NFL Week 10 Preview: Browns Visit Baltimore in AFC North Showdown
It is hard to imagine anything happening this week that will shock us after what we witnessed in a thrilling and stupendously entertaining Week 9.
Having said that…we do love surprises.
The slate of games in Week 10 contains a handful of terrific matchups. Both the Jaguars and 49ers return from byes and hook up in Jacksonville. San Francisco’s defense brings with it a new toy, defensive end Chase Young. Will he live up to his first name and pressure Jags’ QB Trevor Lawrence? Will the week off help 49ers rediscover their early-season prowess? Or will the Jaguars nab their sixth straight?
In a crucial AFC North showdown, the Browns visit M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, where the Ravens have been Edgar Allan Poe terrifying in recent home games. Will the league’s top two defenses neutralize each other’s dual-threat quarterback?
Detroit returns from a bye and visits a Chargers unable to find a running game or a rhythm in the first half of the season. Will the Lions resume their dominance, or will Los Angeles’ passing game and pass rush overcome the Chargers’ other deficiencies?
Let us take a closer look at these games and others that make up the Week 10 schedule.
—WEEK 10 NFL Preview—
BYES: Kansas City, Los Angeles Rams, Miami, Philadelphia
Thursday Night Football recap
Chicago 19, Carolina 16 (F)
In a mostly defensive struggle that saw just 10 total points in the second half, the Bears withstood a last-minute Carolina march to come away with the win.
Trailing by three with seven minutes remaining, the Panthers went on a tortuous 15-play drive but could get no closer than Chicago’s 41-yard line. Facing 4th-and-10 with 1:40 left, the Panthers opted for a 59-yard field goal attempt by kicker Eddy Pineiro to tie the game but it fell short.
Chicago trailed 10-9 at halftime thanks to a 79-yard punt return by Ihmir Smith-Marsette, which gave the Panthers a 7-0 first-quarter lead. In the third quarter, the Bears special teams and defense pinned Carolina deep and forced a punt. Taking over already in Panthers territory, Tyson Bagent and the Chicago offense went 38 yards in nine plays, going ahead when RB D’Onta Foreman plunged in from four yards out.
Foreman was the offensive star for the Bears. His 83 yards helped Bagent and the offense control both the clock and field position. Bagent completed 20 of 33 passes for 162 yards. He did not throw a TD pass but he also avoided the turnovers that sank Chicago in the fourth quarter against New Orleans.
His counterpart for Carolina, Bryce Young, also played error free football — remarkably, there were no turnovers in the game — which was noteworthy given the pressure the rookie QB faced much of the night. The Bears sacked Young three times, and newcomer Montez Sweat recorded six pressures.
Yes, pass protection is apparently not in the job requirements of a Panthers’ offensive lineman. Given that size and durability questions surrounded their franchise quarterback heading into the draft, the Carolina coaching staff and front office must secretly wish that this season could end now.
Then they could focus on building up their offensive line in free agency and next spring’s draft.
Indianapolis (4-5) at New England (2-7)
Back to Germany goes the NFL.
A far cry from the hallowed matchups of Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady, this game nonetheless represents a much-needed win for a Colts team trying to stay in contact with other AFC Wild Card hopefuls.
Indy QB Gardner Minshew hopes to reprise his zero-turnover game in Week 9 at Carolina. Minshew threw 26 times against the Panthers, but Colts OC Jim Bob Cooter might open up the passing game to take advantage of a Pats pass defense ranked 18th in the league. If he does not, then it will be interesting to see how well the running back tandem of Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss does against the strength of the Patriots defense. Moss comes into the game second in the NFL in rushing with 615 yards.
The Patriots at 2-7 are playing for pride at this point. Mac Jones showed signs of improvement the past three games, but still runs the offense at times like he left the parking brake on. He and the offense face a Colts defense that’s shaky against the run and the pass. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 87 yards against Washington, and his workload came at the expense of Ezekiel Elliot (just six carries against Washington).
