NFL Week 9 Predictions

The NFL certainly delivered last week like it always does on Halloween weekend.  There were definitely some thrilling games, like the winless Rams getting an upset win over the Saints and the Steelers toppling Tom Brady and the Patriots.  We also saw a lot of things that were just plain scary, like the Eagles' defense coming back from the dead to rip apart the Cowboys and the Ravens coming back from 21 points down to beat the Cardinals.  And here's something else that's shocking: I only missed two picks last weekend (11-2), bringing my season record to 70-46 (60.3 %).  There's a lot more excitement in store at the midpoint of the season, so let's get right to it.

Bills over Jets

• Wait... Buffalo's leading the AFC East?  This is why I love the NFL.  Anywho, I'm picking the Bills, since their offense has a little more punch than the Jets' does.  Should be a good show, regardless. 

Texans over Browns

• There's talk that WR Andre Johnson might be back for the Texans.  Not like they'll need him this week...

Chiefs over Dolphins

• Just a few weeks ago, the Chiefs looked ready to send Todd Haley packing.  Gotta give him a lot of credit for the job he's done to get Kansas City back on track.  Maybe Tony Sparano could learn a thing or two from him this Sunday. 

Cowboys over Seahawks

• Tony Romo is his own worst enemy, but with the way the Seahawks are going, even a botched hold on a field goal attempt shouldn't ruin the Cowboys' chances of winning too much. 

49ers over Redskins

• I remember some experts saying at the beginning of the season that the lockout could have a negative impact on rookie head coaches because they didn't have as much time for their teams to learn their systems.  Guess Jim Harbaugh never got the memo. 

Saints over Buccaneers

•  That was a pretty epic display of mediocrity last week by a New Orleans office that piled 62 points on the Colts just the week before.  But the Saints should rebound against a Bucs team that's struggling to find its identity, with RB LeGarrette Blount battling an MCL injury and no real big-play wide receivers. 

Bengals over Titans

• The AFC North race has gotten a little more crowded this season thanks to the Bengals' defense.  The Titans, meanwhile, don't look as tough as they did a few weeks ago.  Where's Chris Johnson when they need him? 

Patriots over Giants

• It's pretty tough to call this rematch of Superbowl XLII.  Eli Manning's kind of flown under the radar this season, but he's actually got the third highest passer rating in the league, trailing only Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers and his opponent this week, Tom Brady.  Also working in New York's favor is the fact that four of the last five Superbowl rematches were won by the same team that won the Superbowl, with the lone exception being the Bears beating the Superbowl XLI champion Colts in 2008.   New England's pass defense has been struggling this season, none more so than last week at Pittsburgh, but they're pretty good at rebounding from defeat.  Since 2006, not counting playoff games, New England is 16-2 coming off a loss, and 19-3 if you include the playoffs.  

Packers over Chargers

• These were the two teams I picked to play in the Superbowl, but so far, only the Packers have lived up to my expectations.  The Chargers have gone downhill with back-to-back losses to the Jets and the resurgent Chiefs. 

Rams over Cardinals

• Both these teams shocked the world last week.  The Rams pulled off a stunning upset over New Orleans, while Arizona let a 21-point lead slip away.  Only one of these one-win teams looks like it's finally got its act together. 

Ravens over Steelers

• Given the Ravens' struggles the last two weeks - losing to the Jags and having to come back from 21 down against the Cardinals - and the way the Pittsburgh handled the Patriots last week, I'd probably be picking the Steelers to win this rematch in all other circumstances.  But with three of Pittsburgh's four starting linebackers (James Harrison, James Farrior, and Lamar Woodley) not expected to play this weekend... well, let's just say I don't like those odds. 

Eagles over Bears

• Philly's defense may not necessarily be the "Dream Team" everyone was calling it at the beginning of the season, but they certainly delivered against Dallas last week.  The Bears have been hanging in there this season, but can their defense handle the speed of DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy?