NFL Sunday Preview, Week 10: Vikings-Bills, Seahawks-Bucs highlight an important Sunday around the National Football League

Seattle Seahawks (6-3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) (Game in Munich, Germany)

Time/TV: 8:30 a.m. CT/NFL Network

The NFL heads to the home of German soccer club Bayern Munich for Sunday morning’s tilt between the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. One might have imagined preseason that Tampa Bay would be sitting at 6-3 instead of the Seahawks, as these two teams have gone in opposite directions compared to expectations in 2022. Seattle’s excellent season to this point has come partly because of excellent quarterback play from veteran Geno Smith, while Tom Brady’s offense has struggled to get much of anything going for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay hopes that a close win over the Rams last week will provide the spark they need moving forward, and Seattle’s 24th-ranked defense by yards allowed may help them continue their upward trajectory. Tom Brady is 3-0 in his career in starts outside the United States and will become the first NFL quarterback to start games in three different foreign countries when Sunday’s game kicks off. Seattle can move to 7-3 with a win, maintaining at least a game and a half-lead in the NFC West standings. 

Minnesota Vikings (7-1) at Buffalo Bills (6-2)

Time/TV: 12:00 p.m. CT/FOX

For seemingly the first time all season, there are question marks surrounding the Buffalo Bills as they head into Week 10. Not only did the Bills lose to the Jets last weekend at Metlife Stadium, but Buffalo now faces concerns about their star quarterback Josh Allen’s health moving forward. Allen is dealing with a right elbow injury, and it seems likely at this point that backup Case Keenum will need to start Sunday against Minnesota. The Vikings have opened a massive lead in the NFC North at 7-1, winning six straight games, all by eight points or less. Two of the NFL’s best wide receivers face off in the matchup, as former Viking Stefon Diggs shares the field with Justin Jefferson, the player selected with the first-round pick Minnesota acquired by trading Diggs away. Case Keenum also has ties to the Vikings, as he led them to the Playoffs going 11-3 as a starter in 2017. A win would go a long way for the Bills, who would fall into a first-place tie with the New York Jets in the AFC East with a loss. 

Detroit Lions (2-6) at Chicago Bears (3-6)

Time/TV: 12:00 p.m. CT/FOX

The Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears will renew their NFC North rivalry for the first time this season on Sunday in Chicago as each team tries to climb back closer to .500 on the year. Chicago has experienced an offensive renaissance of late, averaging more than 31 points per game over their last three despite going 1-2. The Bears’ defense was their undoing Sunday against the high-powered Dolphins, allowing 379 total yards in their first game without Robert Quinn or Roquan Smith. Chicago now welcomes the 2-6 Lions to Soldier Field, a team they defeated twice in low-scoring games last season. Detroit snapped a five-game losing streak with last weekend’s win, a 15-9 triumph over the Packers that saw them hold Green Bay scoreless on four different red zone trips. The Bears, boasting the NFL’s top-ranked rushing attack, will look to take advantage early and often of a Lions’ defense giving up more rushing yards than all but the Houston Texans.   

Denver Broncos (3-5) at Tennessee Titans (5-3)

Time/TV: 12:00 p.m. CT/CBS

The Denver Broncos, feeling rejuvenated after their bye last week, head to Nissan Stadium in Nashville for a Sunday afternoon date with the Tennessee Titans. Both teams have struggled offensively all season, with Denver averaging 15.1 points per game to Tennessee’s 18.6. Each defense has been legitimately elite, setting the stage for a game where points will likely be at an extreme premium. Tennessee’s game plan could change drastically depending on quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s status, listed as questionable, although back at practice this week. Malik Willis started for the Titans last Sunday night, falling just short of upsetting the Kansas City Chiefs on the road despite only completing five passes all night. Denver quarterback Russell Wilson has made the organization’s decision to trade for him and sign him long-term look like a gaffe, as he’s only thrown six touchdowns (with four interceptions) through eight games. Broncos’ fans hope the bye week was just the reset the offense needed, as a loss would severely hamper Denver’s chances at an AFC Playoff bid. 

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-2)

Time/TV: 12:00 p.m. CT/CBS

The Jacksonville Jaguars finally got back into the win column last week, overcoming a 17-point deficit at home to defeat the Las Vegas Raiders and improve to 3-6 on the year. Head coach Doug Pederson’s Jaguars likely feel as if they deserve better so far, given that all six of their losses have come by one score – and they’ll have a chance to prove what they’re capable of against the mighty Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Kansas City is coming off a win over the Tennessee Titans that required overtime, a game in which the Titans’ defense held the Chiefs to their second-lowest point total of the season. Pederson has both played for and coached with Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid, with whom he maintains a close relationship to this day. If he wants to upset his mentor, his 22nd-ranked pass defense will need to step up in a major way Sunday afternoon. Jacksonville can remain competitive in the middling AFC South with a win, while Kansas City is looking to maintain its shot at the AFC’s top seed. 

