NFL picks and score predictions for Week 10 as the contenders separate themselves from the pretenders.
The 2020 NFL season continues to roll along, and it’s been quite a roller coaster of emotions for teams, fans and fantasy players everywhere. The unexpected continues to slap us in the face and leave us wondering. For now, though, we’re ready to deliver our weekly NFL picks!
As always, we’ve got you covered with the Week 10 edition of NFL picks and score predictions. Now I’ll never claim that these are going to be 100 percent on point. In fact, there’s a very good chance at least a few of my picks will go completely awry. I will, however, make my selections based on research, experience, and careful consideration.
I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I haven’t been my usual self this season. Week 8 wasn’t great, and my Week 9 NFL picks weren’t any better. I walked away from Monday Night Football with a 7-7 record on the week, moving me to 80-53-1 overall on the year. It’s possible this is my worst start to a season, but then again, it is 2020.
Just remember that making picks is not a science. As much research goes into it, anything can happen on any given Sunday. Isn’t that part of why we watch football in the first place?
Now that we’ve gotten all of that out of the way, here are my NFL picks and score predictions for Week 10. Just keep in mind that I assume no responsibility if you choose to place wagers based on my picks — that’s your decision, not mine.
Week 10 Byes: Atlanta Falcons (3-6), Dallas Cowboys (2-7), Kansas City Chiefs (8-1), New York Jets (0-9)
Indianapolis Colts (5-3) at Tennessee Titans (6-2)
Thursday, November 12, 8:20PM ET
In the first matchup between the two top dogs in the AFC South, we could get one of the best Thursday Night Football games of the year. These two teams have been kind of hard to figure out, but both offer the potential to light it up on any given night.
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In this one, I’m foreseeing a hard-nosed, low-scoring battle between these divisional rivals. The Indianapolis Colts boast a defense that doesn’t budge, as it’s currently ranked first in the NFL and third against the run. The Titans defense isn’t as stout, but their offense is far more explosive and less mistake-prone.
So what it’ll come down to is two things: can Philip Rivers avoid costly mistakes and can the Titans get Derrick Henry going against the Colts’ stingy defense? Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if neither happened. In that case, it’ll be up to Ryan Tannehill to secure the win for Tennessee.
If that’s the case, then the Titans should come away victorious. They may not be the most well-rounded team, but they’ve proven time and time again this season that Mike Vrabel has prepared them to weather the storm and come out on top. That happens again in Week 10, as they widen their lead in the division.
Prediction: Titans win 33-27
Philadelphia Eagles (3-4-1) at New York Giants (2-7)
Sunday, November 15, 1PM ET
Yes, it was nice for the New York Giants to get their second win in Week 9. Unfortunately for them, it’s a new week and they’ve got a much more competitive opponent coming to town. The Philadelphia Eagles are currently leading the NFC East, and it’ll stay that way in Week 10.
What it’ll come down to is whether or not the Eagles can get the passing game going against the Giants. Carson Wentz has been all over the map in 2020 but has shown some of that skill that made him an MVP candidate a few years ago. It helps that he’s got Travis Fulgham breaking out and Alshon Jeffery may return in Week 10 as well.
Meanwhile, the Giants haven’t been able to muster much in the way of offense this season. Daniel Jones is still a major work in progress, and the run game hasn’t shown much life since Saquon Barkley went down. New York is also among the league leaders in turnovers, which doesn’t help their cause.
In this one, Philadelphia takes the win by a narrow margin, edging the Giants out despite a late push from Jones and Co. Wentz gets another win, and we see another example of how pitiful NFC East football is in 2020.
Prediction: Eagles win 21-19
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-7) at Green Bay Packers (6-2)
Sunday, November 15, 1PM ET
The Green Bay Packers got their bounce-back win against a depleted 49ers squad, but that doesn’t mean they’re out of the woods yet. They need another convincing victory to put them back in the driver’s seat in the NFC North.
Luckily, they pull a Week 10 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars. While they weren’t nearly as bad as anticipated with rookie Jake Luton under center in Week 9, there’s still little reason to believe this Jacksonville club is capable of toppling one of the NFC’s best teams.
