The midpoint of this elongated common season is upon us, and the two conferences have charged forward alongside divergent paths.
In the N.F.C., simply 5 groups — the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys — are professional Super Bowl contenders. There’s extra parity in the A.F.C., the place the 7-2 Titans have the greatest document, pacing 9 different groups with respectable odds of taking part in in the N.F.L.’s remaining recreation of the season.
That logjam ought to begin to clear Sunday, when Las Vegas and Kansas City will attempt to acquire floor in the A.F.C. West, the place a mere half-game separates first place from final. The Cleveland Browns might be with out working again Nick Chubb as they attempt to cease the streaking New England Patriots, who’re creeping up on the Bills’ half-game lead in the A.F.C. East.
Below is a have a look at N.F.L. Week 10, with all picks made in opposition to the unfold.
All instances are Eastern.
Byes: Bears, Bengals, Texans, Giants
Last week’s document: 5-9
Thursday’s Matchup
Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins, 8:20 p.m., Fox and NFL Network
Line: Ravens -7 | Total: 47.5
This might be a show of polar opposites when it comes to efficiently drafting and nurturing a quarterback. The Ravens (6-2) will rely, as all the time on Lamar Jackson, the unquestioned franchise quarterback who has saved video games along with his throws and sprints. The Dolphins (2-7), against this, have but to resolve whether or not the journeyman Jacoby Brissett will begin once more over Tua Tagovailoa, the injured 2020 draft choose who has been shopped all season.
If Tagovailoa’s fractured finger on his throwing hand retains him sidelined, and Brissett — who threw two interceptions in opposition to Houston final week — has to face the Ravens’ protection on brief relaxation, this one may get out of hand shortly. Especially with Jackson taking part in again in his native South Florida. Pick: Ravens- 7
Sunday’s Best Games
Kansas City at Las Vegas Raiders, 8:20 p.m., NBC
Line: Kansas City -2.5 | Total: 52.5
Kansas City (5-4) and Las Vegas (5-3) are each making an attempt to maintain tempo in the A.F.C. West, the place the Raiders and Chargers are tied for the division lead. Kansas City has the larger urgency right here: A loss would drop its odds of reaching the postseason to 34 %, based on The Times’ playoff predictor.
It additionally has a tougher street to getting that win. Kansas City is 1-Four in opposition to A.F.C. groups and its offense has been annoyed when defenses make use of two excessive safeties, goading Patrick Mahomes into 10 interceptions to date. Against Raiders defensive finish Maxx Crosby, who’s tied for second-most in quarterback hits (19), Kansas City ought to wrestle to maintain the rating shut. Pick Raiders +2.5
Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots, 1 p.m., CBS
Line: Patriots -1 | Total: 45.5
The Patriots (5-4) are driving a three-game profitable streak, sniffing at the A.F.C. East lead, and taking part in as constantly because it’s cheap to count on from a workforce led by a rookie quarterback. Mac Jones has completed solely two video games with a completion proportion under 60 % and New England has been in a position to lean on Damien Harris, who’s tied for third in dashing touchdowns (7) and ranks ninth in yards (547).
But Cleveland is aware of one thing about disruptions. The Browns (5-4) permit solely 84.Eight dashing yards per recreation, an element that would unbalance the Patriots’ offense. Myles Garrett’s strain may shorten the window for Jones’s throws downfield and Cleveland’s aggressive protection ought to carry the win, no matter whether or not Browns working again Nick Chubb misses the recreation after a optimistic check for coronavirus. Pick: Browns +1.
Sunday’s Other Games
Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m., Fox
Line: Chargers -2.5 | Total: 51.5
Winning a detailed recreation in opposition to the Eagles final week doesn’t disguise the proven fact that the Chargers (5-3) nonetheless want to repair the worst dashing protection in the league. The Vikings (3-5) ought to feed Dalvin Cook, the league’s eighth-leading rusher (554 yards), and rely on with the ability to maintain the rating shut till Los Angeles proves its opponents want so as to add one other dimension. Pick: Vikings +2.5
Atlanta Falcons at Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m., Fox
Line: Cowboys -9 | Total: 52
Maybe the Atlanta Sports Curse is subsiding. Its Major League Baseball workforce gained the World Series, the Georgia Bulldogs are undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the College Football Playoff, and the Falcons (4-4) are surging, winners of three of their final 4 video games.
The Cowboys (6-2), although, can throw salt in any respect that Sunday. Coming off an embarrassing loss to the Broncos final week, Dallas could have one thing to show. Dak Prescott ought to be higher with one other week to heal from his calf damage and if the different skill-position gamers keep in mind find out how to catch a soccer, the Cowboys’ offense ought to succeed in opposition to an Atlanta protection that has allowed greater than 30 factors in three video games this season. Pick: Cowboys -9
New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., CBS
Line: Titans -3 | Total: 45
The Saints (5-3) are marching into Tennessee and bringing their inconsistencies with them. New Orleans has been the hardest workforce to foretell all season, and after profitable three straight video games, they misplaced to the inferior Falcons final week.
