NFL Picks - Week 10

The eighth and ninth weeks of the NFL regular season is history -- I was 7-7 in week 8 picking winners (67-49 on the year), while Las Vegas was 7-7 picking winners in week 8 and 9-5 in week 9 (85-44-1 on the year). I didn't make picks in week 9 due to my vacation.

Here are my picks for Week 10 (solely based on my Power Ratings with a 3-popint edge for home field - Las Vegas odds in () ):

THURSDAY, 6 November

Denver (4-4) (+3) at Cleveland (3-5): Cleveland by 2

SUNDAY, 9 November:

Kansas City (1-7) (+15.5) at San Diego (3-5): San Diego by 14
Jacksonville (3-5) (-6) at Detroit (0-8): Jacksonville by 8
Tennessee (8-0) (off) at Chicago (5-3): Tennessee by 6
Buffalo (5-3) (+4.5) at New England (5-3): New England by 4
New Orleans (4-4) (pick) at Atlanta (5-3): Atlanta by 5
St. Louis (2-6) (+8) at New York Jets (5-3): New York Jets by 16
Seattle (2-6) (+9) at Miami (4-4):Miami by 10
Green Bay (4-4) (+2.5) at Minnesota (4-4): Minnesota by 1
Carolina (6-2) (-8.5) at Oakland (2-6): Carolina by 14
Indianapolis (4-4) (off) at Pittsburgh (6-2): Pittsburgh by 11
New York Giants (7-1) (+3) at Philadelphia (5-3): New York Giants by 3
Baltimore (5-3) (+1) at Houston (3-5): Baltimore by 3

MONDAY, 10 November:

San Francisco (2-6) (+9.5) at Arizona (5-3): Arizona by 16

BYES: Cincinnati, Washington, Dallas, Tampa Bay

Here are my NFL power ratings after nine weeks:

1. Tennessee Titans (8-0) -- 34
2. New York Giants (7-1) -- 32
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) -- 28
4. Carolina Panthers (6-2) -- 27
5. Tampa Bay Bucs (6-3) -- 26

6. Philadelphia Eagles (5-3) -- 26
7. Arizona Cardinals (5-3) -- 25
8. Chicago Bears (5-3) -- 25
9. Washington Redskins (6-3) -- 23
10. Atlanta Falcons (5-3) -- 23

11. New England Patriots (5-3) -- 23
12. Baltimore Ravens (5-3) -- 23
13. New York Jets (5-3) -- 23
14. Buffalo Bills (5-3) -- 22
15. Green Bay Packers (4-4) -- 22

16. New Orleans Saints (4-4) -- 21
17. Dallas Cowboys (5-4) -- 21
18. San Diego Chargers (3-5) -- 20
19. Indianapolis Colts (4-4) -- 20
20. Minnesota Vikings (4-4) -- 20


21. Miami Dolphins (4-4) -- 20
22. Denver Broncos (4-4) - 18
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-5) -- 17
24. Cleveland Browns (3-5) -- 17
25. Houston Texans (3-5) -- 17

26. Seattle Seahawks (2-6) -- 13
27. San Francisco 49ers (2-6) -- 12
28. Oakland Raiders (2-6) -- 10
29. St. Louis Rams (2-6) -- 10
30. Kansas City Chiefs (1-7) -- 9

31. Cincinnati Bengals (1-8) -- 9
32. Detroit Lions (0-8) -- 6

My Chargers came up short against New Orleans in week 8 - critical turnovers and not enough defense. The latter cost Ted Cottrell his coordinator job. After the bye week, has Ron Rivera improved the defensive schemes enough for the defense to actually stop somebody once in awhile? We'll see. I think the defense will bei mproved - I'll call it Chargers 41, Chiefs 23.