NFL Week 10
Preview capsules, staff predictions
Packers (4-4) at Bears (3-5)
TV: Sunday, 1, Fox (Thom Brennaman, Chris Spielman, Peter Schrager)
The matchup: There will be no love lost between these rivals, not after Bears ILB Danny Trevathan was suspended after his helmet-to-helmet hit that sent Packers WR Davante Adams to the hospital in Green Bay’s 35-14 Week 4 win. The quarterbacks are new this time: Aaron Rodgers is out (shoulder) and Brett Hundley is in for the Packers, and Mike Glennon is out and Mitchell Trubisky in for the Bears. Chicago is 2-2 under Trubisky with the losses coming by a combined 11 points. The defense keeps the Bears in most games. The Bears field one of the stronger run games in football, and the Packers have struggled but gave up 64 rushing yards to Detroit. Will Chicago be healthy enough to continue featuring RBs Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen in a likely defensive struggle?
Browns (0-8) at Lions (4-4)
TV: Sunday, 1, CBS (Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta )
The matchup: Browns rookie QB DeShone Kizer is coming off his first interception-less game, a 33-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London before a bye last week. But it appears Kizer, like coach Hue Jackson (1-23 as Browns’ head coach) are on borrowed time in Cleveland. If there’s good news for the Browns, it’s that top pick Myles Garrett (concussion) was back on the practice field. The Lions are past the worst part of their schedule and won’t face another foe outside their division with a winning record. In coach Jim Caldwell’s first three seasons, Detroit has gone 16-8 in the second half of the season, and QB Matthew Stafford is healthy, unlike last December. The Browns have been through 14 quarterbacks since Stafford’s streak of 103 starts began in 2011.
Steelers (6-2) at Colts (3-6)
TV: Sunday, 1, CBS (Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Jamie Erdahl)
The matchup: The run game powers the Steelers offense, but a top-five defense gives them hope they can eventually reach the Super Bowl. The experienced offensive line is helping Le’Veon Bell find lanes, and the threat of a QB Ben Roethlisberger to WR Antonio Brown deep ball keeps defenses honest. It’s tough to see the Colts’ struggling secondary being able to keep up with Brown. The Colts are dealing with a bunch of defensive injuries and have had to shuffle their O-line, too. They are playing for next year with QB Andrew Luck shut down, QB Jacoby Brissett making strides and a roster that isn’t good enough to win consistently.
Chargers (3-5) at Jaguars (5-3)
TV: Sunday, 1, CBS (Andrew Catalon, James Lofton)
The matchup: Coach Anthony Lynn gave his Chargers the entire bye week off to get more rested and ready for the second half of the season. Helping RB Melvin Gordon find momentum is critical. He’s averaging 65.8 yards per game on 4.0 yards per carry with four TDs. Gordon could be due for a big game with QB Philip Rivers going up against Jacksonville’s elite secondary. Jacksonville played most of its Week 9 game against Cincinnati without two of its best players and still cruised to a 23-7 win. RB Leonard Fournette was inactive for violating team rules and CB Jalen Ramsey was ejected after a fight with Bengals WR A.J. Green. How will Fournette bounce back after his benching? In his last 15 outings, Rivers has had just one turnover-free game. In the other 14 games, the Chargers have gone 3-11. Jacksonville’s secondary is excellent.
Saints (6-2) at Bills (5-3)
TV: Sunday, 1, Fox (Kenny Albert, Ronde Barber, Kristina Pink)
The matchup: QB Drew Brees received plenty of help as New Orleans topped Tampa Bay for its sixth win in a row to take sole possession of first place in the NFC South. Rookie RB Alvin Kamara had 152 yards from scrimmage and two TDs and veteran RB Mark Ingram rushed for 77 yards. The improved Saints defense recorded four sacks and limited Tampa Bay to 200 yards of total offense. Buffalo committed three turnovers in a 34-21 loss to the New York Jets and yielded seven sacks and 194 rushing yards. But reinforcements are on the way. WR Kelvin Benjamin, who was acquired from Carolina just before the trade deadline, is a legitimate No. 1 receiver and will allow WR Jordan Matthews to move over to the slot. Buffalo has 14 sacks this season and four over the last five games.
Jets (4-5) at Buccaneers (2-6)
TV: Sunday, 1, CBS ( Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon, Otis Livingston)
The matchup: With QB Josh McCown,
38, playing well, the Jets are coming off an impressive 34-21 victory vs. the Bills that featured nearly 200 rushing yards, three takeaways and seven sacks. Jets offensive coordinator John Morton listened to players’ concerns and ran the ball a season-high 41 times, resulting in a season-high 194 yards and three TDs. Bucs coach Dirk Koetter acknowledged his team might be dealing unwittingly with a losing culture. QB Jameis Winston has been shut down for at least two weeks after an MRI revealed further damage to his shoulder. Ryan Fitzpatrick,
34, steps in for a team whose inability to run the football, get off the field on third down and pressure quarterbacks have turned a promising season into a free fall.
