NFL Week 9 Picks: Quick Picks for Every Game on the Schedule

Week 9 of the NFL's schedule may finally be the time when things calm down and games are a little easier to figure out. I have a feeling that this week's matchups will be much easier to pick for some reason. Either I'm completely foolish or I've finally got a handle on which teams are headed in which direction. 

Here are my picks for this weekend's games. 

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

The Bills are far too balanced for an up-and-down Jets team to figure out. New York's shaky offense will let them down late in this one as Buffalo escapes with a win.

Buffalo 27, New York (Jets) 21

Seattle Seahawks (2-5) at Dallas Cowboys (3-4)

The Cowboys either look impressive or atrocious depending on the day. Against the Seahawks at home, Tony Romo and company will come out firing on all cylinders. 

Dallas 35, Seattle 13

Atlanta Falcons (4-3) at Indianapolis Colts (0-8)

The Falcons are coming off their bye week and have won two straight, and their offense has rebounded from a slow start and looked solid in recent weeks. Atlanta will cruise by the winless Colts.

Atlanta 35, Indianapolis 21

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

Kansas City has won four straight after an 0-3 start, while the Dolphins continue to find ways to lose. Both of those trends will continue on Sunday.

Kansas City 24, Miami 15

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3) at New Orleans Saints (5-3)

Somehow the Saints lost to the St. Louis Rams in Week 8, but don't expect them to be down for long. New Orleans will be at home and still be salty from that embarrassing loss. That doesn't bode well for Tampa Bay.

New Orleans 42, Tampa Bay 24

San Francisco 49ers (6-1) at Washington Redskins (3-4)

The Redskins have finally been exposed as a mediocre team at best, while the 49ers are rolling. San Francisco's top-ranked run defense will force John Beck to have to win this game for Washington. I'm sure Beck is a heckuva nice guy, but that's just not going to happen.

San Francisco 28, Washington 10

Cleveland Browns (3-4) at Houston Texans (5-3)

The Houston Texans appear to have figured out how to move the ball on offense with Andre Johnson injured: give the ball to Arian Foster. Foster will continue his roll this weekend against a Browns team that will be sporting a banged-up Peyton Hillis.

Houston 34, Cleveland 13

Green Bay Packers (7-0) at San Diego Chargers (4-3)

The Packers are coming off their bye and the Chargers are coming off an awful overtime loss on Monday Night Football. Still, San Diego will find a way to keep this one close before dropping its third straight game.

Green Bay 31, San Diego 24

Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) at Tennessee Titans (4-3)

Before beating the Indianapolis Colts in Week 8, the Titans had dropped consecutive games to Pittsburgh and Houston by a combined 55 points. The Bengals have emerged as a solid team that relies on a rock-solid defense and steady quarterback play by rookie Andy Dalton. Cincinnati will win a close one on Sunday.

Cincinnati 17, Tennessee 14

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

Tim Tebow has proven he isn't good enough to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. Carson Palmer will notch his first win as a Raider this weekend, while Tebow will continue to show his flaws.

Oakland 31, Denver 13

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

I can't pick against the Patriots at home and coming off of a loss. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady won't allow New England to drop a second consecutive contest, especially not in Foxborough. 

New England 30, New York (Giants) 21

St. Louis Rams (1-6) at Arizona Cardinals (1-6)

This is easily the worst game on this week's schedule. While the Rams are coming off of a shocking upset of New Orleans, I somehow get the feeling that the Cardinals will get a win in this one. Kevin Kolb and Larry Fitzgerald have to figure things out eventually. This weekend is as good a time as any.

Arizona 27, St. Louis 21

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

The Ravens blew out the Steelers 35-7 in Week 1 and you can bet Pittsburgh wants payback. The Steelers are currently rolling, having won four in a row, while the Ravens and quarterback Joe Flacco are stumbling. Pittsburgh will come out on top in this one.

Pittsburgh 34, Baltimore 24

Chicago Bears (4-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)

The Eagles will deploy their top-ranked rushing attack (179.9 yards per game) to dominate a Bears team that is entirely average on both sides of the ball. This Monday night matchup won't be as close as the score would indicate.

Philadelphia 38, Chicago 28