NFL Week 9 Picks: Playoff Watch for Every Team in the Hunt

The only thing that matters in pro football's regular season is finishing well enough to make the postseason.

That said, here are seven teams in the playoff hunt that will continue to make noise as the season progresses.

Atlanta Falcons (at Indianapolis Colts)

The Falcons are in an interesting position since they have four divisional games remaining. And with a game this week in Indianapolis, Atlanta will be 5-3 heading into a three-game home stretch.

Keep an eye on the Falcons because they're the best road team in the NFC South, which doesn't bode well for Tampa or New Orleans, who struggle away from home.

Falcons over Colts

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at New Orleans Saints)

Arguably the game of the week and definitely a must-win for both teams. The Bucs already have a victory over New Orleans, but the Saints are a completely different team at home.

Tampa has been exploited in games away from home (Bears, 49ers) thanks to their youth, and although the experience is getting there, the Saints are still the better and more mature team.

Playoff hopes aren't over yet for Tampa, but New Orleans becomes the divisional front-runners until we see what happens with them and Atlanta.

Saints over Buccaneers

Cincinnati Bengals (at Tennessee Titans)

It's uncertain how good these Bengals are. Sure, they're 5-2, but they've only beaten one team with a winning record (Buffalo) and still have to play Baltimore and Pittsburgh each twice.

However, a win on the road over Tennessee will only add to their confidence because the Titans have the worst rush offense going against a top 10 defense.

This game keeps the Bengals alive for the playoffs heading into a rough stretch of Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Houston in four of their next five games.

Bengals over Titans

Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Chicago Bears)

The Eagles are quickly surging back into the playoff race with a divisional record of 2-1. The Bears will be a formidable opponent as Chicago is much better than given credit for.

Philly is rolling with too much confidence, and the Bears aren't dynamic enough offensively to keep pace. Also, with the Giants having arguably the most difficult remaining schedule, Philly's Week 11 matchup in The Big Apple could shift the tide in the NFC East.

Eagles over Bears

New England Patriots (vs. NY Giants)

Last time the Pats lost they answered it with a solid response win on the road over Oakland. This time around, their victim is the New York Giants who barely beat the winless Dolphins at home.

New York has feasted off a rather weak schedule to this point, and New England hasn't lost at home since what feels like forever.

The Giants' lead in the NFC East begins to slip away, and the Patriots keep pace with the Bills to stay alive for the AFC East title or a wild card spot in the worst case-scenario.

Patriots over Giants

Baltimore Ravens (at Pittsburgh Steelers)

The game that usually determines who wins the AFC North, the Ravens will travel to Pittsburgh lacking confidence offensively despite playing good defense.

The Steelers remain the standard in that division, and although Week 1 was lopsided in Baltimore's favor, the momentum has shifted back to Pittsburgh. The Steelers have a better offense, and their defense just held the New England Patriots to 17 points, hence, impressive.

Baltimore falls in Pittsburgh. However, their playoff hopes aren't dashed just yet as two games against the Bengals still remain.

Steelers over Ravens

San Diego Chargers (vs. Green Bay Packers)

QB Philip Rivers has just seven TDs to 11 picks in 2011, and the Chargers are 4-3 but have dropped two straight games.

It appears the early-season slow starts and late-season runs are over in San Diego, because with Green Bay coming in this week, the Bolts will drop to 4-4. The only other offense comparable to the Packers would be New England, but Green Bay is even better.

In addition, the Packers' solid pass rush gets to Rivers, and with the Chiefs winning, San Diego will fall further back in the AFC West. With two games left against Oakland, not all hope is lost in Southern California.

Packers over Chargers

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report. 

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