This game is too important for the Colts. If Minshew plays a second straight game of error-free football, the Colts could win by double digits. We think he will. Indianapolis 23, New England 13.
Cleveland (5-3) at Baltimore (7-2)
The two top defenses in the NFL match up against two of the game’s most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in what is Week 10’s most anticipated game.
What makes these two matchups within the game compelling is that neither team’s offensive line does a particularly good job protecting their quarterbacks: the Browns allowed 24 sacks through eight games; Baltimore, 21 through nine. When the strength of both teams (the pass rush) faces a weakness on the other (pass protection), then the well-being of nearby dual-threat QBs might be in jeopardy.
The game also showcases the No. 1 (the Ravens 160.3 yards per game) and No. 3 (Browns, 144.1) rushing offenses in the NFL. Baltimore’s rookie free agent Keaton Mitchell ran wild last week against Seattle (138 yards), but he faces a much stiffer run defense in Cleveland’s.
Visiting Cleveland seeks to reverse the 27-3 thrashing they received at home from the Ravens back in Week 4. One major difference in the Browns favor will be the presence of quarterback Deshaun Watson, who in his first complete game since his shoulder injury, threw for two TDs in Cleveland’s Week 9 rout of Arizona.
For Baltimore, Lamar Jackson continues his best season since his 2019 MVP campaign. Under the tutelage of new OC Todd Monken, Jackson is playing at the most efficient clip of his career. In the first matchup against the touted Browns pass defense, Jackson completed 15 of 19 passes and threw for two TDs.
Look for Jackson to put up another his top-notch performance, maybe work in former Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who caught his first touchdown of the season last week. Also, the Ravens play at home in 2023 is nothing short of devastating. Baltimore 27, Cleveland 13.
Houston (4-4) at Cincinnati (5-3), 1:00 p.m. ET
A very intriguing matchup featuring a young QB on the rise and one who in recent games reclaimed his spot among the elite at the position.
Houston’s C.J. Stroud set the NFL on its ear last Sunday with his epic, record-setting day (470 yards, five TDs) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. What Stroud will do for an encore will be a focus of attention league wide in Week 10; Cincinnati defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will be focused on making sure he does not have anything resembling a repeat performance.
The Bengals’ defense is not very good, ranked No. 27 overall in the league. A key for Sunday will be whether Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson (eight sacks) is fully recovered from the foot injury that caused him to exit the 49ers game in Week 8.
If Stroud gets time to throw, WR Tank Dell could have a big day. The fellow rookie caught six passes including the game-winner from Stroud against the Bucs.
For Cincinnati, quarterback Joe Burrow seems fully recovered from the calf injury that dogged him earlier in the season, and is playing some of the best football of his career. Versus Houston, he goes up against a defense that is near the bottom in sacking the quarterback. The way Burrow is dissecting defenses right now, the Texans need to mount pressure, otherwise expect Cincy receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to make big plays downfield.
We think Burrow will get time and Chase in particular will go off. Cincinnati 34, Houston 26.
San Francisco (5-3) at Jacksonville (6-2), 1:00 p.m. ET
In an unusual scheduling event, this game features two teams that BOTH come off bye weeks.
The 49ers, especially on defense, looked like a team that really needed a week off. Rolling with five straight wins, Jacksonville probably wanted to play last week and sustain its momentum.
The big news for San Francisco during its down-time was the acquisition of defensive end Chase Young from Washington. The Niners’ pass rush was largely nonexistent during its three-game losing streak. Now they pair one of the truly elite physical talents in the NFL with Young’s former Ohio State teammate Nick Bosa — and that should alarm offensive tackles and coordinators throughout the NFC.
Should. Whether defensive coordinator Steve Wilks can parlay Young’s arrival into a dominant pass rush is the question being asked around the Bay Area.
