Week 10 Preview:
For New Englanders, this is the lousiest week on the schedule because it’s Bye Week for the Patriots. There are no cheering crowds, but silence. It just feels strange, sad and lonesome. This week, the Stadium may be empty and quiet but the rest will certainly do the team a lot of good. Thankfully, it’s the last such week on the football calendar. Things seem so empty and quiet on a Sunday when your horse isn’t in the race, but the world doesn’t stop on its axis, there are some good games and the Week 10 forecast to discuss, so…

At Tennessee 3.5 Jacksonville 35

On the “Suckitude Scale”, this matchup rates about an 8.7. What in the world had happened with Vince Young of late? No one questions the strengths of either team’s defense, but the Titans can do much better when they have the ball. For the Jags, the issue is who will be calling the signals. Garrard may return to the starting lineup and that would be a big boost for Coach Del Rio’s team in the second half of the year. This one could go either way…

Projected Final Score: Tennessee 21, Jacksonville 17.


At Kansas City 2.5 Denver 37.5

This is yet another “Zero Confidence” classic the NFL masterminds have arranged for your viewing pleasure. At 4-4, the Chiefs are actually tied for first in the AFC West and have a tremendous opportunity to stake a claim on sole possession before the day is through. There will be no LJ so it remains to be seen exactly how much gas is left in Priest’s tank. Right now, Denver is adrift and playing poor football which has been unthinkable in the Shanahan Era. The major problem for KC (besides Coach Herm) is that their offense is putrid. But their defense remains pretty good. This time it’s the Chiefs who win on a last second field goal.

Projected Final Score: Kansas City 20, Denver 17.

Buffalo -2.5 At Miami 41

It is possible that the Dolphins pull out their first win of the year, but with Cleo Lemon at the helm and no Ronnie Brown, it would be tough against a proud and determined group from Buffalo, who get a rare taste of tropical warmth in November. The Bills remain in the pack of teams who are in the Wild Card hunt and will not allow an opportunity like this slip through their fingers.

Projected Final Score: Buffalo 21, Miami 17.

At Pittsburgh -9.5 Cleveland 47

Steelers got their mojo and swagger back, as evidenced last Monday night. Pittsburgh now has their pedal to the medal and are well on their way to another AFC Central crown. Coach Tomlin has done a great job in molding the team’s identity according to a glorious tradition. However, the Browns seem to be enjoying a renaissance year with Derek Anderson. The long-standing bitter rivalry appears to be back after a lengthy hiatus. Pittsburgh will win because of the difference in talent, but the Browns are the Brownies no more.

Projected Final Score: Pittsburgh 28, Cleveland 21.

At New Orleans -11.5 St. Louis 46

Although the Rams are a beaten bunch who may actually run the table at 0-16, 11 ½ is a bit strong for a team that has finally started to find its way. The score could very well be 31-0 Saints at the half. Or it could just as well be 17-10. The chances of the Saints winning are at about 96%, but of covering less than 50/50. No can do at 11.5…

Projected Final Score: New Orleans 27, St. Louis 17.

At Carolina -4.5 Atlanta 36

If it were possible to schedule this game at 2:00 am, the NFL may have come up with a novel concept: guaranteeing that no one would watch or attend a game about which no one cares. Talk about dreadful, do they seriously believe that people would actually tune in or pay actual Yankee Dallahs to see an 87-year old quarterback? How about Monopoly money? Better yet, instead of the local blackout why not try complete radio silence? Hey, it could be a lot worse. Just imagine, the game could be played in Atlanta.

Projected Final Score: Carolina 23, Atlanta 17.

At Washington -2.5 Philadelphia 38

If there’s one thing we learned from last week it’s that the Eagles are toast. McNabb was pointing fingers left and right during his midweek media session which probably didn’t sit too well with the guys in the dressing room. The ‘Skins had to pull one out of the fire, winning in overtime but at least they’re a well-coached team heading in the positive. Chances to beat bad teams come far and few between on the schedule. Washington has to pound the football and make sure that Campbell limits his mistakes.

Projected Final Score: Washington 20, Philadelphia 17.

At Green Bay -5.5 Minnesota 40.5

The storyline is obviously how well AP will run the ball this week against the amazing Brett Favre, who’s partying like it was 1996. In the last two weeks, Favre has come up with two long bombs to pull out wins at the end of the game. This week, it not as much a question of whether he’ll be the hero but whether the Packer D can keep Peterson under 300 yards rushing.

Projected Final Score: Green Bay 27, Minnesota 21.

At Ravens -4.5 Cincinnati 44.5

“No Comment.”

Projected Final Score: Ravens 24, Cincinnati 20.

Chicago -2.5 At Oakland 38.5

One team is in the midst of a hangover year while the other just stinks. Hobson is most pleased. Three yards and a cloud of dust.

Projected Final Score: Chicago 20, Oakland 17.

At Arizona -1 Detroit 45

Lions are finally on the way up while the Cardinals have reverted to historic form. Yet, the Cards seem to play much better at home while Kitna is a bit of an enigma on the road, not that Warner is a sure thing by any stretch of the imagination.

Projected Final Score: Detroit 23, Arizona 21.

Dallas -1 At NY Giants 49

Now we’re talkin’ football. Not only is this game the marquee matchup for the week, it may be one of the better games of the year. In Week 1, Dallas really put it to the G-Men big time. This time around things aren’t going to be as easy. The Giants have been one of the most pleasant surprises in the NFL, and that’s great news (even for those of us who wouldn’t root for a New York team if they were the last one on earth). Still, the Giants are not members in good standing on the “Despicability Index” as are the Cowboys of Dallas led by their smarmy owner and the likes of the world’s most shameless self-promoter, TO. Coach Coughlin has done a marvelous job that no one reasonably expected he could do. Unfortunately, Ward is out of the lineup and he adds a level of athleticism to the running game that Brandon Jacobs can’t. That’s the difference between winning and losing. Let’s hope for some great theater.

Projected Final Score: Dallas 27, NY Giants 24.

Indianapolis -3.5 At San Diego 48

There are only so many slots available on the “Despicability Index”: Dallas, Bill Polian and the Chargers (except Philip Rivers who’s OK). San Diego won a few games against pushovers and the loudmouths came out of the woodwork. Losing a game to the likes of Brooks Bollinger last week was inexcusable. Forget about AP and the 296 yards he gained on the ground. The Vikes had no business even being in the same game. A team as talented as San Diego could have found a way around Castillo’s leg injury. Were the Chargers not competing in the AFC West, the Norv Turner Experiment would have been abruptly cancelled by now and the Chargers would be making reservations for January tee times. So, this sorry-ass excuse for a team remains in the thick of the playoff picture. Enter the team from Indianapolis who are most likely still hurting from losing a game that they allowed to slip through their fingers last Sunday. Marvin Harrison may or may not play on Sunday but his understudy Anthony Gonzalez is out of the lineup which may present some problems for Manning, though Jammer may be out for San Diego. But Patriots fans witnessed first-hand in their last two meetings with Indy that they are a marvelous football team. What Manning is to the offense Bob Sanders is to the defense: a playmaker who single-handedly transforms a good unit into an outstanding one

Indianapolis has a great opportunity to get back on the winning track and squash San Diego (as well as shutting up the bigmouths). There will be no lack of intensity from Coach Dungy’s team this week.

Projected Final Score: Indianapolis 31, San Diego 21.