AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi reported the following information:

The Pro Picks column, written by AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi, is a weekly feature where he shares his predictions for upcoming football games. To view past Pro Picks, click here.

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By winning a game, the Chicago Bears could improve their odds of obtaining the first pick in next year’s NFL draft.

The Bears (2-7) have a rare opportunity to enhance their draft position by winning against the Panthers (1-7) on Thursday night, as they currently hold Carolina’s first-round pick.

The two struggling teams will face each other for the first time after a significant trade that resulted in wide receiver D.J. Moore going to Chicago and Carolina acquiring the No. 1 overall pick, which they used to select quarterback Bryce Young.

Both teams have not had success.

The Panthers may be questioning if C.J. Stroud would have been a better choice, as Young has displayed inconsistency.

The status of Justin Fields, who has been sidelined for three consecutive games due to a thumb injury, remains uncertain for the Bears.

The game scheduled for prime-time viewing in Week 10 may not be the most exciting matchup. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Bears are favored to win by 3 points. Pro Picks predicts a tightly contested game.

BEARS, 20-19

Line: Bills minus 7 1/2

The Bills, who have a record of 5-4, have already exceeded their number of losses from last season. The Broncos, with a record of 3-5, have had a break and are feeling refreshed after two consecutive victories. The Bills, led by quarterback Josh Allen, have a lot of skill and should not be struggling. A convincing win on Monday night is crucial for them.

BEST BET: BILLS, 30-17

Line: Colts minus 1 1/2

The Patriots, with a record of 2-7, have been performing poorly. On the other hand, the Colts, currently at 4-5, broke their three-game losing streak and are hoping to reach a .500 record. Indianapolis, led by their backup quarterback Gardner Minshew, is the sole team to have scored at least 20 points in every game this season.

UNEXPECTED WIN: PATRIOTS, 24-23

Line: 49ers minus 3

Both squads are returning from a break. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars (6-2) are currently on a five-game winning streak. The 49ers (5-3) have suffered three consecutive losses, but may have WR Deebo Samuel and All-Pro LT Trent Williams back in the lineup. They will also have the debut of Chase Young, who was recently acquired from Washington.

49ERS, 26-22

Line: Saints minus 2 1/2

After successfully saving the Vikings (5-4) and securing their fourth consecutive victory in their initial game without Kirk Cousins, Joshua Dobbs now has more opportunities to familiarize himself with the playbook and get to know his teammates. The Saints (5-4) are currently at the top of their division, credited to their strong defensive plays. Derek Carr has been performing impressively, contributing to their two recent wins.

VIKINGS, 23-21

Line: Buccaneers minus 1 1/2

Following his impressive performance against the Buccaneers, C.J. Stroud, the rookie quarterback, the Buccaneers (3-5) will now face another rookie QB, Will Levis. The Titans (3-5) have not been able to secure a win in an away game since November 17th of last year when they played against Green Bay. The Buccaneers (3-5) have suffered four consecutive losses and were unable to secure a win even when Baker Mayfield and the offense scored 37 points.

TITANS, 24-20

Line: Ravens minus 6

The AFC North game will see the top two defensive teams in the NFL facing off. The Ravens (7-2) led by Lamar Jackson have been on a winning streak of four games, including two impressive victories against top-ranked teams. The Browns (5-3), who were previously defeated by Baltimore in Week 4, will now have Deshaun Watson on their team.

RAVENS, 19-16

Line: Bengals minus 6 1/2

The Bengals (5-3) and Joe Burrow have regained their momentum with four consecutive victories, featuring impressive performances against San Francisco and Buffalo in consecutive games. The Texans (4-4) have shown significant improvement this year, largely due to Stroud and new coach DeMeco Ryans.

BENGALS, 27-20

Line: Steelers minus 3

The Steelers, with a record of 5-3, continue to prevail in spite of being outperformed and outgained in yardage. The Packers, who currently hold a record of 3-5, recently ended a four-game losing streak. Their first-year quarterback, Jordan Love, has experienced both successes and struggles as they have failed to score 20 points in six consecutive games.

STEELERS, 23-17

Line: Falcons minus 1 1/2

This week, Taylor Heinicke will have another chance to start while the Falcons (4-5) have a chance to even out their record against the struggling Cardinals (1-8). Kyler Murray may return for Arizona, but it could hurt their chances of securing the top pick in the draft.

FALCONS, 23-20

Line: Lions minus 2 1/2

The Lions, with a record of 6-2, had a week off, while the Chargers, at 4-4, have a quick turnaround after their Monday night victory over the Jets. When favored by a margin of 2 1/2 points or more, Detroit has a 4-1 record against the spread.

LIONS, 30-26

Line: Cowboys minus 16 1/2

The Dallas team, with a record of 5 wins and 3 losses, fell apart in their attempt to defeat the Eagles. As a result, the Cowboys must prevent a decline in performance as they face the struggling Giants, who have a record of 2 wins and 7 losses and are relying on third-string quarterback Tommy DeVito.

COWBOYS, 31-10

Line: Seahawks minus 6

The Commanders (4-5) have reason for hope, with the addition of Sam Howell and some promising rookies. After a tough loss to the Ravens, the Seahawks (5-3) are looking to bounce back. However, Geno Smith’s performance has declined compared to last season and his number of turnovers has increased.

SEAHAWKS, 26-18

Line: Jets minus 1 1/2

The Jets, currently with a record of 4 wins and 4 losses, are predicted to win in a shortened week following their defeat on Monday night, where their offense once again struggled. The Raiders, with a record of 4 wins and 5 losses, celebrated the firing of Josh McDaniels by dominating the Giants in a victory that was accompanied by celebratory cigars.

JETS, 17-13

Last week: Straight up: 9-5. Against spread: 10-4

In total: 89 wins and 47 losses. Against the predicted outcome: 76 wins, 55 losses, and 5 ties.

Top Choice: Flat out: 7-2. Compared to the spread: 4-4-1.

Surprise Outcome: Win-loss record: 6-3. Against point spread: 7-2.

On Thursday, our record was 7 wins and 2 losses straight up, and 8 wins and 1 loss against the spread.

On Monday, the straight up record was 7 wins and 4 losses, while the against spread record was 8 wins, 2 losses, and 1 tie.

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Source: wralsportsfan.com