We will get an early indication Sunday as the 49ers defense faces a challenge with a Jaguars offense led by Jacob Lawrence. The third-year QB played more efficiently during the team’s current five-game winning streak: In each of the five he posted a QB rating of 90 or higher. RB Travis Etienne Jr. is a big weapon for Lawrence — not just as a runner but as a receiver too; Etienne lined up wide and caught a 56-yard catch last week against the Steelers last week. Another favorite target of Lawrence is tight end Evan Engram, who grabbed a career-best 10 catches in Week 8.
Speaking of versatile running backs, San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey looks to get himself untracked on Sunday. Lost in the criticism of the Niners issues on defense is that the team’s running game stalled big time in their three-game slide. The Niners hope to get back left tackle Trent Williams, but his status (injured ankle) for Sunday is still day to day. His return may also be needed to keep Josh Allen (two sacks in Week 8, nine on the season) away from quarterback Brock Purdy.
The self-reflection afforded by the bye week will help the 49ers more than the Jaguars. Trent Williams will play and Purdy and the Niners defense will rebound. And Kyle Shanahan — with two weeks to prepare for an opponent — will present a game plan roaring with innovation. San Francisco 31, Jacksonville 23.
New Orleans (5-4) at Minnesota (5-4), 1:00 p.m. ET
Another intriguing game between two teams feeling pretty inspired about how things broke for them in recent games.
As with C.J. Stroud, eyeballs league wide will be on Josh Dobbs and how he follows up his Week 9 heroics in leading the Vikings to a comeback win in Atlanta. With a full of practice behind him, expect Dobbs to be even more comfortable with the Minnesota receiving corps. He goes up against an active and stingy Saints pass defense, which is No. 7 in yards allowed despite being near the bottom of the league in sacking the quarterback. When New Orleans does try to pressure Dobbs, they need to be aware of the quarterback’s elusiveness, which bedeviled the Falcons repeatedly in Week 9.
For New Orleans, this matchup against an improving Minnesota defense is another opportunity for Derek Carr and the Saints’ offense to find some consistency. But first the Saints must block Danielle Hunter, who leads the NFL in sacks with 10. Red-zone issues continue to hound New Orleans, though they face a Vikings defense that is not very stout inside the 20. The Vikings back end needs to worry about containing New Orleans’ lethal big-play threat Rashid Shaheed, who leads the league with a 19.3 yards per catch average.
Minnesota has won four in a row and will be returning home to U.S. Bank Stadium, which promises to be rocking. We think Dobbs and the Vikings bottled something in their thrilling victory over the Falcons. Minnesota 27, New Orleans 17.
Green Bay (3-5) at Pittsburgh (5-3), 1:00 p.m. ET
The Steelers seem to catch a lot of breaks in their 2023 schedule, which partly explains why a team so flawed is 5-3 in the NFL’s toughest division.
This week, Pittsburgh hosts a Packers team that labored in (and lost) games leading up to Week 9. But in its victory over the Rams at Lambeau, the Green Bay offense finally discovered a running game. Aaron Jones rushed for a season-high 73 yards rushing, and the improved ground game helped quarterback Jordan Love achieve his most efficient passing day of the season. The Steelers’ defense is one of the league’s worst at defending the run, allowing 133 yards rushing per game. So expect RB Jones to test out that defense early.
To get a repeat of that balance, the Green Bay OL needs to handle star end T.J. Watt (9.5 sacks) and limit a Steelers pass rush that is among the best at harrying NFL quarterbacks. If the Pack’s offensive line can pass protect, we see Love working the middle of the field with rookie tight end Luke Musgrave, who caught his first touchdown pass in Week 9 and seems primed to be a bigger factor in Green Bay’s passing attack.
Pittsburgh is coming off 10 days from its Week 9 win over Tennessee. For all the criticism directed at him for his and the offense’s slow starts, Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett did not throw an interception in his last four games. (There’s something to be said for not handing scoring opportunities to the opposition.) His improved play seems to correspond with the return of WR Diontae Johnson, who caught 20 passes for 259 yards in his last three games.
