Week 10 Preview

Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers

The 5 – 3 Falcons travel to Carolina for a divisional matchup against the 3 – 5 Panthers. This is a big game for both teams as they try to keep pace with the runaway NFC South leading Saints. Falcons RB Michael Turner looks to be back to his best running for 166 yards and 2 TD’s last week against the Redskins. Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams also looks to have regained last season’s form, running for 158 and 149 yards in the last 2 games. The key to the game could well be which of these 2 have the best game, as both defences struggle against the run. Jake Delhomme is being a lot more careful with the ball recently, and is not been asked to win games by his self. Falcons QB Matt Ryan is having turnover problems recently, and I believe this will be the key factor, against the 6th ranked Panthers pass defence.

Lee’s Prediction: Falcons 14 Panthers 21

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Miami Dolphins

The battle of Florida takes place in Miami as the 3 – 5 Dolphins take on the 1 – 7 Buccaneers. The Buccs got their first win of the season last week, with 1st year QB Josh Freemans 1st start. The Phins also have a young QB in Chad Henne at the helm. I think the Dolphins defence will be able to get a lot of pressure on the rookie QB, coming from LB’s Joey Porter and Jason Taylor. This pressure will allow the Phins to force mistakes out of Freeman. I also think the Dolphins run game will be very effective against the 30th rank run .

Lee’s Prediction: Buccaneers 7 Dolphins 17

Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings

The 1 – 7 Lions travel to take on the 7 – 1 Vikings in a NFC North clash. I don’t think this is going to be much of a contest, as Brett Farve and co should roll the Lions. QB Matthew Stafford and star WR Calvin Johnson are both back for the Lions, but this will not help. Jared Allen will get a lot of pressure on the rookie, and force mistakes from him. Expect BIG numbers from ‘All Day’ Adrian Peterson as the Vikings get up big. The Lions RB Kevin Smith will need to have a good game for the Lions to have any chance, but don’t expect much, as the Vikings have the 6th rank run defence. Pretty easy game to call in my eyes.

Lee’s Prediction: Lions 3 Vikings 28

Jacksonville Jaguars @ New York Jets

The 4 – 4 Jaguars travel to the ‘big apple’ to take on the 4 – 4 Jets. Jags RB MJD is the only bright spot for the Jags in this game. He will need to have a huge game, to keep the Jags competitive here. The Jags have struggled on the road this year (losing 3 of 4) and have had struggles in their pass attack. Jets CB Darrelle Revis and co (2nd rank pass defence) should completely shut down the pass game. The Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez has made a few mistakes when he has come up against a good pass rush, the only problem is the Jags have a poor pass rush. In fact, they have a league low 8 sacks. The Jets 1st ranked rush attack should also have a field day against the poor rush defence of the Jags. Only one winner here.

Lee’s Prediction: Jaguars 7 Jets 17

Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers

In my opinion, this is the game of the week. The 6 – 2 joint leaders of the AFC North collide in Pittsburgh, and the winner will be in sole possession of 1st place. The Bengals did beat the Steelers in week 3, by picking holes in their zone pass defence. The big difference in this game, Troy Polamalu is back, therefore, the holes will be nowhere near as big. They may look to Cedrick Benson, who is having a monster season, to run the ball, and quieten the home crowd. This will be very difficult though against the number 1 rush defence. The offensive line for the Bengals will need a big day against this defence. James Harrison and co, love to pressure the QB, and force turnovers. Big Ben is playing very well at the moment (14 TD’s and a QB rating of 104.1), and I belive the Steelers, at home, will have to much.

Lee’s Prediction: Bengals 13 Steelers 21

New Orleans Saints @ St Louis Rams

I don’t think there is much to say about this game, as the undefeated 8 – 0 Saints travel to play the 1 – 7 Rams. St Louis has absolutely no chance of slowing down this offence. Their best offensive option is RB Steven Jackson, but he is no use to them when the opposition has a big lead. I believe the Saints will score early, and often, and put this game away very quickly.

Lee’s Prediction: Saints 37 Rams 6

Buffalo Bills @ Tennessee Titans

The 2 – 6 Titans, now on a 2 game winning streak, will host the 3 – 5 Bills. The Bills hope to have QB Trent Edwards back for this game. They face a real uphill battle though as their last ranked rush offence, takes on the 2nd best rush attack in the NFL. Look for Chris Johnson to have another very impressive game. The Bills do have a pretty good pass defence, but the Titans are doing a lot better job in that area now they have VY at QB. He is doing a great job of moving the pocket, keeping it simple, and finding the open man. For the Bills to win they will have to run the ball very effectively through Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch. I belive the Titans will take this, as they put points up early, and the Bills will have to rely on their poor pass game.

