This week will be one that determines whether the 49ers should pack it in, or keep on fighting. In a prior article, I wrote that if the 49ers managed to be 5-5 after 10 games, they would have a chance to make the playoffs. The New Orleans Saints stand between the 49ers and any reasonable chance to compete for a playoff spot in 2020. Week 10 will be a big one. In Week 9 the 49ers disappointed, but my picks hit big. I hit on 9/13 of my picks, so let's keep that rolling and pick the Week 10 games:
Best & Worst Picks of Week 9
My Best Pick: Bills 43 - Seahawks 37
Final Score: Bills 44 - Seahawks 34
My Worst Pick: Buccaneers 41 - Saints 17
Final Score: Saints 38 - Buccaneers 3
Week 10 Picks
Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans (Pick 'em) - Titans have the better QB, get the W Titans 23 - Colts 21
Houston Texans vs. Cleveland Browns (-3) - Texans pull a slight upset due to Watson's magic Texans 27 - Browns 20
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Green Bay Packers (-13.5) - Packers win a romp Packers 38 - Jaguars 23
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants (+3) - Giants with the baby upset due to a stellar defensive game Giants 20 - Eagles 16
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers (+5.5) - Bucs defense dominates bland Panthers Bucs 26 - Panthers 10
Denver Broncos vs. Las Vegas Raiders (-4.5) - Carr dominates Denver's defense Raiders 33 - Broncos 23
Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals (-2) - Big game from Josh Allen makes the difference Bills 37 - Cardinals 28
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Miami Dolphins (-2.5) - Dolphins coaching gets them the W Dolphins 28 - Chargers 25
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (off the board) - Could change due to COVID, but Steelers should take this one Steelers 24 - Bengals 17
Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams (-1.5) - Seahawks pull out a tight one Seahawks 41 - Rams 38
Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots (+7) - Ravens run all over the Pats Ravens 35 - Patriots 20
Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears (+2.5) - Exposure of Bears continues on prime-time TV Vikings 28
San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints (-9)
Why SF Wins: For the 49ers to win this one, you have to dive deep into the mumbo-jumbo. Their only chances lie within the intangibles. Perhaps the 49ers get a huge boost from having extra time to prepare for the game coming off the mini-bye that is the game following a Thursday night game. Maybe the Saints fall for the trap game following a huge win over a division rival. To find a 49ers victory, you have to sift through the silly, and maybe everything breaks their way.
Why SF Loses: New Orleans fields a better roster and has the better coach. Romanticize Kyle Shanahan if you would like, but when Sean Payton lost his starting QB in 2019, he led his team to a 5-0 record. The 49ers haven't been able to generate much offense against bad defenses the past 2 weeks and the Saints are 3rd in total defense and will be ready for a banged up 49ers offense. The Saints will win this game unless every possible thing goes wrong and they come in completely flat.
Prediction: The 49ers get embarrassed, ran out of the Super Dome and fall to a depressing 4-6 heading into their bye week, with little left to look forward to in 2020. Saints 51 - 49ers 27