Broncos-Saints Preview and Week 10 Picks

The Broncos at 6-3 head to New Orleans to take on the 4-4 Saints on Sunday in what will be a pivotal game for Denver. After a butt-whipping at the hands of the Raiders last Sunday night, the Broncos are looking to get back on track with a win as they head into their bye week next week. Why is this a very troubling game to me? First, the Broncos are pretty banged up right now. Aqib Talib is still out with a back injury, Derek Wolfe might be out for a month with an elbow injury, Kayvon Webster is nursing a sore hamstring, Andy Janovich is banged up with a hand injury, and C.J. Anderson is still out indefinitely. The Broncos can't stop the run on defense right now, and they can't run the ball at all on offense. They have a shaky QB in Trevor Siemian, and the offense constantly starts slow and puts the defense in a bad spot to start the game. The Saints offense is explosive and Drew Brees will be a test for the beat up Broncos defense. I don't like that the Saints signed Shiloh Keo and TE John Phillips this week after they were released by the Broncos a few weeks ago. This happens all the time in the league, but this really scares me this week. Also, the Broncos played a road game Sunday night in Oakland, and now have to go back on the road for a game that starts at 12:00pm local time in New Orleans. This has all the makings of a very long day for the Broncos, and I think they will have a very hard time slowing down Drew Brees and the Saints offense. I'm not confident going into this one.

NEW ORLEANS (-2) over Denver
Final Score: Saints-30 Broncos-19

Last Week's Record: 7-5-1
Overall Record: 69-54-8
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Houston (-1) over JACKSONVILLE: Houston at 5-3 is still in the driver's seat of the putrid AFC South. They head to Jacksonville this week to take on the 2-6 Jaguars. I would expect the Texans to take care of business here and get the win, but I would be a on high alert for the upset. It wouldn't shock me to see the Jags pull this one out.

Kansas City (+3) over CAROLINA: To me, this is the toughest game to pick of the early games. I think that this will be a close game, and I think the Panthers got a little bit of momentum going after winning two in a row to get to 3-5. The Chiefs have been solid going 6-2 at this point. This will be a test for KC, and it looks like Alex Smith will return from a concussion. I think this game could go either way, but I will take the better team overall and that is the Chiefs.

Los Angeles (+3) over NY JETS: The 3-6 Jets are a mess right now. There were reports about Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson missing meetings. They have the Ryan Fitzpatrick situation at QB not getting them anywhere. Fitzpatrick is questionable for this week's game, and if he can't go, then Bryce Petty gets the start. In any event, the Rams at 3-5, desperately need a win. They can go into the Meadowlands and steal this game if the defense can step it up, and I think they will.

PHILLY (-1) over Atlanta: This is a very interesting game in the NFC. The Falcons are 6-3, and come in with 10 days rest after thumping Tampa Bay last week. The Eagles dropped a tough one to the Giants last Sunday to fall to 4-4. It's tempting to take the Falcons here because they have been good on the road, but the Eagles are the more desperate team, so I will go with Philly at home.

Minnesota (+3) over WASHINGTON: I know that the Vikings look like they are in disarray after losing three in a row, but I think they will stop the bleeding this week. They travel to the DC to take on the 4-3-1 Redskins. This will be a very close game, and somehow the Vikings will grind out a victory. Look for a 19-16 type of game.

Green Bay (-2) over TENNESSEE: How many people thought the Packers would be 4-4 at the midway point of the season? Certainly not me. Now, they head to Tennessee to take on the 4-5 Titans. This is a very important game for  both teams. I will stick with the Packers here because I just can't see them falling to 4-5, but it is definitely not a lock. Aaron Rodgers has to breakout and have a big game here, and I think he will.

TAMPA BAY (Pick) over Chicago: This is the weakest game on the board for Sunday, and I think that the 4-5 Bucs will get the rare home win at home over the 2-6 Bears. That's about all I have on this one.

SAN DIEGO (-3) over Miami: Another very interesting game in the late window on Sunday afternoon. The 4-5 Chargers are not out of it in the AFC playoff picture. The suddenly hot Dolphins come in at 4-4 after winning three in a row. You have to take the Chargers at home with Phillip Rivers to pull out a win over a very feisty Dolphin team.

ARIZONA (-10) over San Francisco: The Cardinals are at home and need a win to get to 4-4-1. The 1-7 Niners come into town looking like a team that wants their HC to get fired. I'll take the Cards to roll to an easy win.

PITTSBURGH (-3) over Dallas: The marquee game of the day gets the marquee spot: 4:25 on Sunday afternoon. This will be a very good game to watch. The 7-1 Cowboys come rolling in with Dak Prescott and that offense. The Steelers are reeling after losing three straight and they looked really ugly in last week's loss to the Ravens. The Steelers will rebound and end the Cowboys seven game winning streak, and the they will get to 5-4. Take the Steelers at home in a very good game

Seattle (+7) over NEW ENGLAND: Another marquee game is on Sunday night as the Seahawks head to Foxboro in a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX. We know what happened the last time these two teams met. I can see the Seahawks struggling since this game is on the road, but I think they will keep it close. The Patriots are due for a game that comes down to the wire, and this could be it.

NY GIANTS (-1) over Cincy: Normally, I would say that the Giants will be in trouble in this game at home, but this year the G-Men are winning the close games. I think they will get to 6-3 here with a solid home win on Monday Night Football over the 3-4-1 Bengals. You always have to worry about the Eli Manning stinkbomb at home, but I don't think it happens this week.