Week 9 Picks: Predictions for Every Marquee Matchup

Week 9 of the 2011 NFL season has thee games I would qualify as marquee matchups. A numer which is a lot considering some of the clunkers we had in Week 8. 

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

The Bills have been one of the biggest surprises of the season so far. With wins over the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo has shown it hasn't feasted off a weak schedule. Now, the Bills get down to the work of knocking off a division rival when the Jets come to town on Sunday.

Gang Green will be coming off of a bye week, but that may not have been enough to help get the team's offense on track. The Jets currently rank 22nd in the NFL in passing yards per game (207.7) and 28th in rushing yards per game (92.4). Without an offense, it's simply hard to win games, and they are so shaky on that side of the ball it is really difficult to have any faith in them. 

Meanwhile, the Bills have been excellent running the ball (140.6 yards per game), adequate throwing it (239.6 yards per game), and should be able to scrounge together enough yardage to put points on the board. I think it will be a close game, but the Bills are the better all-around team and will come away with a win.

Prediction: Buffalo 27, New York (Jets) 21

New York Giants (5-2) at New England Patriots (5-2)

While the Giants have seemed to find a rhythm over the past few weeks, I still just don't trust them. Quarterback Eli Manning has done a good job working with backup receivers, but their lack of a real running game (85.6 yards per game) will eventually come back to bite them.

On the other hand, the Patriots suffered a disappointing 25-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday and I just don't see one of the NFL's top offenses being held to that low of an output on consecutive weeks. I also don't think Tom Brady and Bill Belichick will let New England lose two weeks in a row.

The Patriots have the NFL's third-best offense, averaging 437.1 yards per game, and I expect them to find a way to better that average this weekend. Belichick and Co. will be salty after such a tough loss to the Steelers and picking against Brady at home is foolish.

Prediction: New England 30, New York (Giants) 21

Baltimore Ravens (5-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)

The Baltimore Ravens opened the season in smashing fashion, blowing out the rival Steelers 35-7. The Ravens used that Week 1 matchup to announce themselves as contenders right from the get-go. Unfortunately for John Harbaugh's team, though, things haven't been a cake walk since.

The Ravens will enter this Week 9 matchup on the heels two lackluster performances. They inexplicably lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars 12-7 in Week 7's Monday night matchup, and on Sunday, they barely escaped with a 30-27 win over the hapless Arizona Cardinals. 

Meanwhile, the Steelers are rolling. After a 2-2 start, Pittsburgh has won four straight, including their aforementioned 25-17 win over the Patriots in Week 8. The Steelers have gone from shaky to strong in the span of a month, and enter their Sunday night matchup with the Ravens looking to avenge that embarrassing loss from Week 1.

With Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco struggling mightily, I just can't pick the Ravens to come up with a road win. The Steelers will win this one and continue marching on.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 34, Baltimore 24