Cleveland Browns (3-5) at Miami Dolphins (6-3)

Time/TV: 12:00 p.m. CT/CBS

As the Cleveland Browns fly south to warmer weather for a date with the Miami Dolphins, they will be looking for answers as they sit at 3-5 despite the third-best rushing attack in the NFL and an offense averaging 25 points per game. One of Cleveland’s major issues has been their porous defense, which faces an intense challenge with Miami’s explosiveness on offense. The return of speedy cornerback Denzel Ward ought to help but topping the Dolphins will be no easy task. The Browns are refreshed, if nothing else, fresh off a bye week full of good vibes after they blew out the Bengals two Mondays ago. Miami, winners of three in a row, boasts the second-ranked passing offense in the NFL. Tyreek Hill has posted an incredible 1,104 yards receiving through nine games but has only scored three touchdowns. Miami has won all six games quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has played from start to finish this year, a trend they will look to continue by tiring out the Browns in the Miami heat Sunday afternoon. 

New Orleans Saints (3-6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (2-6)

Time/TV: 12:00 p.m. CT/CBS

The New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers have both battled through frustrating first halves of the NFL season, entering Sunday’s clash at Acrisure Stadium. New Orleans has lost three of four and has watched defensive injuries pile up along the way. The Steelers have lost five of six themselves but are seemingly getting healthier following their bye. T.J. Watt is expected to finally play after being injured in Pittsburgh’s Week 1 win. The hope for the Steelers is that the extra week of preparation will allow Kenny Pickett’s continued improvement. The trip to Pittsburgh marks only the Saints’ second outdoor game all season and their first since Week 2 on the road in Carolina. With temperatures expected to hover in the 30s during Sunday’s game, it will be quite an adjustment for the Saints to make playing outdoors on grass. A win would move New Orleans to 4-6, making it possible that they tie Tampa Bay for first place in the NFC South by Sunday night. 

Indianapolis Colts (3-5-1) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-6)

Time/TV: 3:05 p.m. CT/CBS

The Indianapolis Colts have endured somewhat of a nightmare season and now head to Las Vegas with a new head coach on the sideline in desperate need of a win. Indianapolis’ offense put forth an all-time dud of a performance last Sunday, falling 26-3 to New England while managing just 121 total yards of offense. Frank Reich was fired after the embarrassing performance, replaced by former Colts center Jeff Saturday. The Las Vegas Raiders do not enter the game with much better vibes than their opponent, fresh off blowing a 17-point lead last Sunday in Jacksonville. Las Vegas has lost three of four but is 2-1 at home this season. The Raiders’ offense has been banged up most of this season and will once again be without Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller against the Colts Sunday afternoon. Indianapolis, who some believe will lean heavily on the run game under Saturday, are finally expecting to have star running back Jonathan Taylor back on the field. 

Arizona Cardinals (3-5) at Los Angeles Rams (3-5)

Time/TV: 3:25 p.m. CT/FOX

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay improved to 11-1 against the Arizona Cardinals back in September’s matchup in Arizona, but Sunday’s game at SoFi Stadium might look quite a bit different on both sides. Both quarterbacks are listed as questionable to play, as Matthew Stafford is in concussion protocol and Cardinals’ quarterback Kyler Murray nurses a hamstring injury. If either one misses time, Rams’ backup John Wolford or Cardinals’ veteran backup Colt McCoy would be their likely replacements. Both teams are desperate for a win and really need one if they are going to compete with San Francisco and Seattle in the NFC West’s upper tier. Arizona’s lone win over Sean McVay came in their visit to SoFi Stadium last year, a 37-20 win that was L.A.’s only loss in their first eight games. 

Los Angeles Chargers (5-3) at San Francisco 49ers (4-4)

Time/TV: 7:20 p.m. CT/NBC

The Los Angeles Chargers and San Francisco 49ers aren’t the typical “Bay versus L.A.” rivalry that the 49ers have with the Rams, but it ought to be an entertaining game between playoff contenders Sunday night from Santa Clara. The Chargers have dealt with injury adversity all season and will once again enter Sunday’s game without wide receivers Keenan Allen or Mike Williams. San Francisco, meanwhile, is spoiled with riches on offense after trading for running back Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers three weeks ago. Following the 49ers’ bye, they are also expected to have wide receiver, Deebo Samuel, running back Elijah Mitchell, and linebacker Dre Greenlaw back healthy, among others. The Chargers’ defense may be in for a rude awakening, entering the game allowing the third-most points in the NFL and more than 145 rushing yards per game.