NFL Week 9 Picks: Predicting the Winner of All 13 Matchups

Even while operating below full strength, Week 9 of the NFL season will offer a batch of exhilarating contests to occupy fans throughout the weekend.

Six teams will rest up this weekend, but who needs them? The Green Bay Packers are nice to have around, but there are plenty of alluring matchups for fans to forget all about Aaron Rodgers for a few days.

Besides, the Chicago Bears have to be happy to get saved from more potential humiliation this Sunday.

A pair of important division clashes top the Week 9 watch list, but they're fighting for a distant second. Everyone is always watching when the two greatest quarterbacks of this generation square off in a showdown of AFC megapowers.

Let's preview those three games after funneling through all 13 bouts.

Away	Home	Predicted Winner
New Orleans Saints	Carolina Panthers	Saints
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Cleveland Browns	Browns
Arizona Cardinals	Dallas Cowboys	Cardinals
Philadelphia Eagles	Houston Texans	Eagles
New York Jets	Kansas City Chiefs	Chiefs
Jacksonville Jaguars	Cincinnati Bengals	Bengals
San Diego Chargers	Miami Dolphins	Chargers
Washington Redskins	Minnesota Vikings	Vikings
St. Louis Rams	San Francisco 49ers	49ers
Denver Broncos	New England Patriots	Broncos
Oakland Raiders	Seattle Seahawks	Seahawks
Baltimore Ravens	Pittsburgh Steelers	Ravens
Indianapolis Colts	New York Giants	Colts

New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

NFC South supremacy is on the line for this Thursday night game between two sub-.500 squads. Despite disappointing starts from both the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, the victor can back into first place in the NFL's most desolate conference.

Following a promising 2-0 start, the Panthers have secured one win over their last six games, surrendering more than 30 points in each contest before limiting the Seattle Seahawks to 13 in last week's defensive showdown.

Heading into Sunday night's clash with the Green Bay Packers, the Saints had no reason to panic, knowing a victory put them in perfect territory to seize a floundering division. They responded to the challenge, winning 44-23 behind 172 rushing yards from Mark Ingram.

The 24-year-old is now averaging 5.7 yards per carry, eluding Green Bay defenders left and right en route to earning high praise from Pro Football Focus.

"

Big week for Mark Ingram. His 10 forced missed tackles rushing twice the amount of next highest back for the week. Highest grade RB of week

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) October 27, 2014"

While New Orleans benefited from two fortuitous Rodgers interceptions deflected off his receivers, the Saints are now the NFC South's only team with a positive point differential (+11). Former Saints linebacker Scott Fujita summed up their situation well.

The Saints are the superior team, ranked No. 2 in total offense, while the Panthers are based in the bottom half of offense and defense. Skeptics will inevitably point to New Orleans dropping its first four games away from the Superdome, but a surging Ingram will change that against the NFL's No. 28 rushing defense.

Prediction: Saints 34, Panthers 23

Denver Broncos at New England Patriots

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Remember when Tom Brady was done? Whoops. In his last four games, all resulting in wins, the Golden Boy has tossed 14 touchdowns to zero picks. Just like that, the next round of Brady vs. Manning is another meaningful installment and a possible playoff preview.

He played a nearly perfect game against the Chicago Bears, connecting on a trio of touchdowns to Rob Gronkowski during a 51-23 laugher. According to ESPN Stats & Info, not one of his 35 throws went off line.

While Brady fended off Father Time, Manning led the Denver Broncos to four victories by a combined 74 points. Those victims include the Arizona Cardinals, the San Francisco 49ers and San Diego Chargers, hardly the easiest slate.

When these two titans met last season, New England overcame a 24-0 halftime deficit to edge out a 34-31 thriller in overtime, handing Denver its second of three losses that season. Manning, however, exacted revenge when it mattered, compiling 400 passing yards in the AFC Championship Game.

Of course, Brady is not as worried about Manning as much as Denver's defensive additions that have transformed last year's liability. Per ESPNBoston.com's Lee Schechter:

"

We had a few opportunities last year -- won the first, lost the second one -- we have to be at our best. Fortunately I don't have to go against him, our defense does. I have to go up against Aqib Talib, DeMarcus Ware, Von Miller, T.J. Ward, and they have a whole challenge they present.

"

Along with their 6-1 record, the Broncos rank first in Football Outsiders' DVOA by a distinct margin, and they're the only team placed inside the top five of both offensive and defensive efficiency. With Manning continuing to dominate, the revamped defense makes Denver even more imposing for Brady and Co. this time around.

Prediction: Broncos 34, Patriots 30

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Both franchises are looking to return to the postseason after they missed out together for the first time since 1999. Now tied at 5-3, they're both gunning for the AFC North title behind the Cincinnati Bengals.

Week 2's contest presented a drastic divergence from the rivalry's usual script. They split the past four games, all of which were decided by two or three points. Not in the mood for another nail-biter, the Ravens picked apart the Steelers by a score of 26-6.

Knowing these two foes, another 20-point margin won't happen again. Despite the lopsided score, Baltimore outgained Pittsburgh by just 22 total yards, needing three turnovers to pull far ahead.

Those who believe in momentum will claim the Steelers have it, as they trounced the Indianapolis Colts for 51 points and 639 total yards in Week 8. ESPN Stats & Info put Ben Roethlisberger's enormous day into perspective.

Onlookers observing the bigger picture, however, will point to Baltimore's NFL-best plus-86 point differential and No. 2 DVOA. Does one big win erase Pittsburgh losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns after suffering an understandable loss to Baltimore?

This Sunday night game bears huge implications, and like most matchups in this illustrious rivalry, it's a coin toss. After getting swept by the Bengals, the Ravens gain some vengeance by knocking off the Steelers again, this time in a game that goes down to the wire.

Prediction: Ravens 27, Steelers 24