NFL Week 10 Picks: Rounding Up Top Experts' Predictions

Rex Ryan triumphed in his first game against his old team, coaching his Buffalo Bills to a 22-17 Thursday night victory over the New York Jets at the Meadowlands.

One of the most colorful characters in the NFL, Ryan's antics in the buildup to the game made it a contest for the passingly curious as well as the diehard football fans. Unfortunately, the on-field action wasn't nearly as vibrant as Ryan or the red and green uniforms. Those suffering from red-green colorblindness even had trouble taking in the action, although that might've been for the best. 

But hey, the win adds plenty more intrigue to the AFC East and wild-card race as a whole, with the Bills and Jets now even at 5-4 on the year. It also goes to show with a good game plan, an underdog like Buffalo can pull out a win on the road.

Since the oddsmakers got this game wrong, perhaps it's time to check out what some of the top football writers and experts from around the Web think about Week 10. Here are their predictions, followed by previews for a couple of contests that promise intrigue on Sunday. 

Matchup	Mike Freeman, Bleacher Report	Jason La Canfora, CBS Sports	Peter Schrager, Fox Sports	Marc Sessler, NFL.com	Merril Hoge, ESPN
DET vs. GB	GB	DET	GB	GB	GB
DAL vs. TB	TB	DAL	TB	DAL	TB
CAR vs. TEN	CAR	TEN	CAR	CAR	CAR
CHI vs. STL	STL	CHI	STL	STL	STL
NO vs. WAS	NO	NO	WAS	WAS	WAS
MIA vs. PHI	MIA	PHI	PHI	PHI	PHI
JAX vs. BAL	BAL	JAX	BAL	JAX	PIT
CLE vs. PIT	PIT	PIT	PIT	PIT	BAL
MIN vs. OAK	OAK	MIN	OAK	OAK	OAK
NE vs. NYG	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE
KC vs. DEN	DEN	KC	DEN	DEN	KC
AZ vs. SEA	SEA	SEA	SEA	AZ	AZ
HOU vs. CIN	CIN	CIN	CIN	CIN	CIN

Note: Predictions are from Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, NFL.com and ESPN.com.


Minnesota Vikings (6-2) vs. Oakland Raiders (4-4)

Although the Vikings have one of the league's better records at 6-2, the solid win total is perhaps a bit inflated. Minnesota's six wins have come by a total of 52 points against teams with a combined 9-28 record (they've already played and beaten lowly Detroit twice).

The passing attack has left much to be desired as Teddy Bridgewater treads water in his second year in the league, although rookie Stefon Diggs has provided a much-needed spark. Despite missing three games, the Maryland product is on track to join heady company in Vikings lore this season, as ESPN's Ed Werder noted: 

At least Adrian Peterson has been running well (326 yards in last three games), and the defense is chock-full of talent at every level with players like defensive linemen Everson Griffen and Linval Joseph, linebacker Anthony Barr and safety Harrison Smith. Even with all these excellent players, the Washington Post's Jeff Dooley sees ways the defense can improve: 

"

The Vikings’ pass rush has been excellent, ranking as the second-best unit in the NFL so far this season. Led by Joseph and Griffen up front and some creative blitzes, Minnesota gets pressure on 43 percent of opponent dropbacks, up from 37 percent last year.

But the run defense is actually grading worse than it did a year ago, allowing a concerning 5.3 yards per carry on first downs – up from last year’s 4.8 average. Their pass coverage has graded as the 13^th-best unit in the NFL, but they’re about to face a brutal five-game stretch of productive opposing QBs...

"

Grinding teams into dust and/or forcing them into mistakes has been Minnesota's modus operandi this season without much offense to speak of. That could be a tough task this week with Oakland rolling into this contest scoring 105 points over its last three games.

Derek Carr (19 TD, 4 INT) has made huge strides in his second year in the league. He's benefiting from a revamped rushing attack featuring Latavius Murray and the talents of rookie Amari Cooper and veteran Michael Crabtree out on the flanks. Carr ranks 10th in the NFL with a 66.6 QBR, per ESPN.com, well up from his 38.2 QBR as a rookie.

