NFL16 Cherry Picks W10: Heavy Mettle Jams Make For a Super Slate
Mettle game: A sporting contest where both teams have previously demonstrated a capacity for exceptional play but a showing that has either, 1) been lacking in its consistency (losses), or 2) not been sufficiently challenged in circumstance (road test, injuries, weather, etc.) or in high-caliber opponents.
In other words, a mettle game is a toughness-test between teams with playoff potential.
Last week’s slate was downright anemic (iron deficient).
The marquee match-ups that football fans come to expect at the midway were in short supply in W9, with majority of contenders paired against opponents that seem headed to a sub-par season.
Denver @ Oakland, Eagles @ Giants, Colts @ Packers and Steelers @ Ravens were the handful that offered some hope for fireworks. In the end, while some lively play and exciting conclusions were a commonality, all the eventual winners were in control from the get-go with the losers never able to get it all in sync.
But Week 10 is a horse of a different color.
One week the slate o’ games looks peaked & pallid (W9), the next, the National offers up a smorgasbord of mettle matchups that should boost the hemoglobin of any fan's lab values. Feast your eyes on these iron-clad clashes:
KC @ CAR: Chiefs are QB-loaded, Cats starting to show some claw
MIN @ DC: Both former streakers (Ws), one will start its way back
GB @ TEN: Inconsistency Bowl, lucky they toil in weak divisions
MIA @ SD: Coasters clash, the QBs will set the tone in TDs & INTs
CIN @ NYG: Seems Giants haven’t had run-game since Mr. Morris
And the heavy mettle jams:
DEN @ NO: Saints’ stock rising, 3 of 4 losses by a total of 10 points
ATL @ PHI: Falcons’ stock stays high, their 3 Ls by total of 12 points
DAL @ PIT: Wily QB leads Anti-Heroes v. rookie-led America’s Team
SEA @ NE: SB49 rematch sees Pats still elite, Hawks missing Beastie
Cherry Picks Week 10
Denver (6-3) @ NO (4-4): 11.13 CBS 1:00: New Orleans wins
Falcons (6-3) @ Eagles (4-4): Fox 1:00: Philadelphia wins
KC Chiefs (6-2) @ Carolina (3-5): Fox 1:00: Panthers win
Vikings (5-3) @ Redskins (4-3-1): Fox 1:00: Minnesota wins
Packers (4-4) @ Tennessee (4-5): Fox 1:00: Packers win
Dolphins (4-4) @ San Diego (4-5): CBS 4:05: Chargers win
Cowboys (7-1) @ Pittsburgh (4-4): Fox 4:25: Steelers win
Seahawks (5-2-1) @ Patriots (7-1): NBC 8:30: Patriots win
Bengals (3-4-1) @ Giants (5-3): 11.14 Disney 8:30: Cincy wins
Record: 44 - 43 - 2
Steven Keys
NFL HunchLine
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Posted: 11.9.16 @ 10:32pm EST; Copyright © 2016
