BSB NFL Two-a-Days: Week Ten

While Week Nine was the de facto halfway point in the season, Week Ten marks another waypoint in the NFL season–the last week with byes.  After this, we’ll have every team in action every week with seasons on the line.  This week, however, isn’t as good of a slate as it can be, as the four teams with byes are a combined 27-9, so there aren’t that many good teams that do play this week.  But, hey, it’s still football, and it’s still fantastic.

BYES: Green Bay (6-3), New Orleans (7-2), Oakland (7-2), San Diego (7-2)

Thursday, November 11:
8:20 – Baltimore (5-3) at ATLANTA (6-2)
The first NFL Network game of the year is an awfully big one.  This is one of those games where, if you’re a fan of either team, you look to this one as one that could be the defining game of the entire season.  And, to boot, it is, BY FAR, the most difficult game for me to pick this week.  In the end, I thought that a short week of preparation for two teams with excellent head coaches is probably more advantageous to the home team than would be a full week of preparation, so I am going with the Falcons here…by a hair.

Sunday, November 14:
1:00 – TENNESSEE (4-4) at Miami (3-5)
This is yet another brutal scheduling spot for the Dolphins, as they have to host the Titans coming off of their bye.  The Dolphins are coming off an intensely physical game in Baltimore and have to get right back up and play next Thursday.  This is a desperate time for the ‘Phins, but it’s probably equally desperate for Tennessee.  I believe that the Dolphins are really good this year, but also I believe in Jeff Fisher and think that the Titans can pull it together with two weeks to prepare for this one.  Another tough loss for Miami.

1:00 – N.Y. JETS (5-3) at Cleveland (2-6)
The Jets should continue to roll here against a team that they are clearly more talented than.

1:00 – Cincinnati (5-3) at INDIANAPOLIS (7-1)
The hits just keep coming to the Bengals, as they have a short week after a brutal game with Pittsburgh to prepare for the best team in football on the road.  The Colts, coming off the loss in Philly should hold on here for a win.  The only thing that gives me pause is that we all know the Indy-NE rivalry is huge, well, next week is Indy at New England, but I think they’re professional enough to be able to finish this one off before thinking about Brady and company.

1:00 – Houston (5-3) at JACKSONVILLE (2-6)
The Jags off the bye; the Texans off an emotional win over San Diego.  The Jags trying to save their season; the Texans possibly looking ahead to the Jets next week.  In Jacksonville, this is a game that the Texans franchise historically loses, and I think they do it again this year.

1:00 – Minnesota (4-4) at CHICAGO (5-3)
If 40-year old Brett Favre playing in Soldier Field in mid-November wasn’t enough to sell you on the Bears winning this game, what if I told you that the Vikings hosted the Packers next week?  This is a good spot for the Bears to pick up a pretty big win.

1:00 – CAROLINA (5-3) at Tampa Bay (1-7)
The Panthers may in for a letdown after beating New Orleans last week, but I think that they’re running game, alone, is good enough to beat a bad Tampa team, even in Tampa.

1:00 – DETROIT (2-6) at Buffalo (1-7)
Ugh.  Is anyone watching this game?  The Lions are clearly more talented than the Bills and probably care more at this point in the season, so I like them to go into Buffalo and take one.

4:05 – Kansas City (3-5) at DENVER (2-6)
The Broncos didn’t have the typical bye week, as they are returning from London, but I still think that they’ve had enough to time to warrant picking them, at home, against the Chefs.  (Ya, that’s great, but who are the Chefs?  Great googily-moogily.)

4:15 – DALLAS (5-3) at N.Y. Giants (5-3)
I big NFC Beast showdown in the New Meadowlands.  The Cowboys are probably smarting from a loss in Green Bay, while the Giants are recovering from a long trip to Seattle.  Dallas can focus all on this game, as they host Detroit next week, while the Giants go to the Linc against the hated Eagles.  Plus, Eli isn’t very good at home.  I like the Cowboys to win this one, on the road.

4:15 – Seattle (1-7) at ARIZONA (2-6)
It just goes from bad to worse for the Seahawks, as they will probably lose to a bad Arizona team here.  The Cardinals, at home, do still have a couple talented players with some professional pride and should be able to get this one.

4:15 – St. Louis (1-7) at SAN FRANCISCO (4-4)
Like the Broncos, the Niners are returning from a long trip to England, but are rewarded with one week off because of a bye and then another week off because they have the Rams at home.

