NFL picks: Week 10

Finally, a Thursday game worth your attention! Both teams are playing well and positioning themselves for playoff spots. Carolina has scored a combined 78 points over the last two games, but it's worth noting they're just 1-2 on the road this season. The Steelers have won four in a row and are coming into their own defensively, but Cam Newton could pose a problem with a short week to prepare. Both teams are 5-3 against the spread this season.

The Saints are likely to be the more popular public pick after a big win vs. the Rams and the absence of Bengals No. 1 wideout A.J. Green. The bigger issue is with Cincy's poor defense, which has allowed a league-worst 448 yards per game and 4.9 yards per rush attempt. It's hard to see how Andy Dalton and Co. will keep up.

The Titans are coming off a huge win at Dallas and are rewarded by going home to face New England. Sony Michel and possibly Rob Gronkowski could return for the Pats, but Tennessee's defense has now allowed the least points per game in the NFL (17.6) and is coming off its best offensive performance of the season.

Atlanta has quietly won three straight games, with Matt Ryan continuing to play at an MVP caliber. Meanwhile, Cleveland has lost four straight and has been blown out by strong offenses in Pittsburgh and Kansas City at home. Interim head coach Gregg Williams was particularly aggressive last week, going for the two-point conversion after every touchdown, and he deserves credit for that approach. But this offense has been able to keep up in only one shootout this season, a 45-42 loss at Oakland.

The Chiefs improved their against-the-spread record to a league-best 8-1 last week, as they continue to feature the best offense in the league. They face an inept Arizona offense that has scored only 13.8 points per game. Arizona has scored 20 points only once this season, while the Chiefs defense is starting to shape up, allowing an average of 18 points over the last three games.

The frustrating season for Washington continues after getting blown out by the Falcons at home, but it still leads the NFC East at 5-3. The team lost multiple offensive linemen last week, which is a bigger concern, but Tampa isn't well equipped to exploit that, averaging 4.4 yards per pass rush and ranking 24th in sack percentage.

Coming off a bye, Jacksonville is riding a four-game losing streak and faces a must-win situation at 3-5. Indy has won back-to-back games, albeit against Buffalo and Oakland, but Andrew Luck has been playing better lately. The game will be on Blake Bortles to play better than he has recently, but he will possibly get some help with Leonard Fournette eyeing a return.

The Lions offense is in a real slump, scoring 14 points vs. Seattle and nine points at Minnesota. They face a tough defense for the third straight week, at Chicago, with the possibility of Khalil Mack returning from an ankle injury.

You know the quarterback situation is bad when the possibility of Derek Anderson returning from injury is good news for the offense. As expected, Nathan Peterman's performance was putrid last week, but Anderson should at least help Buffalo avoid so many giveaways. Buffalo has allowed only 313.7 yards per game, third best in the NFL, and Jets quarterback Sam Darnold continues to struggle.

The Raiders couldn't have played worse last week at San Francisco in their 34-3 loss, but they have a few extra days of rest to play a division rival for the second time this season. L.A. has won five games in a row, but three of those wins came by eight points or less, including just a two-point win vs. the 49ers in Week 4.

The Rams suffered their first loss of the season last week but return home before a much-anticipated game in Mexico City vs. Kansas City in Week 11. The Rams defense is struggling, particularly in the secondary, but Seattle has thrown the ball less than any team in the NFL. While the Rams won the first matchup by only two points at Seattle, it's worth noting that they lost multiple wide receivers to injuries in that game.

Aaron Rodgers has excited some in Vegas with his recent play, but the Packers quarterback has led his team to just a 2-4 record over the last six games. Green Bay's defense was bludgeoned with injuries last week and has won only one game by more than a field goal this year.

The sky is falling in Dallas after a tough Monday night loss to Tennessee, and the Eagles are coming off a bye. However, Philly has won only one game by more than six points this season and has scored just 22.2 points per game this season. The addition of Golden Tate should help, but he doesn't solve the team's problems at running back.

It continues to be a rough go for the Giants, but they are coming off a bye. The Giants are getting owned up front both offensively and defensively, but the 49ers are in a position to exploit those weaknesses, with the fifth-worst offensive sack percentage in the league and a middle-of-the-pack ranking in sacks defensively.