NFL Week 9: 28 Stats You Must Know

The season is finally starting to heat up. Thank goodness.

The good teams are kicking it up a gear while the poor teams, well, they're just poor.

You know the drill: Two stats you have to know per game—one numerical, one in the real world. If you're even thinking of dropping a dollar on a game this week, you must know these stats.

Then, that dropped dollar definitely won't go to waste.

NY Jets @ Buffalo

Letters

As we all know by now, Buffalo this year is different. They're completing passes, moving the chains and...scoring points! Put that fact, a fanatic home crowd and the Jets just not finding that spark this year together, and Buffalo wins.

Numbers

Buffalo's 30.1 points per game has to be worrying for the Jets defense, which has been just okay this year overall. The 140.6 rushing yards per game they're putting up is dangerous, especially when the Jets can't seem to plug that hole.

Overall

It's going to be a grind-it-out game. In years gone by, the Jets would have found the way to a W. Not this time. In a rough and tough event where every yard counts, give me the better running team and the home crowd every time.

Buffalo by 4.

Seattle @ Dallas

Letters

The game against Philly last week was over by quarter time. The Dallas defense simply couldn't match a faster offense. Seattle, on the other hand, had a chance to win last week but like many times this year, they found a way to lose it, even if the score did blow up late.

Numbers

Whilst Dallas hasn't been putting up spectacular numbers this year, Seattle simply isn't going to score enough points to win the game. 15.6 points per game is not going to win you a football game. Ever. Unless you're playing Cornell.

Overall

We had the upset of the year last week; this one will go according to script. It's not a matter of Dallas being too good, Seattle simply aren't good enough. The Cowboys will come away with a simple but encouraging win.

Dallas by 20.

Cleveland @ Houston

Letters

Houston is running away with the division; they're simply playing quality football in all departments. They've grown into the epitome of a "complete football team" if there ever was one. And the Cleveland story just goes from strength to strength it seems, with the ever-promising but always underperforming Peyton Hillis getting some unwanted media attention this week.

Numbers

This could get ugly. Houston defense allows 18.1 points, 189.4 passing yards and 97.4 rushing yards per game. They are simply taking the life out of the opposition. Unfortunately for Browns fans, Houston's offense is putting up some big numbers, and we're not just talking Arian Foster.

Overall

We've got a dominating Houston side against a Cleveland side that, when push comes to shove, is not good enough. They can't throw, they can't run and they're definitely not going to be able to stop the Texans from marching on.

Texans by 15.

Falcons @ Colts

Letters

Straight up: Will the Colts win a game without Manning? No way. And the way they're playing, they might not even win with him. Atlanta, fresh off a bye week, won't rack up the score that New Orleans managed, but they will win. Matt Ryan is hard to read sometimes, but it's these types of games that give him the one word that can keep the life in the Falcons season: Rhythm.

Numbers

Even with the season being dominated by Manning—well, the lack of Manning—the Colts season is falling apart on the other end of the field just as much. 31.5 points allowed per game is not going to give you W's, especially when you can't even stop the run (144 yards per game).

When all Indy may have is a running game, the Falcons are not a team you really want to face, as they're allowing less than 100 yards per game on the ground.

Overall

Indy lose. Not by a lot, but by more than any Colts fan wants to see until you-know-who puts a helmet back on and tries to salvage something from an otherwise train-wreck of a season.

Falcons by 11.

Miami @ Kansas City

Letters

Yup. That's Miami's season in color right there. They breathed life for a while against the Giants, but that was it. The Chiefs, on the other hand, somehow managed to pull out a win, even if it took Rivers handing the ball back to them—again...and again...and again.

That win will do them the world of good, all jokes aside.

Numbers

Neither team has any exceptional statistics worth writing home about. Let's just leave it at the fact that whilst Kansas City is struggling to throw the ball, Miami is struggling to do everything else.

Overall

I'd check the score, but I wouldn't bother watching if you can avoid it. Money boys will be all over the under, which seems fairly safe considering the scoring exploits of both teams.

Kansas City by 13.

Tampa Bay @ New Orleans

Letters

I don't think even Paul the Octopus predicted that the Saints would lose to the Rams a week after their thrashing of the Colts. Forget Tampa, forget the crowd, forget everything else. You do not want to play the Superbowl-hopeful Saints after they got beat by the Rams.

Numbers

New Orleans' defense is fragile at the best of times with easy yards given up on the rush (124.1 per game) and pass (221.9). This game will be won and lost in the offense though, and there is no way that Tampa Bay, with their 18.7 points per game—even against the Saints defense—is going to be able to score enough points to win this game.

Overall

Highest scoring game of the week in my book, but New Orleans will simply run rampant over a weak defense. I know I wrote this last week too, but this week it's for real.

Saints by 10.

San Francisco @ Washington

Letters

By far the revelation of the season so far, the 49ers and their incredible defense roll on into Washington. John Beck is simply not the answer for Washington at the moment, and I'm not sure that Rex Grossman was any more of an answer. They'll end up last in the division for sure, unless they can start moving the ball better than they have been.

Numbers

Many thought that you can't win a game by defense, but in San Francisco, that simply is not true. They're only allowing 15.3 points and 73.4 rushing yards per game. The offensive yardage for the 49ers isn't hot, but the 26.7 points per game is, especially against the 16.6 points per game Redskins.

Overall

The 49ers roll on for another week and put up another grind-out win. It could open up late for either side, but San Fran should have too much class to handle a weaponless Washington.

49ers by 4.

