Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action is coming upon us yet again. The week that was last week brought us some more close games and competitive ones that would make the casual fan interested. This week I'll be keeping an eye on are the Browns-Bengals, Packers-Chiefs, and Titans-Rams games this week. In this post I'll do a preview of the week's slate and my picks for who wins each of the contests. Let's get to work!
Week 9 Preview
The ninth week of the National Football League's regular season will start in Indianapolis, Indiana and finish up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Week 9 features a 14-game slate where 28 teams will play. Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Washington Football Team have a bye this week. The week features a Thursday night game, eight early games, three late games, a Sunday night game, and a Monday night game. FOX will have the doubleheader and CBS will have the single, regional game this week. Let's get to the picks!
Week 9 Picks
Note: TW is me and CV is Cardinal Viking, my former roommate. All game times are in US Eastern.
NY Jets (2-5) @ Indianapolis (3-5) (FOX/Amazon/NFL Network; 8:20 pm): TW: Colts; CV: Colts
The Jets beat the Bengals and the Colts lost to the Titans last week. Quarterback phenom Mike White already has four touchdown passes and four interceptions while his teammate Zach Wilson has four touchdowns and nine interceptions. The game might mean a bit something if Joe Namath and Johnny Unitas are playing in this game but both quarterbacks aren't really lacing up those cleats anytime soon. I really don't know who'll win this game I like to jump on the Mike White bandwagon because its the sexy thing to do but it's the Jets. I still like the Colts in the matchup as they do have a solid running attack and Carson Wentz has been playing better football (with the exception to last week) than his start to the season. I'll take Indy but this feels like a snorefest.
Atlanta (3-4) @ New Orleans (5-2) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Falcons; CV: Saints
The Falcons lost to the Panthers and the Saints beat the Buccaneers last week. New Orleans beat the defending champs in a tight game. Jameis Winston will be out for this game and likely the season. Taysom Hill could start if he does well in practice on Friday. If he's not available then it would be Trevor Siemian who would get the start. He did well enough to get the win. Atlanta had a not a great day against the Panthers who kept it a close game but would fail to get a win. I really don't like both teams but could the Falcons be the less banged up team than the Saints. I would say yes.
Buffalo (5-2) @ Jacksonville (1-6) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Bills; CV: Bills
The Bills beat the Dolphins and the Jaguars lost to the Seahawks last week. Buffalo kind of played down to the Dolphins last week and it wasn't until the 4th quarter when they started to turn on the heat on them. For the Jaguars they really did not play all that well against the Seahawks and they got blown out. I don't want to say that the Jaguars are going to be the Dolphins but the Bills shouldn't honestly play down to their competition if they're going to claim to be that good. Jacksonville isn't a particularly great football team but the Bills lucked out last week. I'll still take them.
Cleveland (4-4) @ Cincinnati (5-3) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Bengals; CV: Bengals
The Browns lost to the Steelers and the Bengals lost to the Jets last week. Both teams really didn't look great last week but it seems that the Odell Beckham Jr saga in Cleveland could be a distraction for the Browns. Cincinnati really got exposed badly versus the Jets. Mike White made their pass defense look like a cakewalk at a Sunday picnic. Despite the bad pass defense, they do have a top-10 rush defense. Cincy will need to run the same formula the Steelers did: attack Baker Mayfield and make him throw the football. I'll take the Bungles.
Denver (4-4) @ Dallas (6-1) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Cowboys; CV: Cowboys
Both teams won last week as the Broncos beat the Football Team and the Cowboys beat the Vikings. Denver were the biggest sellers at the trade deadline as Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller went to the Rams. What Denver gets is a draft pick that might pan out in the future maybe. Dallas lucked out and got a good game out of backup Cooper Rush in place of Dak Prescott. I think the key matchup will be the Cowboys rush defense vs Melvin Gordon, if they can contain him I think they will have a shot to win. Whether Rush starts or Prescott starts, I still will take the Cowboys.
Houston (1-7) @ Miami (1-7) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Dolphins; CV: Dolphins
Both teams lost last week as the Texans lost to the Rams and the Dolphins lost to the Bills. Oh boy, what a great game. Just kidding of course. Both teams currently hold the worst records in the AFC and this game could be honestly a Toilet Bowl worthy contest. Miami has for themselves a proven quarterback that can play fairly well and with a carpet of a defense that the Houston Texans have, I like the matchup. Davis Mills could very well show off his inner great quarterback and torch one of the league's worst defenses. Sadly when you have to pick all games, you have to pick even the bad ones. I'll take the home team.
Las Vegas (5-2) @ NY Giants (2-6) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Raiders; CV: Raiders
The Raiders were on a bye and the Giants lost to the Chiefs last week. New York came close to beating KC on some questionable playcalling from Joe Judge and company. They won't have Saquon Barkley due to him being on the COVID-19 list. The home team just seems to be a walking injury bug as their skill position players are out with illness or injury. Las Vegas seems to be the better rested team and less injured team. I think their good season will continue.
Minnesota (3-4) @ Baltimore (5-2) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Ravens; CV: Ravens
The Vikings lost to the Cowboys and the Ravens were on a bye last week. Minnesota kind of got confused when the Cowboys started a quarterback that wasn't Dak Prescott. What they face this week is a rested Baltimore Ravens squad. What I think will happen is the Vikings offense will get a better showing from Kirk Cousins. Baltimore got exposed badly against the Bengals a couple of weeks ago. I think it'll be a close one but the Vikings lose it.
