The NFL Roundup 2017 - Week 10

Written by John Edward Betancourt

(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Well here we are ladies and gents, Week 10 in the NFL. It’s the home stretch at this point, because this more or less signals the beginning of the playoff race. Which means teams that are on the bubble, need to find a way to win on a regular basis to have a shot at the postseason, and the best of the best? Well they just need to keep on doing what they’re doing. Either way, it means we are in for some seriously competitive games and some fascinating stories for that matter as well, and here are the top ones we will be keeping an eye upon this weekend.
 
The Packers win streak against the Bears might come to an end.
Division rivalries are always a joy to watch since they’re usually a knock down drag it out battle royale, and for proof of how exciting and competitive they can be, look no further than the Bears/Packers rivalry since these teams love to leave it all on the field and as of late, Green Bay has had the upper hand, winning three straight against the boys in blue. But, they had the mighty Aaron Rodgers under center during those victories and well, Green Bay has looked pretty darn lackluster without him at the helm, so…can they keep the streak alive without him? Honestly, I’m not so sure. Because Chicago does have quite the powerful defense and if that D makes life difficult for Brett Hundley, there’s a fair chance the streak will come to an end.
 
The Denver Broncos made some important changes this week, but will they matter at all?
It’s inherently clear that everyone at Dove Valley is finally taking the poor performance of the Denver Broncos seriously. Head Coach Vance Joseph has been talking all week about how the team has to change its approach to practice and play calling and everything in between. Plus, the team even performed a slight shuffling of the dismal offensive line by placing Menelik Watson on IR before signing OT Cyrus Kouandijo to the roster, and while it’s good to see the roster getting tweaked and hear that a sense of urgency is there, will any of this matter come Sunday? The answer is yes, provided that the team actually executes everything they’re addressing. If the players keep their minds focused on doing their job, and if the coaching staff actually bothers to make adjustments to their game plan…there’s chance they can beat the Patriots, but honestly…I’m not holding my breath.
 
Will the Los Angeles Chargers play the spoiler again?
The Chargers have definitely suffered through some tough seasons in the past couple of years, but if there is one thing that they are always good at…it is defeating winning teams when they least expect it and considering the fact that they are taking on another team in the playoff hunt this weekend in the Jaguars, can they play the spoiler once again? Well I think the answer to that question is…absolutely! Los Angeles seems to approach every single game with a ‘nothing to lose’ mentality, allowing for them to take risks and try new things and I honestly don’t see why that will change in the slightest come Sunday. So really, don’t be shocked if the Chargers stun Jacksonville with a big time win as they continue their time-honored tradition of surprising quality teams.
 
Is this the week where the San Francisco 49ers finally win a game?
You really do have to feel a slight sense of pity when it comes to the 49ers, because on so many occasions this season, they’ve been so close to that all important first win of the season, only to shoot themselves in the foot and hand the victory to their opponent. But, considering the fact that they are hosting the awful New York Giants, this might be the game they have been waiting for. Because the Giants love to turn the ball over, and their defense is lackluster at best. So, if the Niners play solid football on defense and the offense can put some points on the board, there’s a fair chance San Francisco can secure their first victory of 2017 and I, for one, certainly hope that they do in order to shake off the awful feeling that comes with losing this many games in a row.  
 
Will the Atlanta Falcons rebound this week?
Another week, another tough test for the Atlanta Falcons. Because coming off of their rough and heartbreaking loss to the Panthers, they host the Dallas Cowboys, a team that is suddenly playing with a chip on their shoulder and well, that might be bad news for the Falcons, who seem lost when they take the field these days. So, is there a chance that Atlanta can rebound and stun the Cowboys? There is, but it’s going to require the Falcons to dig deep for a change and play tough both mentally and physically. They cannot fold when the Cowboys stand up to them and if they can finally let their fear go when they take the field, expect a rebound and if they do fold, well then hey, it’s business as usual.   

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