NFL Picks Week 9: Cincinnati Bengals and Pretenders That Will Continue to Win

The non-stop surprise that is the 2011 NFL season kicks off Week 9 this weekend, and there are a handful of teams that experts are struggling to decide on.

Are they contenders or pretenders?

The San Francisco 49ers have turned things around this season under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, while the Carson Palmer-less Cincinnati Bengals are right alongside the Ravens and Steelers for the lead in the AFC North at the midway point in the year.

To add some confusion to all this nonsense, here are three pretenders that will reign supreme in Week 9: 

Cincinnati Bengals

The 5-2 Bengals face a tough test on the road against the reeling Titans this Sunday, but oh what an opportunity for Cincinnati to throw a wrench into the AFC wild-card race.

Cincy is 3-1 on the road in 2011 and has been led by the consistent play of rookie quarterback Andy Dalton.

Although the Titans got a much-needed win over the Colts in Week 8, Tennessee has been struggling mightily as of late. Expect the Bengals to expose them as pretenders themselves in Week 9.

Kansas City Chiefs

Despite starting out 0-3, the Chiefs are now 4-3 midway through 2011. They now find themselves tied with San Diego and Oakland atop the AFC West division.

Still, this is all just an act by the injury-ridden Chiefs, who are a Week 9 home win over the winless Dolphins away from being winners of five-straight overall.

Kansas City boasts one of the league's worst passing offenses and looked absolutely horrid in the season's first three weeks. However, the pretend success will last at least one more week. 

Buffalo Bills

At one point this season, the Bills were the feel-good story of the NFL. However, expectations have since diminished. Buffalo has a long way to go to win the AFC East or even make the postseason.

The Patriots and Jets have been there before and will look to go there again in 2011. A tough matchup against the Jets in Week 9 will test the Bills, but a home win will take them to 6-2 and subsequently to the top of the division. 

At the season's midway point, it would seem Buffalo is poised for a deep playoff run. However, don't be fooled. They are pretenders posing as contenders.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter @_Pat_Clarke