NFL Picks Week 10: Predictions for Weekend's Underrated Matchups

Even at its worst, the NFL can be great.

While Week 10 appears to have some real stinkers on the schedule at first glance, it's a safe bet the contests will still turn out to be entertaining duels.

Besides, the same fans who complain about bad football, regardless of a prime-time slot, are the same ones who complain about no football in the dead of the offseason.

So rejoice, because as bad as the following matchups look on paper, it's still football. Better yet, they'll turn out to be quality games, all things considered. Enjoy.

Away Team	Home Team	Prediction
Washington Redskins	Minnesota Vikings	Vikings
Oakland Raiders	New York Giants	Raiders
Seattle Seahawks	Atlanta Falcons	Seahawks
Detroit Lions	Chicago Bears	Detroit
Philadelphia Eagles	Green Bay Packers	Packers
Jacksonville Jaguars	Tennessee Titans	Titans
St. Louis Rams	Indianapolis Colts	Colts
Buffalo Bills	Pittsburgh Steelers	Bills
Cincinnati Bengals	Baltimore Ravens	Bengals
Carolina Panthers	San Francisco 49ers	Panthers
Houston Texans	Arizona Cardinals	Texans
Denver Broncos	San Diego Chargers	Broncos
Dallas Cowboys	New Orleans Saints	Saints
Miami Dolphins	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings Upset Washington Redskins

Entering Thursday Night Football, both the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings are teams that can remain competitive if they properly utilize the running game.

Last week the Redskins notched a major victory in overtime against San Diego, primarily because Alfred Morris rumbled for 121 yards and a score on 25 carries. Adrian Peterson saw the same amount of work last week against Dallas and went for 140 and a score, but the Vikings blew a late lead en route to a loss.

With all due respect to Morris and his league-leading 5.2 average, the advantage here goes to Peterson, who finally seems back in the game plan after receiving 13 carries or less in three straight games.

Perhaps most discouraging for the Redskins on the road is the fact the Vikings are a borderline top-10 team against the rush with just 104 yards allowed per game, meaning the slumping Robert Griffin III will be forced into a predictable attack.

Prediction: Vikings 38, Redskins 30

Oakland Raiders Bounce New York Giants

As bad as things looked last week against Philadelphia, a quarterback is not going to throw anywhere near seven touchdowns on the Oakland defense each week.

Nick Foles was not exactly a predictable man to accomplish the feat, but neither is Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who has thrown 10 touchdowns and 15 interceptions on the season.

The issue for Oakland against the Eagles was simple—the Raiders generated just two sacks and failed to cover up what is a miserable secondary. While Manning has only been sacked 19 times, he hasn't needed pressure to help him put together a mediocre season.

New York generates bottom-five production on the ground at 69.9 yards per game, and the return of Andre Brown won't help matters much against a Raiders defense that ranks top 10 defensively in that regard.

Expect the Raiders to rely on a heavy rushing attack from quarterback Terrelle Pryor (who sounds ready to go) to keep its shaky secondary off the field in a close victory.

Prediction: Raiders 24, Giants 21

Houston Texans Shut Down Arizona Cardinals

Despite a combined six wins, Houston and Arizona will put on a show from the desert for defensive-minded fans.

Houston has found an answer in new starting quarterback Case Keenum, who managed 350 yards and three touchdowns against Indianapolis last week. Now he's tasked with going against a strong secondary led by Patrick Peterson and an elite run defense while potentially being without star back Arian Foster.

Meanwhile, the Texans tout the NFL's best pass defense and will encounter little issue shutting down the erratic Carson Palmer (10 touchdowns, 14 interceptions), who hides behind one of the league's worst offensive lines that has allowed him to be sacked 23 times.

J.J. Watt and the sound Houston defense will terrorize Palmer into mistakes, but don't plan on the battered Texans finding much success offensively, either.

Prediction: Texans 17, Cardinals 13

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