2021 NFL SEASON
Week 10: #NFL Game Predictions (w/ spreads & analysis)
SUNDAY EDITION
Good luck at the window this season!
Baltimore Ravens 6-2 (-7.5) @ Miami Dolphins 2-7 (46.5): Ravens 30-20
Thursday, 8:20 PM, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL (Weather: 60% rain; low 70s)
Keys: These two QBs dominated the college Heisman scene from 2016-2019, with Lamar Jackson ultimately winning the award in 2016, but only one has gone on to NFL success so far in their early careers, as Jackson also won the NFL MVP in 2019 and has been breaking rushing records since entering the league. Tua, not so much. Plagued by injuries as so many predicted, the Dolphins have actually regressed under Tua after a brief rise in stock, while the Ravens have gone 36-11 in almost three full season since Jackson became the starter halfway through the 2018 season, including two division titles and three playoff appearances in three years. The Ravens are clearly on their way to a third division title and a fourth playoff appearance in as many years because Baltimore is once again dominant in all offensive phases of the game and have watched the rest of their very strong AFC North division cannabilize itself all season. Nothing the Dolphins offer should scare the Ravens, nor should the travel to warm Miami, where at worst the Baltimore Mudders will have to deal with some rain. The horror.
Atlanta Falcons 4-4 (+9) @ Dallas Cowboys 6-2 (54.5): Cowboys 33-23
Sunday, 1:00 PM, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX (Weather: Indoors)
Keys: Both teams come into the game 3-1 in their last four games, but the quality of the opponents aren’t very comparable, and the Cowboys are getting closer to full strength on offense, which explains the nine-point line. The key here could be the Cowboys dominant run game v. the Falcons not-so-dominant run defense, which could see Dallas control the clock at the very least or set up the play-action and destroy the Falcons in an offensive onslaught. The Falcons have little chance at covering and almost no chance winning, but it’s the division-leading Cowboys, which means anything can happen.
New Orleans Saints 5-3 (+3) @ Tennessee Titans 7-2 (44.5): Titans 24-23
Sunday, 1:00 PM, Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN (Weather: Partly Sunny; low 50s)
Keys: Jameis Winston is quietly having a great season, on pace for ~28 TDs and only 6 INTs, but he’ll be without safety net All-Pro RB Alvin Kamara Sunday against a Titans team that really hasn’t skipped a beat since losing Derrick Henry for the season. It certainly doesn’t hurt ot have AJ Brown and Julio Jones to fill the void left by Henry, so look for Ryan Tannehill to exploit the Saints 27th ranked passing defense in the wake of that void.
Jacksonville Jaguars 2-6 (-10.5) @ Indianapolis Colts 4-5 (47.5): Colts 27-24
Sunday, 1:00PM, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN (Weather Indoors)
Keys: The Jaguars might be on some kind of run, but don’t be fooled. They’re still the Jaguars and the Colts remain one of the more talented teams with a losing record. Carson Wentz, who suddenly finds himself in the top-10 in QBR, passing yards, TDs and fewest INTs thrown, has been hot himself of late, throwing 14 TDs and only 2 INTs the last six games in which the Colts have gone 4-2 after starting the season 0-3.
Cleveland Browns 5-4 (+2.5) @ New England Patriots 5-4 (45): Patriots 24-20
Sunday, 1:00PM, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA (Weather: Sunny; low 50s)
Keys: One of the best games of the week flying slightly below the radar, the Patriots are 4-1 in their last five games after starting the season 1-3, but the interesting thing is the Patriots unusual home record (1-4), which is the opposite way things have been in Foxboro the past 20 years. The Browns come into the game with less mental baggage after the departure of OBJ, but they’re still dealing with attrition issues, this time in the form of covid, which will force Nick Chubb to miss his third game already this season. Look for a defensive battle Sunday (CLE: 3rd overall & 10th scoring; NE: 3rd scoring & 9th overall).
Buffalo Bills 5-3 (-12) @ New York Jets 2-6 (48): Bills 30-21
Sunday, 1:00 PM, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ (Weather: Sunny; low 50s)
Keys: The mighty Bills are 1-2 in their last three games and one of those losses came at the hands of the only team worse the these Jets. If the Bills lost Sunday and the New England Patriots won the Patriots would take over the AFC East after Buffalo once held at least a three-game lead just three weeks ago. The NFL stands for not for long and unless the Bills get back to their dominat ways on offense the 2021 dream season could quickly turn into a nightmare. Lucky for them the team they face Sunday has been living in a nightmare for years.
