NFL Picks: Trade deadline reactions and a couple of great Week 10 matchups featuring playoff contenders

Around the AFC

Cold world. Joe Burrow threw for 428 yards and four touchdowns, the Bengals once again looked like a force in the AFC and they… lost to Baltimore, 35-34, on Thursday night, after leading by two scores in the second half. Cincinnati can beat anybody and can still go on a big run, but at 4-6 the playoff odds are stacked against them. A run of MVP-caliber play from Burrow could go begging this fall.

A fine Ladd. Chargers rookie receiver Ladd McConkey had a breakout game a couple of weeks back with 111 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but he’s emerging more broadly into the Chargers’ top receiving threat. Over the past five games the former Georgia standout is averaging 62.5 yards on seven targets per game. He’ll have to pick up the pace some, but if his ascendance continues McConkey could threaten the 1,000-yard mark as a rookie.

Around the NFC

D for Dumb. The Cowboys, who have lost three straight, announced two major bits of news this week: First, QB Dak Prescott landed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Second, they traded a fourth-round pick for Carolina wide receiver Jonathan Mingo. What? Uh, why? Dallas gave up similar value for Mingo as Kansas City did for DeAndre Hopkins. Mingo is cheap, but hasn’t produced. This Cowboys team, more to the point, does not resemble a contender. But go off, Jerry Jones.

Wacky West. Is anybody in the NFC West good? Is anybody in the NFC West bad? The strangest quartet in football enters with one 5-4 team (Arizona), one 4-5 team (Seattle) and two 4-4 teams (San Francisco and the Rams). Seattle’s in last place, has a bye week and could be tied for first by the time Tuesday rolls around. It’s going to be a sprint — or maybe a speed walk — to the division crown.

J.J.’s greatness. Minnesota shrugged off a pair of losses last week, got back in the win column and rolls into Week 10 in second place in the NFC North. A big part of the reason, as usual: Justin Jefferson. Entering Week 10 he led the NFL in receiving yards at 783 and he’s on pace for 1,660 for the season. Ho hum. Just another outrageous stat for a guy who’s played on nearly that exact 17-game pace (1,670 yards) since the day he debuted in the NFL.

Game of the Week

Pittsburgh at Washington

The Steelers and Commanders are both rolling. Both teams have won three straight — Pittsburgh’s last two with Russell Wilson at the helm — and both made additions at Tuesday’s trade deadline. The Commanders added four-time Pro Bowl corner Marshon Lattimore from New Orleans and the Steelers got receiver Mike Williams from the Jets and edge rusher Preston Smith from Green Bay. They each look like clear postseason contenders. Washington and resplendent rookie QB Jayden Daniels are 3-point home favorites.

Commanders 27, Steelers 24

Lock of the Week

Atlanta at New Orleans

The Saints could get the “rally around the interim coach” bounce this weekend at home. But they’re also really bad, still ravaged by injuries and facing a Falcons team that at 6-3 has real playoff aspirations and looks to be finding its stride offensively. Raheem Morris’ team has won five of six, scored at least 26 in those five wins and averaged 31.6 in those wins. The Saints… cannot stop anybody. They’ve lost seven straight games and over the past six have allowed 31 points per. It should be a scoring bonanza for Kirk Cousins and company.

Falcons 34, Saints 14