More than likely, Aaron Rodgers is going to unload on this Jaguars secondary, which is currently ranked 31st in the NFL in total defense. They also have the least amount of sacks in the league so far with eight, meaning Rodgers should have all day to throw the football. Can you tell what this equation equals? Yes, plenty of Green Bay points.
Maybe it won’t be a complete massacre by halftime. Then again, maybe it will. The Packers are the far superior team taking on a rookie quarterback in his second start. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rodgers was on the bench by the middle of the fourth quarter.
Prediction: Packers win 34-13
Washington Football Team (2-6) at Detroit Lions (3-5)
Sunday, November 15, 1PM ET
Wouldn’t it be a great feel-good story if, in his first start since his horrific injury, Alex Smith lead the Washington Football Team to a win? I’m not picking them for that reason, but it wouldn’t certainly be a terrific storyline for Week 10.
Instead, I’m picking Washington to get the W against the Detroit Lions because of their defense. Surprisingly, they boast one of the best in the business and have excelled at making opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable. While the Detroit offense is solid, the Football Team will keep them in check on Sunday.
As for the Washington offense, they just need to make a few big plays to keep this thing in their control. Smith threw his first touchdown in years last week, but will need to pull back on the conservative play if he wants to beat the Lions.
The D.C. defense does most of the work, creating a couple of turnovers and forcing Matthew Stafford to spend most of Sunday under pressure. Smith keeps the offense from sinking, and the Football Team gets its first road win of the 2020 season.
Prediction: Washington wins 23-21
Houston Texans (2-6) at Cleveland Browns (5-3)
Sunday, November 15, 1PM ET
Get this: the Houston Texans’ only two wins this season have come against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are currently 1-7. So isn’t safe to say those wins don’t carry much weight? Yeah, it’s not looking so good for the Texans moving forward.
But here’s the real reason why I’m picking the Cleveland Browns to win in Week 10. It’s all about the ground game. At this point, the Browns are fielding the fifth-ranked rushing attack in the NFL — and that’s with Nick Chubb having been out since Week 4. He’s expected to be back in Week 10, reuniting Cleveland’s dynamic backfield duo of Chubb and Kareem Hunt.
As it turns out, the Texans have the worst-ranked run defense in the NFL. Not only are they giving up nearly 160 yards per game on the ground, but they’ve also allowed opponents to scamper into the end zone on 11 separate occasions. There’s just no way they’re going to slow Chubb and Hunt on Sunday.
Sure, Deshaun Watson will do his best to keep the Texans in the game. But Cleveland’s defense will put the pressure on, and the Browns running game will wear down the clock until there’s simply no time left for Houston to pull off the comeback.
Prediction: Browns win 31-20
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3) at Carolina Panthers (3-6)
Sunday, November 15, 1PM ET
Yes, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Week 9 performance against the Saints was embarrassing. It’s one of the worst games we’ve ever witnessed from one of the game’s greatest quarterbacks, but that doesn’t mean it’s all downhill from here.
In fact, this could be the perfect game for Tom Brady to get himself in order. While the Carolina Panthers are solid offensively, their defense simply isn’t getting the job done right now. They’ve managed only nine measly sacks all season long, and haven’t excelled at creating turnovers either. That should bode well for Brady and Co. on Sunday.
Don’t discount Teddy Bridgewater and the Panthers offense though. Even if Christian McCaffrey can’t go, Carolina should be able to move the ball — even against Tampa’s fourth-ranked defense. As we saw against New Orleans, they are beatable.
The Panthers keep things close, but a last-minute effort to send the Buccaneers packing falls short. Bridgewater throws one into the end zone as the clock expires, but the pigskin mercifully hits the ground and gives Carolina its fifth-straight loss.
Prediction: Buccaneers win 30-26
Los Angeles Chargers (2-6) at Miami Dolphins (5-3)
Sunday, November 15, 4:05PM ET
Believe it or not, the Miami Dolphins are legit this season. It feels like just yesterday I pretty much wrote them off on a weekly basis, and now they’re forcing me to put serious thought into their games. Well, here it is: I’m picking them to win in Week 10.
Then again, it’s as much to do with the Dolphins’ recent success as it is with the Los Angeles Chargers’ inability to win close games this season. Despite being 2-6, they’ve watched Justin Herbert blossom into a star while the defense hasn’t been a complete disaster. Still, their six losses have come by a combined 24 points. Yikes.
