Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action is coming upon us yet again! There are eight weeks in the books and there is plenty of season left to see who are the contenders and the pretenders are. Typically November is the month where you start to see those teams. In this post I'll do a Week 9 Preview, my picks for the week's games and the early and late game tv broadcast pairings for the week ahead. Let's get to work!
Week 9 Preview
The ninth week of the National Football League's regular season starts in Houston, Texas and finishes up in New Orleans, Louisiana. The week will have a 13-game slate where 26 teams will play. The Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the San Francisco 49ers have a bye this week. Week 9 will have a Thursday night game, eight early games, two late games, a Sunday night game and a Monday night game. The doubleheader this week goes to CBS and FOX will have the single, regional game. Let's get to the picks!
Week 9 Picks
Note: All game times are in US Eastern. TW is me and CV is Cardinal Viking my former roommate.
Philadelphia (7-0) @ Houston (1-5-1) (Amazon; 8:15 pm): TW: Eagles; CV: Eagles
The Eagles beat the Steelers and the Texans lost to the Titans last week. Game holds special meaning to another sport as Philadelphia and Houston have teams in the World Series. Unlike the World Series, this matchup in the NFL seems to be a bit of a mismatch. You have a David in the Texans who have 1 1/2 wins in 2022. You have a Goliath in the Eagles who have the only unbeaten record in the NFL. As much as I like underdogs and the Texans are 14-point underdogs, I don't see the Texans pulling off the upset of upsets this week.
Buffalo (6-1) @ NY Jets (5-3) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Bills; CV: Bills
The Bills beat the Packers and the Jets lost to the Patriots last week. Buffalo has had a great season and they are certainly a great team and they face a Jets team that has had a resurgent year. New York despite playing awful against the Patriots, they only lost by five points. It was a game that could've went their way. I think it will be a great test for the Jets to see how good they can be. If they can limit the turnovers and get the ball to their players they have a good shot to win. Buffalo is the class of the AFC East and they would have to fall off the cliff to lose this game. I'll take the Bills.
Carolina (2-6) @ Cincinnati (4-4) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Bengals; CV: Bengals
Both teams lost as the Panthers lost to the Falcons and the Bengals lost to the Browns. Carolina has had a bit of a turnaround for a couple of weeks with Matt Rhule out and PJ Walker in at quarterback. They've been competitive in games they just don't win. Cincinnati had a let down game against their state rival last week. I think the competitiveness of the Panthers ends for this week as they have a tough task against the Bengals offense. I'll take the Bengals in a game that seems like a mismatch on paper but possibly a good one on the field.
Green Bay (3-5) @ Detroit (1-6) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Lions; CV: Packers
The Packers lost to the Bills and the Lions lost to the Dolphins last week. A doozy of a matchup. Green Bay is banged up on offense and will need to have more cohesiveness in the passing game. It would have to be a running game that would push the Packers forward against the Lions. Typically the Lions have done well against the Packers at home. At least in recent years. The Lions will have a good chance to really limit the Packers passing game assuming they don't let their wide outs free and open. I think its an upset that doesn't seem like an upset. I'll take the Lions in an oddity.
Indianapolis (3-4-1) @ New England (4-4) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Patriots; CV: Patriots
The Colts lost to the Commanders and the Patriots beat the Jets last week. Matt Ryan out and Samuel Ehlinger in for the Colts. It seems like a matchup between Mac Jones and the Colts blitz as the Colts do have a decent defensive front. Mac Jones did enough to start again for this week but left the door cracked open for Bailey Zappe. If I was the Patriots, I would try to get Mac some simple short passes to his targets and force the Colts to play pass defense. If I was the Colts I would try to pressure Mac Jones early and often. I think the former will happen, I'll take the Pats.
LA Chargers (4-3) @ Atlanta (4-4) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Chargers; CV: Chargers
The Chargers had a bye and the Falcons beat the Panthers last week. Justin Herbert and company will be well rested for this game. They really have a 4-3 record not on their talent but more so on their head coach who seems to follow more of an analytical approach than a football approach. Atlanta currently leads the NFC South (like everyone thought they would). Their quarterback play has been a surprise in Marcus Mariota. While I think the rest will have a factor for the Chargers I think the better team is the Chargers and I'll take them in this one.
Las Vegas (2-5) @ Jacksonville (2-6) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Jaguars; CV: Raiders
Both teams lost last week as the Raiders lost to the Saints and the Jaguars lost to the Broncos. Toilet Bowl game! Both teams offenses are just stinky and smelly. The Raiders put up a zero burger against a team that certainly is worthy of putting up more than zero points on. Jacksonville's offense stinks as well but at least they do have something of a running game that makes it interesting to watch. Trevor Lawrence in his 2nd year hasn't made progress to be the player that went #1 in the 2021 NFL Draft. The game stinks to high heaven but someone has to win so I'll take the home team.
Miami (5-3) @ Chicago (3-5) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Dolphins; CV: Dolphins
The Dolphins beat the Lions and the Bears lost to the Cowboys last week. Miami has a fun offense and they added a running back from San Francisco in Jeff Wilson. Wilson adds to a running game that has another former 49er in Raheem Mostert. I think the Dolphins offense seems to be a bit of a tough task for the Bears defense who traded linebacker Roquan Smith to the Ravens. Justin Fields could make it an interesting game with his running ability and the addition of Chase Claypool could be something to keep an eye on as he is an okay wide out that could add to offense. For now, I'll take the Dolphins in a offensive game against the Bears.
