NFL: 10 Bold Predictions for Week 10 and Beyond

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Any writer can take stats, matchups, and history, roll it into one tight "I want to be just like Clark Judge" ball, and throw it at the public. But that's not my style.

Well, it could be, but not today.

With two undefeated teams marching into Week 10, Peyton Manning chasing Dan Marino's single-season yardage record, and Brett Favre clinging to the hope of one last shot at a Super Bowl, there is an endless list of story-lines for any writer to be busy for weeks.

Let's shorten that workload. Let's cut the time-line in half. Here's my 10 bold predictions, starting in Week 10 and leading all the way up to the Super Bowl, listed in no particular order:

1. The New Orleans Saints Will Go 16-0

It's hard not to think about it. After all, it's only been two season since the New England Patriots almost stopped the 1972 Dolphins' from cracking open more bottles of champagne.

The New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts are both 8-0, and the way they've been playing, it's at least arguable that they both could finish the season undefeated, especially considering they don't face each other in the regular season.

However, NFL Soup is already calling an upset with the New England Patriots ending the Colts' streak this week, and even if they do get past Tom Brady and Co., the pile-up of injuries and a tough schedule doesn't leave a ton of optimism for Indianapolis.

New Orleans, however, has a bunch of cakewalk games with two stellar opponents, the aforementioned Patriots and the Dallas Cowboys, sandwiched in between.

Both of those teams will give them a run for their money, but in the end, the Saints will do what no one thought they would: remain perfect.

An absolutely ridiculous average of 37.9 offensive points and 427 yards per game suggest that it's a very real possibility.

2. Chris Chambers Will Make the Chiefs Watchable

Not all by himself, of course. In fact, I'd even go as far as saying new slot receiver Lance Long will make a name for himself, as well. Call it "jumping the gun" or whatever you want, but even in their loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, that Chiefs' passing attack did some pretty exciting things.

If Chambers can score two touchdowns and rack up 70 yards in a debut with a team he was with for less than a week, imagine what Todd Haley can help him do for the rest of the season. And you all thought he was washed up...

3. Peyton Manning Will Make Dan Marino Cry

Marino will officially say good-bye to his last important NFL record by the time the 2009 regular season wraps up, I'm predicting.

Peyton Manning has passed for over 300 yards in seven of eight appearances this season, and only needs to maintain a few yards under his torrid average to eclipse Marino's single-season record for passing yards. With a poor rush offense, Manning will undoubtedly be relied upon to produce in every game from here on out.

4. There Will Not Be a Late-Season Fade for Brett Favre

You can cross your fingers and shake the crystal ball all you want, Favre-haters, but it's not going to happen. He may be 40 years old and playing with a partially torn rotator cuff, but nothing of what we have seen suggests Favre will slow down.

Besides, we haven't even begun to see Adrian Peterson take over for this offense, and once that finally happens, it could be full coast-mode for the Vikings, quite possibly all the way to the Super Bowl. But that's another prediction all in itself.

5. The Denver Broncos Will Miss the Playoffs

Their shaken, losing confidence, and if they somehow fall to Washington, they'll be just about crushed. Kyle Orton can't play "Captain Comeback," well, ever, so if this offense doesn't get and sustain leads down the road, they're going to have some serious issues.

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