Time for week 10!
We are more than halfway through the NFL season. The teams that are fighting for the bye week and the teams that can fight for the 1st pick next year are slowly emerging on both ends.
The Chiefs are currently at the top of the AFC with an 8-0 record and are the only undefeated team. In the NFC it is the 7-1 Detroit Lions, who are currently No. Have 1 seed. If it were already over, we would have the following playoff tree
AFC
#1 Kansas City
#2 Buffalo
#3 Pittsburgh
#4 Houston
#5 Baltimore
#6 Los Angeles
#7 Denver
NFC
#1 Detroit
#2 Washington
#3 Atlanta
#4 Arizona
#5 Minnesota
#6 Philadelphia
#7 Green Bay
The biggest surprise for me right now is of course Washington. Before the season, hardly anyone had them as a playoff team, let alone as a division leader. But Arizona, Minnesota and in the AFC Pittsburgh and Denver are also quite unexpected. But a lot can still change.
Meanwhile, the back looks like this:
#1 New England
#2 Jacksonville
#3 New Orleans
#4 Carolina
#5 Cleveland
I actually find that almost more exciting. I know that Jacksonville and Cleveland are not having a good season, but I wasn’t aware that Jacksonville currently holds the #2 pick. A lot can still change here, of course, but this may be the best time for Jacksonville. The upcoming draft doesn’t have the QB hype so far and Jacksonville won’t have to do anything at QB either. Can you go best player available and get O-line help for Lawrence, or do something for the defense. Also applies to the Patriots, who already have their QB in Maye and should either trade or get Travis Hunter. It becomes more difficult for the Saints, Cleveland and Carolina, who are either trapped in cap hell (Saints, Browns), or don’t know whether their QB should get a 3 year (Panthers) or not. What they all have in common is that they all have to at least look towards the QB and from what I’ve read so far, it’s currently “only” Sanders, Ward and Ewers. I firmly believe that a QB will really gain momentum between February and the draft. It’s quite common for a player to go through the roof and suddenly be picked in the top 5. I mean that was the case with Zach Wilson.
But I would assume that Jacksonville will win a few more games and won’t be picked in the top 5, New Orleans will move up and the Raiders will show up soon, who also urgently need a QB. A QB will definitely be drafted early who normally shouldn’t go away.
Due to time constraints, no preview today, just my thoughts on the progress so far. Plus the outlook for the schedule in week 10, and hallelujah, a treat awaits us in Munich.
Overall, there are a few games in week 10 that at least promise excitement. AFC North duels are often close and exciting, expect a Baltimore win with Bengals/Ravens, but Ravens tend to end up making games more exciting than they have to be. Could be one of those games. San Francisco against Tampa Bay would certainly be better if Tampa didn’t use the cane. The Niners are slowly coming back from injuries. Let’s see if they can start a winning streak now. The top game for me, however, is Steelers vs. Commanders on Sunday, which, alongside Texans vs. Lions (technically speaking for us on Monday), will certainly be a real test for the Commanders. Steelers have now won 2 straight with Wilson, but the two wins were against Jets and Giants. The commanders are of a different caliber. Another sentence that wouldn’t have been said before the season.
And before we finally get to the schedule, another overview of the players who moved at the trade deadline:
Tre’Davious White, CB –> Baltimore
Preston Smith, Edge –> Pittsburgh
Mike Williams, WR –> Pittsburgh
Marshon Lattimore, CB –> Washington
Jonathan Mingo, WR –> Dallas
Khalil Herbert, RB –> Cincinnati
Za`Darius Smith, Edge –> Detroit
Baron Browning, Edge –> Arizona
Cam Robinson, O-Line –> Minnesota
Diontae Johnson, WR –> Baltimore
Josh Uche, Edge, –> Kansas City
DeAndre Hopkins, WR –> Kansas City
Amari Cooper, WR –> Buffalo
Davante Adams, WR –> New York Jets
TNF, 2:15 a.m., Thursday to Friday (DAZN, Gamepass)
Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens
Munich Game, 3:30 p.m., (DAZN, Gamepass, RAN, RTL/RTL+)
New York Giants @ Carolina Panthers
19 o’clock slot
New England Patriots @ Chicago Bears
Buffalo Bills @ Indianapolis Colts
Minnesota Vikings @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Denver Broncos @ Kansas Chiefs (RTL Game)
Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints
San Francisco 49ers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Washington Commanders
22:05 slot
Tennessee Titans @ Los Angeles Chargers
New York Jets @ Arizona Cardinals
22:25 slot
Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys (RTL Game)
Sunday Night Football, 2:20 a.m., Sun on Mon, (DAZN, Gamepass)
Detroit Lions @ Houston Texans
Monday Night Football, 2:15 a.m., Mon to Tue, (DAZN, Gamepass)
Miami Dolphins @ Los Angeles Rams
