After a wild Week 9 that featured the Rams-Saints, Packers-Patriots and Steelers-Ravens, it feels like Week 10 is a bit of a letdown in terms of the NFL schedule. We’ll still get some good games but nothing really stands out as the marquee matchup of Week 10. At any rate, there are a number of intriguing cross-conference matchups starting with the Thursday nighter.
Carolina Panthers @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Line: Pittsburgh -4
It’s hard to believe that the Thursday Night Football contest is getting some love after last week’s ugly matchup. The Panthers and Steelers enter Week 10 with a combined 11-4-1 record, so we should be in store for a good game.
Carolina has strung together three straight wins on the shoulders of quarterback Cam Newton and an improved running game. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has hit its stride with four straight wins thanks particularly to the play of running back James Conner, who has excelled in the absence of Le’Veon Bell.
New Orleans Saints @ Cincinnati Bengals
Line: New Orleans -4
The Saints are rolling following back-to-back wins over the Minnesota Vikings and previously undefeated Los Angeles Rams stretched their win streak to seven in a row. Running backs Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram have provided New Orleans with one of the most dynamic running back tandems in the NFL. Meanwhile, Drew Brees is putting together another MVP-caliber campaign and the defense has done just enough to win some tough matchups. Now the Saints need to avoid a letdown in a potential trap game against a desperate Cincinnati side on Sunday. The Bengals have lost two of their last three and will be without A.J. Green in this one, which will hurt.
Miami Dolphins @ Green Bay Packers
Line: Green Bay -9.5
The Packers enter Week 10 with a 3-4-1 record following back-to-back losses to the Rams and New England Patriots in games where second-half fumbles really hurt them. Now they have an excellent chance to bounce back at home against a Miami side that has lost four of six. The Dolphins are really banged up as Ryan Tannehill is expected to be out again.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts
Line: Indianapolis -3
Imagine after their 31-20 win over New England thinking the Jaguars would be a team that’s nosediving about two months later. Jacksonville has hit a wall with losses in five of six. The offense is an abject disaster as the Jaguars have scored a total of 46 points in their last four games. The Colts scored 42 in their last game. The return of running back Leonard Fournette could help as he’s been out of action since late September.
Both teams are coming off their bye week.
Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles
Line: Philadelphia -6
With the Redskins losing at home to the Atlanta Falcons, the Cowboys and Eagles have an opportunity to inch closer to the top of the NFC East. The Cowboys have been absolutely terrible on the road as they are 0-4 and haven’t scored more than 17 points in a road game. Now they have to travel to Philadelphia to face the defending Super Bowl champions. The Eagles are coming off the bye week as they welcome the Cowboys for this Sunday Night Football showdown.