2018 Week 10 Predix

Written by Sam DeCoste

We've reached double digits in weeks this season, which means stretch runs for the big boys are just beginning. Every week brings bigger games than the last, with greater competition and higher stakes, and it shows in the slate of games we have here in Week 10. The Panthers go to Pittsburgh for a massive Thursday night game with playoff implications, the Bengals return from their bye against the 7-1 Saints, and the Cowboys and Eagles renew their heated rivalry in Philadelphia this week, on Sunday Night Football. 

Since Week 6, I have been on a roll, with a Predix record of 45-11. I have correctly predicted games with an 80% success rate in the past four weeks, so you know you can count on my analysis! Carry on, and enjoy the predictions!

Here are my season records:

Lock of the Week record: 6-3

Last week's record: 11-2

Regular season record: 90-42-2

 CAR @ PIT

At this point, Le'Veon Bell's return would only cause friction in the Steelers locker room. In eight games this season, James Conner has ran for 706 yards and scored 9 touchdowns. They are pounding the rock just fine without Bell, and the Steelers are on a four game winning streak. Now in come the Panthers, who have won three in a row themselves. Quarterback Cam Newton continues to have his best season as a pro since 2015, throwing for 15 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. He is the most explosive quarterback the Steelers will have to play all season, considering he can beat you through the air and the ground. That being said, the Steelers are hard to beat in Heinz Field, and the Panthers are 1-2 on the road this year, so the edge has to go to the home team.

Prediction: CAR 20, PIT 33

 NO @ CIN

Both teams are surprisingly similar in their game scripts this season: they both need to just outscore the other team to win. It shows in their points per game tally, where the Saints and Bengals combine to average 63 points per game, and each defense ranks towards the bottom of the league (Saints ranked 25th, Bengals ranked 32nd). It should be another victorious shootout for the Saints, considering they are far more talented than the Bengals, and they don't pose enough of a threat on either side of the ball to slow down the hottest team in the NFL.

Prediction: NO 39, CIN 21

 WSH @ TB

In our podcast last week, all four experts picked the Redskins to beat Atlanta, and we all paid the price. But how could we see this coming? The Redskins were a top five ranked defense, and the Falcons were struggling mightily on the road. Well, the Redskins got exposed last week. If they don't get an early lead, Alex Smith cannot lead them back, nor can the defense contain the opposing signal callers. They're coming against the top ranked passing offense in the whole league in the Buccaneers, so the game script this week should look remarkably familiar to Redskins fans this week. 

Prediction: WSH 17, TB 34

 ATL @ CLE

Don't look now, but the Falcons are right back in the playoff picture after a resounding victory in the nation's capital last week. They're starting to look a lot more like the 2016 Falcons which surged into the Super Bowl, ranking as the fifth best offense in yards per game, and second in passing yards per game. As long as the Falcons don't overlook the hapless Cleveland Browns, they will win the game and move to a winning record, because Cleveland is not good enough to contain this machine. The Browns average just 19 points per game in their previous four games, and they faced the Chiefs and Bucs during that stretch, two of the worst defenses in the NFL. It's hard to see Cleveland putting up a fight.

Prediction: ATL 31, CLE 21

 DET @ CHI

The stretch run begins for the Chicago Bears. They face the Lions twice in three weeks, the Vikings next Sunday night, and the Rams and Packers before the end of the regular season. At 5-3, the Bears top the NFC North, but have only played one divisional game thus far, which was the heartbreaking 24-23 loss at Green Bay on opening night. They should move to 6-3 against the Lions, considering the Lions are going backwards. Golden Tate was the centerpiece of the Lions passing game, and they could not move the ball at all against the Vikings last week. The Bears haven't played football pleasing to the eye in awhile this season, but they should get Khalil Mack back soon, and comfortably beat the Lions on Sunday.

Prediction: DET 10, CHI 20

 JAX @ IND

The Jaguars are a very talented team, and when they're at their best, nobody can beat them. Except for the Jaguars. There is no reason for them to be 3-5 at this point, after almost making it to the Super Bowl just ten months ago. They are still the best passing defense in the league, surrendering just 190 yards per game through the air (!!!). But they cannot afford to overlook the surging Colts, who average 34 points in their previous four games, who can leap right back into the AFC playoff race with a victory. Andrew Luck, despite what Jalen Ramsey says, is a top level quarterback in the NFL, and Luck would love to make Ramsey eat his words from the summer by carving them up on Sunday.

Prediction: JAX 17, IND 31

 NE @ TEN

Despite their terrible October losing streak, the Titans are right back in the playoff hunt after an impressive victory in Jerry's World on Monday night. Against a formidable Dallas defense, Marcus Mariota had one of his best performances in a Titans uniform. It will be very difficult to replicate their team performance this week, however. The Pats are in town. They've won five in a row. They just shut down Aaron Rodgers last week. Their defense is getting better. Josh Gordon and Julian Edelman are tearing it up with Tom Brady. The Patriots seem unbeatable at the moment, and I would be shocked if the Titans were the team to end their winning streak.

