NFL Game Week 10 - Schedule, Picks & Where to Watch
Well, I guess the Chiefs are just gonna win it all again this year, aren’t they? DeAndre Hopkins got properly involved for the first time in week 9, and the results were pretty convincing. Their win over the Buccaneers stretches them to an unbeaten 8-0 record, which should be pretty terrifying for everyone else in the NFL. The NFC appear to have a clear favorite as well in the Detroit Lions, who extended to a 7-1 record with a well-fought victory in the rain over division rival Green Bay Packers. Are these the two teams that we will see fighting it out in New Orleans in February?
Elsewhere in the league, the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens are still lingering as powerhouse contenders in the AFC, and it was good to see Bryce Young get a win as he has started to string some better performances together. The Carolina Panthers are still a bad team, and they beat an even worse Saints team, but his development at least makes them a bit more interesting to watch. In Week 10, we have the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers coming back off a bye, and both face intriguing clashes. They feature in our games to watch this week, so let’s see what else is on the docket.
San Francisco 49ers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Date & Time: Sunday, November 10, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
- Broadcast Details: FOX, Fubo Sports
The San Francisco 49ers have just enjoyed a week off and will now face a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that looked exhausted in overtime against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. On top of the rest advantage, San Francisco looks to be bolstered by the return of Christian McCaffrey. Fans will be anxious to see how he looks after his time on the sidelines due to Achilles tendinitis.
The run game has been just fine without Christian McCaffrey, with San Francisco averaging 159 yards per game, which is fourth-best in the NFL, but he has been missed from a pass-catching standpoint. Brock Purdy looked shaky as a passer in his last two games before the bye, but it doesn’t get much more reliable as a check-down option than Christian McCaffrey, which is why his return is so significant. Even without McCaffrey, the 49ers have averaged the fourth-most passing yards per game, with 253.4, which bodes well for this game, going up against a Buccaneers defense that is 30th in the NFL with 255.9 passing yards per game conceded.
When Tampa Bay has the ball on offense, they will be going up against a 49ers defense that has not been as strong as in previous years. Their 22.8 points conceded per game rank right in the middle of the league, but their rushing defense is currently sixth-best, with 105.8 yards conceded per game. Bucky Irving and Rashaad White have proven to be a useful tandem, but this won’t be an easy game for them. It’s also not going to be that easy for the Buccaneers’ passing game, with Baker Mayfield having to survive without both Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, his top two targets. Thankfully, Cade Otton has emerged as a very reliable option at tight end, but he will have his hands full with Defensive Player of the Year candidate Fred Warner.
Prediction/Analysis:
The Buccaneers have played much better than their 4-5 record suggests this year and have adjusted well to life without their top two receivers. Nevertheless, they are coming off a very tough, physical Monday night loss to Kansas City, whereas the 49ers are well-rested and healthier after their bye week. With McCaffrey re-entering the fray, San Francisco should get the win here.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Washington Commanders
- Date & Time: Sunday, November 10, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Northwest Stadium, Landover, MD
- Broadcast Details: CBS, Paramount+
The other team coming off their bye this week is the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are sitting pretty atop the AFC North with a 6-2 record. This week, they will be tested by the surprise story of the season, the Washington Commanders, who are currently leading the NFC East with a 7-2 record.
Jayden Daniels has been nothing short of spectacular this year, passing for 1,945 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions, while also rushing for 459 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. This will arguably be his toughest test yet, though, going up against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that is well-rested and red-hot. They are giving up the second-fewest points in the league this year, with 14.9 points per game, and are suffocating opponents’ rushing attacks by limiting them to 90.5 yards per game. Daniels has held his own against stingy defenses like the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and Chicago Bears, so it will be fascinating to see how he gets on against Pittsburgh.
On the other side of the ball, Mike Tomlin’s gamble to put Russell Wilson in charge of the offense has paid off very well so far. He has passed for 542 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions across his two starts, registering a passer rating of over 100 in both games. Wilson has transformed the Steelers’ passing game, unlocking George Pickens’ contested catch ability and threatening the deeper pockets of the field considerably. He now has to go up against a Washington defense that is lacking big names but is incredibly well-coached, restricting opposing teams to just 184 passing yards per game, which is fifth-best in the NFL.
Prediction/Analysis:
This game wouldn’t have drawn much attention in Week 1, but it now stands out as one of the most intriguing games of the season. As well as Jayden Daniels has played so far this year, the Steelers’ defense is no joke, combining immense talent with excellent coaching. With them benefiting from a week of rest, I back them to slow the Commanders down and get an important victory here.
Detroit Lions @ Houston Texans
- Date & Time: Sunday, November 10, 2024, at 8:20 p.m. ET
- Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
- Broadcast Details: NBC, Peacock
For as much as our previous game has become a more exciting matchup as the season has progressed, this one has arguably declined in interest level. It would’ve been one of the premier matchups of the season early on, but Houston’s recent struggles are incredibly concerning. Their offensive line is getting Stroud repeatedly beaten up, to the point where he is now clearly not trusting his protection, and it is impacting his passing ability. He was sacked a whopping eight times against the Jets on Thursday Night Football, resulting in a lousy line of 11 completions from 30 attempts, for 191 yards and no touchdowns.
The good news for Houston is that they might benefit from the return of stud receiver Nico Collins, who was leading the league with 560 receiving yards through five weeks when he injured his hamstring. The offense has undoubtedly struggled without him, and his return should see an uptick in Stroud’s performance. The other good news for Stroud is that the Detroit Lions are giving up the fourth-most passing yards per game, with 250.8. If he can rack up the yards and points, this could become an explosive shootout.
There have been no such struggles in Detroit, who are posting the sixth-most rushing yards per game with 152.6, and are first in completion rate when they drop back to pass. They frankly look like the clear-cut leaders in the NFC and will likely enter every single game they play this season as the betting favorite. This one won’t be a walk in the park, though, with Houston conceding the third-fewest passing yards per game with 167.4. Can they keep it rolling this week and maintain their lead in the NFC North?
Prediction/Analysis:
It is very hard to predict against the Detroit Lions at the moment, particularly going up against a Houston Texans side that has proven to be vulnerable in recent weeks. Everything that Detroit puts their mind to, they seem to succeed at, and I don’t see that changing this week against Houston.
Honorable Mentions:
New York Jets @ Arizona Cardinals
- Sunday, Nov 10 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+
The Jets are searching for their first hint of momentum, but the Arizona Cardinals are proving to be a much better team than anyone expected preseason and will be a stiff test in their own building.
Author: Venuse, Inc.