Week 10 Picks

Bye-Bye Byes
Patriots Prediction Included Here Today

Got caught short on time this week. Lots of big intra-division games, a few rematches. Only three AFC teams play in late games. Kinda strange.

Happy Veterans day and thanks to all of you who serve our country.

Here are the picks:

Sunday, Nov. 12
Baltimore (6-2) at Tennessee (2-6), 1 p.m.
Tennessee: Worst defense. Baltimore: No. 3 defense. That's pretty much that.
Prediction: Ravens, 27-7.

Buffalo (3-5) at Indianapolis (8-0), 1 p.m.
Indy: No. 2 offense. Buffalo: No. 30 offense. That's pretty much that.
Prediction: Colts, 34-13.

Cleveland (2-6) at Atlanta (5-3), 1 p.m.
Cleveland: Pretty good defense, no offense. Atlanta: Pretty good offense, mediocre defense. You'd think that would make for an interesting game. It doesn't.
Prediction: Falcons, 30-10.

Green Bay (3-5) at Minnesota (4-4), 1 p.m.
This one actually should be interesting. If Green Bay wins, it evens these teams in the standings, and pretty much finishes off Minnesota's playoff hopes. I just don't think they could sustain three straight losses. Minnesota better hope their crowd doesn't go silent or even against them. They're going to need a little help to get back on track.
Prediction: Vikings, 23-17.

Houston (2-6) at Jacksonville (5-3), 1 p.m.
Don't expect a repeat of three weeks ago. Jacksonville may have looked past Houston then. I think they'll want to make a statement (much as I hate that) today. Houston's been playing a little better, despite the continued losses. They just might surprise some people. But that could mean almost anything.
Prediction: Jaguars, 33-13.

Kansas City (5-3) at Miami (2-6), 1 p.m.
Miami might be able to steal this one. Their defense is suited to play against a Kansas City offense. If that's going to happen, Joey Harrington is going to have to keep his offense on the field for a while, and that might be too tall an order. And then it could turn into a K.C. barbeque -- whatever that means.
Prediction: Chiefs, 17-13.

N.Y. Jets (4-4) at New England (6-2), 1 p.m.
New York's best games have been against divivion winners, including their almost-comeback against New England in Week 2, but that was a different New England team, and it's pretty much the same New York team. The rain should favor New England's running game and defensive line. Both teams have quite a few key injuries. New York got back into the last game with a couple flukey big plays, aided by horrendous tackling by the New England secondary. Look for Chad Pennington to attempt to exploit that secondary, that contains an ailing Ellis Hobbs and remains minus Rodney Harrison and Eugene Wilson.
Prediction: Patriots, 24-19.

San Diego (6-2) at Cincinnati (4-4), 1 p.m.
Cincy has played nothing but close games lately (1-point loss to Tampa, 3-point win over Carolina, 2-point loss to Atlanta, 6-point loss to Baltimore), but they haven't even played a team like San Diego in that span. San Diego looks as hungry as any team I've seen for a while, and the West is just too competitive to let a team like Cincinnati get in the way.
Prediction: Chargers, 31-17.

San Francisco (3-5) at Detroit (2-6), 1 p.m.
Whoa, Nelly! This is going to be a humdinger! A humdinger that no one cares about.
Prediction: 49ers, 23-7.

Washington (3-5) at Philadelphia (4-4), 1 p.m.
If Philly makes it four straight losses today, they might as well pack it in and admit that getting rid of Terrell Owens was a bigger mistake than signing him. Done laughing yet? Good. Well, you know Deion Sanders or Shannon Sharpe or some idiot will say that. I say, that extra preseason game wore them down, and they're just tired. Six losses in the last seven games of these two teams' schedules.
Prediction: Eagles, 23-21.

Update [2006-11-12 13:41:59 by tommasse]: Here are the late game predictions. I feel like I'm completely out of words for the week, so it's just scores. Deepest apologies. I'll try harder next week.

Denver (6-2) at Oakland (2-6), 4:05 p.m.
Prediction: Broncos, 21-7.

Dallas (4-4) at Arizona (1-7), 4:15 p.m.
Prediction: Cowboys, 42-16.

New Orleans (6-2) at Pittsburgh (2-6), 4:15 p.m.
Prediction: Saints, 26-10.

St. Louis (4-4) at Seattle (5-3), 4:15 p.m.
OK, a few words: It's time for St. Louis to put their money where their mouth is. You know: All that whining after losing to Seattle a few weeks ago, and then losing a few more after that. Well, Seattle's back is against the wall and they're still enduring injuries to major key players. So if St. Louis is going to win, it's going to be today. The question is: Can they?
Prediction: St. Louis, 23-21.

Chicago (7-1) at N.Y. Giants (6-2), 8:15 p.m.
Prediction: Giants, 19-17.

Monday, Nov. 13
Tampa Bay (2-6) at Carolina (4-4), 8:30 p.m.
Prediction: Panthers, 28-21.

Last week: 9 - 5.
Season: 78 - 50.