Denver @ Oakland

Letters

I'm refusing to mention Tebowmania in this; the game won't be won or lost on his shoulders this time. For me, the real money lies in Carson Palmer and whether or not he can throw the ball to his team this week and not to the opposition. The week off should have done the Raiders the world of good for that.

Numbers

Denver's defense is weak; 28.6 points per game will not win you a football game unless you have a superhuman QB (still didn't mention it). For Oakland, as long as McFadden plays, the 160 yards they're putting up in rushing will walk over the Broncos.

Overall

This game will either be really, really, really good for the Raiders, or it will be really, really, really bad from the Broncos. Either way the Raiders win, and Palmer restores some hope for the faithful.

Oakland by 9.

Cincinnati @ Tennessee

Letters

This game could get ugly. Not in the score, but simply because it could truly be won with neither team scoring 10 points. Two grind-it-out teams, fresh off grind-it-out wins. Maybe, just maybe, something explosive could happen in this game.

Numbers

We've gotten low numbers from both teams across the board, but one stat that flies under the radar is the 238.9 yards per game from Matt Hasselbeck. Most of these yards have been against fairly good defensive teams (sorry Colts). Against the average Bengals defense, he could just do something here.

Overall

It's not much to go on, but I'm with the Titans. I'll take the better QB and the home crowd and a field goal to win it.

Titans by 3.

St. Louis @ Arizona

Letters

After last week, St. Louis will run all day, and I don't blame them. They took it to the Saints and will be spurred on greatly from that. For Arizona on the other hand, unless Larry Fitzgerald starts throwing to himself, they simply are not going to win games.

Numbers

The Cardinals' 113.1 rushing yards allowed per game is going to take a hike up, and the 12.4 points per game the Rams are putting up will increase as well.

Overall

The Rams have some momentum; facing a poor Arizona side is just what the doctor ordered. I think they're specials and will win comfortably. Bye bye Cardinals. Try to beat the Colts for the No. 1 draft pick.

St. Louis by 24.

NY Giants @ New England

Letters

Manning is finally starting to hit his straps; coming up against an exposed New England defense will do him the world of good. After last week, many think it's not great to be playing the Patriots at home, but I'm okay with that...as long as you can score. Manning can do just that.

Numbers

The key for me is whether or not the Patriots can make the tough yards running the ball. The 112.4 yards per game will be helped greatly by the 130.1 yards the Giants are allowing per game.

Overall

I can't see them winning, but I can see it staying close. The crowd will help the Patriots and for once, I think they might just benefit by running. Brady will never say die and he won't have to for two weeks in a row. I'd be all over the start they're giving the Giants, but Brady will step up late. Like always.

Patriots by 2.

Green Bay @ San Diego

Letters

The Pack are incredible. Their defense is not what it was last year, but I can't see it getting beat on by the klgejgnjds... Sorry. Fumbled the keyboard. Chargers—can't see them getting beat on by the Chargers. Even if Rivers is due for a good performance sooner or later.

Numbers

Much has been made of Green Bay's poor pass protection. I agree, but you've also got to look at the fact they're still only giving up 20.1 points per game while scoring 32.9.

Overall

Probably don't want to take the Chargers right now. Rivers will play well and hit a few touchdowns, but Rodgers will hit a few more and the real dream team will roll on for another week. With the way the Packers safeties are playing, I'm sure the Chargers will hit them once or twice as well.

Green Bay by 9.

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh

Letters

After the beat-down that occurred in the opening round of the season, somehow Pittsburgh has clawed their way back. An impressive win over the Patriots will be great for their momentum. The Ravens, on the other hand, have looked shaky at best in recent performances. Lots of pressure will fall on Joe Flacco to deliver in this game.

Numbers

Both teams represent tight defense, with both conceding less than 20 points and 270 yards per game. So the game will come down to offense. Whilst Baltimore is scoring 4.4 points per game more than the Steelers, Pittsburgh are putting up 50 yards more than the Ravens, particularly in passing.

Overall

Game of the week. I'm with Pittsburgh for three reasons: 1) This game will be tight and after the way they closed out last week, I think they can do it again; 2) Flacco is not playing great football and will struggle against this tight defensive unit; 3) Big Ben is hitting great form and is able to move the ball against great teams.

It's tight, but a clear and decisive Steelers win that sets them on the way to win the division.

Pittsburgh by 8.

Chicago @ Philadelphia

Letters

They are definitely not the Dream Team we thought they would be—that's for sure—but Philly are starting to hit some form and are playing well. Vick looks organized and they're making stops on D. Chicago's Matt Forte is in stellar form and it appears that in this game, like most, he will chalk up some serious numbers against this Eagles defense.

Numbers

But let's not get carried away on Chicago's running abilities, as the Eagles have a far more potent ground game, gaining nearly 70 yards more per game than the Bears. The 25.6 points per game the Eagles have scored so far is probably an understatement and against a solid but average unit like Chicago, this number looks set to increase.

Overall

Philadelphia may not be what we'd expected this year, but they are still quality and will get the job done comfortably against the Bears. I think Chicago may struggle to score—even with Forte—as the Eagles front line causes havoc for Cutler all night long.

Philly by 13.

3 Final Thoughts

Last thoughts. Take them or leave them.

1. NY Giants will come close. I don't know if they get there or not, but they will be in it to the death.

2. Pittsburgh are sure things. They will be pumped after last week and will have been thinking of this game for eight weeks. I think it shows and they win easy.

3. If you're up for making some money, take Green Bay giving up the start, into NY Giants with the start into Houston and make yourself some easy dough.