So what gives the Dolphins the edge in this one? Honestly, the offense. Tua Tagovailoa has proven himself more than capable of leading this Miami offense, as we saw in Week 10. The Dolphins have done a great job of taking care of the football this year as well, which will help in what’s sure to be a nail-biter.
The Chargers will put points on the board, and Herbert will continue to impress as he takes advantage of his gaggle of talented receivers. While that may be the case, Tagovailoa puts together a late-game drive that seals the win for the Dolphins.
Prediction: Dolphins win 31-27
Denver Broncos (3-5) at Las Vegas Raiders (5-3)
Sunday, November 15, 4:05PM ET
It’s been an interesting year for both of these squads. The Denver Broncos showed promise before the season began, but injuries quickly derailed things. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Raiders have been a roller coaster ride, winning games they shouldn’t and losing games they shouldn’t.
So what happens when they butt heads in Week 10? I believe the Raiders will keep their two-game win streak alive, handing the Broncos another defeat that nearly puts the playoffs out of reach for a franchise that desperately needs to get something going before a teardown becomes necessary.
How do the Raiders do it? With their passing game, of course. Last week, the Broncos had a tough time keeping the Falcons’ air assault in check, and that figures to be the case again against Las Vegas. Derek Carr is having a strong season, and I’m expecting to see him shred the Denver secondary on Sunday.
Drew Lock keeps this game from getting out of hand, but can’t put up enough points to make it a game. The Raiders pull away in the fourth and move to 6-3 as they continue to keep themselves in the middle of the AFC playoff picture.
Prediction: Raiders win 34-23
Buffalo Bills (7-2) at Arizona Cardinals (5-3)
Sunday, November 15, 4:05PM ET
It hasn’t been all positive for the Buffalo Bills this season, but they put the rest of the league on notice in Week 9 with their dismantling of the Seattle Seahawks’ defense. Josh Allen is for real, and the Buffalo defense is more than capable of providing support.
In Week 10, they face a similar challenge in slowing Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals. While it won’t be an easy feat, I believe this Bills squad is more than up to the task — they’ve gone a terrific job in 2020 of bending without breaking and keeping quality competition in check.
So what can they expect from the Cardinals? For starters, plenty of Murray. The second-year quarterback is currently leading the NFL’s most productive offense, as Arizona’s offense is first in yards per game and sixth in points per game. Look for him to spend all day testing this Buffalo secondary with his trio of star receivers.
Ultimately, though, the Bills make the most big-plays thanks in large part to Allen. The Cardinals make a late-game push for the win, but Buffalo’s D puts up a brick wall to keep points off the board and move the Bills to 8-2.
Prediction: Bills win 29-24
San Francisco 49ers (4-5) at New Orleans Saints (6-2)
Sunday, November 15, 4:25PM ET
If there weren’t so many injuries on the San Francisco 49ers’ side of the ball, this would probably be an awesome game. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, which is definitely going to eat into the quality of competition in this Sunday afternoon showdown.
Right now, the Saints are probably high off of their shellacking of the Buccaneers this past weekend. Drew Brees was masterful, and the New Orleans defense put on a show for the ages against one of the best quarterbacks to ever toss a pigskin. The entire team will be firing on all cylinders as their momentum is at a season-high.
Meanwhile, the 49ers are still being ravaged by injury. While they may be getting a couple of weapons back on offense, Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle still won’t be there. It’s going to be another tough game for San Francisco in which they simply don’t have enough talent on the field to compete with a legitimate contender.
The Saints are looking like one of the best in the NFC, while the 49ers need to get healthy if they have any hope of making a playoff run this season. For the time being, though, Brees and Co. put on another show and secure their seventh win.
Prediction: Saints win 36-17
Seattle Seahawks (6-2) at Los Angeles Rams (5-3)
Sunday, November 15, 4:25PM ET
It seems crazy that this is the first time I’m picking against the Seattle Seahawks this season. But after some of their less-than-impressive performances as of late, it’s not as easy to pick them to win — especially on the road, where they have struggled so far in 2020.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams have been outstanding at times this year, particularly in the confines of the new SoFi Stadium. They’re coming off a bye and will be pounding their fists in anticipation of this high-pressure divisional battle. Sean McVay will have a gameplan in place to outscore Russell Wilson by setting his offense up for success.