New England (4-4) @ Carolina (4-4) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Patriots; CV: Patriots
Both teams won last week as the Patriots beat the Chargers and the Panthers beat the Falcons. Mac Jones and the Pats defense really seem to be hitting their stride so far in the last few weeks. They beat a fairly good team in the Chargers whom the Patriots took advantage of turnovers and turned them into scores. Carolina finally got back in the winning column after going through a rough 4-game losing streak. Sam Darnold might not play but for Carolina will likely have star runningback Christian McCaffrey back. I think the Pats will take it in a close contest that will involve the defense pressuring PJ Walker who will start for Carolina.
LA Chargers (4-3) @ Philadelphia (3-5) (CBS; 4:05 pm): TW: Eagles; CV: Chargers
The Chargers lost to the Patriots and the Eagles beat the Lions last week. Philadelphia really clobbered the Lions and deservedly so. I think their offensive momentum will ride into this one as they face a struggling Chargers team. Los Angeles's problems seem to be more on the quarterback Justin Herbert as he really isn't playing as loosely as he was earlier in the year. While I think the Chargers are the better team on paper, I will take the underdog Eagles in this game.
Arizona (7-1) @ San Francisco (3-4) (FOX; 4:25 pm): TW: 49ers; CV: Cardinals
The Cardinals lost to the Packers and the 49ers beat the Bears last week. Kyler Murray will be the big question in this one. It will be his health that will be in question as he is dealing with an ankle injury that will be a gametime decision by Kliff Kingsbury. It doesn't seem to bode well. San Francisco has seemed to find its identity in offense as they seem to be more of a running team with Elijah Mitchell. On defense they're still trying to sort themselves out. If San Fran wants to get back into the division race, there's no other team that they'd like to face than the division leading Cardinals. I'll take the 49ers.
Green Bay (7-1) @ Kansas City (4-4) (FOX; 4:25 pm): TW: Chiefs; CV: Chiefs
Both teams won last week as the Packers beat the Cardinals and the Chiefs beat the Giants. As I write this on Wednesday night, the news came out that Aaron Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19. I could write a lot about the news of it but I digress on it. Jordan Love could likely start but the Packers are bringing in Blake Bortles to the roster as well. Kansas City is at 4-4 but its a very bad 4-4. Their defense and their turnover differential is terrible. Jordan Love doesn't have a lot of stats to his name and the film of him is limited. Kansas City could still very well go on a run to get back in the division race. I think I'll take the Chiefs.
Tennessee (6-2) @ LA Rams (7-1) (NBC; 8:20 pm): TW: Rams; CV: Rams
Both teams won last week as the Titans beat the Colts and the Rams beat the Texans. Derrick Henry will be out for this game and possibly the season. Tennessee's backup plan involves hardy veteran Adrian Peterson who last played last season for the Detroit Lions. The Rams don't have that many problems but they do have a solution with Von Miller going over from the Broncos. If Adrian Peterson doesn't get a lot of yardage in this game and have to rely on the arm of Ryan Tannehill, the Titans could be in trouble. I'll take the Rams.
Chicago (3-5) @ Pittsburgh (4-3) (ESPN; 8:15 pm): TW: Steelers; CV: Steelers
The Bears lost to the 49ers and the Steelers beat the Browns last week. Chicago played a competitive game last week. Justin Fields looked improved as well as he almost seemed like a quarterback that wasn't being held back by the organization. Pittsburgh is slowing improving after a 1-3 start with three straight wins. A catalyst to that is the defense and a running game that the Steelers offense is trying to get back to. I think the Steelers will take it on a defensive effort.
Early & Late TV Broadcast Pairings
Note: Games in bold are being shown in my area
CBS Single
Cleveland @ Cincinnati
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo
Las Vegas @ NY Giants
Kevin Harlan, Trent Green
New England @ Carolina
Greg Gumbel, Adam Archuleta
Buffalo @ Jacksonville
Andrew Catalon, James Lofton
LA Chargers @ Philadelphia (LATE)
Ian Eagle, Charles Davis
FOX Early
Denver @ Dallas
Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olson
Minnesota @ Baltimore
Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth
Atlanta @ New Orleans
Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma
Houston @ Miami
Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston
FOX Late
Green Bay @ Kansas City
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
Arizona @ San Francisco
Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez
For more information on which game is being shown in your area, check local listings, check out: NFL 2021: Week 9 Maps
2021 Pick'em Records:
My record:
Week 1: 7-9
Week 2: 10-6
Week 3: 10-6
Week 4: 9-7
Week 5: 12-4
Week 6: 11-3
Week 7: 10-3
Week 8: 7-8
Total: 76-46
Cardinal Viking's record:
Week 1: 6-10
Week 2: 12-4
Week 3: 13-3
Week 4: 10-6
Week 5: 10-6
Week 6: 12-2
Week 7: 10-3
Week 8: 7-8
Total: 80-42
Previous Picking Records:
2017: 167-89
2018: 156-98-2
2019: 151-104-1
2020: 163-92-1
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