NFL Week 9 Picks: Predicting the Week's Most Hard-Fought Victories

Parity in the NFL has never been more apparent than what we've seen this season. 

Not only have their been some stunning upsets, but hard-fought, highly-contested games are happening more frequently than I can ever remember. 

Which will earn victories in close games in Week 9?

Bills over Jets 

These are evenly matched teams both with some weaknesses. The Jets need to continue to improve running the football (92.4 yards per game) and stopping the run (127 yards allowed per game), but the most critical aspect is the play of Mark Sanchez.

For the Bills, they need to strengthen their run defense even after a dominating performance against the Redskins last week. Their passing offense will likely be limited against the Jets intimidating secondary. 

All of those factors make for a very tight game. 

Buffalo should feed off their home crowd and get Fred Jackson the ball nearly 30 times in this one. Sanchez will be forced to throw late, and a late interception will seal the deal for the Bills. 

Patriots over Giants

The Patriots will only win high-scoring games from here on out. Their defense is too susceptible to the big play, and I don't trust anyone in their secondary.

For as much as we might want to think that the blueprint has been set to stop Tom Brady and the Giants top-notch pass rush can do the trick, I haven't seen No. 12 lose a regular season game at home since 2006, and New England hasn't lost two straight at home since 2009. 

Eli Manning is having a great season, but he's due for a few turnovers of his own, and with Ahmad Bradshaw out, New York will be one-dimensional. 

It'll come down to the last few minutes, with Brady leading another game-winning, touchdown drive.

(Don't forget BenJarvus Green-Ellis. He averages 16.2 carries in the Patriots' five wins this season. Expect him to get the ball.) 

Bengals over Titans

Cam Newton for Rookie of the Year? How about Andy Dalton? The Titans will test the Bengals, who are on the road for the second-straight week, but Cincinnati's defense will put them in a position to win. 

Dalton, who isn't nearly as flashy as Newton but just as efficient, will find fellow rookie A.J. Green for a few big plays and rely on running back Cedric Benson, who's returning from suspension, en route to a lower-scoring intra-conference victory.