NFL 2011 Week 10 picks

Top Ten teams
1.  Green Bay Packers (8-0) : The Pack look unbeatable - they are yet to play a close game
2.  Detroit Lions (6-2) : Owners of the best defense in the division?  Strangely, yes
3.  New Orleans Saints (6-3) : Despite a couple of bad games, Brees has this offense rolling; it's tops in the league
4.  San Francisco 49ers (7-1) : Jim Harbaugh is known as an offensive coach, but the defense is tops in the league
5.  Houston Texans (6-3) : Their defense is strong, but their offense has been the story recently
6.  Baltimore Ravens (6-2) : They swept the Steelers, which they've never done before
7.  Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) : This team has stats nearly identical to Baltimore's
8.  Buffalo Bills (5-3) : The best of the three-way tie atop the AFC East, at least in terms of point differential
9.  New England Patriots (5-3) : Two consecutive losses isn't good, but the Pats are still a force
10. New York Jets (5-3) : The defense is toughening up, which makes them a tough opponent again

Division rankings
1.  NFC North : With the two best teams in the league and a Chicago team on a two-game winning streak, this division is strong
2 (tie).  AFC East : Three top ten teams and a no-longer winless Dolphins team makes this the toughest division in the AFC
2 (tie).  AFC North :  Except for this one, of course.  With the two toughest defenses in the AFC and Andy Dalton doing great things with Cincy's offense, this division has captured everyone's attention
4.  NFC East : They may not have any top ten teams, but each of these teams are a threat on any given Sunday
5.  NFC South : Atlanta's back on track, and any division with the Saints' powerful offense is a threat
6.  AFC South : Houston is the only team worth attention
7.  AFC West : The only division lacking a team with a winning record
8.  NFC West : While not mathematically clinched, the 49ers win this division, simply because no other team is close to playing well

Thursday night football is back, and it opens with an intense division rivalry!

Thursday game
Oakland Raiders (4-4) at San Diego Chargers (4-4): The Raiders are always a threat in the division, but Rivers and the offense seems to be righting the ship.  They nearly engineered a comeback against the unbeaten Packers, for heaven's sake!  I have to give the nod to them.  CHARGERS, 27-23

Sunday early games
Arizona Cardinals (2-6) at Philadelphia Eagles (3-5): The Eagles haven't been consistent, but they've done better than Arizona.  There is a revenge factor for Cards QB Kevin Kolb, but I still think Philly will coast.  EAGLES, 26-16

Buffalo Bills (5-3) at Dallas Cowboys (4-4):  The Cowboys' defense isn't strong enough to significantly slow Buffalo.  The key will be whether the offense keeps moving without collapsing.  I think the Cowboys know there is too much at stake to slack off, so they'll at least keep scoring, but it won't be enough.  BILLS, 30-21

Denver Broncos (3-5) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-4):  The winning streak is over for KC, and Tim Tebow is starting to post the numbers the Denver fans hoped.  If last week wasn't a fluke, the Broncos could win this one.  I'll go for the upset.  BRONCOS, 23-17

Houston Texans (6-3) at Tampa Bay Bucs (3-5): This may not be as easy for Houston as they think, but their offense is better than the Bucs', and their defense is slightly better, so things look favorable for them.  TEXANS, 24-17

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) at Indianapolis Colts (0-9): Neither one of these teams are doing well on either side of the ball.  This won't be a pretty game, but I'll pick the Jags just to see what happens if Indy has top claim on Andrew Luck.  JAGS, 17-13

New Orleans Saints (6-3) at Atlanta Falcons (5-3): Atlanta's offense is starting to get back on track, but the key is whether their defense can slow the behemoth that is the Saints offense.  I don't think so.  SAINTS, 30-20

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (6-2): Pittsburgh has lost all of their division games this season.  They have only faced Baltimore, but the Bengals look fairly similar this year.  If anything, Andy Dalton's offense is more potent.  Pitt might win, but I have to favor the Bengals.  BENGALS, 26-21

St Louis Rams (1-7) at Cleveland Browns (3-5):  The Browns haven't been impressive this season, but the Rams have basically stunk.  BROWNS, 20-13

Tennessee Titans (4-4) at Carolina Panthers (2-6): Cam Newton and the Panthers offense is working, it's the defense that has killed them.  Tennessee doesn't have a strong offense.  Is this a game the Panthers can win?  I'd love to say so, but somehow the Titans find ways to win.  I'll pick them, but watch for Carolina to get their third win.  TITANS, 20-17

Washington Redskins (3-5) at Miami Dolphins (1-7):  The Dolphins won their first game of the season, but don't expect a two-game winning streak.  John Beck is inconsistent, but he can move the Redskins.  The defense hasn't been strong recently, but injuries account for part of that.  Replacements are getting better, and some injured players might return.  I have to give Washington a chance to right themselves.  REDSKINS, 16-13

Sunday late games
Baltimore Ravens (6-2) at Seattle Seahawks (2-6):  This one won't be in doubt.  RAVENS, 27-13

Detroit Lions (6-2) at Chicago Bears (5-3):  Chicago's defense will hound Matt Stafford, and Cutler still has intriguing targets.  Chicago will keep this game close, but unfortunately the Lions are too strong for them.  LIONS, 27-23

New York Giants (6-2) at San Francisco 49ers (7-1):  The Giants are improving, and look like the strongest team in the NFC East right now, but they face the tough 49ers defense.  This defense looks like the Giants defenses of old.  Manning and the offense will be thoroughly challenged, and might put the Giants defense on the field too long.  A weary defense makes mistakes, and Alex Smith is getting a good enough sense of the field to capitalize on that.  49ERS, 23-17

Sunday night
New England Patriots (5-3) at New York Jets (5-3): These games are always exciting, and frequently high-scoring extravaganzas.  The Jets defense is toughening, as they held the Bills to 11 points last week.  However, I still think the Pats will put up the points, and make this one another exciting offensive game.  PATS, 30-27

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL -- Minnesota Vikings (2-6) at Green Bay Packers (8-0):  This will be the most one-sided game of the week, as the league-leading Pack face a team still getting used to a rookie QB.  PACK, 30-13