And honestly, it won’t be that hard against the league’s worst defense, which is currently giving up 456 yards and 30.4 points per game. As great as Wilson is, the Seahawks can’t expect him to consistently put up enough points to make up for the defense’s inability to keep opponents out of the end zone.
Jared Goff has a good game as the Seattle secondary continues to flounder, and Aaron Donald keeps the pressure cooker on high, forcing Wilson into more of those mistakes we’ve seen from him as of late. The Rams get the win and make things interesting in the NFC West.
Prediction: Rams win 41-30
Cincinnati Bengals (2-5-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (8-0)
Sunday, November 15, 4:25PM ET
As much as I’ve enjoyed rooting for Joe Burrow this season, I’m still not convinced the Cincinnati Bengals offer enough all-around talent to make them a weekly pick to win games. Going up against the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 10 only emphasizes that.
My only concern for the Steelers is Ben Roethlisberger’s health. At this point, it seems likely he’ll be good to go despite injuring both knees in Week 9, but the potential exists for him to suffer a setback during the week leading up to the game. If that happens, the Steelers’ odds of taking this game decline significantly.
With that said, Pittsburgh still gets the nod considering their elite defense. Even against Burrow, it shouldn’t be too tough to keep the Bengals from outscoring the Steelers. They have the league’s top-ranked pass defense, and have notched the most sacks so far in 2020 with 32. You better believe Burrow will be on the run all game long.
In the AFC North, nothing is guaranteed. While that’s the case, the Steelers should come away with the win in this one. Their defense and well-rounded offense (with Roethlisberger) is more than enough to earn them the W.
Prediction: Steelers win 26-22
Baltimore Ravens (6-2) at New England Patriots (3-5)
Sunday, November 15, 8:20PM ET
Congratulations to the New England Patriots, who finally broke their four-game losing streak on Monday night — to the winless Jets. And it took late-game heroics by Cam Newton to get the job done. A win is a win, but I wasn’t exactly impressed. Were you?
Anyway, the Baltimore Ravens certainly won’t be an easy opponent to take down like the Jets should have been. Lamar Jackson is struggling to follow up on his MVP campaign, but he’s still one of the NFL’s most dangerous weapons. On top of that, the Baltimore defense is among the league’s elites — they’re giving up a league-best 17.8 points per game.
Considering that the Patriots have one of the worst offenses that’s scoring only 19.4 points per game (fourth-worst in the NFL), the signs are pointing aggressively in Baltimore’s direction. Tie in Jackson’s dominance when he gets going, and I don’t see things going well for New England.
Believe it or not, this is a throw-away campaign for Bill Belichick and the Patriots. As much as they were hoping to play the wild card role in the AFC this season, it’s looking like they might as well rack up the losses and hope for a high draft pick.
Prediction: Ravens win 27-10
Minnesota Vikings (3-5) at Chicago Bears (5-4)
Monday, November 16, 8:15PM ET
Is it time to admit Dalvin Cook is arguably one of the best players in the NFL? Based on the way he’s been playing in recent weeks (and the effect its hard on the Minnesota Vikings’ success), it’s hard to deny how impactful of a running back he can be.
The Chicago Bears will get a first-hand taste of his talent on Monday night when they go up against the dangerous running back as he attempts to keep his blistering pace in the production department. And considering their middle-of-the-road run defense, I don’t see them suddenly being able to put the clamps on him.
What’s more, when Cook is gobbling up yards, Kirk Cousins plays better. He’s been outstanding in recent weeks because the pressure hasn’t been on him to win games by himself. That’s surprisingly allowed the Vikings to put together the league’s most efficient offense. The Bears defense is ranked ninth in the league right now, but that’ll change before Monday is over.
Nick Foles will do his best to keep pace in the scoring department, but the Vikings D has stiffened down the stretch. While we thought the Vikings were completely out of the race after a 1-5 start, it’s looking like they could make an epic run with an extra playoff spot up for grabs in 2020.
Prediction: Vikings win 34-26