Mark Craig's Week 10 NFL picks: Defenses are getting their moment in the sun

An AFC North battle of top defenses is the highlight of this weekend's NFL schedule.

November 10, 2023 at 4:00PM
Who’s got the No. 1 defense in the NFL? Cleveland, with former Vikings Dalvin Tomlinson, right, and star defensive end Myles Garrett. (Kirk Irwin, Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

With Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa off this week, feel free to use Week 10 to enjoy a little defense.

Start with the AFC North, where the 5-3 Browns take the No. 1 defense in yards allowed (234.8) into 7-2 Baltimore to face the Ravens' top-ranked scoring defense (13.8).

Elsewhere, Houston and its defensive-minded rookie head coach DeMeco Ryans travel to Cincinnati looking to reach five wins for the first time since 2019.

In Jacksonville, the Jaguars (6-2) face the 49ers (5-3) in an interconference battle of division leaders. Jacksonville hasn't had seven or more wins through nine games since it started 8-1 in 1999.

And in Minnesota, all eyes will be focused on the rocket scientist (Joshua Dobbs) starting at quarterback while the team's true identity continues to be forged by a defensive coordinator (Brian Flores) whose brain isn't too shabby, either.

Here are six games to watch:

WHAT WILL THE VIKINGS DO?

Saints (-2 ½) at Vikings: The Saints had a 5-0 turnover advantage and one penalty and darn near lost to the Bears. At home. Double Down on Dobbs & Defense. Vikings 24, Saints 19

AROUND THE NFC NORTH

Lions (-3½) at Chargers: Coming off a bye and visiting a stadium with no home fans should help tremendously. Lions 30, Chargers 24

Packers (+3½) at Steelers: Jordan Love? In Pittsburgh? Against Mike Tomlin? Please. Steelers 17, Packers 13

LOCK OF THE WEEK

Giants (+16 ½) at Cowboys: Dear NFL, if Dallas loses to Tommy DeVito, a joint lawsuit will be filed by every person who still has a Survivor Pool pick. Cowboys 34, Giants 17

UPSET OF THE WEEK

Jets (-1½) at Raiders: Josh McDaniels was 9-16 as a Raider. Interim coaches before and after him: 8-5. Raiders 13, Jets 10

GAME OF THE WEEK

Browns (+6½) at Ravens: The entire AFC North would make the playoffs if it didn't have to play the entire AFC North. Twice. Ravens 23, Browns 20

SEASON RESULTS

Season record straight up/against the spread: 29-25; 24-30.

Upset special: 2-7.

Lock of the Week: 9-0.

Vikings: 4-5.

about the writer

about the writer

Mark Craig

Sports reporter

Mark Craig has covered the NFL nearly every year since Brett Favre was a rookie back in 1991. A sports writer since 1987, he is covering his 30th NFL season out of 37 years with the Canton (Ohio) Repository (1987-99) and the Star Tribune (1999-present).

See Moreicon

More from No Section

See More
FILE -- A rent deposit slot at an apartment complex in Tucker, Ga., on July 21, 2020. As an eviction crisis has seemed increasingly likely this summer, everyone in the housing market has made the same plea to Washington: Send money — lots of it — that would keep renters in their homes and landlords afloat. (Melissa Golden/The New York Times) ORG XMIT: XNYT58
Melissa Golden/The New York Times

It’s too soon to tell how much the immigration crackdown is to blame.