Minnesota (6-1) @ Washington (4-4) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Vikings; CV: Vikings
The Vikings beat the Cardinals and the Commanders beat the Colts. Both teams have been keeping it close this season. Minnesota is certainly one of those teams you have to consider to be a good team. They like to play it close to the chest and that's some reason why they are being held back from being a "great" team. Washington has had some fun games with folk hero Taylor Heinicke at quarterback. If they want to have a chance to win they really need to keep the Vikings offense off the field and to take some shots down the field. It would be nice if they ran the ball as well. I'll take the safe bet in the Vikings.
Seattle (5-3) @ Arizona (3-5) (FOX; 4:05 pm): TW: Seahawks; CV: Seahawks
The Seahawks beat the Giants and the Cardinals lost to the Vikings last week. Geno Smith has been a nice story to the Seahawks this season. With 13 touchdowns and just three interceptions to his name in 2022, Geno Smith has provided some stability to the Seahawks offense. Kenneth Walker has also provided stability and production at running back. Arizona has been not great this year when they're on offense as well as defense. The games they won were close ones. DeAndre Hopkins is back and he does provide Kyler Murray some help in the passing game. I'll take the Seahawks.
LA Rams (3-4) @ Tampa Bay (3-5) (CBS; 4:25 pm): TW: Rams; CV: Rams
Both teams lost last week as the Rams lost to the 49ers and the Buccaneers lost to the Ravens. A rematch of the NFC Divisional playoff game last January. Both teams haven't been the kind of teams like they were that day and it seems that their seasons are just getting worse. The Buccaneers seem to be the team that is worst off as their offense hasn't been the offense of the last few years. They don't have a formidable running option other than Leonard Fournette. The Bucs don't run the ball as much as they should. Tom Brady looks lost and out of it and just seems that retirement last year should've happened for him. The Rams play has been very much on the shoulders of Matthew Stafford who has more interceptions than touchdowns to his name in 2022. LA's running game, one of the better ones in 2021, hasn't been the team that it should. I just think this game could be a bore but I'll take the Rams.
Tennessee (5-2) @ Kansas City (5-2) (NBC; 8:20 pm): TW: Chiefs; CV: Chiefs
The Titans beat the Texans and the Chiefs had a bye last week. The Sunday night game features some good AFC teams that have very good offenses. Tennessee has obviously Derrick Henry and he could put some yards against this Chiefs defense. Eventually Derrick Henry will find his way to get at least 50 yards rushing. What I question for the Titans is their quarterback and defense. If the Chiefs lose this game it would have to be the fact that the Titans offense controls the line of scrimmage and keep either Ryan Tannehill or Malik Willis healthy and on their feet. I think its just a matchup that weighs heavily in favor for the Chiefs.
Baltimore (5-3) @ New Orleans (3-5) (ESPN; 8:15 pm): TW: Ravens; CV: Ravens
The Ravens beat the Buccaneers and the Saints beat the Raiders last week. The week finishes up with an okay matchup in the Bayou. Lamar Jackson had some hurdles to go over earlier in the season. Such hurdles like the blown leads against the Dolphins and the Giants. He has also been the leading rusher for the Ravens. I think Baltimore's running attack of Kenyan Drake, Gus Edwards, and JK Dobbins are just a nightmare for any defensive coordinator to handle. Its underrated. New Orleans success this season has been the resurgence of Andy Dalton who has played well enough to get the Saints to competitiveness in 2022. Alvin Kamara, the top running back, hasn't had the point production that he's had in previous years. I think the Ravens will take care of business with their defense and their acquisition Roquan Smith from the Bears.
Early & Late Game TV Pairings:
Note: Games in bold are being shown in my area, check local listings
CBS Early
Buffalo @ NY Jets
Ian Eagle, Charles Davis
Miami @ Chicago
Kevin Harlan, Trent Green
Indianapolis @ New England
Greg Gumbel, Adam Archuleta
Las Vegas @ Jacksonville
Andrew Catalon, James Lofton
CBS Late
LA Rams @ Tampa Bay
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo
FOX Single
Green Bay @ Detroit
Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olson
LA Chargers @ Atlanta
Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma
Minnesota @ Washington
Chris Myers, Mark Schlereth
Carolina @ Cincinnati
Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez
Seattle @ Arizona (Late)
Adam Amin, Daryl Johnston
For more information on which game is being shown in your area check out: NFL 2022: Week 9 Maps
2022 Pick ‘Em Records
My record:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 8-8
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 11-5
Week 5: 10-6
Week 6: 8-6
Week 7: 9-5
Week 8: 12-3
Total: 71-51-1
Cardinal Viking's record:
Week 1: 6-9-1
Week 2: 11-5
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 6-10
Week 5: 9-7
Week 6: 9-5
Week 7: 8-6
Week 8: 9-6
Total: 63-59-1
Previous Picking Records:
2017: 167-89
2018: 156-98-2
2019: 151-104-1
2020: 163-92-1
2021: 167-104-1
2019: 161-94-1
2020: 167-88-1
2021: 173-98-1
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