"NFL Week 10 preview"

It's the second half of the season, which means there are a few groups of teams.

There are the "playoff locks"
- Indianapolis (8-0)
- Chicago (7-1)

There are the "looking good for the playoffs"
- New England (6-2)
- Denver (6-2)
- San Diego (6-2)
- Baltimore (6-2)
- NY Giants (6-2)

There are the "50-50 chance" teams
- Seattle (5-3)
- Atlanta (5-3)
- Jacksonville (5-3)
- Kansas City (5-3)
- Minnesota (4-4)
- Philly (4-4)
- Dallas (4-4)
- Carolina (4-4)
- St. Louis (4-4)
- Cincinnati (4-4)

There are the "outside looking in" teams
- NY Jets (4-4)
- GB (3-5)
- Washington (3-5)
- Buffalo (3-5)
- San Francisco (3-5)
- Pittsburgh (2-6)* can't count them out just yet

And there are the "start playing for that high draft pick" teams
- Detroit (2-6)
- Tampa Bay (2-6)
- Miami (2-6)
- Cleveland (2-6)
- Houston (2-6)
- Oakland (2-6)
- Tennessee (2-6)
- Arizona (1-7)

With that said, here are previews for a couple of the games that matter this weekend.

San Diego (6-2) at Cincy (4-4)
Must-win game for the Bengals, simple as that. Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson need to step up in this one otherwise this team is done. Meanwhile, San Diego continues to fly under the radar screen. No one's talking about it, but with the game's most consistent running back, the Chargers are a top-level team.
*My pick: Cincy 27, San Diego 24

Green Bay (3-5) at Minnesota (4-4)
I don't think either of these teams will make the playoffs, but I KNOW that the loser of this game is definitely out of the playoff picture. Will Brett Favre put together one final great game in the Metrodome? I don't think so. Vikings rebound from an absolutely devastating loss in the odious Bay Area.
*My pick: Minnesota 28, Green Bay 14

Washington (3-5) at Philly (4-4)
Another make-or-break game in the NFC. I still think Philly is a playoff team, despite three straight losses by a combined 12 points. Washington's win over Big D last week was an emotional rollercoaster the 'Skins will have a hard time getting off. Philly begins a strong second half with a hard-fought victory.
*My pick: Philly 24, Washington 17

St. Louis (4-4) at Seattle (5-3)
Huge NFC West matchup. If St. Louis wins, this division goes down to the wire. If the Seahawks win, I see them running away with it. Can Seattle actually win without its offensive leaders, Shaun Alexander and Matt Hasselbeck? Actually, yes. Boosted by the home crowd and a strong defensive effort, the Seahawks take control of the division.
*My pick: Seattle 20, St. Louis 13

Chicago (7-1) at NY Giants (6-2)
Now we get to see how the Bears respond to losing. A week after getting drilled by the Dolphins at home, they go on the road to face a Giants team that has quietly won five games in a row. Tiki Barber is playing as if it's his last season - which, of course, it is - and Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress are becoming quite the tandem. The key for the Bears is to limit the turnovers. We know their defense can keep them in the game, but only if their offense holds onto the ball. Rex Grossman needs to regain his confidence after a couple shaky outings in the past month. Close game, but Giants prevail.
*My pick: NY Giants 17, Chicago 13

By the end of today's games, we should know a lot more. Several teams will have either played their way into the thick of the playoff race or played their way out of it. That's why you gotta love the second half of the season.

Unless you're a Lions fan.