Sanders's Week 10 NFL Predictions

By Jacob Sanders

It’s Week 10. Wait. Wasn’t Week 3 just the other day? The season has felt so short yet hear we are at Week 10. Meaning football is halfway over so get your tissues out now cause February is coming faster than we think. Anyhow, nothing special here in this segment mostly because nothing crucial has happened that I feel needs to be mentioned. So let’s move it along!

Sanders went 8-5 last week putting him to on the season.

On to the picks!

Seattle Seahawks VS Arizona Cardinals

I’m going to keep this one short. The Cardinals are seriously banged up. They stay competitive in games due to good roster depth and coaching, but overcoming the losses of an All-Pro Guard, a would be MVP candidate in David Johnson and a smart veteran QB is just too much it seems. Also, Russel Wilson is playing in the prime of his career carrying a team that would otherwise seemingly be lost on offense due to a poor offensive line and a non-existent running game. The better QB wins the game.

Seahawks 20 Cardinals 13

New Orleans Saints VS Buffalo Bills

Some might think that the Bills are actually just okay after losing to the Jets. Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Yes, the Bills have been overperforming but it’s because they’ve been playing solid defense along with an efficient offense. The Bills are a basic team and that’s all you need to win games if you have the right cominations of players (as shown by their offseason moves). That and Sean McDermott has shown he can maximize his players’s potential. As for the Saints, they have had the same philosophy except they have a much better (and elite) quarterback under center leading them to a fine 6-2. For me, the better QB wins the game here. Sounds typical, because it is.

Saints 27 Bills 17

Green Bay Packers VS Chicago Bears

Speaking of better quarterbacks, I can’t actually decide if Trubisky or Hundley is better. Some would argue Trubisky but he hasn’t had to carry a game like Hundley has had to. Trubisky benefits from a young defense that continues to get better and a ground game headed by Jordan Howard. Hundley doesn’t get those luxuries because his team is built around superior quarterback play. It sucks for Green Bay but they don’t look like they will win many games until Hundley can start taking command of his offense. He’ll look to start that against a tough Bears defense. Yikes.

Packers 17 Bears 20

Cleveland Browns VS Detroit Lions

Okay. I’ll admit, I haven’t watched the Browns play a full game in two weeks. But it doesn’t look like I need to when highlights show that mediocre offensive play and mediocre defensive play is holding them back. Overall, I can’t tell you what the Browns have going for them because it doesn’t feel like much. As for the Lions, I still don’t trust this team except for Stafford. Lo and Behold he carried the Lions to a win in Lambeau Field on Monday Night. Not shocking. He should be able to do the same against a winless Browns team. If not, well….let’s not go there.

Browns 10 Lions 19

Pittsburgh Steelers VS Indianapolis Colts

So far, I don’t think the Steelers can actually drop this game. Despite Mike Tomlin’s track record with bad teams, the Steelers just look like a different beast this year. One that shouldn’t lose to a mouse of a team in the Colts. Still a bummer that Luck is out for the year.

Steelers 33 Colts 16

Los Angeles Chargers VS Jacksonville Jaguars

It may not seem like it, but I feel this is where Jacksonville proves that they are for real or just pretenders. Here’s why. At 5-3, you should be able to beat a feisty 3-5 team. If not, your playoff chances get muddied and then you like an easily beatable wildcard team. If they can beat the Chargers in an efficient way and get to 6-3, I may get excited for this team. It’s not the Jacksonville team that captured my attention when David Gerrard (remember that guy?) was at the helm but hey, things change. And for the Chargers, things will probably remain the same. A close game that turns into heartbreak. If they do win this, they might get some more attention in the NFL. This game is a statement game for both teams.

Chargers 20 Jaguars 23

New York Jets VS Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Alright, alright. The Bucs kinda suck. So much for me looking at them becoming a playoff team. You know who doesn’t suck? The Jets! They have become a 4-5 team which is much better than anyone ever dreams. In fact, there’s a theory, how about a .500 team at Week 10! How exciting. Good for the Jets organization. For nearly everyone writing them off, they have believed in themselves. This is a very young team that can get very good with development in the future. Oh. I’m getting excited. Maybe too early to get excited. But hey, they should beat a bad Bucs team.

