Week 10 of the NFL Season is upon us, and it brings some fascinating matchups as we make a drive toward the playoffs. The race for the post-season is heating up and the pressure is on. Below are the five games on the Sunday slate I’m most excited to see.

Early Games:

New England Patriots (5-4) at Detroit Lions (6-2)
About: The Lions have been on a roll, winning four straight and getting the defense back on track. The Patriots have been mercurial, starting the season horribly, righting the ship in the middle, and struggling mightily of late. The Patriots can ill-afford another loss, but the Lions are in a fiercely competitive NFC North and need to keep winning.

Houston Texans (3-5) at Cleveland Browns (5-4)
About: This is a tale of two teams going in opposite directions. The Texans started out slow but have rallied of late as they try to climb back in the playoff picture. The Browns started hot, but they’re starting to fade in the competitive AFC. Both teams are hungry for a win, but only one team can snag one this week.

Minnesota Vikings (6-2) at Green Bay Packers (6-3)
About: This is probably the best game on the Sunday slate, if not the Week 10 slate. The Packers are in last place despite being three games above .500. The Vikings have lost two straight but now have Kirk Cousins back to right the offense. I’m expecting some fireworks on Sunday.

Carolina Panthers (3-5) at New Orleans Saints (3-5)
About: As strange as it sounds, this is a battle for first place in the NFC South. The Panthers jumped out early but have faded. The Saints struggled mightily early, but they’ve been getting it together lately. Whoever wins will take the lead in the division as November barrels to a conclusion.

Sunday Night Football:

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (6-2)
About: If the Vikings and Packers isn’t the best game of Week 10, this surely is. This is another battle for first place. The Steelers are coming off a bye but had won four straight prior to taking a week off. The Bengals, meanwhile, have quietly piled on the points and piled up the wins. Expect fireworks Sunday night.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.