NFL Week 9 Predictions: Projecting the Week's Top Defenses

In football you throw the ball to score points and you run the ball to win. However, to win a championship you need a defense.

The pass-happy phenomenon is great and all, but when was the last time a team won a Super Bowl without playing defense? We can watch Tom Brady throw for all the yards and TDs he wants, but it doesn't do the Pats' any good if New England can't stop anyone (just the most obvious example).

So with defense in mind, here are three of the top dark-sides in Week 9.

San Francisco 49ers (at Washington)

Last week the Washington Redskins got shutout against a Bills' team with a defense that ranks no higher than No. 20 (rush defense), so it's a foregone conclusion that San Fran will blank them as well.

The 49ers may be weaker against the pass, but they're gradually improving as evidenced by their production the past three weeks. They also possess the current No. 1 ranked rush defense.

Now include Washington's lack of a QB combined with injuries and no threatening WRs, and this game will be tough for Redskins' fans to watch. It should come as no surprise if Mike Shanahan's team gets goose-egged for a second consecutive week.

Dallas Cowboys (vs Seattle)

There may not be a more interesting team to watch than the Dallas Cowboys. Their inconsistency is mesmerizing. How could someone win 34-7 one week, but then lose 34-7 the following?

And based on their inconsistency this week is going to be a good week for them by default. Coming into Big D are the 2-5 Seattle Seahawks who have the No. 24 and No. 31 ranked pass and rush offense, respectively.

They really don't have any big name WRs and their QB situation is arguably as bad as Washington's. Dallas still has a solid defense as they're No. 4 against the rush and average against the pass.

It's a big game that the Cowboys need to win because falling behind now is only going to make a late season run that much more difficult. 

Pittsburgh Steelers (vs Baltimore)

The Pittsburgh Steelers may be entering their Week 9 game against Baltimore not fully loaded, but being that it's a home game on Sunday night, you have to expect that defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will have his defense well prepared.

Also, the Ravens' offense hasn't been all that impressive since the Week 1 game—winning over the Rams and the then-vulnerable Houston Texans at home was anything but above average (at best).

The Jaguars game may have been the "lens of truth" so to speak, as Joe Flacco significantly underperformed and that carried over into the beginning of the Arizona game. So, until the Ravens' offense can prove to play at a higher level of consistency for 60 minutes, the Steelers will reign over them.

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report. 

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