NFL Week 10 Calls

How can it be Week 10 of the NFL season already?... Unbelievable. So far a pretty entertaining first half of the NFL season. Should be an even better second half.

Here are my picks for Week 10...

TNF: Bears @ 49ers: In the first Thursday night game of the season, the struggling Bears go to San Francisco to face the struggling Niners. San Fran head coach Mike Singletary will get to coach against his former franchise in a game that both teams need desperately. I look for Chicago to try to get the running game going early with RB Matt Forte and then let QB Jay Cutler air it out to WR Devin Hester as the game progresses. As for the 49ers, QB Alex Smith cannot turn the ball over 5 times like he did last week. I think RB Frank Gore should have a good one but in a losing effort. Bears coach Lovie "Dovie" Smith should have his squad focused after an embarrassing loss last week. Da Bears win the 1st NFL Network Thirsty Thursday Bowl of the season. 27-24 CHI

Broncos @ Redskins: Denver has looked like the Broncos team everyone expected in the past couple weeks. They were held to just 59 yards in the 2nd half against Pittsburgh on Monday night. I wish I could say that I think they will lose their 3rd straight contest, but the way Washington has been playing this season does not give me much hope. Redskins RB Clinton Portis is "very questionable" with a concussion and even with him the offense has failed to score more than 17 points in a game so far this season. "Game manager" Kyle "Worst Facial Hair in the NFL" Orton has woken up from his early season coma and has played like the average QB he is. Having said this, Washington has been so bad this year I think Denver gets this win on the road. I hope I'm wrong on this one but I think the Broncos get win #7. 26-16 DEN

Falcons @ Panthers: The birds from Atlanta seem to have remembered that RB Michael "The Burner" Turner is a good player and therefore have began giving him the ball more. The defense of Atlanta has been as vicious as the Real Housewives of Atlanta. As for Carolina, they gave the Saints somewhat of a challenge last week but still lost. They sit at 3-5 but the good news is that RB DeAngelo Williams has returned to his 2008 form, rushing for 307 yards in the last 2 weeks. I think QB Matt Ryan will have little trouble finding WR Roddy White and TE Tony "Not So Speedy" Gonzalez and oh yeah... turn around and give the rock to Turner. The Falcons go into Carolina and beat the Panthers. 34-27 ATL

Saints @ Rams: This one may be a barn-burner. Not. The Rams are really bad. The Saints are obviously really good. QB Drew Brees and the Saints offense should put up mammoth numbers against a poor Rams defense. Rams RB Steven Jackson has been playing better of late but I think he should have some trouble against a New Orleans defense that should have no reason to fear the Rams putrid passing attack. Look for RB Pierre Thomas to score for the Saints and for another big day by former Boilermaker and CHARGER Drew Brees. The Saints "brees" by St. Louis and remain unbeaten. 41-10 NO

Buccaneers @ Dolphins: Tampa Bay busted out their old school Creamsicle orange unis last weekend and won their first game of the year. Will Smith's favorite city... Miami, the city that keeps the roof blazin', put up a valiant, but losing effort to the Patriots. I look for Miami to get back on track this week and run all over the Bucs. I really just don't think the Bucs are good enough to win 2 straight games. Rookie QB Josh Freeman played well last week which means in typical rookie fashion he will struggle this week. RBs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams should have a big day and lead the Dolphins to victory. 27-13 MIA

Lions @ Vikings: This game should be a beat down. RB Adrian Peterson may run for 200 yards in this one. Detroit is just not very good and Minnesota is one of the top teams, as Ron Jaworski would say, in the National Football League. QB Brett Favre has a sore groin but that shouldn't stop the much better Vikings from beating the cowardly Lions at home. Keep an eye on WR/KR Percy Harvin, the former Florida Gator may be an early candidate for Rookie of the Year. 38-16 MIN

Jaguars @ Jets: Jacksonville squeaked by Kansas City last week while New York was at home watching on their bye week. The Jets are a .500 team at 4-4 and can ill-afford to lose any more ground to New England. WR Braylon Edwards should have a big day against a struggling Jaguars secondary. QB Mark "Aquaman" Sanchez should have an average day but shouldn't make any glaring mistakes either. RB Maurice Jones-Drew is an underrated player and look for him to have yet another 100+ yard day. I think a few good frames by bowling ball MJD will be the difference as loud New York fans everywhere are yelling to fire coach Rex Ryan and calling Sanchez a bum. Jaguars take one at the Meadowlands. 27-24 JAX

Bengals @ Steelers: In perhaps the most important divisional game of the week, save KC at Oakland of course, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati face off for the lead in the AFC North. The Bengals won round 1 of this fight by beating the Steelers in Cincy. I think Pittsburgh regains supremacy in the North by sticking to what they do best, defense. With S Troy Polumalu back and healthy, the Steeler defense seems to be clicking. On Monday night the Steel Curtain looked to be in total effect. RB Rashard Mendenhall has been running with a purpose and look for him to have a good day. QB Carson Palmer has played really well this season after returning from injury but the loss of WR Chris Henry for the year will mean WR Andre Caldwell will need to step up big time. Palmer will struggle a bit and WR Chad 8-5 lets him know about it. The Bengals are better this year but still aren't quite there yet. Steelers take the lead in the AFC North. 27-20 PIT