Jets 24 Bucs 10

Cincinnati Bengals VS Tennessee Titans

Ever wonder what kind of team the Bengals could be if they ever realized the potential their roster holds? Just look back a couple years and you’ll find the team they used to be. But ever since they collapsed in the playoffs in 2015 where they nearly broke their playoff-losing streak, they have looked bad. That and the players on this team aren’t necessarily as innocent as Snow White or Cinderella….moving on. The Titans have come back to smite me. I wrote them in as AFC South winners in the preseason, then, as soon as I write them off, they beat my favorite team and are 5-3 and will probably be 6-3 after this matchup. Ugh. The football gods look down on me. Karma is a….well….you know.

Bengals 17 Titans 26

Minnesota Vikings VS Washington Redskins

You all have no idea how much I want to pick this as my upset of the week. I love this Redskins team. They are currently my favorite team in the NFL to watch outside of the Eagles. Not because they are the best but because Cousins is so good whether the Redskins are winning or losing.He is an efficient quarterback that will give your team a chance to win. PAY THE MAN already! Jeez. But, unfortunately, they’re playing the Vikings who arguably are home to the best defense in the League. If Cousins can pass this test, it will blow my mind. I love Cousins, but I’m not sure if he can beat this elite defense with a banged up offense. Sounds like a familiar storyline. If he does, count me as one who will find the Redskins as the most stupid organization in football if they let him go. Again. PAY THE MAN!

Vikings 24 Redskins 17

Houston Texans VS Los Angeles Rams

Well. This one isn’t hard. The Texans are bad. And unfortunately it’s because three franchise players are all gone. That’s basically the heart, soul, and mind of a team. Really sad. But, that’s life. The Rams win. They’re just a better team with a strong offense and a strong defense. The thought of the Rams and Eagles clashing makes my mouth water. It’s coming soon. Get excited everyone.

Texans 13 Rams 31

Dallas Cowboys VS Atlanta Falcons

A lot of conversation about how the Cowboys are toast without Elliot. Eh. Maybe. But not this week because Prescott is the better quarterback in this matchup and the Dallas D can matchup well with Falcons offense. Yeah, Matt Ryan was our MVP but he doesn’t look anywhere as good as he was last year. Prescott does. In fact, he looks better than last year. I’ll be slightly surprised if Dallas doesn’t win this. They just feel like the better team.

Cowboys 26 Falcons 21

UPSET OF THE WEEK!!!!

New York Giants VS San Francisco 49ers

Okay. This is a bit of a joke. But the 49ers haven’t won a game yet! I’m pretty sure this is their best option for a win this season. The Giants are flat out terrible. So are the 49ers but the 49ers are at home. Let’s give them a shot. It won’t necessarily be an upset but hey, I think a winless team winning in Week 10 is an upset no matter who you’re playing.

New England Patriots VS Denver Broncos

You would think the Patriots have this wrapped up. But, not so. The Patriots struggle to beat the Broncos all the time. Heck, I recall when Osweiler was playing QB and they came back to beat the Patriots in overtime. It was snowing. I remember that game well. Anyhoo, I don’t think the same result happens here. It’s possible, but this isn’t the same Denver team we saw two years ago beat the Patriots twice in one year. They need a real quarterback at center.

Patriots 28 Broncos 17

Miami Dolphins VS Carolina Panthers

Okay, okay. So the Dolphins still look a little competitive after last week thriller against the Raiders. And I just don’t ever know what to think of the Panthers. I’m going to throw them a bone and bank that their offense doesn’t fall flat and pick the Panthers. In what has felt like an up and down season, the Panthers are quietly 6-3. SIX AND THREE. HOW?! I couldn’t tell you. I’ll be watching this one closely because I need to figure out what this Panthers team is. We’ll see how Jay Cutler handles this Panthers defense. It won’t be as easy like last week.

Dolphins 20 Panthers 34