Week 10 NFL Predictions: Bold Predictions for Sunday's Action

It's almost hard to believe but the 2012 NFL season is more than half over. Already, talk has begun of which teams are a lock for the postseason and which head coaches are a lock for the unemployment line.

I'm looking at you, Pat Shurmur.

With that said, for every obvious happening on any given Sunday, there is always one that few folks saw coming. So, from the mind that predicted that Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch would combine for 300 rushing yards last week, here's a look at a handful of bold predictions for Week 10.

1.) Chris Johnson Will Gain Fewer Than 25 Rushing Yards

If you own Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson in your fantasy football league then you may want to go ahead, beat the rush, and start freaking out now.

The fifth-year pro got off to a terrible start to the 2012 season. Over the past month, however, Johnson has played much more like the running back that gained over 2,000 yards in 2009 than the back who totaled fewer than two yards per carry in three of his first five games this year.

However, that uptick coincided with Matt Hasselbeck's insertion under center for the Titans. With Jake Locker set to take back the reins this week, Chrisderella is going to turn back into a pumpkin—gaining less than 25 yards against the Miami Dolphins' third-ranked run defense.

It was fun while it lasted.

2.) A Tough Day for the Manning Boys

You know, all things considered, there are quite a few worse things in life than being a Manning.

Three Super Bowl rings, four NFL MVPs, and more commercial endorsements than you can shake a Buick and a bag of Oreos at.

Yep, that's rough all right.

However, Week 10 is going to be a dark day in the land of Manning, as Eli's "tired arm" (according to Greg Cosell of Yahoo! Sports) leads to a rough day against a desperate Cincinnati Bengals team while older brother Peyton and the Broncos fall to the Carolina Panthers in the biggest upset of Week 10.

Oh well, at least they have each other.

3.) The New Orleans Saints Will Knock off the Atlanta Falcons

To say that things haven't gone according to plan this year for the New Orleans Saints is an understatement.

A Saints squad that entered the 2012 season with aspirations of being the first team in NFL history to play in the Super Bowl on their home field will now be fortunate to make the playoffs at all. This is due in large part to a historically bad defense surrendering over 470 yards a game.

Given that terrible defense, it may sound ludicrous to expect the Saints to defeat the 8-0 Atlanta Falcons, but, in front of a raucous Superdome crowd, New Orleans will do just that. Drew Brees will top 400 passing yards, throw four touchdown passes, and lead the Saints on a game-winning drive that will knock the Falcons from the ranks of the unbeaten.

4.) the Muscle Hamster Will Run Wild Yet Again

I don't even know how bold this one really is.

After getting off to something of a slow start to his first season in the National Football League, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin has been an absolute monster the past two games, including a franchise record 251 rushing yards and four touchdowns last week against the Oakland Raiders.

Martin will continue to traumatize the AFC West this week when the Bucs face the San Diego Chargers, racking up over 200 total yards for the third straight week in a Tampa Bay victory.

I won't lie, I was just looking for an excuse to type the words "Muscle Hamster".

5.) The Defenses Will Outscore the Offenses on Sunday Night

The Sunday night game in Week 10 features one of the best matchups of the entire season to this point, as two division leaders face off when the 7-1 Houston Texans travel to face the 7-1 Chicago Bears.

The game also features two of the NFL's best defenses. Defensive end J.J. Watt and the Texans' third-ranked defense square off with cornerback Charles Tillman and a Bears' defense on pace to break the NFL record for touchdowns in a season.

Those defenses will steal the show Sunday night—both Houston and Chicago will score a defensive touchdown while the offenses struggle, managing only 10 combined points in a 14-10 Texans victory.