NFL Week 9 Picks: Predicting Winners in This Weekend's Biggest Division Games

The division races are just taking shape at the midpoint of the 2011 NFL season and may well be a bit clearer once Week 9 is over.

The results of these three divisional matchups, in particular, will figure prominently into what the playoff picture looks like two months from now.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints

It seems like only yesterday that the Buccaneers handed the Saints their second loss of the season in a 26-20 decision at Raymond James Stadium.

Both teams have added a third loss since, Tampa Bay to Chicago in London and New Orleans to the once-winless Rams in St. Louis.

The Bucs have been as inconsistent as any team in the NFL this season, a defect attributable to them being the youngest team in the league. Josh Freeman has looked shaky under center of late and will have to rely on a recently-hobbled LeGarrette Blount to help him out in the backfield.

They'll have a tough time keeping up with Drew Brees and the Saints' explosive offense, which should be enough for "Nawlins" to overcome its defensive woes and take control of the NFC South with a win.

Prediction: Saints 24, Buccaneers 17

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills

Ryan Fitzpatrick can't be too happy about this matchup, seeing as how David Nelson and Stevie Johnson will be blanketed by Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie all afternoon.

Then again, Fred Jackson won't mind getting plenty of extra work against the Jets' 25th-ranked run defense.

Not that the Bills should have any trouble keeping the ball out of the hands of Gang Green's offense anyway, so long as Mark Sanchez is the one in charge. The Jets are somewhere between mediocre and terrible when it comes to moving the ball, depending on the week, and will prove as much, even against a Buffalo D that has been flimsy all season.

Even if the Jets can muster something going toward the end zone, they'll still have to contend with the Bills' home-field advantage.

The real one, not the one in Toronto.

Prediction: Bills 20, Jets 14

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

The Ravens and the Steelers have come a long way from their Week 1 meeting, which saw Baltimore emerge victorious in a 35-7 laugher at M&T Bank Stadium.

Since then, the Steelers have found their groove, winning their last four games and six out of seven overall. Meanwhile, the Ravens have gone from looking like the team to beat in the AFC to one that only seems to beat itself, at least on offense.

You can bet there will be plenty of bad blood, hard hits, personal fouls and tough defense in Sunday night's rematch at Heinz Field.

As far as the outcome is concerned, if Joe Flacco and Ray Rice couldn't get anything going against Jacksonville and struggled to get on track against Arizona's defense until the second half, how can they have any hope of starting fast against the Steel Curtain?

The absence of LaMarr Woodley should make moving the ball a bit easier for the Ravens, but not easy enough to overcome Ben Roethlisberger and a loaded Pittsburgh offense at home.

Prediction: Steelers 24, Ravens 19