Tucker’s Top 5 NFL Games: Week 10
By Tucker Harlin
I’ll give myself a 3.5/5 for my performance last week. My only true swing and miss was the game between the Broncos and Ravens, and I know the Lions at Packers score is closer than how that game played out.
These are my five best NFL games to watch in Week 10.
49ERS (4-4) @ BUCCANEERS (4-5)- SF -5.5, 1 PM FOX, SUNDAY
The 49ers are in the thick of a balanced race in the NFC West.
Christian McCaffrey is on the mend, a development critical to the results in a division full of parity. Getting McCaffrey back gets the 49ers to their healthiest point without Brandon Aiyuk.
The Buccaneers are down two of the most productive receivers in the league, one of which is out for the season. Despite these unfortunate developments, the offense has still found methods of production in each of the last two losses.
Tampa’s defense is porous, so I don’t think San Francisco will have a difficult time moving the ball. This is a must win for both of these teams going into the back end of the season.
BRONCOS (5-4) @ CHIEFS (8-0)- KC -8, 1 PM CBS, SUNDAY
While the race for the AFC West title is down to one team at the moment, it still feels like the Chiefs are sleep walking.
The acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins was important to help Kansas City boost the plethora of options for Patrick Mahomes to target outside of Travis Kelce. The Chiefs are coming off a survival against a banged up Buccaneers team.
My biggest question about the Broncos going into this game is whether or not a 41-10 loss to Baltimore has messed with the team’s psyche.
Mahomes played one of his cleaner games Monday, but Denver can make him pay should he sink back into the guy that barely got by in many of the first seven games.
BENGALS (4-5) @ RAVENS (6-3)- BAL -6, 8:15 PM PRIME VIDEO, THURSDAY
I put this one in my list because of the 41-38 barnburner the Ravens won in overtime in Cincinnati earlier this year.
While the Bengals’ record isn’t indicative of a playoff worthy team, don’t let it distract you from the fact Joe Burrow is playing some of his best football in his career. The Bengals bounced back nicely from a bad loss to the Eagles with a 41-24 victory over the Raiders last week.
As I mentioned at #4, the Ravens dismantled an improving Broncos team last weekend. If the Broncos couldn’t slow down Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry last season, I don’t see it happening this week either.
Expect lots of points in this one.
LIONS (7-1) @ TEXANS (6-3)- DET -3.5, 8:20 PM NBC, SUNDAY
I hope this one turns out well, but I have a feeling the Lions could turn this into a blowout.
Detroit is the machine atop the machine of the NFC North. The rushing attack is one of the best in the league while the defense is working to resolve the hole left by Aidan Hutchinson’s injury with the acquisition of Za’Darius Smith.
The Texans lost a stinker to the Jets last Thursday. Getting Nico Collins back soon is of the utmost importance for the Texans offense because C.J. Stroud’s options are severely limited right now.
Again, this should be a well-matched contest, but don’t be shocked if it turns into a blowout.
STEELERS (6-2) @ COMMANDERS (7-2)- WSH -2.5, 1 PM CBS, SUNDAY
Two of the biggest surprises in the NFL this season are taking the cake for this week’s top matchup.
Washington is coming off its second win over the Giants this year. Jayden Daniels is a runaway candidate for rookie of the year, and the defense improved itself with the acquisition of corner Marshon Lattimore at the trade deadline.
What many thought was going to be the Steelers’ biggest weakness at quarterback hasn’t hindered it from taking a lead in the AFC North. In addition to showcasing George Pickens, Adam Thielen and Mike Williams have been added to the mix at receiver.
If your team doesn’t happen to play at 1 p.m., definitely check this one out.
