NFL Week 9 Picks: Odds Each Week 8 Winner Stumbles in a Loss

Wins do not beget wins, at least not on a consistent basis, though the momentum that a win provides is certainly palpable. However, it takes two teams to play a football game, and the ultimate outcome is decided by both its winner and its loser.

On that note, let's examine the teams which won games in Week 8 and their chances to repeat that success in Week 9. Let's also look at whether their respective wins came out of their own talented play or by a flat opponent that made a victory appear easy.

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

Both of these AFC North squads picked up wins last week, with the Ravens beating the Arizona Cardinals and the Steelers defeating the New England Patriots.

This game poses a lot of interesting questions about both teams, from how the Steelers will be affected by both their Week 1 manhandling by the Ravens and their Week 8 win over the vaunted Patriots, how truly effective the Ravens offense really is, how the numerous injuries in Pittsburgh's linebacker corps will harm—or help—them, and on and on.

It's clearly the marquee matchup of the week, and both teams are going to be playing at what they hope is their highest level. But, in the past weeks, the Steelers have gotten better and better, while the Ravens are inconsistent at best and infuriatingly flat at their worst.

The odds aren't good for a Ravens win, and thus conversely are good for the Steelers to notch the victory.

Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans

Of these two teams, only the Texans won in Week 8, besting the Jacksonville Jaguars, 24-14. The Browns have three wins on the season, but lost last week to the San Francisco 49ers.

The Browns have yet to get their offense on track, with both their run game and passing game falling flat behind a weak offensive line and a general lack of fire affecting their respective stat lines.

Though they boast one of the better defenses in the league, it won't be enough to stop the Texans, who have proven they're one of the most balanced and most quietly intimidating teams in the NFL.

The Texans are the clear favorites to win this game, propelling them to their third win in a row.

New York Giants at New England Patriots

The Giants eked out a victory last week against the winless Miami Dolphins, with mistakes and penalties holding them back.

Conversely, the Patriots were bested by the Steelers, with Pittsburgh's defense finding a way to stop Tom Brady and the rest of his team's offense while dismantling the Patriots' poor secondary by way of Ben Roethlisberger's arm.

The Giants won't be as successful as Pittsburgh at stopping the Patriots, considering how rare it is for New England to drop two games in a row (with the way they've played this season, especially), and considering that the Giants are no Steelers when it comes to any phase of the game.

New York won't grab a win this week. Instead, the pendulum shifts back to the Patriots.

St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals

The Rams did the improbable last week, defeating the New Orleans Saints, 31-21, despite starting quarterback Sam Bradford still sidelined with a high ankle sprain.

They managed the win via 159 rushing yards and two scores from running back Steven Jackson and the pass rush bringing down a world of pain upon Saints quarterback Drew Brees and his offensive line.

This week, it looks like the Rams have an excellent shot to notch their second victory of the season, against a weakened Cardinals team that is likely to be without starting quarterback Kevin Kolb. Kolb is suffering from turf toe among other foot ailments.

Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans

Both the Bengals and the Titans won in Week 8, but this week only one of the teams can keep that streak alive. I believe it will be the Bengals who will come out on top.

While the Titans and the Bengals have a lot in common this season, Cincinnati does it better—rushing, passing and defense all favor the Bengals in this contest.

The Bengals have won their last four in a row. They'll get that fifth win, as one of the most talented yet underrated teams in the NFL bests the Titans this Sunday.

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills

The Bills defeated the Washington Redskins last week in a 24-0 blowout, and this week they host the New York Jets, who are coming off of their bye.

There is much to be afraid of when it comes to the Jets, to be sure, but the Bills will pick up yet another win simply by drawing Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez into a shootout and capitalizing on the inevitable mistakes that he will make because of it.

Out of seemingly nowhere, the Bills have become the top team in the AFC East. With a divisional win over the Jets this Sunday, they'll only increase that lead further.

San Francisco 49ers at Washington Redskins

With the Niners better in every way than the Redskins, the odds are against the slumping NFC East home team to wrest a victory against the 6-1 squad this Sunday.

Yes, upsets happen every week, and it seems like the Redskins, who started the season 3-1 before dropping three straight games, are due for a win; however, it won't be this week against a team as dominant as the 49ers.

Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs

The anti-Redskins, the Chiefs were winless through the first three weeks of the season but turned it around to a four-game winning streak, capped off with an overtime win over the San Diego Chargers in Week 8.

Conversely, the Dolphins have found themselves in a winning position a number of times this season, but have squandered their opportunities, and have yet to earn a victory.

Taking on the Chiefs in Kansas City is a daunting task for any opponent to face, but for the Dolphins it will be overwhelming. The Chiefs are the clear favorites. It's hard to say the Dolphins have any chance to win this week.

Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles

The Bears were on the bye last week after traveling to London to take on, and defeat, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7, and the Eagles are coming off of a decisive 34-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday night.

The surging Eagles may finally have found the cohesiveness they desperately needed after starting their season 1-4, notching two straight victories via the air, the ground and of course, their start-studded defense.

That surge looks likely to continue this week, when they host the inconsistent Bears on Monday night. Though both teams are prone to epic collapses, rife with mistakes and miscues, I don't see the Eagles shooting themselves in the foot significantly enough to lose this game.

Though the Bears certainly have a chance to pull out the unlikely win, the fact that I call such a thing "unlikely" means the odds are in the Eagles' favor this week.