Bills @ Titans: Buffalo has been pretty bad this season and Tennessee has just figured out that the season started 9 weeks ago. The Titans have played much better in the past 2 weeks and I look for that to continue this Sunday. QB Vince Young is 2-0 as the starter this season and RB Chris Johnson has rushed for a league leading 959 yards halfway through the year. I see Johnson having another huge week rushing and Young playing well enough to get the Titans their 3rd straight win. WR Terrell Owens has been invisible in Buffalo and the countdown is officially on for him to blow up and call out his QB. On the field, the Titans stay hot and win at home. 27-16 TEN

Chiefs @ Raiders: This is by far the GAME OF THE WEEK. Oops... I meant GAME OF THE WEAK. The Chiefs cut RB Larry Johnson and he was such a hot commodity that no one claimed him off waivers. With or without Johnson this game will still be awful. This should be a terrible display and I don't even want to waste too much of my or my readers time breaking it down. So here's the Cliff Notes version:

Ch. 1- QB JaMarcus Russell struggles, blames teammates.

Ch. 2- Chiefs can't run the ball.

Ch. 3- Raiders get one lucky big play and kick a field goal.

Ch. 4- QB Matt Cassel hits WR Chris Chambers for a TD.

Ch. 5- Both teams punt the ball back and forth a lot.

Ch. 6- The game ends and still, no one cares.

The Chiefs win this one in an instant classic. 16-10 KC

Cowboys @ Packers: This is a game that Green Bay needs desperately. The Packers managed to lose to Tampa Bay last week and now they get to face a pretty hot Dallas team. QB Aaron Rodgers has been getting killed week in and week out behind a bad offensive line. QB Tony Romo outplayed Donovan McNabb on prime time last Sunday. I look for more of the same from both teams. Rodgers will play well but sacks will kill the offensive momentum. Romo will continue to play well since it is November and he doesn't start to choke until after Thanksgiving. The Cowboys D will harass A-Rod all day and force a few key turnovers. The Boys will beat the Pack and you can place the blame directly on the Green Bay offensive line. 31-24 DAL

Eagles @ CHARGERS: The Qualiseum will be rocking on Sunday as the Eagles fly into Mission Valley. The Bolts will need to continue to pressure the QB like they have been for the past 3 weeks (15 sacks in 3 games). On offense, SAN DIEGO will have to protect QB Philip Rivers (who outplayed Eli Manning last week by the way). Philadelphia has an aggressive, attacking defense that loves to blitz from all possible angles. The CHARGERS secondary needs to keep a close eye not only on WRs DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, but also on TE Brent Celek. Celek should have a big game because the Bolts routinely cover TEs poorly. WR Vincent Jackson has been amazing thus far this season and you can bet that All-Pro CB Asante Samuel will be all over him, if he's healthy. Look for a TD pass from LT and big day for TE Antonio Gates. I think the Eagles defense will not be able to act like a dam and stop the Rivers. The Bolts go to 6-3 as they continue their momentum. 27-24 SD

Seahawks @ Cardinals: Well Arizona is at home so that means they will probably lose. That's right, the Cardinals are 4-0 on the road this season and a mere 1-3 back at their own nest in Glendale. Seattle beat the Lions last week but have not been very impressive overall. I think QB Kurt Warner and Co. will have good numbers and put up at least 30 points. WRs Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston and not late but Early Doucet had a great game last week and I think it will continue this Sunday. Seahawks QB Matt Hasslebeck may need a few more EAS protein shakes to lead his squad to a win on the road. I don't think Seattle has the personnel to match up with Arizona. The Cards get back to their winning ways at home. 34-24 ARZ

SNF: Patriots @ Colts: Great match up. Tom Brady and the good Manning, Peyton, should put on a clinic on professional quarterback play. New England is 6-2 and leads the AFC East by 2 games. Indianapolis is 8-0 and is running away with the AFC South. I look for Brady to continue to find WRs Randall Moss and Wes Welker (former CHARGER) as well as TE Ben Watson. As for the Colts, Manning will spread the ball to WRs Reggie Wayne and Austin Collie and TE Dallas Clark as usual. I look for RB Joseph Addai to be the difference maker on offense for Indy but I think the Colts fall for the first time this season. They have been playing teams real close the past few weeks and I think it will catch up with them this week. I think Tom Brady and the Patriots offense will emerge victorious in a very entertaining game. 38-31 NE

MNF: Ravens @ Browns: First off, why the hell is Cleveland on Monday Night Football? They are so bad and their offense is painful to watch. Anyway, Baltimore lost to Cincinnati last week after looking unstoppable against Denver in Week 8. I think the Ravens will destroy Cleveland in this one. The Baltimore defense should pressure QB Brady Quinn all day long and make him wish that coach Eric Mangini left him on the bench. RB Ray Rice should have a huge night for Baltimore and so should QB Joe Flacco. I can see this one getting really ugly really quick. The Ravens and all their rowdy friends will roll on Monday Night. 34-6 BAL

Jake's Power Rankings through Week 9

1. New Orleans Saints

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Minnesota Vikings

4. New England Patriots

5. Cincinnati Bengals

6. Pittsburgh Steelers

7. Dallas Cowboys

8. Denver Broncos

9. Philadelphia Eagles

10. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Jake's Bottom of the Barrel Rankings

28. Detroit Lions

29. Kansas City Chiefs

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

31. St. Louis Rams

32. Cleveland Browns

That's it for Week 10...

... In the words of Cleveland Browns QB and EAS spokesman Brady Quinn, "Now I'm done."

---J