The NFL Roundup - Week 10

Written by John Edward Betancourt

I've always seen Week 10 in the NFL as the beginning of the home stretch for the rest of the season since this is when it seems the games get all that more incredible. Everyone seems to take a few more chances to do something special in hopes of either, keeping their jobs, making the fans happy or locking up their playoff spot and it makes for some magnificent football and some incredible stories and here are the top ones to keep an eye on this week.

What will Rex Ryan's return to New York look like?
This is one important question because in recent years, reunion games have turned out to be vastly different than we expect them to be. Peyton Manning let his return to Indy get under his skin and well, Rex is a emotional guy and that translates to his team on the field. When they're fired up in the right way, they dominate, when they're fired up for all the wrong reasons...well you see where I'm going with this and why tonight's game could go either way. Rex had some wonderful times in New York, taking them to the playoffs and two AFC Championships, but the end of his career there was less than joyous and whether or not the Bills win tonight depends on if Rex's mentality is to beat his old team and make a point, or if he's feeling nostalgic about his glory days in green and white. 

Will the Denver Broncos rebound and regroup after their embarrassing loss in Indianapolis?
Yes, I used the word embarrassing and I mean it. The defense's play was a joke in Indy and it potentially cost the Broncos the game. In the wake of it all, Aqib Talib is suspended for this week's game an the Broncos have to handle business differently this week and I think they will rebound and regroup because that ugly loss was one beautiful wake up call. It taught the defense that they need to play lights out football without being jerks about it and the offense learned it needs to quit screwing around and put up some big time points. I'm expecting to see a different squad take the field this week, one that resembles the team that came together for the Green Bay game. 

When will Carolina and Cincinnati finally lose a game? 
It's a well known fact, no team can win forever, and in the NFL someone will finally figure you out and get the best of you. One by one the undefeated teams are starting to fall in the league, but when will it happen for the Panthers and the Bengals? After all, Carolina faces off against a pretty dismal team this week in the Titans and the Bengals host the awful Texans on Monday Night Football, meaning there's a fair chance both of these teams will roll over their opponents this week and enjoy a lovely 9-0 status. I can't say I know exactly when either team will suffer their first loss, it actually could be this week if they underestimate their opponent like Denver did last week, but eventually they will fall, and speaking of an undefeated team on a roll...

Will the Giants work their magic and snap the Patriots winning streak...again?
Tom Brady is a pretty unstoppable quarterback and has a lovely habit of beating his rivals on a regular basis. If you don't believe me, just ask Peyton Manning. But every man has his nemesis and for Brady and the Patriots...that team just happens to be the New York Giants. They defeated the Pats in Super Bowl XLII despite being the underdogs and they were the team to end New England's bid for a 19-0 perfect season in Super Bowl XLVI, which means of all the teams this season Brady and the gang have faced...this is the one team that could put an end to their wonderfully undefeated season to date. 

Where do the Dallas Cowboys go from here?
Let's be honest. Things are not good in Dallas and they're not getting much better. Romo is still injured and while he is eligible to return to the field soon...the Cowboys are 2-6 and the their problems go beyond quarterback injuries. Week in and week out we have seen a defense that cannot stop their opponents and an offense that can't get the run game going. The season is all but over, their chances of making the playoffs slim, yet all we hear from Jerry Jones is they have a chance and they're going for it regardless of the odds and well...enough Jerry. We get you're proud of your franchise and your team. There's nothing wrong with that. But now is a great time to start evaluating other talent on the team and see if that gives this lifeless squad a spark. Maybe there's some hidden gems buried down the depth chart on both sides of the ball waiting for an opportunity to shine. I'm not saying throw in the towel, but now is the time to try something new, after all what else does this team have to lose?

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OUR PICKS OF THE WEEK

John's Picks
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos - Denver
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets - Buffalo
New England Patriots at New York Giants - New York
Minnesota Vikings at Oakland Raiders - Minnesota
Carolina Panthers at Tennessee Titans - Tennessee

Scotty's Picks
Chicago Bears at St. Louis Rams - St. Louis
Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Dallas
New Orleans Saints at Washington Redskins - New Orleans
Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens - Baltimore
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks - Seattle

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