NFL Week 9 Picks: Predictions for the League's Hottest Teams

The Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers are the NFL's hottest teams right now, and I think each squad will pull out a win in Week 9. Here is a breakdown of their matchups this Sunday and how I think those games will turn out. 

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

The 49ers are thriving under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh and have won four consecutive games after losing to the Dallas Cowboys in overtime in Week 2. Frankly, they should be undefeated right now. 

Somehow, Harbaugh has gotten the most out of quarterback Alex Smith, who is having by far the best season of his career. Smith has completed 115 of 182 passes (63.2 percent) for 1,267 yards with nine touchdowns and just two interceptions.

While the former No. 1 overall pick has played superbly, the real driving force behind San Francisco's success has been its defense.

The 49ers have the NFL's top run defense, allowing just 73.4 yards per game. This means the 3-4 Redskins will likely have to rely on quarterback John Beck to lead them to a victory this weekend. I just don't see it happening. 

San Francisco will shut down the 'Skins and send them to their third loss in a row.

Prediction: San Francisco 28, Washington 10 

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

The Pittsburgh Steelers have come a long way since the Week 1 thrashing they suffered at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers have won four games in a row, and their defense has finally become the formidable unit we all know it can be.

Pittsburgh's defense now ranks second in the NFL in total yards allowed, surrendering 270.8 per game. The unit has to be looking forward to attacking Baltimore's shaky quarterback Joe Flacco.

Flacco is completing just 53.8 percent of his passes on the year and has appeared to regress significantly this season. That's a recipe for disaster against Pittsburgh's fantastic defense.

I expect the Steelers to get revenge for that Week 1 matchup and pick up their fifth consecutive win.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 34, Baltimore 24 

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

The Packers are easily the NFL's best team through the first eight weeks of the season, and I don't expect that to change any time soon.

In Week 9, against the Chargers, Aaron Rodgers will continue his assault on the record books and his path towards an MVP trophy.

The Chargers, on the other hand, are the biggest mystery in the NFL. They are ridiculously talented but for some reason just can't put it together. They gain heaps of yards between the 20s but somehow can't put points on the board in the red zone.

Quarterback Philip Rivers is having an inexplicably bad season, and the offensive line is currently banged up.

There is no way San Diego will take out the Packers this weekend. The Chargers have played to the level of the competition in each of their seven games this season, so I expect the final score to be relatively close. That said, the Packers will leave San Diego with a sparkling 8-0 record.

Prediction: Green Bay 31, San Diego 24