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Here’s a quick look at the NFL’s early slate in Week 10, all of which kickoff at 1pm EST:
New Orleans Saints (7-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-3)
With the destruction of the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football, the Pittsburgh Steelers now sit 0.5 game ahead of the Bengals in the AFC North. Here’s to hoping the Bengals change all that on Sunday and embarrass the Saints. Am I (still) salty about their win over the Los Angeles Rams last week, you ask? Mebbe.
Atlanta Falcons (4-4) at Cleveland Browns (2-6-1)
The Falcons welcome a Week 10 matchup against Gregg Williams’ Browns, and they absolutely must walk away with a win in Cleveland today. Sitting at 4-4 in a very tough NFC isn’t ideal, so a loss today - or in the next few weeks - could be devastating for their hopes of a postseason.
They’re currently in third place in a tough NFC South, and could find themselves contending for a wild card spot with a handful of teams including slow starters like the Eagles (4-4) and Vikings (5-3-1) -- assuming they don’t take their division lead by season’s end. Regardless of how things might shake out by season’s end, scoring less points than the Browns today would be ill-advised.
Detroit Lions (3-5) at Chicago Bears (5-3)
I don’t figure the Lions stand much of a chance in this one, but it could be an interesting game to watch, considering the Rams play these teams in consecutive weeks coming out of their bye — which is quickly approaching (Week 12).
Arizona Cardinals (2-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (8-1)
Poor Cardinals...
New England Patriots (7-2) at Tennessee Titans (4-4)
Only slightly better than the bottom-dwelling Jags and Colts, the Titans find themselves at .500 through nine weeks, and in second place in the AFC South. To stay competitive though, it looks like they’re going to have to pull off another stunner — much like they did against the Cowboys in Dallas on Monday night. Likely? Nah. But rooting for anyone to beat the Patriots comes easy.
Washington Redskins (5-3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5)
I’m not sure many folks saw the Redskins, who finished last season with a 7-9 record, leading the NFC East division at the midpoint, but here we are. And the Bucs...well...they’re in a familiar spot. Tampa Bay’s defense is horrible, so the Redskins should be putting up some points today. And that’s fine by Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has no qualms with throwing it 50 times a game. A barn-burner, I hope.
Buffalo Bills (2-7) at New York Jets (3-6)
Jacksonville Jaguars (3-5) at Indianapolis Colts (3-5)
What in the world happened to the Jaguars? This one’s another snoozer between the two bottom dwellers in the AFC South division. Change the channel or Ron Swanson your TV./computer