Prediction: NE 27, TEN 14

 BUF @ NYJ

It has been a season to forget for these AFC East squads, but it could be fun if we get to see the first ever matchup of Josh Allen and Sam Darnold in the NFL this week. But Josh Allen is still recovering from a fractured elbow, and Sam Darnold is in a walking boot. Whoever plays quarterback for the Jets will need to protect the ball, because the Bills have a ballhawking secondary. Whoever plays quarterback for the Bills will definitely turn the ball over, because the Bills lead the league in giveaways, with 22. I think this game could be much closer than others think, but I still can't foresee a scenario where Buffalo wins, as they've also lost three of their last four against the Jets.

Prediction: BUF 9, NYJ 28

 ARZ @ KC

Can anybody stop Patrick Mahomes? For the time being, no. They do have the Rams next week in a trip to Mexico, which could be a potential Super Bowl preview. But for now, the Cardinals are in town. As long as Kansas City turns up for this game, the Chiefs will obliterate Arizona. If they as much as look ahead to next Monday night, the Cardinals will push them. But even I can't take the Cardinals seriously in a trip to Arrowhead.

Prediction: ARZ 14, KC 42

 SEA @ LAR

Back in Week 5, the Seahawks pushed the Rams all the way, despite falling short, 33-31. And as the teams come together for the rematch, Seattle is a much better football team. They have a clear identity: they run the ball, and play good defense. Seattle averages 137 yards on the ground per game, and they've allowed just 42 points in their last three games. I expect them to push the Rams again, especially after their first loss of the year. But in 2017, the Rams were 4-0 in the regular season after a loss. Sean McVay knows how to get his team to rebound, and he should get them back up again this week. 

Prediction: SEA 23, LAR 32

 MIA @ GB

Adam Gase has an infamous reputation for constantly changing the culture of the Miami Dolphins. The culture he has instilled is trading away any players with talent, losing blowouts, and occasionally winning close games. The Packers have a culture of isolating Aaron Rodgers, and making him carry the Packers all by himself. The Patriots completely exposed them last week. Who can Aaron Rodgers throw to? Adams is decent, Cobb can make plays, but Rodgers cannot consistently count on Equanimeous St. Brown, or Marquex Valdes-Scantling. Green Bay, please help out Aaron Rodgers. They should be able to outlast the Dolphins, but I think the Dolphins will push them all the way.

Prediction: MIA 23, GB 27

 LAC @ OAK

I truly feel the Raiders have quit on Jon Gruden. The Raiders organization is paying Gruden $100 million over the next 10 years, and he has just shipped out two former first round picks in Amari Cooper and Khalil Mack for a king's ransom of draft picks. If you're any Raiders player, you should be frustrated, and their frustrations are showing on the field. It will show again when the Chargers come into town. They've won five straight, including a nail-biter in Seattle last week, and they would move to 7-2 with another win. The Chargers are in a fantastic position to return to the postseason for the first time since 2013, and they will move one step closer with a comfortable victory in the Black Hole.

Prediction: LAC 34, OAK 20

 DAL @ PHI

Let it be known that I will never, ever, lock up the Dallas Cowboys again. For the second straight season, they knocked me out of my survivor pool. Carry on. Ever since Tony Romo retired, Dak Prescott was expected to become the next great Cowboys quarterback to lead the franchise into glory. It has not turned out that way. He's averaged 207 passing yards per game this season, and he's thrown five interceptions to just ten touchdown passes. And Jason Garrett has shown no evidence throughout his career that he is the man to right the ship. Now they have to face the Super Bowl champions in Philadelphia, who are fresh off their bye and ready to retake the NFC East. Dallas has half a chance to make the playoffs if they win this game, but after a home loss to the mediocre Titans, let that narrative go to bed. This is my Lock of the Week.

Prediction: DAL 13, PHI 24

 NYG @ SF

The NFL schedule makers really botched putting San Francisco in primetime so frequently this year. As for the Giants, well, the NFL loves putting them in primetime anyway, even though they keep losing every year. I wanted to give the edge to the home team, but the Giants can still move the ball and score points. Saquon Barkley and Odell Beckham, Jr. are two of the best playmakers in the NFL, and the Giants have both of them. They also have Eli Manning. That is a problem. I think the Niners should be able to win again, against another team packing it in for the year, no matter who starts at quarterback. Whether it's CJ Beathard, Nick Mullens, or Jimmy Garappolo playing with a torn ACL, the Niners will outlast the NFC's bottom feeders.

Prediction: NYG 20, SF 30