It seems like just yesterday that we opened the NFL season, and now Week 10 is already upon us. Things are gone mostly to planned, except for the AFC North, which is a complete mess, as well as the NFC West.
Going into this week, the New England Patriots seem like the hottest team in football and the Oakland Raiders the opposite. Things could change this week, but for now, here are your headlines.
1. Can Mark Sanchez lead the Philadelphia Eagles?
By now, we know Nick Foles will be out for some time, but Sanchez remains a question mark for Chip Kelly and his offense. He led his team to a win over the Texans on Sunday, but can he keep up that momentum?
The Carolina Panthers come into town with the 23rd-ranked pass defense, so Sanchez might be able to exploit them. The Eagles are competing in a tight NFC East, so every game will be vital for the former New York Jets quarterback.
2. Potential Wild Card eliminator
The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills sit at a surprising 5-3 in conferences that are basically unwinnable at this point. That means the Wild Card spots are the only route to making the playoffs.
Alex Smith and his team will head to Buffalo to face a Bills team that has found some consistency offensively. However, they’ll be facing a top-ranked Chiefs pass defense that will make it hard for Kyle Orton to be successful at all.
3. Ryan Tannehill vs. Matthew Stafford
Who would have thought that the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions would have a combined record of 11-5 at this point? Tannehill and Stafford have been two of the better young quarterbacks in football so far.
Both teams, though, not only boast a strong offense, but they’re ranked in the top 3 in total defense. This matchup, although not in conference, could be one of the most intriguing this week.
4. How will Tony Romo fare in London?
Romo is expected to play Sunday at Wimbley Stadium, but how healthy is he actually? A matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars has him licking his chops, but only if he back allows him to throw efficiently.
The Dallas Cowboys were embarrassed by the Arizona Cardinals last week with Brandon Weeden at the helm, so rushing Romo back isn’t out of the question. The Cowboys are hoping his back is healed in time to face the weak Jaguars pass defense.
5. The matchup of the disappointments
The San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints sit at 4-4 on the season, a bad result for two teams expecting a Super Bowl win. The Saints have won two straight over the Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers, but the 49ers are trending two in the opposite direction.
Can Drew Brees continue his hot streak at home, where the Saints are 3-0 this season? Or will the 49ers defense, which ranks second in the league, stop him where he’s best?
6. Is Ben Roethlisberger really an MVP candidate?
It seems unusual that a player not named Peyton, Aaron or Tom could pass for 12 touchdowns in two games, but Roethlisberger has done it. The Pittsburgh Steelers sit atop the AFC North and Roethlisberger is three touchdowns Sunday away from breaking the all-time record for touchdowns in three games.
The Steelers match up with New York Jets at the Meadowlands, but Roethlisberger should be able to have his way.
7. How will the Denver Broncos respond after last week?
The Broncos were blown out in Foxborough last Sunday, falling 43-21 to the New England Patriots in a battle of the AFC’s top 2 teams. However, the challenge gets eaiser at Oakland, home of the 0-8 Raiders.
Peyton Manning will be looking to get over the loss to the Patriots, and what better way than the league’s worst team. However, the Raiders rank eighth in pass defense, so it won’t be too easy.
8. Can the Arizona Cardinals keep it up?
The Cardinals are the best team in football according to record, and wins over the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys make them seem even better. Carson Palmer is playing some great football, and the St. Louis Rams will have a tough task in defending him.
However, the Rams are no pushover, as they’ve beaten the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers this season. They also have the 10th-best defense in the NFL, so this could be a defensive battle Sunday.
9. Do the defending champs have a chance?
At 5-3, the Seahawks are certainly still in the Wild Card race, but already two games down to the Cardinals. And the division title looks slim. However, a home game against the struggling Giants could serve to be a good day for Russell Wilson and his team.
The Seahawks rank 30th in the league in passing, but the Giants rank 28th in defending it, so this could be a chance for Wilson to develop some chemistry with his young receivers.
10. The age-old rivalry
The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears have been going at for decades, and this game will be as tight as ever. Jay Cutler and the Bears are reeling and need a win to keep their season alive, but Aaron Rodgers needs to keep up with the Detroit Lions.
The Bears have all three of their wins on the road, but the Packers haven’t lost at home. Both teams need a win, and that’s what makes this game so intriguing.