NFL 2017 Week 10 picks

We're starting to see some teams emerge as consistent competitors.  Some of them are rarely in that category, so now it becomes a challenge to see how long they can sustain that.

Thurs Nov 9
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals:  Seattle suffered a rare home loss last week, so now they have something to make up.  QB Drew Stanton has to step up in place of injured starter Carson Palmer.  He is stable, but his time on the field has been short over the past three seasons, and the Seahawks will certainly pressure him.  That may prove to be a bit too much for the journeyman.  SEAHAWKS

Sunday early games
Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans:  Marcus Mariota seems to have found himself as a pro quarterback.  He is playing with more confidence and poise than we've seen, and that allows their offense to flow.  On the other hand, the Bengals are in shambles, and nobody seems to know exactly why.  TITANS

Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions:  The Browns have the second-worst offense in the league (second only to Miami), and that puts too much pressure on their defense to produce.  The Lions offense is potent, so long as they don't make mistakes.  They will push that Browns defense to a point of exhaustion.  LIONS

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears:  These two teams are moving in different directions.  With Aaron Rodgers sidelined with injury, the Packers offense is falling.  On the other hand, since putting Mitch Trubisky on the field, the Bears are seeing an upswing.  That prompts me to pick them to win this game.  BEARS

Los Angeles Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars:  Blake Bortles has been putting on quite a show this season. Gone is the concern that plagued the preseason.  The Chargers haven't been able to establish a rhythm.  JAGUARS

Minnesota Vikings at Washington Redskins:  The Vikings have a staunch defense, and that's the type that makes life hard for Kurt Cousins.  The Redskins will battle hard, but Minnesota should emerge with their seventh win.  VIKINGS

New Orleans Saints at Buffalo Bills:  The Saints have a defense this year, and those are the times that they do well.  Tyrod Taylor has been moving the Bills well, but they struggle to produce touchdowns.  Their defense is sharp, but is it sharp enough to slow the high-powered Saints?  I don't think they can slow them enough.  SAINTS

New York Jets at Tampa Bay Bucs:  The Bucs defense has some holes, and that has been their best squad for years.  The Jets are proving that they really have it together, which is bad news for the struggling Bucs.  JETS

Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts:  The Colts have the worst defense in the league, so Big Ben should have a field day.  Jacoby Brissett is improving, but the stiff Steelers defense will hurt his progress in this game.  STEELERS

Sunday late games
Dallas Cowboys at Atlanta Falcons:  This should be an interesting game.  It should be a close game, but... since Zeke Elliott lost his appeal, the league can suspend him anytime.  If they start with this game, it'll be tough for Dallas to win.  FALCONS

Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams:  The Texans' two best defenders are out, and Jared Goff has the Rams offense moving like a well-oiled machine.  Those two items add up to big trouble for the Texans.  RAMS

New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers:  If Jimmy Garopollo plays, the 49ers could gain their first victory of the season.  They plan to start CJ Beathard, but I'll bet we'll see Garopollo before halftime.  49ERS

Sunday night game
New England Patriots at Denver Broncos:  This game won't be as interesting without the Manning-Brady rivalry.  Trevor Siemien is struggling, so much so that the Broncos want to go to a run-first offense.  Given the Pats defense, that may not work.  PATRIOTS

Monday Night Football
Miami Dolphins at Carolina Panthers:  The Dolphins offense is improving, but Carolina moves too swiftly and too smoothly for the Dolphins to keep up.  PANTHERS