NFL Picks Week 9: Teams Set To Rebound from Loss in a Big Way

If you think the word redemption is floating around the New Orleans locker room this week, well, I would have to agree with you.

The Saints (5-3) host the Buccaneers (4-3) this week, fresh off of their embarrassing loss to the Rams.

And if that wasn't enough motivation for the Saints, they are also trying to avenge a 26-20 loss against the Bucs earlier in the season. Losing twice to the Bucs could come back to haunt them in a division that should come down to the wire.

But it won't be easy for the Saints, namely because the Buccaneers can likely give their offense the same problems the Rams did. From Andy Benoit of CBS Sports:

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With pressure coming out of a four-man rush, Rams corners played tight press coverage against the Saints receivers, which took away the quick routes that Drew Brees and this offense love. On the inside, the linebackers defended the underneath lanes and the safeties jumped lanes from over the top (that’s traditional two-deep coverage). This mix of man and zone principles requires physical strength at cornerback and speed at linebacker and safety.

The Bucs have the personnel to mimic this gameplan.

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Still, it's hard to imagine the Bucs generating that much of a pass rush with their front four—their entire team has only accounted for 12 sacks this year.

Look for Sean Payton to draw up a plan that will lead the Saints to a victory this week.

Here are three other teams ripe for redemption:

Oakland Raiders (4-3) at Denver Broncos (2-5)

Technically speaking, the Raiders are coming off of a bye week, but before the bye they suffered an embarrassing, six-interception loss to the Denver Broncos.

And while a bye week probably isn't enough time to shake off Carson Palmer's rust, it could be worse—he could be Tim Tebow.

Expect the Raiders to lean on their second-ranked rush offense and Darren McFadden to lead them to victory against the Broncos 17th-ranked rush defense.

And for Tebow to play poorly, of course.

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

While I think this game will be closely contested, the stats lean heavily toward the Patriots in this one. Consider the following (from Patriots.com):

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Since the beginning of the 2003 season, the Patriots are 26-2 (.929) in games following a regular season loss. Over the last nine seasons (2003-11), the Patriots have only lost back-to-back games on two occasions, once in 2006 and once in 2009.

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Wait, there's more:

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The Patriots have now won 20 straight regular season home games dating back to a 47-7 win over Arizona on Dec. 21, 2008. The Patriots own an overall record of 63-12 (.840) at Gillette Stadium in regular season games.

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The Giants simply picked the wrong week to face the Patriots.

Miami Dolphins (0-7) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-3)

In a game that will shock many, the Dolphins will earn their first victory of the season over the Chiefs this Sunday.

Kansas City—coming off of an emotional overtime victory against the Chargers and a short week—is primed for a letdown.

And it's not as though the Chiefs have been lighting the world on fire, as Don McKee of the Philadelphia Inquirer points out:

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The Kansas City Chiefs have been riding a hot streak, courtesy of a few major breaks - a couple of wins over doormats, a shutout of a Raiders team playing without its starting quarterback, and then Monday night's inexplicable fumble by San Diego's Philip Rivers that led to an overtime victory over the Chargers.

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And this isn't a Miami team that has rolled over and died for people. Well, except for when they inexplicably lost to Tim Tebow and the Broncos in overtime in Week 7. But the point is, they've played teams tough.

And if they can get the ball to playmakers such as Brandon Marshall and Reggie Bush—the same Reggie Bush who ran for 103 yards on 15 carries against the Giants last week—on a consistent basis, the stage is set for Miami to earn its first victory of the year.