NFL Week 10 Picks: Home Teams That Will Make a Statement

We’re halfway through the 2011 NFL season and it’s time for teams to make a stand. These four teams have crucial games in Week 10 and it’s put up or shut up. These teams will put up. 

Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta is hosting the New Orleans Saints in Week 10. What better way to make a clear-cut statement than defeating the best team in the division? There isn’t one.

The Falcons are playing at the Georgia Dome—a place where they are 22-5 since 2008. They have one of the best home fields in all of football.

New Orleans hasn’t exactly been up to par on the road this season. All three of the Saints losses have come away from home. They fell to the Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the lowly St. Louis Rams away from Mercedes-Benz Superdome.  

Rookie wide receiver Julio Jones broke out last week against the Indianapolis Colts catching three balls for 131 yards and two scores. His production will allow Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez and other weapons the space needed to torch the average defense of the Saints.

Matt Ryan continues his home dominance. Falcons win 31-28 in a shootout.

Chicago Bears

Chicago has been playing great football recently, and their stretch of good play will be tested against a quality Detroit Lions team.

Matt Forte will be the difference in the game. Detroit has allowed rushing yards by the plenty this season and Forte will be just another example of why the Lions aren’t ready to make the postseason.

Forte has grabbed over 1,200 yards of total offense and three touchdowns including 116 yards in their Week 5 meeting. Detroit has allowed over 100 yards rushing to Forte, Michael Turner and Frank Gore.  

Detroit has only won once at Chicago since 2005. Playing at Soldier Field will give the Bears a much needed boost to defeat the surging Lions.

Chicago wins a close one, 24-21.

New York Jets

New England isn’t the same team as years past. It’s visible that they aren’t. Losing two-straight games, a game off of a bye and Tom Brady is looking human? It’s unprecedented.

That trend will continue against the New York Jets on Sunday Night Football.

New York and New England are heading in opposite directions. New England has lost two-straight games and the Jets have won three-straight games including a much-needed victory over the Buffalo Bills on the road.

Mark Sanchez is the difference-maker for the Jets. He has had multiple games (including the playoffs) where he has been extremely successful against the Patriots. In three games in 2010, Sanchez had two games where he threw three touchdowns to no interceptions. He’ll get another glorious opportunity to repeat those numbers against the 32^nd ranked pass defense.

When he plays well against the Patriots, New York wins. He plays well again on Sunday night in a 24-20 victory.

Dallas Cowboys

How much do the Cowboys honestly believe they are contenders in 2011? If they do believe, which I’m sure there do, they must take care of their home field.

They can’t allow Buffalo to come to their place and take home a victory. The Bills are a horrible road team with two of their three losses coming on the road.

Dallas’ rush defense has been exposed in the past few weeks (starting with Philadelphia), but it’s time for them to make a stand.

Fred Jackson will provide an incredible test. Jackson is one of the best dual-threat running backs in the NFL. He has been the No. 1 reason why the Bills offense has been able to put points on the board.

Stopping Jackson will be the Cowboys No. 1 priority. In Buffalo’s three losses, Jackson has rushed for less than 100 yards. Dallas has proved capable of slowing the run down as a whole this season (10^th in NFL) and I think they make a stand.

The Cowboys are in a stretch where they could win five games in a row. They can’t allow one to slip through their hands. They find a way to get it done against a pesky Bills team. It starts with slowing down Jackson and the rushing attack. Cowboys win, 27-17.