 they are still in a good position to make the playoffs.  A win Sunday night would go a long ways to cement that goal.  Carson Wentz has looked good since coming back from last year’s knee surgery.  He’ll be the difference Sunday.  Pick: Eagles

Giants @ 49ers:  Eli Manning is perhaps one of the most maligned people in New York.  He does, however, have some really talented guys to try to get the ball to.  Saquon Barkley and Odell Beckham Jr. are two of the most dynamic players in the NFL.  I think that the Giants have more tools at their disposal and Manning will be good enough Monday night to get past the Jimmy Garoppololess 49ers.  Pick: Giants