Lee’s Prediction: Bills 7 Titans 21

Denver Broncos @ Washington Redskins

The 6 – 2 Broncos, on a 2 game slide, travel to Washington to take on the 2 – 6 Redskins. It looks like the Redskins will be without 2 of its best offensive options in Cooley and Portis. This does not bode well, for an offense that is struggling badly to begin with. The other thing for the Redskins to worry about, is that the Broncos are 1 of the best defences in the league, look out for big Elvis Dumerville to get pressure on struggling Skins QB Jason Campbell. The Redskins have got quite a good defence, including the best defence against the pass. So I believe the key to the game is going to be Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno. If he has a good game, the Broncos will win. This will be a low scoring affair though.

Lee’s Prediction: Broncos 13 Redskins 7

Kansas City Chiefs @ Oakland Raiders

This looks to be a very poor game. The 1 – 7 Chiefs travel to Oakland to play this divisional game against the 2 – 6 Raiders. The Raiders will be hoping that QB JaMarcus Russell will have used the bye week well, and come out looking refreshed. They will also be hoping that their pass rush will be able to get to Matt Cassel, against an offensive line that has given up 30 sacks so far this year. The Chiefs look to have no real rush attack with the cut of Larry Johnson. But the addition of Chris Chambers looks to have significantly improved the pass game. This may not be a real factor though as the Raiders have the best CB in the league Nnamdi Asomugha. I believe this will be a low scoring game, with the home team just sneaking it.

Lee’s Prediction: Chiefs 7 Raiders 10

Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals

This is a big game in the NFC West. The 3 – 5 Seahawks travel to the dessert to play the division leading 5 – 3 Cardinals. If the Seahawks can get the win here, it will open up the whole division. You never quite know which side of Arizona will show up from week to week. Will it be the team that went into the Meadowlands in week 7 and won, or will it be the team that got stomped 41 – 21 by the Bears last week. One thing is for certain though; they have only won 1 out of 4 home games this year. Kurt Warner will throw the ball around in this one, and may have some success against a pretty average Seahawks secondary. The Seahawks have had to deal with a lot of injuries this year. QB Matt Hasselbeck will have to have a big game here if they are to have any chance. The 30th ranked Seahawks rush attack will be almost nonexistent here against the 4th ranked Cardinals defence. This is a very hard game to call, but expect a lot of pass plays.

Lee’s Prediction: Seahawks 10 Cardinals 20

Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers

The 6 – 2 Cowboys travel to Lambeau to take on the 4 – 4 Packers. This game will have huge NFC playoff implications. The first thing that I think with this match is that Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware must be very excited. The Packers offensive line has struggled all year to protect Aaron Rodgers, and D Ware certainly knows how to apply the pressure. I think this fact alone swings the game in the Cowboys favour. There’s no doubt that a lot of points will be put on the board by 2 very talented offenses, but I believe the Cowboys defence has a better chance of slowing Green Bay down, than vice versa.

Lee’s Prediction Cowboys 28 Packers 21

Philadelphia Eagles @ San Diego Chargers

The 5 – 3 Eagles travel to California, to play the 5 – 3 Chargers. This will be a very good game, and will give a clearer view of both team’s playoffs aspirations. The Eagles young, but very talented offence may need to put a lot of points on the board to overcome the in form Chargers in this one. The big play ability of DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin is always a huge threat. Phillip Rivers and the Chargers are on a 3 game winning streak. The Chargers may look to use the aggressive Eagles defence against them, with quick screens to Sproles and LT. Merriman and Phillips will look to pressure McNabb, and take away some of that big play capability. This should be a very interesting game to watch.

Lee’s Prediction: Eagles 14 Chargers 24

New England Patriots @ Indianapolis Colts

Sunday Night Football is a HUGE matchup as the 6 – 2 Patriots and the undefeated 8 – 0 Colts collide. These are 2 of the best teams in the NFL, with the best 2 QB’s in Manning and Brady. What a game this promises to be. The only factor that may spoil this game is the fact that the Colts have major injury problems in their secondary, and I believe that the high powered Patriot offence will take full advantage. This is undoubtedly going to be a high scoring game, with these great offences, the difference may well be which defence can slow the opposition down. I believe the Patriot defence is better, and with the injuries to the Colt defence as well, I can only see one winner.

Lee’s Prediction: Patriots 35 Colts 28