Do the Patriots stumble in Tennessee? Is there a second consecutive defeat for the rams? Is the best game in week 10 already played on Thursday evening? And do the Eagles end all the other playoff dreams in Dallas? SPOX takes a quick look at all games of the upcoming matchday – including the forecast by NFL editor Adrian Franke, the Sunday games are as usual in the RedZone conference live on DAZN.
Will this week’s best duel take place on Thursday evening? Anyway, you could argue very well for it. Carolina has the currently most dangerous and versatile run game in the league, the Steelers also have a very strong run defense. Does Pittsburgh succeed in limiting the Panthers here? That would be an elementary step towards an important home win. On the other side of the ball at least the Steelers in the passing game should be superior to Carolinas Defense, at the Line of Scrimmage just like with their own receivers against the Panthers-Secondary.
Tip: Steelers vs. Panthers 30:27.
The Saints may not be as strong away from home as they are in the Dome – but the times when New Orleans was offensively and clearly cutting back in the open air are over. The offensive line and the run game are too strong for that, Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas are too big mismatch players for that. Against a schematically less complex Bengals defense, this should be noticeable again, whereupon the question arises: Can Cincinnati keep up in a shootout? Without A.J. Green, who’s gonna drop out injured for the time being? At least it would be a real surprise.
Tip: Bengals vs. Saints 20:26.
Some positive approaches in the Browns Open after the coach change, starting with the way Duke Johnson was (finally) used. This should also hurt the Falcons, but the question is: how can Cleveland stop Atlantas Offense? Denzel Ward could fail with a hip injury, is it enough that Cleveland should cause some problems for the Falcons at the Line of Scrimmage? Atlantas Offense was extremely impressive in the regard against Washington, and the Pass-Rush of the Falcons became even deeper during the week with the engagement of Bruce Irvin. Not good news for a fragile browns line.
Tip: Browns vs. Falcons 23:27.
A horrible performance of the Lions offense, which must not fall apart even against a re-strengthened Vikings defence – not with this offensive Line and Matt Stafford behind it. Now a Bears Pass rush with Khalil Mack is waiting back, so the task won’t really be any easier and also in this game the departure of Golden Tate could be noticeable. Once again, in reverse, the question: which version of the Bears opense do we see? Chicago should be able to score points in the Run Game in this game.
Tip: Bears vs. Lions 23:17.
Clear thing in KC? Arizona’s Defense doesn’t play badly, but should be the next Defense that, even if Sammy Watkins (foot) fails, can’t defend all Chief’s weapons – in this game probably starting with the Run Game. Can the Cardinals put pressure on Patrick Mahomes? They have the Pass-Rush, but the Chiefs-Line is absolutely solid. For fans in Arizona the own offense is probably more exciting anyway: after the coordinator change against the 49ers before the Bye Week there were definitely positive tendencies; against the Chiefs a clear further step will be necessary to protect Josh Rosen behind the worst O-Line of the league. David Johnson and the Run Game should be a promising option against this Run Defense.
Tip: Chiefs vs. Cardinals 31:20.
Potential trap game for the Patriots. Tennessee is still too run-heavy and runs the risk of playing the strengths of this Patriots defense exactly into the cards. However, if the Titans can build on the past two games and further expand their passing open with creative elements, an unexpectedly exciting duel may await them. Conversely, it will be exciting to see how Tennessee can defend New England’s Offense when Gronkowski and Sony Michel return. At least they should be able to present a variety of looks to Brady and put the offensive line under pressure with the Pass-Rush.
Tip: Titans vs. Patriots 23:26.
Washington run out of players in the offensive line: both starting guards will miss the rest of the season injured, Left Tackle Trent Williams is still missing as well. That’s probably even halfway catchable against the pass rush of the Bucs, but in the run game Washington should get into trouble – and that’s not a good starting position for this Redskins team. If you combine this with the fact that Washington can be beaten by Big Plays in the Pass Defense, the more dangerous Passing Game could win in the end.
Tip: Buccaneers vs. Redskins 27:17.
Is Josh Allen making a comeback? From Buffalo one hears some optimism, at least in the near future it should be so far – it would be an urgently needed ray of hope for this Bills team; although of course it is also clear to everyone that Allen by no means suddenly turns everything upside down at the push of a button. But it would definitely be better than the current quarterback situation. Buffalo’s offense is on a historically bad course, from which the jet defense should also be able to capitalize. More exciting is the question whether we will see a better performance of the Jets-Offense against a good Bills-Defense, now that Josh McCown takes over temporarily for the injured Sam Darnold.
Tip: Jets vs. Bills 17:9.
The Texans have now taken the lead in the division with six wins in a row, and it won’t be easy for the other three teams to catch Houston – the loser of this game will probably run out of lights in this race. Jacksonville’s defense, in which Bouye and Hayden are stricken, is by no means as dominant as last year, while on the Colts side the offensive line is getting better and better together. Combined with a strong Andrew Luck, this is a dangerous mix for the Jaguars, who in turn could get into trouble against an explosive Colts front in Protection. From Jags’ point of view, the question: what role does Leonard Fournette’s return play in the general approach of the offense? And of course, which Blake Bortles do we see?
Tip: Colts vs. Jaguars 24:20.
Little from Raiders point of view makes after the disaster against the 49ers hope for this game – or for the rest of the season. Oakland will get problems again in the Pass-Protection, and then now a clearly better Secondary waits than those of the 49ers. On the other side of the ball, the Chargers have a Top 5 Open, while Oakland defensively falls apart completely. The Raiders have no pass-rush, are susceptible to coverage and that will be enough to keep up in this game.
Tip: Raiders vs. Chargers 13:30.
Could be a potentially exciting division matchup, as we saw a few weeks ago in Seattle. The Seahawks are strong where the rams are vulnerable: in the run game and with vertical passing. Can you bother L.A. again with this? Conversely, the rams should definitely be able to dominate the duel against a mixed Seahawks Pass rush on the Line of Scrimmage, which makes it very difficult to defend this offense.
Tip: Rams vs. Seahawks 31:23.
Bitter defeat in L.A., then a deserved bankruptcy with the Patriots – the Packers must slowly begin to win games. A home game against a Dolphins team, which once again moves up with Brock Osweiler, shows little explosiveness, let alone consistency, and is more than beatable defensively, especially in the run defense, should be a good opportunity to start a corresponding series. The Packers must be able to dominate this game with Aaron Jones and her aggressive defense.
Tip: Packers vs. Dolphins 34:17.
The Eagles are the winners of Bye Week after the Redskins and Cowboys bankruptcies and can now tackle the Mission Division title defence – starting with a duel against Dallas, where Philly can bury the few remaining playoff dreams in Big D. Philly should be able to at least contain the cowboy run game, and then the question is: what can you really expect from the cowboy passing game? Not too much at the moment, at least, even if it’s against the fragile Eagles-Secondary. Conversely, the matchup is much higher class, Philly, now with Golden Tate, will take a close look at some of the option plays and screens of the Titans that worked so well against Dallas on Monday night.
Tip: Eagles vs. Cowboys 27:17.
Two teams who, from a sporting point of view, are nowhere to go this season – that always makes such games extremely difficult to predict. One thing is clear: The Giants-Defense has only a below-average pass-rush and Kyle Shanahan will present Nick Mullens again some open receivers about the Scheme. If Mullens then has time in pocket, it won’t be an easy game for the Giants. Conversely, it is easy to argue that the Receiving Corps of the Giants should clearly have the advantage on their side in this game. Now, if only Eli could take advantage of this…
Tip: 49ers vs. Giants 24:21.