NFL Week 10 Picks: Predictions for Every Major Showdown on the Schedule

What is the biggest game on Week 10's schedule? 

Is it the Saints against the Falcons? The Steelers against the surprising Bengals? The Giants at the 49ers or the Patriots at the Jets? 

Let's take a look at how all these games will shake out.

New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons 

The Saints are a far better home team than they are on the road and that's usually true with teams that have poor defenses. 

Right now, New Orleans is allowing nearly 230 yards through the air, and 120 yards on the ground. Both numbers are respectable, but they've been susceptible to the big play, and in their last three road contests their defense has been totally thrashed. 

They beat the Panthers by three in Week 5, but Cam Newton, DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for 162 yards on the ground at a 7.4 yards per carry clip.  

Josh Freeman threw for 303 yards with two touchdowns an no interceptions in a victory over the Saints the following week. 

The Rams piled up 183 rushing yards on 31 carries two weeks later. 

Their offense is among the best in the league, but the Falcons will give Michael Turner a high number of carries to control the clock and his early success will lead the way to the play-action pass for Matt Ryan and his talented pass catchers. 

This game comes down to the wire, but the Falcons squeeze it out in front of their home crowd. 

The Saints defense needs to show me more before I pick New Orleans to win games like this one. 

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals 

I'm not taking anything away from what Andy Dalton has done this season, because he's been spectacular and really has exceeded expectations. 

But he's yet to face a defense like the Steelers. 

It's that simple. 

Cincinnati's defense is one of the more underrated yet dominant units in the league, but Ben Roethlisberger shouldn't have any trouble creating plays with his feet while finding Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace down the field. 

At this point in their careers, I'll give Big Ben the edge in this AFC North showdown. 

New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers 

The Giants are one of the hottest teams in football, and how about Eli Manning? 

Elite, right?

San Francisco should be able to run the football, but this is the first game in quite some time when Alex Smith becomes a liability. 

New York's defensive line has the most sacks in football right now (28), and they should be able to pressure Smith into some bad throws after some early sacks shake his confidence. 

The Giants have historically been a great road team, and Manning outplaying Smith will be the difference in this extremely physical football game.

New England Patriots at New York Jets 

Somethings wrong with the Patriots. Rob Ryan and the Cowboys laid the blueprint for pressuring Brady while pressing the wide receivers and tight ends, and the Steelers and Giants followed his lead. 

I expect the Jets to do more of the same, but I can't envision them doing enough to outscore Brady and Co. 

Mark Sanchez has played much better of late, but still is prone to throw that head-scratching pick in the most inopportune time. 

This is a lower scoring game with Bill Belichick tweaking the offensive game plan enough to slip past the Jets in New Jersey. 

Don't forget about BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who had a big game against New York earlier this season.