NFL Week 9 Picks

I should just give up by now, but I'm determined to turn this around and start doing half decently.

Baltimore Ravens (4-3) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)
Perhaps the experts know a bit more than me. The Bengals have been the hotter team this year, they are coming off a bye, and they beat the Ravens in Baltimore earlier in the season, yet the Ravens are favored in this game? I don't know.

Miami Dolphins (3-4) vs. New England Patriots (5-2)
The Dolphins have been impressive, and it wouldn't surprise me if they kept it close, but the Patriots should have enough firepower to win this game.

Arizona Cardinals (4-3) vs. Chicago Bears (4-3)
The Cardinals are coming off an uncharacteristically bad loss after starting to look like one of the better teams in the league, and will be looking to rebound. The Bears have been middle of the pack all season, and got embarrassed by the Bengals two weeks ago. I have more faith in the Cardinals in this game.

Washington Redskins (2-5) vs. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
The Redskins have yet to give any reason to pick them against anyone but the worst few teams in the league. After a bye with their new playcaller, things can be different, but they're going to have to prove it to me first, and beating the Falcons will be no easy task.

Green Bay Packers (4-3) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7)
With the Rams and Titans out of the picture, the Buccaneers become the lone team without a win, and it could stay that way for quite a while.

Houston Texans (5-3) vs. Indianapolis Colts (7-0)
The Texans are pretty hot right now, while the Colts narrowly defeated the 49ers last week. However, I have to keep the trust in Peyton Manning to get the job done in this pivotal divisional game. A win here for the Colts would go a long way in wrapping up the AFC South. Donald Brown should return this week after Joseph Addai struggled last week without him backing him up.

Kansas City Chiefs (1-6) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4)
This is a game where Maurice Jones-Drew should single-handedly win it for the Jaguars. They have not done much lately, but they are facing a Chiefs team in the midst of a controversy and a running back change.

Carolina Panthers (3-4) vs. New Orleans Saints (7-0)
The Panthers stole a game last week against the Cardinals, but Drew Brees will not give them the same opportunity that Kurt Warner afforded them.

Detroit Lions (1-6) vs. Seattle Seahawks (2-5)
It's a little hard to believe the Seahawks are still stuck back at two wins. Matt Hasselbeck should help propel them to three this week against the Lions. Calvin Johnson will return for the Lions, but they may need more than he is physically ready to give them.

Tennessee Titans (1-6) vs. San Francisco 49ers (3-4)
Chris Johnson tore through the Jaguars' defense last week for 228 yards and two touchdowns to give the Titans their first win, but he will not have that same success against the 49ers. Although there is not much confidence to be had in Alex Smith, Vince Young has to show me more before I can gain any confidence in him as well.

San Diego Chargers (4-3) vs. New York Giants (5-3)
This cannot continue for the Giants. They know the key to their success on defense is to pressure the quarterback, and they have not been able to recently. They must be making changes in how they go about getting their defensive pressure. If Michael Boley can play this week, he should be a big help. The Chargers' running game can be slowed. Giants safety C.C. Brown doesn't deserve to be on a football field right now, and he has been benched this week; I don't know how much faith to put into replacement Aaron Rouse, but he can't possibly be worse.

Dallas Cowboys (5-2) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)
It is tough to pick against the home team here, but this will definitely be a close game, and I think the Cowboys are a bit of a hotter team right now. Brian Westbrook will return for the Eagles, but you can continue to question how healthy he is.

Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) vs. Denver Broncos (6-1)
I'm not sure what happened to Kyle Orton and the Broncos last week, but the Ravens figured them out and played great defensively. I should expect the Steelers defense to be even tougher for them this week, especially coming out of the bye.

Last Week: 7-6
Season: 74-42