8:20 – NEW ENGLAND (6-2) at Pittsburgh (4-4)
How often can the Steelers really get up for brutal matchups like this?  Two weeks ago, they were in New Orleans on Sunday Night Football; last week, they were home against Cincinnati on Monday Night Football; and, now, they have the Patriots back on Sunday night again.  That is just too much for even the Steelers to get through.  I like the Pats, despite their eyeing of the showdown with Indy next week.

Monday, November 15:
8:30 – Philadelphia (6-2) at WASHINGTON (2-6)
An absolute brutal spot for the Birds here.  They are coming off a home game against Peyton Manning and the Colts, and they have the Giants coming to town next week, and in the middle they have to travel to DC to take on their ex-QB and the Redskins who are, oh by the way, coming off their bye week.  Everything points to D-Mac playing some air guitar and throwing some touchdowns.

STANDINGS AFTER WEEK 10
NFC EAST
6-3 Dallas
6-3 Philadelphia
5-4 N.Y. Giants
3-6 Washington

In a week of all Beast vs. Beast here in the NFC, the Redskins and Cowboys come out victorious.  The Cowboys are back into a first-place tie, while the Giants remain a game out.

NFC NORTH
6-3 Chicago
6-3 Green Bay
4-5 Minnesota
3-6 Detroit

If I told you before the season that the Packers would be tied for first in the NFC North after ten weeks, you probably wouldn’t be surprised at all.  But, if I told you that it wasn’t the Vikings, but the Bears who shared that lead, you’d probably tell me that I’m crazy.  Hey, maybe I am…

NFC SOUTH
7-2 New Orleans
7-2 Atlanta
6-3 Carolina
1-8 Tampa Bay

This division continues to impress, with 3 teams at 6-3 or better.  The surprising Panthers are only a game back of the two non-surprising division leaders.

NFC WEST
5-4 San Francisco
3-6 Arizona
1-8 Seattle
1-8 St. Louis

The Niners win again to maintain a two-game lead in this abysmal division.

AFC EAST
7-2 New England
6-3 N.Y. Jets
3-6 Miami
1-8 Buffalo

For the third straight week, the Pats and Jets win, while the Dolphins and Bills lose.  This is big-time trouble for Miami right now.

AFC NORTH
5-4 Baltimore
5-4 Cincinnati
4-5 Pittsburgh
2-7 Cleveland

An 0-4 week has left this division bruised and battered and possibly staring at only one playoff team.  The rough schedules are killing them right now.

AFC SOUTH
8-1 Indianapolis
5-4 Houston
5-4 Tennessee
3-6 Jacksonville

Tennessee has a pulse with a big win at Miami.  Houston loses a bad one in Jacksonville, while Indy continues to roll.

AFC WEST
7-2 Oakland
7-2 San Diego
3-6 Denver
3-6 Kansas City

The Broncos beat the Chiefs to move into a third-place tie…4 games back.  The leaders had the week off.

PLAYOFF PICTURE AFTER WEEK 10
NFC
#6 Green Bay (6-3) at #3 Chicago (6-3)
#5 Atlanta (7-2) at #4 San Francisco (5-4)

t.b.d. vs. #2 Dallas (6-3)
t.b.d. vs. #1 New Orleans (7-2)

In the mix:  Philadelphia (6-3), Carolina (6-3), N.Y. Giants (5-4)

Wow, the NFC got shaken up big-time in Week Ten.  The Saints remain at #1 and the Niners are in their guaranteed #4 spot, but the other four positions all changed hands.  The Eagles and Cowboys still haven’t played yet, but the ‘Boys have a better divisional record, so they get the division.  The Bears beat the Packers in Week Two, so they have the North.  The Cowboys beat the Bears in Week Three, so they get the bye.  Atlanta is solid at #5, while Green Bay, thanks to their win over the Eagles in Week One are #6.  The Eagles and Panthers are tied for that last spot and the Giants are only a game back.

AFC
#6 N.Y. Jets (6-3) at #3 New England (7-2)
#5 Oakland (7-2) at #4 Cincinnati (5-4)

t.b.d. at #2 San Diego (7-2)
t.b.d. at #1 Indianapolis (8-1)

In the mix:  Baltimore (5-4), Houston (5-4), Tennessee (5-4)

Unlike the craziness in the NFC, the AFC doesn’t really change at all.  The only difference is that the Jets are now the outright holders of the #6 seed.  The Chargers and Pats are tied for #2, but the Bolts beat NE head-to-head in Week Seven, so they hold the tiebreaker.

Click here for Week Eleven (available 9/8 at 11:00 am).