Detroit Lions 0-8 (+8) @ Pittsburgh Steelers 5-3 (42.5): Steelers 20-17
Sunday, 1:00 PM, Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA (Weather: 40% rain; low 40s)
Keys: The Steelers might be the biggest frauds in the NFL at 5-3 and they’ll be without Ben Roethlisberger Sunday. The Lions are just awful, and they’ll be traveling outside to play in the rain, which doesn’t bode well for a dome team with no running game (26th) and a warm weather QB with tiny hands. If it wasn’t raining I’d be inclined to pick Detroit for their first win of the season, but it is and they won’t.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-2 (-9.5) @ Washington Football Team 2-6 (51.5): Buccaneers 35-20
Sunday, 1:00 PM, FedEx Field, Landover, MD (Weather: Sunny; low 50s)
Keys: The Buccaneers are coming off the bye, which is a historically good thing for Tom Brady (15-4) and even better following a loss (54-14). That basically spells doom for the Football Team no matter how you break it down.
Carolina Panthers 4-5 (+10) @ Arizona Cardinals 8-1 (44): Cardinals 28-17
Sunday, 4:05 PM, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ (Weather: Indoors)
Keys: The Cardinals won easily last week without their two offensive stars, which likely return to face a Panthers team unrecognizable from the first quarter of the season. With Sam Darnold on IR the Panthers signed Cam Newton. Yes, that Cam Newton. A once promising season has gone further south than Charlotte, North Carolina. Arizona is on a mission and it won’t stop for these Panthers.
Minnesota Vikings 3-5 (+3) @ Los Angeles Chargers 5-3 (53): Chargers 28-24
Sunday, 4:05 PM, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA (Weather: Indoors)
Keys: The battle of the underachievers takes place in Los Angeles Sunday afternoon, where underachievers abound. Both of these teams are loaded with talent year after year, yet can never seem to put it together and certainly not consistently. 13 of both teams 16 combined games have been decided by one possession, which means you could mental gymnastics with the should haves and could haves, but at the end of the day we have two very comparable teams that match up eerily similarly along the stat lines. Look for the Vikings to chew up the clock with Dalvin Cook (LAC 32nd rush defense), while trying to keep Justin Herbert off the field as much as possible.
Philadelphia Eagles 3-6 (+2.5) @ Denver Broncos 5-4 (45.5): Eagles 23-21
Sunday, 4:25 PM, Mile High Stadium, Denver, CO (Weather: Sunny; low 50s)
Keys: The Broncos surprised everyone last week going up 30-0 on the Dallas Cowboys, without Von Miller to boot, but everyone knows what the Cowboys are capable of once they start feeling themselves. The Eagles are no the Cowboys, but they are pesky with flashes of offense and a sound defense that has kept them afloat, for whatever that’s worth. Look for the Broncos to try to shut down the run and force the game in Jalen Hurts’ hands, which has had mixed results. The bottom line is the Broncos and Eagles are relatively evenly-matched teams and neither really has anything to play for, because even if the Broncos make the playoffs they’re not going anywhere.
Seattle Seahawks 3-5 (+3) @ Green Bay Packers 7-2 (49.5): Packers 27-23
Sunday, 4:25 PM, Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI (Weather: 40% snow; high 30s)
Keys: Everything is back Sunday afternoon – Russell Wilson, Ivermectin Rodgers and the snow. We could hours dissecting those three points, but suffice it to say the Packers defense has proven they’re legit, Russell Wilson will be rusty and Aaron Rodgers is literally chomping at the bit to prove everyone in the world wrong, not that anyone doubted his ability to play football; we just doubt his ability to be compassionate, tell the truth or not be a general asshole.
Kansas City Chiefs 5-4 (+2.5) @ Las Vegas Raiders 5-3 (52): Chiefs 27-23
Sunday, 8:20 PM, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV (Weather: Indoors)
Keys: This is a tough game, because the Raiders are scrappers and the Chiefs have become one of the lest predictable teams in the NFL. The Raiders have the 10th overall defense and only score 0.1 ppg fewer points than the supposedly mighty Chiefs. We could analyze this game to death, but the game is indoors and the Chiefs can’t afford to lose a divisional game. The Raiders defense is seriously banged up, so look for Patrick Mahomes to take advantage and get the Chiefs back on track in the division and in general.
Los Angeles Rams 7-2 (-4) @ San Francisco 49ers 3-5 (49): Rams 30-23
Monday, 8:15 PM, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA (Weather: Clear; mid-70s)
Keys: The Rams tripped up last week, but now they’ve had Von Miller for a full week cycle and will only be traveling a few hours north in beautiful weather to face an inconsistent 49ers team to say the least. The Rams are simply too talented and have too little room for error (ARZ is 8-1 with the H2H tiebreaker) to lose to the 49ers, or even fail to cover four points for that matter.
Stay tuned for the remaining PRO FOOTBALL MEDIA Week 10: #NFL Game Predictions (w/ spreads & analysis) coming Saturday!
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