NFL Week Nine Picks: Bills, Bucs, and Browns Among the Weekly Action!

Mark Jones's NFL Week Nine Picks

Last week, I was 10-4, yet I did lose both my Upset of the Week and Lock of the Week picks. That moves me to 43-30 for the season, a slightly above-average record. Hopefully, I can get back to back double-digit win weeks with 10 or more wins here in Week Nine.

Week Nine Important Games

New York Jets (4-3) @ Buffalo Bills (5-2)

The Bills have to be treating this like their Super Bowl after that embarrassing loss to the Dolphins last week. On the other hand, this is also a big game for Brett and his Jets. This is an important divisional battle between a wild-card contender and a division-title contender, but Buffalo will come out on top, 27-21.

Baltimore Ravens (4-3) @ Cleveland Browns (3-4)

Both of them are looking for an unexpected playoff push this season, but the loser of this game will have their work cut out for them. The winner, however, will suddenly have a clear shot at an AFC wild card. I predict the Ravens will win a close game, 20-17.

Houston Texans (3-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (3-4)

A crucial game for both teams, the Vikings and Texans need this win to put them into their conferences' respective heated wild-card races. Minnesota was expected to win their division this year, but their performance has disappointed many.

Houston was also expected to put up a fight; and after a slow start, they have brought their game back to being the dark horse of the AFC. The Texans will continue to win in a narrow 26-23 victory.

Green Bay Packers (4-3) @ Tennessee Titans (7-0)

This is a tale of two completely different teams. The Packers, without all-star quarterback Brett Favre, came into the '08-'09 season with a huge spotlight on rookie QB Aaron Rodgers. He has performed, yet not spectacularly, and led his team to a competitive 4-3 record. On the other hand, the Titans are looking to go 8-0 for the first time in franchise history after an unbelievable start. The Titans should roll, 24-14.

Dallas Cowboys (5-3) @ New York Giants (6-1)

The Cowboys have looked all right, but not who I thought they'd be. Instead, it is the defending Super Bowl champion Giants who look like the team to beat. Giants win in a close game, 24-21.

New England Patriots (5-2) @ Indianapolis Colts (3-4)

Not nearly the game it was expected to be before the year started, with Brady gone and Manning playing like a backup, but this is still a heated rivalry. The Patriots seem to surviving better without their QB than the Colts, who have theirs, though. Indy just isn't playing well at all and will fall to 3-5 with a 23-17 loss.

Washington Redskins (6-2) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)      *MNF*

The 'Skins are looking better than they have in years with Zorn, though they tend to have difficulty blowing out pathetic teams like the Lions. However, Pittsburgh is going to be furious after their odd loss to the Giants last week. Steelers, 21-17.

Other NFL Week Nine Games

Detroit Lions (0-7) @ Chicago Bears (4-3)

The Lions are completely horrendous, though sooner or later they will win a game. But it is very unlikely it will be versus the Bears, who have a good shot at winning their division. Bears should win, 28-13. 

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4) @ Cincinnati Bengals (0-8)

The Bengals are insult in themselves, and the Jags sure look unstable heading into this. But no matter if they're a failing high school football team or the Super Bowl champions, nobody can possibly lose to Cincinnati. I pick Jacksonville to blow them out of their own house in a 31-6 rout.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-3) @ Kansas City Chiefs (1-6)

Tampa Bay heads into this game looking like a strong favorite to win the NFC South, despite their 13-9 loss last week @ Dallas. They certainly won't have to worry about the pitiable Chiefs here. Bucs 27, Chiefs 10 

Arizona Cardinals (4-3) @ St. Louis Rams (2-5)

An interesting NFC West divisional game seems impossible, but it isn't. Of course, the Rams won't do too much, but they did give New England a run for their money last week, and they do have two wins against the Redskins and Cowboys, two good NFC East teams. The Cardinals' passing attack will just give their defense fits, though, and the Cards should win easily, 28-14.

Miami Dolphins (3-4) @ Denver Broncos (4-3)

In an interesting AFC battle, two teams who have been having decent seasons so far but have not made a huge impression fight it out to see who can get a national football spotlight. The Dolphins have a couple big wins, while the Broncos' passing attack has really looked good. The Dolphins will win in a close game, 24-23.

Atlanta Falcons (4-3) @ Oakland Raiders (2-5)

This would have been an awful game at the beginning of the year, but both teams are doing better than expected. Of course, the Raiders are just 2-5, but I didn't think they were better than anyone to start the season. Matt Ryan has a gimme in this one, and he and his Falcons will win nicely, 27-14.

Philadelphia Eagles (4-3) @ Seattle (2-5)

The Eagles got back on track last week with a 27-14 win over the Falcons, and the Seahawks added a much-needed blowout win over San Francisco to their record. However, I doubt Seattle has enough talent that is not injured to pull this one off. The Eagles will beat the Seahawks, 30-13.