NFL Week 10 Predictions

Srikar Kalapala 

Overall Record: 85-50-1

Last Week's Record: 11-2

Carolina Panthers (2-7) vs. Atlanta Falcons (4-5)

Falcons. This game is a rematch of a couple of weeks ago, and that game was an absolute thriller. Carolina will be looking for revenge after a couple of mental mistakes occurred late in the game last week, which cost them the win. Atlanta will try to beat Carolina a little more convincingly this week, which I think they will be able to, as they look for a surprise bid to the playoffs.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) vs. Seattle Seahawks (6-3)

Seahawks. This game is being played in Germany, which will be a very interesting setting for international games going forward. I considered picking Tampa here because of the huge time shift for Seattle, but I really like Kenneth Walker against the Bucs defense, and I think Geno Smith can outduel Tom Brady. Yes, you read that right the first time. Tampa is due for an all-around win, and it seems like it could happen here. I’m not really confident in this pick, but I guess I’ll just pick the team that looks better right now.

Chicago Bears (3-6) vs. Detroit Lions (2-6)

Bears. The Lions were able to beat the Packers last week, despite their offense struggling for most of the game. They have struggled to stop the run, and with Justin Fields just breaking the record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in the regular season last week against the Dolphins, I think the Bears can run all over this porous run defense and get their 4th win on the season. 

Miami Dolphins (6-3) vs. Cleveland Browns (3-5)

Dolphins. The Dolphins will face their former quarterback Jacoby Brissett this week, which could be great for their defense as there is familiarity. The Dolphins were on upset alert last week against the Bears, and they could be again against the Browns, but I think the Dolphins will have enough firepower on offense to get to seven wins. This is the type of game Miami cannot lose, as they have three 6-win teams in their division.

Tennessee Titans (5-3) vs. Denver Broncos (3-5)

Titans. The Broncos are coming off a bye, but I’m not sure there is a magic fix for their offense, and I think their offensive struggles will continue this week. The Titans are very capable of running the football down the Broncos throat, and after the Broncos traded away Bradley Chubb, that only gets worse. The Titans have a coaching advantage in this one and add in a return of Ryan Tannehill, and this one looks like a Titans win.

Buffalo Bills (6-2) vs. Minnesota Vikings (7-1)

Bills. The Vikings have been on a roll recently, with their only loss coming to the unbeaten Eagles. It is important to note that they have been the favorite in most of their games, although they can only play the schedule they are given. Their win was a little too close against the Commanders, but a win is a win, and they go into Buffalo looking to knock off what I think is the best team in the league. The Bills are coming off a shocking loss to their rival Jets, where Josh Allen threw two picks again, but unlike last week, threw no touchdowns. The Bills can not keep losing games like this, or they will relinquish their hold on the #1 seed in the AFC. The Chiefs are looming, and I think all Bills fans know their history in Arrowhead in the playoffs recently. The Bills also do not possess tie-breaks in their division at the moment, as they have losses to the Jets and Dolphins, both of which are breathing down their necks. However, I think the Bills will be able to end the Vikings streak with a bounce-back win at home.

Major Injury Note: Josh Allen is being evaluated for an elbow injury as I am writing this, which would be a catastrophic loss for the Bills if it is anything major, not just for this season’s Super Bowl chances, but also long-term. If Allen is unable to play against the Vikings, I think the Vikings might be able to beat their former quarterback Case Keenum, but otherwise, I still see the Bills getting the win.

New York Giants (6-2) vs. Houston Texans (1-6-1)

Giants. The Texans are coming off a loss to the Eagles last week, in a game where they were competitive for a while until the Eagles pulled away at the end. The Giants should be well-rested for this game, so I think they will cruise to a win here against the Texans. 

Kansas City Chiefs (6-2) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6)

Chiefs. The Chiefs are coming off a slugfest against the Titans last week, in which they went into overtime against an offense led by Malik Willis. I think the Chiefs can have a little bit of a bounce-back week offensively against the Jaguars, and even though this Jaguars team looks to be on the rise, I don’t think they have enough against the Chiefs this week. 

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-6) vs. New Orleans Saints (3-6)

Saints. The Saints are coming off a tough loss last week against the Ravens. The defense that was supposed to be able to carry this team got diced up by the Ravens offense. I think the defense will bounce back in a coordinated effort to clamp Kenny Pickett and the Steelers offense. It is worth noting all the extra rest the Steelers have compared to the Saints, and sometimes that makes the difference, but I don’t think it will have enough of an effect.

Las Vegas Raiders (2-6) vs. Indianapolis Colts (3-5-1)

Raiders. Well, the Colts failed with the Frank Reich experiment, and now are going forward with their former center, Jeff Saturday. Saturday doesn’t have much experience coaching at the NFL level, so there is no way Raiders HC Josh McDaniels gets outcoached again, right?

Los Angeles Rams (3-5) vs. Arizona Cardinals (3-6)

Rams. Both of these teams were playoff teams last year, and both are severely underperforming this year. The Cardinals were eliminated by the Rams last year, continuing the streak of the Rams under Sean McVay being great against the Cardinals, and I expect that to continue here.

Major Injury Note: Quarterback Matthew Stafford entered concussion protocols on Wednesday, making his game status unclear. If he is unable to go, the Cardinals should be able to beat the John Wolford-led team, but we all know how that happened the last time it went down. On the other side, Kyler Murray is day-to-day with a hamstring injury, which could throw a wrench into this game as well.

Green Bay Packers (3-6) vs. Dallas Cowboys (6-2)

Cowboys. And the Packers lost. Again. To Detroit. With this next three-game stretch, it is looking likely that the Packers will be 3-9, and most likely eliminated from playoff contention. Aaron Rodgers has looked like a shell of himself without Davante Adams, and it hasn’t been fun for anyone in Green Bay. Dallas comes into Green Bay after a bye, with a ferocious pass rush, and a well-coordinated offense. Sound familiar? Yeah, that’s what the Packers were supposed to be. Anyway, this is also Mike McCarthy’s revenge game, and I think Dallas will finally escape the woes of Aaron Rodgers after horrendous experiences in the past.

San Francisco 49ers (4-4) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)

49ers. This game could get ugly fast for the Chargers. With the return of Deebo Samuel, they will have to face Deebo as well as Christian McCaffery, who had passing, receiving, and rushing touchdowns against the Rams before their bye. The Chargers are a little too injured for my liking in this one, and I think the rushing attack of the Niners will prove to be fatal this week.

Philadelphia Eagles (8-0) vs. Washington Commanders (4-5)

Eagles. I think this has major trap potential for the Eagles on MNF, as the Commanders have been surging in the last several weeks. I still like Philly, especially since they are coming off a TNF game, so they will have a little more rest than the Commanders. This one will be close, but I like Philly’s chances at home in prime time.