3 must-see NFL games in Week 10

As the playoff pictures in both conferences begin to take shape, a number of games on the Week 10 schedule will directly impact those developments. While some could have been pointed out even before the season got started, others feature some surprise contenders.

Here are three games you can't miss this week:

Miami Dolphins vs. Detroit Lions

1 p.m. ET, CBS

In a matchup of two now-legitimate playoff contenders, the Dolphins head to Detroit to take on the Lions for one of this week's most intriguing games.

Coming off a 37-0 thrashing of the San Diego Chargers last week, the Dolphins putting together a second consecutive solid performance would indicate what they're capable of moving forward.

It certainly won't come easy, however, as Miami's offense will be tested against the Lions' first-ranked defensive unit, and their defense faces an offense set to have both Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush back in the lineup.

All things considered, this game will likely come down to the Dolphins' ability to protect Ryan Tannehill in the pocket against the Lions' pass rush. Should they do so, and afford him the necessary time to find receivers downfield, the Dolphins should could continue on an upward trend that seemed impossible just weeks ago.

San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints

1 p.m. ET, FOX

Both the 49ers and Saints sit disappointingly at the .500 mark through eight games, and such a dynamic creates a near must-win scenario for both sides heading into Sunday's game.

While both teams hold the same record, the Saints have reached that point with some much-improved play on both sides of the ball of late, while the 49ers have turned in the wrong direction all too quickly.

Expect more of the same Sunday, as the Saints' high-powered passing attack should spread out the 49ers defense early and often, forcing them to reach into their defensive backfield depth in hopes of matching up.

The 49ers' chance to pull out the tough road win will hinge upon their ability to run the ball and control the clock. As has been the case in recent weeks, continuing to place the bulk of the responsibility on the shoulders of still-developing quarterback Colin Kaepernick won't be a recipe for success.

Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers

8:30 p.m. ET, NBC

The Bears-Packers Sunday night game may seem like a bit of a mismatch given the way the two teams have performed of late, but don't count this out as one of the games of the week.

Led by both Aaron Rodgers and Eddie Lacy, the Packers' offense should continue to roll against a weak Bears defense, but this is a talented Chicago team that needs a win in the worst way, and whose offense could explode at any time.

Considering that, and the struggles the Packers' defense has had performing with any consistency, this could be the kind of shootout perfectly suited for the prime-time slot.

The Packers should hold the overall edge, but anything can happen in these division rivalries, and this could easily end up being a high-scoring contest that comes down to the wire.