NFL Picks 2013: Week 10

As is often the case in the NFL, the only thing that went as expected was the unexpected.

Upsets abound and some narrowly averted bigger upsets almost made the numbers even worse. At the end of it all, week nine was nothing like week eight, when we combined for a 45-7 mark. Last week three of us struggled to a 7-6 record. The lone standout was Rich, who gained some ground in the season pool by nailing 9 of 13 games.

Here are the standings:

With week nine in the books, we’re approaching the final third of the regular season. Games are starting to matter more and division matchups will again start becoming more prominent. Here’s who we think will win the 14 upcoming games.

Game of the Week: Carolina at San Francisco – While Cincinnati travels to Baltimore in a big NFC North game, Chicago hosts Detroit and Denver visits San Diego, our favorite matchup of the weekend pits the NFC favorite 49ers playing host to the conference’s hottest team, the Panthers. Both teams feature strong defenses and young, athletic QBs who are getting hot after slow starts. These teams are both likely playoff participants and this could have postseason ramifications in terms of rankings and home field. Should be quite a game.

Game of the Weak: Miami at Tampa Bay – Six weeks ago we featured the matchup between Miami and New Orleans, both of whom were unbeaten at the time, as our Game of the Week. Now, the Dolphins have lost four of five and are dealing with a locker room bullying scandal. The team is down two starting offensive linemen and also is starting Bryant McKinnie, who was acquired in a trade with Baltimore after the Ravens found him fitness-challenged. This struggling outfit takes on the imploding Bucs, who are 0-8 (really? Three NFL teams in the state and nine weeks in they’ve combined for four wins?).

I can’t remember who posted it, but someone on Twitter this morning noted that the also-winless Jacksonville Jaguars might be the most stable team in Florida right now. Sure seems true to me.

 Loading ...