Can you believe it’s already Week 10? Before you know it, we’ll be talking about the NFL Playoffs.
But for now, we’re talking about keeping my hot streak alive. I went 4-1 with my picks last week, in Week 9. I’m 17-3 in the last four weeks, and 31-14 on the season.
Let’s not waste any more time. Here are my picks for Week 10:
WASHINGTON REDSKINS over Tampa Bay Buccaneers
-Even after losing to the Atlanta Falcons at home on Sunday, the 5-3 Redskins are in sole possession of first place in the NFC East. Now, Washington heads to Tampa Bay Sunday at 1 p.m. to take on a 3-5 Buccaneers team that’s lost two straight to the Cincinnati Bengals and most recently the Carolina Panthers. Tampa Bay’s defense is horrible, allowing 34 points per game, which ranks dead last in the NFL. They’ve allowed 40 points on three separate occasions this season, including 42 points to the Panthers last week. Offensively, the Buccaneers are sticking with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback, after going back and forth between him and Jameis Winston. Washington has a top-10 defense, and its offense should be good enough to rally around being a first-place team that’s a 3-point underdog to a team that’s two games under .500. Kind of a crazy spread, if you ask me. Washington is a solid team. They should win this game in Tampa.
GREEN BAY PACKERS over Miami Dolphins
-If the playoffs began today, the 3-4-1 Packers would be on the outside looking in. Unless there are some major collapses in the NFC, Green Bay will probably have to win the NFC North in order to get into the tournament. That won’t be an impossible task. The Packers are in third place behind the second place Minnesota Vikings and the first place Chicago Bears, who both have 5 wins. Green Bay still plays both Minnesota and Chicago and has yet to lose to either. Coming off two straight losses on the road to two of the best teams in the league in the Rams and Patriots, the Packers should be motivated enough to return home and beat a 5-4 Dolphins team that’s coming off a 13-6 win over the lowly New York Jets. Both the Green Bay defense and the Dolphins defense allow 25 points per game, but there’s a reason the Packers are a 10-point favorite in this one, and that’s Aaron Rodgers. He’s not in the conversation for “Greatest QB of All Time” like NBC tried to put him in last Sunday night, but he is certainly good enough to lead Green Bay to a win over Miami on Sunday at 4:25. Give me the Packers all day.
LOS ANGELES RAMS over Seattle Seahawks
-The 8-1 Rams lost their first game of the season last Sunday, when they lost to the Saints in New Orleans. Los Angeles was the last undefeated team remaining in the NFL. One loss won’t throw throw these Rams off track, and they should be able to bounce back nicely against a 4-4 Seahawks team that they’ve already beat this season. The Rams defeated the Seahawks back in Week 5, scoring 33 points in Seattle. Now, they’ll have the rematch in LA Sunday at 4:25, and the Rams are a 10-point favorite. I believe in the Rams too much to pick against them here. I have to think LA returns home and takes care of business against an average Seahawks team at best. The Rams will win their ninth game of the season.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES over Dallas Cowboys
-Sunday Night Football will quite possibly be the scene of the Dallas Cowboys’ season coming to an end. The 3-5 Cowboys have lost two straight and are coming off a loss to the Tennessee Titans at home on Monday night. So it will be a short week for Dallas, while the 4-4 Eagles are coming off the bye. Philadelphia just traded for wide receiver Golden Tate, and is a 6.5-point favorite at home on Sunday night. The Eagles’ last game was a Week-8 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Philly is going to be loud for this one. No way I’m betting against the Eagles, who I expect to win two straight games for the first time this season.
LOCK OF THE WEEK: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS over Arizona Cardinals
-Do I really need to even explain this one? For word-count purposes only (have to keep the editors happy), here you go. The 8-1 Chiefs have won three straight since losing to the Patriots in Week 6. Now, Kansas City is a 16.5-point favorite at home against a 2-6 Cardinals team that’s only beaten the 2-7 San Francisco 49ers twice. Arizona is well rested, coming off the bye, but the only hope the Cardinals have is if the Chiefs are already looking ahead to their showdown with the Rams the following week in Mexico City. But that’s not going to happen. Like the Rams, the Chiefs will also win their ninth game of the season.
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