The Titans (7-2), in the meantime, have been regular, and continued their ascent final week, even with out the workhorse working again Derrick Henry. Tennessee’s protection sacked Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford 5 instances and so may rattle Saints backup Trevor Siemian. The Saints’ protection is robust, however the Titans ought to be capable of take this one if they’ll rating proficiently with their play-action. Pick: Titans -3
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m., CBS
Line: Colts -10.5 | Total: 47.5
Flukes occur. That the Jaguars (2-6) beat the Bills in Week 9 doesn’t change that Jacksonville remains to be maybe one among the worst groups in the league. Repeating that four-sack efficiency in opposition to the Colts (4-5) most likely gained’t occur as a result of Indianapolis will run usually with Jonathan Taylor, who ranks second in the N.F.L. in dashing yards (821) and touchdowns (8). If the Colts lean on Taylor for offensive manufacturing and clock administration, they are going to void the potential for turnovers and miscues that allowed Jacksonville to upset Buffalo. Pick: Colts -10.5
Buffalo Bills at Jets, 1 p.m., CBS
Line: Bills -13 | Total: 47.5
The Bills (5-3) might be hungry and motivated after their embarrassing loss to the Jaguars, and their protection, which ranks first in fewest passing yards allowed (1,416), ought to be capable of chomp on a Jets (2-6) workforce that can begin an injured backup quarterback.
Jets Coach Robert Saleh mentioned Wednesday that Mike White will once more begin rather than Zach Wilson (knee). White has thrown for 5 touchdowns in seven quarters, however received a nerve contusion in his proper forearm in opposition to the Colts final week. Buffalo ought to put up most of the factors anticipated on this one. Pick: Bills -13
Detroit Lions at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m., Fox
Line: Steelers -9.5 | Total: 43.5
Don’t wager on the Lions (0-8) to lastly win their first recreation this week. The Steelers have allowed the second-fewest yards in the N.F.L. (2,420) and T.J. Watt, who has posted the second-most sacks this season (11.5) ought to be in rivalry for the Defensive Player of the Year Award. Detroit’s ethical victories of taking part in competitively in opposition to good groups haven’t but translated to precise wins, and till the Lions present they’ll each make good calls and execute them late in video games, they are going to proceed to justify the unfold. Pick: Steelers -9.5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Washington Footballers, 1 p.m., Fox
Line: Buccaneers -10 | Total: 51.5
A rematch of final season’s N.F.C. wild-card matchup that Tampa Bay gained 31-23 shouldn’t be as shut this time round. The protection that carried the Footballers (2-6) to the playoffs in the 2020 season has allowed the sixth-most passing yards in the league. That advantages the Buccaneers (6-2) as Tom Brady ranks second in passing yards (2,650) and first in touchdowns (25), even with the taking part in statuses of receiver Antonio Brown (ankle) and tight finish Rob Gronkowski (again) nonetheless unclear. Pick: Buccaneers -10
Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m., Fox
Line: Cardinals -10 | Total: 44.5
The Sam Darnold experiment for the Panthers (4-5) is puttering out. Even earlier than he fractured his shoulder final week in opposition to the Patriots, he was tied for first in the league in interceptions (11), and his three turnovers in opposition to New England triggered Coach Matt Rhule to waffle on calling Darnold the starter shifting ahead.
Now, with Darnold out probably for 4 to 6 weeks, P.J. Walker’s audition will get prolonged in opposition to the Cardinals (8-1), whose offense performed successfully even with out Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins final week. They’re nonetheless questionable to play and the workforce misplaced working again Chase Edmonds for a number of weeks with a excessive ankle sprain. Still, that simply means extra touches for James Conner, who’s tied for the N.F.L. lead in dashing touchdowns (10) and carried the offense in opposition to San Francisco in Week 9. Even if Murray doesn’t play, predict the Cardinals to cowl with confidence. Pick: Cardinals -10
Philadelphia Eagles at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m., CBS
Line: Broncos -2.5 | Total: 45
The Broncos (5-4) lastly gained a recreation in opposition to a powerful opponent when the rookie working again Javonte Williams recorded the first 100-yard recreation of his profession final week in opposition to the Cowboys. Denver can now pad its document with one other win earlier than attending to the coronary heart of convention play. Williams may once more go off in opposition to the Eagles (3-6), whose inside protection has allowed the seventh-most dashing yards (1,077) in the league. The Broncos ought to begin a win streak. Pick: Broncos -2.5
Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers, 4:25 p.m., Fox
Line: Packers -4 | Total: 49.5
Russell Wilson returns for the Seahawks (3-5) after recovering from finger surgical procedure whereas Aaron Rodgers’s standing remains to be unclear as he nonetheless must clear Covid-19 protocols after testing optimistic for the coronavirus two weeks in the past. Assuming Rodgers performs, the Packers (7-2) ought to slice by way of Seattle’s protection, which has given up the ninth-most yards in the league (3,212). Even if his backup, Jordan Love, commandeers Green Bay’s offense, a wholesome dose of Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon out of the backfield could be sufficient to cowl the unfold. Pick: Packers -4
Monday’s Matchup
Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers, 8:15 p.m., ESPN
Line: Rams -4 | Total: 49.5
Los Angeles is clearly the higher workforce, and San Francisco has been considerably of a disappointment with continued accidents, as was the case final season. The 49ers (3-5) ought to make some tweaks to generate higher matchups — tight finish George Kittle will probably be used largely as a blocker now that Von Miller is predicted to make his Rams debut, and receiver Deebo Samuel might go one-on-one in opposition to Los Angeles cornerback Jalen Ramsey — but when the Rams (7-2) can proceed to play with urgency, Samuel and Kittle gained’t be sufficient for San Francisco to prevail.
Pick: Rams -4
How Betting Lines Work
A fast primer for many who are usually not acquainted with betting traces: Favorites are listed subsequent to a detrimental quantity that represents what number of factors they have to win by to cowl the unfold. Raiders -5.5, for instance, implies that Las Vegas should beat Chicago by no less than 6 factors for its backers to win their wager. Gamblers may wager on the complete rating, or whether or not the groups’ mixed rating in the recreation is over or below a preselected variety of factors.
