nfl predictions: week ten [10]

minnesota at green bay

analysis : while adrian peterson is a terrific running back, let's keep things in perspective. he has only played 8 games, and while he has been impressive, he's not the best running back in the league [not yet at least]. with that being said, green bay will do a good job in containing peterson, mostly because to the play of their linebackers.

the pick : green bay

jacksonville at tennessee

analysis : the winner of this game will have no more than 17 points. both offenses will play poorly, but that is in large part due to the play of both of the defenses. i'm still curious if there are any other people who realize that vince young has been laying an egg on the field this year. he might not even reach 1,500 yards passing, which would only need about an average of 100 yards per game.

the pick : tennessee

denver at kansas city

analysis : the broncos have won a total of 3 games this season by a combined score of 9 points [and all have been on last second field goals]. the chiefs, on the other hand, have beat quality opponents, so they shouldn't have much of a problem with the broncos.

the pick : kansas city

buffalo at miami

analysis : although miami is winless at 0-8, it doesn't mean that they aren't capable of winning a game. the bills don't have much of a defense, and the dolphins do have some speed that would cause problems for their secondary. and after the dolphins win this game, the 1976 buccaneers will only have to wait for a rams' victory in order to pop open a bottle of champagne to celebrate the fact that are still the only football team with a winless season.

the pick : miami

st louis at new orleans

analysis : now that the saints have got their groove back, there is no foreseeable reason to see them losing to the rams. even though stephen jackson is supposedly healthy and starting for the rams, they are still in total disarray. it's time for them to start scouting the best players in the college game.

the pick : new orleans

cleveland at pittsburgh

analysis : the steelers will show no mercy against the browns. jamal lewis will struggle to get any thing more than 3 yards a carry. the steelers blitzing defense will confuse derek anderson and rattle what poise he has shown this season.

the pick : pittsburgh

philadelphia at washington

analysis : the eagles are in a tailspin that they won't be able to be able to recover. donovan mcnabb has played poorly, but it is clear that he is nowhere near 100% healthy. jason campbell should have his way against an eagles' secondary that is missing a few starters.

the pick : washington

atlanta at carolina

analysis : if sage rosenfels set back football 15 years, then panthers' starting quarterback matt moore will set football back to the era when the forward pass had not yet been implemented. the falcons also play football as though it were 1960, but that is partly because the team has quit on their coach. petrino is partly to blame for this, and i'm sure he has already been looking at where he wants to buy some beachfront property with all his buyout money.

the pick : atlanta

cincinnati at baltimore

analysis : with the bengals' defense playing as if they were wet toilet paper in the way they provide little to no resistance, the bengals' offense is forced to pass on almost every play to stay in the game. and while the bengals have good offensive players, it's difficult to run an offense when it becomes one-dimensional. granted, to say that the ravens' offense has even one dimension would be generous, the ravens' defense, as usual, will play well enough to win the game for them.

the pick : baltimore

dallas at ny giants

analysis : even though the giants lost to the cowboys in their first meeting, it was due to the play of their defense. in fact, the offense played quite well enough to win the game. the giants will be able to exploit the cowboys' biggest weakness, which is their pass defense [read: roy williams]. the cowboys will also play well, but it won't be enough to overcome the problems that they will have against the giants' defensive line.

the pick : ny giants

detroit at arizona

analysis : the lions are a team that a second collapse would seem likely, considering that they are an inexperienced team that has had a relatively easy schedule so far. the rest of the teams that they play in the second half are collectively much better, and they may fall victim to external pressure if they struggle for a playoff spot.

the pick : arizona

chicago at oakland

analysis : it's time for people to realize that the bears' defense are not what we thought they were. they have become quite average, which is the result of losing key players on their defensive line. without the ability to apply [some] pressure using only their front four, their cover 2 scheme is less ineffective, especially since their need to blitz their linebackers to get to quarterback will leave holes in the zone.

the pick : oakland

indianapolis at san diego

analysis : these two teams are on opposite ends of the spectrum as far as coaching goes. the colts in tony dungy have a major advantage over the chargers in norv turner. i fully expect dungy to undress turner throughout the game, and consequently, i expect norv turner to be buck naked by the middle of the third quarter. fortunately for the colts, this will translate well onto the field. but unfortunately for them, they will have to play with a nude man in their peripheral vision.

the pick : indianapolis

san francisco at seattle

analysis : even though shaun alexander is out for this game, i don't think the seahawks will miss his usual 15 carries and 40 yards that he brings with him, nor will they miss the way he crumples to ground whenever a live body approaches him. the 49ers should have frank gore back in the starting lineup, which will be the deciding advantage against the underachieving seahawks.

the pick : san francisco