NFL Predictions Week 10: Breaking Down Top Matchups on Schedule

Week 10 of the NFL season has some truly excellent matchups. Two of the hottest teams are set to do battle. A pair of games between four of the best offenses in the NFL. An epic showdown between the New York Giants and Oakland Raiders.

Okay, so maybe not that last part.

Here I'll provide my full list of Week 10 picks and take a closer look at some of the top matchups this week.

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

Carolina Panthers at San Francisco 49ers

Outside of Kansas City, there aren't any teams hotter than these two. The Panthers have won four in a row, while the Niners are riding a five-game winning streak coming into this key NFC battle.

San Francisco might have Mario Manningham back for this game, according to Bill Williamson of ESPN:

Meanwhile, Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee reports that Aldon Smith will also return to action:

Both teams thrive on controlling the line of scrimmage. The Niners are first in run offense and 12th in run defense, while the Panthers are eighth in run offense and second in run defense. 

The winner of this game likely will be the team that passes the ball with more success and whose quarterback—Colin Kaepernick or Cam Newton—can limit his mistakes while moving the ball through the air. 

Kaepernick has Vernon Davis and Anquan Boldin to lean on, so he gets the edge in that regard. This game will be tight, but the Niners will squeak by with a close victory.

Prediction: San Francisco wins, 20-17

Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers

Really, there is just one question that needs to be asked in regard to this game—can Philip Rivers and Co. keep pace with Peyton Manning, Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Julius Thomas and Knowshon Moreno?

Even if you think the answer is yes—and the Chargers have nice weapons in Danny Woodhead, Antonio Gates and Keenan Allen—the Broncos could still beat them in the end. And if the answer is no, well, the San Diego secondary isn't going to slow Manning down. That's for sure. 

They key factor in this game? The Broncos are very good against the run, ranking third in the NFL. It's unlikely that San Diego will be able to play keep-away, in other words. Unless Rivers can out-duel Manning, the Broncos will win.

Prediction: Denver wins, 41-31

Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints

If the Cowboys decide to replicate their game plan from last week against the Minnesota Vikings—they rushed just nine times for 36 yards in a too-close-for-comfort win—they'll probably lose this game, plain and simple. 

The biggest turnaround for the Saints this year is the pass defense, currently fifth in passing yards allowed per game. And frankly, given how awesome Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham have been the season, establishing a running game early and keeping the ball away from the Saints is vital. 

Quite often, all of the pressure in Dallas falls on Tony Romo's shoulders because the defense can't get a stop, and the offense becomes completely reliant on the passing game. Romo is capable of gunslinging the Cowboys past the Saints, but it's a tall task. 

Expect Brees to torch the Cowboys' 31st-ranked pass defense and escape with a close, exciting win.

Prediction: New Orleans wins, 35-27