NFL Week 9 Picks: Why These Pretenders Will Be Exposed

At this point of the season, we're starting to get a sense of who is at least going to be in playoff contention and who will fade. Still, there are some teams that have bad records that will end up much better.

Conversely, there are some teams that have good records that aren't really as good as their records indicate. That's who we're focusing on here. 

Not all of them will be exposed this week. In time, everyone's true colors will come out. For these teams, they will come out this weekend.

New York Giants

I actually have some sympathy for this team. It's really unfortunate that they have had to deal with so many injuries. But the fact of the matter is that the injuries are there. Their success has been good, but it's not going to last. 

When you have a depleted secondary, is Tom Brady the quarterback that you want to see lined up against you? 

The Giants offense will keep them in the game for a while. But ultimately, they will not compete with the Patriots. The rest of their schedule doesn't get any better.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There are two teams that immediately come to my mind when I hear the slogan "Any Given Sunday." The first is the Raiders, the second is the Buccaneers. 

Either can beat any team in the NFL. Either can lose to any team in the NFL. 

Even though Tampa Bay has already defeated the Saints, I don't like how they match up. The last game was in Tampa Bay and just about everything went wrong for New Orleans. Tampa Bay won by six.

The Saints will get their revenge this week. The Buccaneers will have a hard time getting to the playoffs.

They just turn the ball over too much and aren't consistent on either end of the ball. It's a deep NFC this season.

Houston Texans

I am actually going to switch things up here and name a team that will win on Sunday. 

While I like Arian Foster, I just don't trust must else with this offense with Andre Johnson out. 

The Browns will keep this game much closer than it needs to be. Some of that is due to a good defense, some of it is that the Texans just aren't that good.

They will make the playoffs because the AFC South is awful. But the Texans offense is just not going to be consistent enough to make them a real Super Bowl threat.