ESPN Stats & Info put together an infographic showing some of the other ways in which he's improved as an NFL sophomore:

The Raiders defense features a solid pass rush, but is still suspect in several areas and prone to making talented opposition look like superstars. Pittsburgh's DeAngelo Williams and Antonio Brown each had monster games against the Raiders in Week 9, combining for a staggering 531 all-purpose yards.

However, the Silver and Black do get a boost in pass defense with the return of safety Nate Allen.

"Having Nate Allen back really strengthens our secondary,” said Oakland defensive coordinator Tom Norton, per ESPN.com's Bill Williamson. “[It] makes us better in every way and we welcome him with open arms.”

His presence, combined with that of ageless wonder Charles Woodson, should have Bridgewater thinking twice about some of those deeper throws. If he ends up holding the ball too long, Khalil Mack will have opportunities to wreak havoc in the backfield. Mack needs a rebound performance after disappearing against Pittsburgh. 

Getting the run game going with Peterson is a priority for the Vikes. A big day from him can slow the pass rush, as well as keep Oakland's surprisingly good offense off the field. Minnesota's defense is plenty good enough to keep Carr and Co. in check with limited chances.

Kansas City Chiefs (3-5) vs. Denver Broncos (7-1)

Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

Denver's dominant defense finally relented in Week 9, allowing Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts to amass 365 total yards and three offensive scores in a shocking 27-24 Colts win. 

Since Peyton Manning has been unable to get through a game this season without committing some kind of error—he's thrown a pick in every contest and leads the league with 13 of those gaffes—along with the running game being a question mark after a dubious display, Broncos fans will hope the defense can get back to its suffocating ways at Mile High Stadium in Week 10.

It will have to do so without cornerback Aqib Talib—out with a one-game suspension—and perhaps even DeMarcus Ware, who hasn't practiced this week with a back injury, per DenverBroncos.com.

The division rival Kansas City Chiefs are making the trek to Denver in Week 10, fresh off a bye week and likely in good spirits after a 45-10 demolition of Detroit in Week 8.

Without the brilliant Jamaal Charles in the lineup, the Chiefs offense isn't nearly the same dynamic attack that scraped together 314 yards and two scores in Week 1 against Denver. However, it's not a completely toothless one in Charles' absence.

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Alex Smith has been a fine caretaker this year with nine touchdown passes against three interceptions. He's spread the touchdowns around this year as tight end Travis Kelce leads the team with three scoring receptions.

Charcandrick West has also stepped up admirably to fill the void created by Charles in the rushing attack. 

Week	Opponent	CAR	YDS	TD	REC	YDS
6	Minnesota	9	33	0	1	6
7	Pittsburgh	22	110	1	2	19
8	Detroit	20	97	1	4	25

West isn't much of a threat in the passing game, so supplementing him is De'Anthony Thomas, who can work out of the backfield and on the flank catching short step and bubble-type routes. Thomas picked up a surprise rushing touchdown against the Lions and added three receptions for 22 yards. Smith's ability to scramble also adds another dimension to the offense.

Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

It's a modest group, although not quite as talented overall as the Colts, and is less likely to succeed. One would think that the Indy game tape might provide some clues as to how the Chiefs can defeat Denver, but Broncos inside linebacker Brandon Marshall isn't too worried.  

"Nah. We spotted them 17 points in the first two quarters. That's on us," Marshall told the Denver Post's Nicki Jhabvala. "We definitely did a lot better in the second half. That's on us for not starting fast. We didn't start fast and they did. We gave them confidence early."

Assuming Denver can hold Kansas City to a modest total—in the three games prior to the Detroit outburst, the Chiefs managed just total 40 points—the offense should be able to cobble together enough scoring drives to get the win. Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson are key to this effort. They combined for just 35 yards on 14 carries against Indy.

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

The passing attack could be in trouble without a good run game to back it up. Manning has a foot injury, per 9News.com's Mike Klis, while wideout Emmanuel Sanders hasn't been practicing due to an ankle issue. There is also no guarantee tight end Vernon Davis will be a viable threat after so little time with the team.

The Chiefs have two excellent disruptors in Justin Houston and Tamba Hali. They could make life miserable for Manning if given time. Per Houston Texans PR on Twitter, J.J. Watt and Houston are the only two players with over five sacks and five passes defensed this year. The key to this game is turnovers. If the Chiefs take advantage of Manning and force the issue, this game is well within reach, even without one of the league's best backs in the fold.