Week 10 Breakdown

So remember the "What We Learned" segment I tried to do? It doesn't work well when you aren't watching football every other Sunday. So I'm going to try something that I can keep track of every Sunday. Every week from here on out, I'm going to rank each game by a rating of stars. I'm sure you know the drill but a 5 star game is going to be really good, and it goes downhill from there.

When it comes to week 10, it looks like it'll be a week where the weak get pounded by the strong. However, you can judge by yourself. So here we go...

5 Star Games

New England (6-2) at Indianapolis (8-0) 7:30 pm NBC

This will be the best game of the week by far. They're already calling it the rivalry of the decade, and that's a true statement. In the blue corner, we have one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time in Peyton Manning, who is leading a group full of misfit toys to a 8-0 record. This is not your brother's Colts. Names like Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie are starting to look like legitimate NFL receivers. In the white corner, you have the other greatest QB of all-time in Tom Brady, who is starting to find a rhythm after missing all of last season. Brady started slow, but he's starting to sync up with his receivers. The difference in this game will be the Colts secondary. 3 of the 4 starting defensive backs for Indy will be injured come Sunday and the replacements get the task of covering Randy Moss and Wes Welker.

PREDICTION: Patriots

Cincinnati (6-2) at Pittsburgh (6-2) 12:00 pm CBS

The other big game this week pits the Cardiac Cats against the Steel Curtain. These two teams hooked up in week 3 and Cincy scored a surprising upset. Since then, Cincy has been a bit up and down, but they added Cedric Benson last season, and he's now the 2nd leading rusher in the NFL. On the other side, Pittsburgh has been playing better than they did at the beginning of the year. The return of Troy Polamalu, who didn't play in the first meeting, should help the Steeler defense against Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco. The Steelers have also evolved into a pass happy team, but Rashard Mendenhall is still something for a still suspect Bengals defense to be careful of. On top of all this, the Steelers are very tough to beat at Heinz Field.

PREDICTION: Steelers

4 Star Games

Philadelphia (5-3) at San Diego (5-3) 3:15 FOX

These are two teams that I can't get a read on. One week, they look like a team that could make a deep run in the playoffs. (For SD, vs. the Giants, and PHI vs. 2 AFC West teams) The next week, they look like hell (SD vs. BAL and PHI vs. OAK). So which team will show up? On both sides! Judging by the last time Philly took the west coast (vs. the lowly Raiders), I think that jetlag will set in once again.

PREDICTION: Chargers

Dallas (6-2) at Green Bay (4-4) 3:15 FOX

I was really struggling trying to rate this game, but I gave it 4 stars. Here's why: I think that this game will make or break the Packers season. The Packers lose this game and they could wind up going 7-9. If the Packers can pull of a win, they could contend for a wild card spot. Do I think they'll win? Nope. The Packers offensive line is still invincible and Dallas has this DeMarcus Ware guy who's pretty good. I think that Ware could get 4-5 sacks by himself again this game and the Packers start to go down the toilet for good.

PREDICTION: Cowboys

3 Star Games

Chicago (4-4) at San Francisco (3-5) 7:20 (Thursday) NFL Network

On an unrelated note, people who have NFL Network will get to listen to the monotone, boring drones of New York Giants announcer Bob Papas for another season along with the moronic takes of Matt Millen! This should be a pretty good game. Both teams are evenly matched and you could say that this is a NFC elimination game. The 49ers are just two games back of the Cardinals and currently have a game in hand on them. The Bears need a victory to stay in the wild card race. The one difference in the game would be Jay Cutler. Cutler's interception total so far this season is 12. The 49ers pass defense is good and I'm sure that when Patrick Willis is breathing down Cutler's neck, he'll heave one up. The only question is the 49ers offense. Alex Smith is turnover prone, but the Bears defense has regressed from being one of the best defenses in the league to one of the worst.

PREDICTION: 49ers

Atlanta (5-3) at Carolina (3-5) 12:00 FOX

Another do-or-die game in the NFC. Except this one is just one team: the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers finished 11-5 last season, but now they already have 5 losses. The good news for Carolina is that they've gotten their running game going. The bad news is that the Falcons are still angry after Matt Ryan got hit out of bounds. I think the Falcons start to band together here and make a serious push to catch the Saints, who are 3 games up on the Falcons right now.

PREDICTION: Falcons

Jacksonville (4-4) at New York Jets (4-4) 12:00 CBS

It's not an elimination game, but a loss would probably hurt a little bit. Also, don't look now but the Jags are 4-4 and in the thick of the AFC Wild Card Race. However, the Jets just look like the better team and they'll start to make their push this week.

PREDICTION: Jets

2 Star Games

Seattle (3-5) at Arizona (5-3) 3:15 FOX

Not an entertaining one here. Seattle has a couple wins under it's belt and that justifies a 2 star rating. However, Arizona is at home, and the better team.

PREDICTION: Cardinals

1 Star Games

Tampa Bay (1-7) at Miami (3-5) 12:00 FOX

Tampa Bay won't be wearing the creamcicle uniforms this weekend when they travel to Miami. That's enough to pick against them.

PREDICTION: Dolphins

Detroit (1-7) at Minnesota (7-1) 12:00 FOX

The Vikings may be feeling fat and happy after their bye week, but if they suffer a let down, it won't be against the Detroit Lions.

PREDICTION: Vikings

Buffalo (3-5) at Tennessee (2-6) 12:00 FOX

The Titans are playing better and Buffalo still has no offense. T.O. might want to catch some of the balls that are being thrown his direction instead of whining about them.

PREDICTION: Titans

Denver (6-2) at Washington (1-7) 12:00 CBS

Denver has started to fall back to reality the past two weeks, so it may be close, but I can't see Washington winning this game. Not with THEIR offense.

PREDICTION: Broncos

New Orleans (8-0) at St. Louis (1-7) 12:00 FOX

An old school NFC West Showdown. Well, if you count showdowns as the Saints dropping 60 on the Rams.

PREDICTION: Saints

Kansas City (1-7) at Oakland (2-6) 3:15 CBS

The race for the #1 pick heats up! Which is being known as the "Ndmakong Suh Sweepstakes". I think the Raiders will get to move up a spot and jump ahead of KC.

Prediction: Chiefs

Baltimore (4-4) at Cleveland (1-7) 7:30 ESPN

HOW THE HELL DID THIS GAME EVEN GET ON NATIONAL TV??? WHAT THE HELL IS ESPN THINKING? I MEAN I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF PEOPLE PREDICTED THE BROWNS TO BE OK THIS YEAR BUT REALLY??? Browns fans are planning a protest against owner Randy Lerner where the fans won't be in their seats at the opening kickoff. This might be the most exciting part of the game.

PREDICTION: Baltimore