Vikings (6-2) at Redskins (4-4)
TV: Sunday, 1, Fox (Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis, Pam Oliver)
The matchup: Minnesota comes out of its bye week boasting the NFC North’s best record, unlikely considering that QB Sam Bradford is now on IR and star rookie RB Dalvin Cook is out for the season. Backup QB Case Keenum has provided a steady hand. Long-injured QB Teddy Bridgewater (knee) has been activated, but Keenum will start. RBs Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray have powered a top 10 running game. Washington saved its season with a stunning comeback win at Seattle in which it had four starting offensive linemen out with injuries, not to mention top WR Jamison Crowder, TE Jordan Reed and inside pass rusher DE Matt Ioannidis.
Bengals (3-5) at Titans (5-3)
TV: Sunday, 1, Fox (Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth, Shannon Spake)
The matchup: Cincinnati’s season is teetering. The O-line has struggled, and QB Andy Dalton hasn’t been good enough to raise the level of those around him. WR A.J. Green was ejected last week after throwing punches at Jaguars CB Jalen Ramsey. Coach Marvin Lewis is in the last year of his contract, and the Bengals are playing like a change is needed. RB Joe Mixon is a superior player, and with the passing game trying to find traction, it’s imperative he chew up tough yardage and create big plays. The AFC South is winnable if the Titans continue to take care of the ball behind QB Marcus Mariota and play defense the way they have the last month. Texans (3-5) at Rams (6-2)
TV: Sunday, 4:05, CBS (Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn)
The matchup: After losing in a Week 8 shootout in Seattle, Houston traded three-time Pro Bowl LT Duane Brown in the aftermath of owner Bob McNair’s “inmates” comment, lost sensational rookie QB Deshaun Watson for the season to a torn ACL and lost to the struggling Colts
20-14 at home. QB Tom Savage replaced Watson and struggled to spark the offense. Facing one of the league’s worst rush defenses, the Texans inexplicably gave RB Lamar Miller only 10 carries for
57 yards. After eight games, the Rams have scored more points than they did in all of 2016. QB Jared Goff (4 TD passes last week) should feast on a Texans defense that has allowed 26 points a game.
Cowboys (5-3) at Falcons (4-4)
TV: Sunday, 4:25, Fox (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews)
The matchup: The Cowboys won’t have RB Ezekiel Elliott, as his injunction was denied by a federal appeals court. Elliott will be replaced by Alfred Morris, and the Cowboys have emerged as a force after three convincing wins in a row, capped by last week’s home win vs. Kansas City. The defense has held the last three opponents to fewer than 20 points each and fewer than 300 yards per game, which coincides with LB Sean Lee’s return (hamstring). The Pro Bowler has been all over the field, with 26 tackles in the three wins. The Falcons are sinking fast. Carolina was their fourth loss in the last five games, raising red flags about the talent, heart and toughness of a Super Bowl team that seems to be regressing. Coach Dan Quinn and first-year offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian could both be on the hot seat.
Giants (1-7) at 49ers (0-9)
TV: Sunday, 4:25, Fox (Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston, Laura Okmin)
The matchup: The return of CB Janoris Jenkins from a suspension might provide help to a defense that gave up 51 points to the Rams, but he can’t fix the Giants’ pass defense on his own. Another question mark involves QB Eli Manning and whether it’s time to start looking for his eventual replacement. As ugly as the losses have been, the Giants have found slivers of hope in TE Evan Engram, a potential star in the making, and RB Orleans Darkwa. San Francisco could be missing as many as eight starters due to injuries, led by T Joe Staley and S Jimmie Ward. Blowouts have taken the 49ers away from what they do best: giving the ball to RB Carlos Hyde. He rushed for 124 yards against Seattle’s defense.
Patriots (6-2) at Broncos (3-5)
TV: Sunday, 8:30, NBC (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya)
The matchup: The Patriots are hoping CB Stephon Gilmore (out three games because of a concussion) and Eric Rowe (four games, groin injury) will return and start playing up to their potential in the second half of the season. Coach Bill Belichick is hopeful QB Tom Brady has benefited from the time off. Brady reportedly has been nursing an injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder, the result of taking too many hits. He has been sacked 21 times this season, six times more than in 12 starts last year. The Broncos quarterback switch from Trevor Siemian to Brock Osweiler did not provide a spark as Denver’s woes continued in an embarrassing 51-23 loss to the Eagles. It marked the first time in seven years that an opponent scored 50 or more points vs. the Broncos, who have dropped five of their last six.
Dolphins (4-4) at Panthers (6-3)
TV: Monday, 8:30, ESPN (Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters)
The matchup: The Dolphins can use the extra day this week to heal up and prepare for what projects as one of the league’s toughest schedules in the second half. It will mark Miami’s third consecutive game in prime time. The defense should be bolstered with the return of veteran S T.J. McDonald, who’s expected to make his 2017 debut after serving an eight-game suspension for violating the league’s personal-conduct policy. Now that RB Jay Ajayi has been dealt away, the Dolphins are expected to throw the ball more. After missing 11⁄ 2 games because of broken ribs, QB Jay Cutler completed his first 16 passes vs. the Raiders last week. He finished 34for-42 for 311 yards and three TDs. The Panthers continue to rely on a stout defense and are discovering ways to win on offense without a conventional running game. Bye: Eagles, Chiefs, Raiders, Ravens