The receiver tandem of Johnson and George Pickens against a solid Packers’ secondary should be an interesting matchup whenever Pittsburgh goes to the air.
Also, Pittsburgh’s running game, as did Green Bay’s, enjoyed a veritable explosion with 166 rushing yards against the Titans’ defense. The Packers’ run defense (124 yards per game) is not appreciably better than the Steelers’. So the winner of this game may well be the team that establishes and sticks with ground game.
The Packers win over the Matt Stafford-less Rams feels like an aberration. A rested Steelers team that seems to be gaining confidence with each ugly win will successfully run the ball and stay within striking distance of the AFC North lead. Pittsburgh 23, Green Bay 13.
Tennessee Titans (3-5) at Tampa Bay (3-5), 1:00 p.m., ET
The Bucs may be still be reeling from a crushing loss last week to the Texans in which they were on the wrong end of a historic QB performance.
Now the Tampa defense turns around to find another hotshot young QB loading up, ready to throw haymakers.
Rookie quarterback Will Levis takes on a Bucs secondary that relinquished 470 yards and five TDs to Houston’s C.J. Stroud. Levis himself is just two weeks removed from his own sterling performance, a four-TD in his first ever NFL start, against Atlanta.
For Levis to even approach Stroud’s day — or even his own stunning debut — the rookie from Kentucky needs to reacquaint himself with DeAndre Hopkins. The veteran wideout caught three of Levis’ four TDs against the Falcons but was shut out in the second half by Pittsburgh in the Titans Week 9 loss.
Of course, Levis throwing a ton of passes against Tampa probably indicates Tennessee is behind and abandoned Derrick Henry and the running game. Usually, that pattern is not good news for Tennessee.
Lost in the Bucs’ defensive collapse to Houston was the stellar clutch play of Baker Mayfield, who engineered a last-minute drive to give Tampa what looked to be an exciting road win. Oddly enough, Mayfield struggles more at home in 2023 than on the road. Tennessee pressures the quarterback well enough but is really deficient on the back end, meaning Mayfield and Mike Evans might be able to exploit the Tennessee pass defense for multiple chunk plays.
Oftentimes, games between teams fading into oblivion produce the most compelling contests. Not saying that is happening here but…fingers crossed. Tampa Bay 28, Tennessee 23.
Detroit (6-2) at Los Angeles Chargers (4-4)
Easily the most captivating of the late games, the Lions come off a bye and face a Chargers team that is a gridiron definition of inconsistency.
The Lions’ offense gets back RB David Montgomery from injury this week. Pairing the hard-running Montgomery with the electrifying rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs (152 yards rushing vs. the Raiders) gives Detroit a dynamic backfield duo to complement Jared Goff and the productive Lions’ passing game.
This week, the Lions face a talented but enigmatic LA defense. The Chargers trot out as good a pass-rushing tandem as there is in the NFL in defensive ends Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. (Update: Bosa did not practice Thursday because of illness. His status for Sunday is not yet certain.) It’s an opportunistic unit, which caused 15 turnovers in its first eight games. Still, the Chargers allow a whopping 378 yards of offense, which is 30th in the league. If Goff avoids turning the ball over, Detroit should move the ball at will.
Maybe the most riveting matchup of this game will be the Justin Herbert-led LA offense against a Detroit defense that is ranked fifth overall but is middle of the pack in terms of pass defense. Some of that could be opponents padding their passing numbers when trailing the Lions big in games. Whether the Los Angeles offense can keep DE Aidan Hutchinson in check bears watching, as will the Lions’ secondary and what they can do to contain WR Keenan Allen and RB Austin Ekeler coming out of the backfield.
Though on the road, Detroit’s physicality just packs too much of a punch. Also, another week of LA’s criminally ineffective running game will put too much pressure on Herbert, who will make a couple of key mistakes. We are big believers in the Silver-n-Blue. Detroit 30, Los Angeles 20.