2010 NFL Regular Season Preview: The 10 Least Watchable Games of 2010

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The NFL season is packed with excitement. First-place teams battle it out for top seeding, bitter division rivals go head-to-head to claim control, and fates are decided in dramatic fashion in the final four weeks of the season.

The games are enough to get your heart racing as you sit on the edge of your seat.

But some games make you want to read a book as you kick back and take a nap.

Last year’s Week 11 matchup between the Lions and the Browns had the marks of a Cleveland Steamer, but ended up being a Detroit Rock City showdown that came down to the game clock reading 0:00.

So, at this point, it’s all conjecture. Even still, these games figure to be a bit less entertaining than most during the season.

Warning: St. Louis Rams fans may not be the biggest fans of this list...

Week One: Cleveland Browns @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Both teams love to run the ball, but both are pretty bad at defending it. The Browns ranked 28th in rushing yards allowed in 2009, and the Bucs ranked dead last. This could change with the recent acquisitions of both teams, but this game could turn out to be a defensive struggle to the bitter end.

I don’t predict either team reaching double digits.

Week One: Arizona Cardinals @ St. Louis Rams

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Both offenses have lost several key pieces over the past few seasons, and now have one lost piece in common, Kurt Warner, who retired this offseason. He leaves a vacant hole for either Matt Leinart or Derek Anderson, while the Rams will be starting either AJ Feeley or Sam Bradford.

I have a feeling that consistency will be an issue for both teams this year, especially with the Cardinals featuring a lot of new pieces.

Week 5: St. Louis Rams @ Detroit Lions

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Two of the league’s worst face off to find out who’s made more progress in rebuilding mode. It sounds like fun for the fans of the teams, but how much for everyone else? Of course, with the two worst scoring defenses in the league going head-to-head, this could be like Detroit’s barn burner with the Browns last year, so anything’s possible.

Week 6: Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears

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These two teams boasted inconsistency on both sides of the ball in 2009, ranking in or near the bottom half of the league in nearly every team stat—passing and rushing, offense and defense. Both teams have made many adjustments this offseason, but neither is going to experience a complete 180-degree turn-around from last year, especially with new offenses in place for both teams.

If you’re looking for mistake-free football, this isn’t the place to find it.

Week 7: Jacksonville Jaguars @ Kansas City Chiefs

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This game doesn’t feature a lot of star power, with only names like Maurice Jones-Drew and Eric Berry lighting up the figurative marquis. The two defenses were in the bottom 10 in the league in overall yards and points allowed, but neither team was marvelous on the offensive side of the ball either.

With two young rosters, expect a lot of missed opportunities and flat-out blunders.

Week 13: Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions

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Just because they’re playing in a dome, doesn’t mean the passing offenses will explode. He may have thrown six touchdowns and no interceptions against Detroit last year, but Jay Cutler was notoriously terrible with constant pressure in his face last season.

The Lions' offense finished last place in turnovers with 41; the Bears finished tied for 29th with 34 turnovers. This could be a game that gets ugly quick and stays ugly throughout.

Week 14: St. Louis Rams @ New Orleans Saints

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The Rams have already had a pair of games on this list that will bore viewers blind. This one, however, may make Rams fans want to rip their eyes out.

With all day in the pocket, Drew Brees should abuse a hapless Rams defense that lacks an effective pass rush or a talented secondary.

This game will be fun for some, but a waste of time for most.

Week 14: Cleveland Browns @ Buffalo Bills

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Two of last year’s sloppier teams will be playing in the freezing cold and unpredictable conditions of Ralph Wilson Stadium. This game figures to get messy quick, resembling their meeting back in 2007, when the Browns defeated the Bills 8-6 in a wintery Browns Stadium.

The Browns have improved considerably on defense, but I'm not expecting a whole lot of consistency on either side of the ball from either team.

Week 17: Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints

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This is a bitter rivalry, and rarely would a divisional matchup make a list like this.

The Bucs even pulled out a shocker over New Orleans in Week 16 last year, but in this case, I think the playoff fates of both teams will be decided: the Saints will be going, and the Bucs won’t.

Expect the Bucs to scrap for a win over New Orleans’ backups in a move that proves the new Week 17 rule completely ineffective.

Week 17: Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions

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This is just another case of a divisional match that will pit a playoff team’s backups against a team looking to dignify its season. The Lions have a chance to crack .500 this year, but that’s if everything falls in the right place for them. The NFC has been no country for mediocre teams, and the Lions better hope that it doesn't come down to this game—that is, unless the Vikings choose to sit their starters.

Whoops...

It's difficult writing a list like this, because NFL games can oftentimes be so unpredictable just in terms of who will win and who will lose. Predicting the boring games makes for quite a headache, especially with so many teams making improvements and adjustments this offseason.

Hopefully, I didn't blow it too bad with any of these, but don't be shy to let me know if I did. Any games you think could be snoozers, too, please feel free to give me your opinion.

Thanks for reading!