NFL Picks Week 9: Games That Will Shock the World on Sunday

The Miami Dolphins are about to earn themselves a victory.

Look for a letdown from the Chiefs, who are coming off a short week and an emotional overtime victory against the Chargers.

And the Dolphins have at least fielded a competitive team this season, losing in heartbreaking fashion to the Browns and Broncos along with losing a tough game against a very good Giants team last week, 20-17.

These two teams are more evenly matched than their records would indicate—look for a Dolphins team due to win to beat a Chiefs team primed for a letdown.

San Diego Chargers Over the Green Bay Packers

Conventional wisdom would suggest that it's batty to pick against the Packers, given that they've looked nearly unstoppable this season. Plus, the Packers are 4-1 in games after the bye week during Mike McCarthy's tenure.

So why am I smelling an upset here?

Two main reasons:

1. As maddeningly inconsistent as they can be, the Chargers have enough talent and experience on their roster to compete with anyone they play. They are tough to throw against, allowing only 185.9 passing yards per game (fourth in the NFL). Meanwhile, they have the weapons offensively to take advantage of the issues Green Bay has had against the pass (288.9 passing yards per game, 31st in the NFL).

2. The game isn't at Lambeau Field. The fact that the Packers have to travel west instead of playing in the cold at Lambeau is an advantage for the Chargers.

Washington Redskins Over the San Francisco 49ers

If you believe that the line can tell you something, then this is for you: The 49ers (-3 or -4, depending on where you look) should be heavy favorites to beat a Redskins team that has lost three straight games, but they aren't.

Why?

Is it because the 49ers have to travel to the East Coast for a 1:00 PM game? Does Vegas think the 49ers are due for a letdown? Will they be looking past the Redskins toward a game against the Giants the following week? Are they really as good as their 6-1 record suggests? They easily could have lost the contests against the Eagles, Lions and Bengals. Of course, a win is a win...

There's something fishy about this game, which makes me think the Redskins are primed to pull an upset this weekend.