NFL Week 9 Picks: Breaking Down Weekend's Toughest Showdowns

As bad as half the teams in the NFL truly are in 2013, each week still manages to contain a handful of matchups that are extremely difficult to predict.

Now, whether it's two bad teams clashing or not is another conversation entirely. Either way, Week 9 of NFL action has a few games that are complete toss-ups and will likely come down to the final seconds—one is even a critical divisional battle.

Here's a look at the entire slate of games, plus three of the weekend's toughest showdowns broken down after the jump.

AWAY	HOME	PREDICTED WINNER
Cincinnati Bengals	Miami Dolphins	Bengals
Kansas City Chiefs	Buffalo Bills	Chiefs
Minnesota Vikings	Dallas Cowboys	Cowboys
Tennessee Titans	St. Louis Rams	Titans
New Orleans Saints	New York Jets	Saints
San Diego Chargers	Washington Redskins	Chargers
Atlanta Falcons	Carolina Panthers	Panthers
Philadelphia Eagles	Oakland Raiders	Raiders
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Seattle Seahawks	Seahawks
Baltimore Ravens	Cleveland Browns	Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers	New England Patriots	Steelers
Indianapolis Colts	Houston Texans	Colts
Chicago Bears	Green Bay Packers	Packers

Kansas City Overcomes Buffalo

The Kansas City Chiefs remain the NFL's lone undefeated team, which is an impressive notion no matter the level of competition, but it's still important to point out the feat has been accomplished against a very soft schedule.

Luckily for the Chiefs, the schedule remains simple in Week 9 with a Buffalo Bills team who might be without quarterback Thad Lewis, according to the Bills on Twitter.

The Bills are quietly a great team with rookie EJ Manuel under center. While Lewis has held down the fort, it's the defense that has disappointed in recent weeks outside of Mario Williams and the line. The unit as a whole surrenders a horrific 26.6 points per game.

However, there is something to be said for Kansas City coming off two straight wins by a total of seven points, being tasked with traveling across the country and dealing with the weight of a pristine record.

In fact, the Bills rank second in the league in sacks, trailing only Kansas City.

There is extreme upset potential here if the Bills' No. 7-ranked rushing attack shows up. In the end, it will be the league-leading Chiefs' defense, which allows just 12.2 points per game, that will give Kansas City a slight win over a backup quarterback in Buffalo.

Prediction: Chiefs 17, Bills 14

Cleveland Upsets Baltimore

Problems abound in Baltimore. The Ravens sit at 3-4, and now Joe Flacco and Co. must travel to Cleveland for a critical AFC North battle that does not favor the Ravens in any particular way.

Ray Horton's defense in Cleveland is sound, especially thanks to the unit's strength against the pass, where it ranks as a borderline top-five unit by surrendering just 216.8 yards per game.

That's a major issue for Flacco. Baltimore's $100 million man has been mediocre all season long with eight touchdowns and interceptions each, and he receives little help from running back Ray Rice, who averages a minute 2.8 yards per carry on the ground.

Then there is the Browns' offense, which now has veteran Jason Campbell under center. Campbell threw for 293 yards and two scores against the aforementioned elite Chiefs defense, and he has weapons in Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron.

Cleveland has a second wind for the umpteenth time this season. Baltimore has never truly found any momentum this season, and while the Ravens won in Week 2 over the Browns 14-6, this time the dance is in Ohio. Expect Cleveland to pull it out. 

Prediction: Browns 23, Ravens 21

San Diego Blows Past Washington

The career renaissance for San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers under new head coach Mike McCoy continues when they make the trip to Washington.

The Redskins are a bottom-five team against the pass with 273.7 yards surrendered per game. Rivers is completing a ridiculous 73.9 percent of his passes this season with 15 touchdowns to just five interceptions despite an injury-plagued receiving corps.

There is some hope for Washington, although a 45-21 loss to Denver last week with only 132 passing yards from Robert Griffin III against an even worse secondary is not encouraging. Washington will have RGIII after a knee scare against the Broncos per ESPN's Chris Russell:

San Diego is horrific against the pass as well, but RGIII's injury scare and lack of production last week don't translate well to this matchup. Add in the fact the Chargers are above average against the run, and the Washington offense will be able to do little while Rivers once again efficiently picks his way up and down the field.

A close game is possible between two mediocre defenses, but expect some garbage-time production here in a game that is closer than the final indicates.

Prediction: Chargers 35, Redskins 21

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