NFL Week 9 Picks: First-Place Teams That Will Keep Rolling

Playoff standings are bound to shuffle a countless number of times in the second half of the NFL season. 

However, these teams currently sitting in first place will stay atop their respective divisions in Week 9.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills are in first place in the AFC East, and will play meaningful games in November for the first time in a while. This matchup with the New York Jets has playoff implications (yes that's possible this early), and both of these team's are very evenly matched. 

I don't fully trust Mark Sanchez to win on the road (the Jets are 0-3 away from home this year) and the Jets' run defense currently ranks 24th in the league heading into this game. 

I see another MVP-like performance from Bills running back Fred Jackson, with a late-game turnover by Sanchez sealing the deal for the Bills (who are tough to beat inside "The Ralph"). 

Green Bay Packers

The Packers are coming off the bye week, and travel to a San Diego to face a Chargers team that is struggling after a 4-1 start. 

It's safe to say that the Chargers will have to score near 30 points to keep with the Packers, and Philip Rivers is another quarterback I don't have much faith in right now. 

Green Bay allows a good deal of yardage, but similar to the Bills secondary, they're opportunistic and create turnovers. 

San Diego keeps it close, but Aaron Rodgers and his dangerous wide receivers prove to be too much in the fourth quarter. 

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers could lock up the NFC West by Thanksgiving, and their game this week against the Redskins in Washington should be a blowout. I don't care who's throwing the football for the Redskins—their offense lacks explosiveness and their offense line is regressing. 

San Francisco will pound the ball with Frank Gore and force Washington to throw the football; eliminating Redskins back Ryan Torain in the process

I don't think Jim Harbaugh will be worried if Washington has to throw the football after falling behind in this one. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

Can you envision Joe Flacco having an effective game against the Steelers defense after what they did to Tom Brady last week? 

Me either.

They are battling some injuries in this one, but the game plan set forth by Dick Labeau will utterly confuse the embattled quarterback, who actually showed signs of competence in the second half against the Cardinals last week. 

Both defenses are tremendously physical and are among the best in the league, but which team has the better offense that's more in sync right now?

The Steelers. 

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are rolling right now, and they shouldn't have any trouble with the winless Dolphins inside Arrowhead this weekend. Miami's offense is too predictable and hasn't gotten much production from their skill players this season. Expect that to continue. 

Matt Cassell hasn't been great, but he'll play better than Matt Moore. The Chiefs should win by at least 10 points. 

New Orleans Saints

If I've learned anything about the Saints over the last few years, it's that they are extremely difficult to beat at the Superdome. 

They're coming off one of the most embarrassing losses in recent memory, and they're also looking to avenge an early season loss to the Buccaneers. 

I expect Drew Brees to bounce back at home although the New Orleans defense desperately needs to improve. 

Brees will best Josh Freeman in a Louisiana shootout. 

Houston Texans 

The Texans will squeeze out a win against the Browns in a game that looks like a blowout on paper.

Cleveland has a good, underrated defense and Houston is without Andre Johnson. In the end, though, Colt McCoy's offense simply will not to be able to score with the Texans in the second half in Houston.