NFL Week 10 Games Preview: FOX’s Early Sunday Games
A Trio of Potentially Ugly Games Test Teams’ Resilience
Defensive Struggles Highlight Early FOX Games
Past the halfway point of the NFL season, most teams are still struggling to score. Either that or defenses are having a heyday this 2022. As such, these NFL Week 10 games preview features three early Sunday games that could be low-scoring affairs. Even if half of the teams playing have had their totals go over on more than 50 percent of their games, defenses and/or bad offenses will be noteworthy for these FOX games.
Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears
Records: Lions (2-6), Bears (3-6)
Date, time (TV):
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Streaming: Live Stream Sports
Bears Emerge as Superior Predators Against Lions
Chicago and Detroit meet for the first time this season and it’s a battle between two unpredictable outfits. On one hand, the Bears are heating up on offense and have averaged 31.3 points in their last three games. That is the second-most in this span thanks to quarterback Justin Fields, who is beginning to realize his potential.
The sophomore quarterback may have the fewest passing yards among starters this year, but he has been efficient with a 104.7 passer rating to go with nine total touchdowns and just one interception in his last three games.
That’s why the total for this game is slated at 48.5, which is higher than what Chicago typically got. The total is actually the third-highest this week and the highest in this NFL Week 10 games preview.
With Chicago trending, it is favored by three points and are -150 to beat the Lions straight-up. Detroit, on the other hand, have seemingly transitioned from an offensive juggernaut to a defensive squad. The Lions (+130) beat the Packers 15-9 in what was the lowest-scoring game of Week 9’s NFL scoreboard.
Three of their last four games have gone under the total and their scoring average has gone from 35 points in their first four games to just 12 points in their last four.
Minnesota Vikings vs Buffalo Bills
Records: Vikings (7-1), Bills (6-2)
Date, time (TV):
Location: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
Vikings Visit Vulnerable Bills
The biggest question in everyone’s mind right now is whether or not Josh Allen will play. The Bills‘ superstar quarterback has an elbow injury that could force the team to rest him. As a consequence, the NFL odds are trending in the Vikings’ direction with the spread now down to 3.5 points for Buffalo from its opener of 9.5.
If Allen stays on the NFL injury report Week 10, more money will come in on Minnesota (+160) and Buffalo (-185) may even become the underdog.
Case Keenum will face his old team along with star wideout Stefon Diggs, the producers of the “Minneapolis Miracle” in 2018. The pair will face a Vikings defense that still has a few key defenders from this season.
Minnesota is 7-1 for the year despite being just 3-4-1 against the spread (ATS). The Vikings consistently win close games. Their last six wins have all come by eight points or fewer. The Vikings’ defense has allowed just 19.7 points in its last three games.
Against Buffalo, the Vikings will face the third-best offense (27.5 points per game) and the top defense (14.8). All but one of Buffalo’s eight games have gone under the total.
New Orleans Saints vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Records: Saints (3-6), Steelers (2-6)
Date, time (TV):
Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Saints and Steelers Desperate To Stay in Playoff Picture
In another inter-conference game, the Saints hold a slight edge over the Steelers on the betting lines. New Orleans is favored by a point and is -125 on the moneyline with a comeback of +105 on Pittsburgh.
These NFL teams are supposedly defense-oriented but are 28th and 23rd in that regard. The offense is partly to blame as these teams are turnover machines.
The Steelers have the second-worst scoring offense and one that turns the ball over the fifth-most times in the NFL.
The Saints are worse as their 17 turnovers are the third-most. However, since Andy Dalton took over, New Orleans has been more careful with the rock. Still, as the 40-point total suggests, scoring may be at a premium here.
The second-lowest total for the week could also be because games tend to be low-scoring in Pittsburgh. Five of the last six games here have gone under the total.
If this were to be a defensive struggle, the Saints may hold a slight advantage as this is a more experienced team. But it’s up in the air as this NFL Week 10 games preview suggests.
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