-Originally published 11/14/21-
A topsy-turvy week 9 might just be a throw away. Dallas was torched by a mediocre Denver team 30-16. The Bills struggled in a 9-6 loss to inferior Jacksonville. Green Bay can’t put it loss squarely on a mediocre Love performance because the scheme didn’t help him any but they nearly knocked off Kansas City in a 13-7 loss. Arizona on the other hand, won with backup Colt McCoy 31-17 as they took the 49ers to the woodshed despite 326 yards from Garoppolo. Sunday ended with Stafford, MVP favorite, throwing two pick sixes to the Titans in a 28-16 loss to move the Titans to 7-2 in life post Henry.
Bye weeks: Chicago, Cincinnati, New York, Houston
TNF – Baltimore (6-2) @ Miami (2-7)
The Ravens defense is giving up over 370ypg and 24ppg both bottom half of the league. They’ve accumulated a 6-2 record behind the #3 offense. It took an extra inning to outlast the Vikings 34-31 last week. Tua is out but if Brissett can muster any offensive threat they should be able to move the ball against the Ravens as 4 teams have scored 30+. The Fins won sloppy 17-9 against Houston last week and still don’t look very impressive.
Pick: Baltimore
Sunday Slate
Fresh Squeezed
1 – Falcons (4-4) @ Cowboys (6-2)
Atlanta grabbed a huge win over the Saints and are currently the 7th seed in the playoffs. Cordarrelle Patterson is a weapon against the Cowboys who have two of the worst corners in the league. Prescott just struggled last week against Denver in an odd game they couldn’t get themselves out of. A great game between two squads who struggle on defense. I think the Falcons offense gets going here and Atlanta wins big on the road.
Pick: Falcons
1 – Saints (5-3) @ Titans (7-2)
A battle between two banged up teams with records greater than ability. The Saints with no Michael Thomas, possibly no Kamara and no threat at QB, could move to 6-3 or the Titans with no Henry, no Julio Jones, and mediocre defense could move to an astounding 8-2. Tannehill, AJ Brown and Adrien Peterson are now the guts of Tennessee’s operation. Trevor Siemian will be running the offense for NO with Mark Ingram, receivers Marquez Callaway and Tre’Quan Smith. Give me the team with slightly more stability.
Pick: Titans
1-Browns (5-4) @ Patriots (5-4)
Cleveland pounded Cincinnati 41-16 last week and will be looking to roll over the Pats with no Nick Chubb . D’Ernest Johnson will be the top back again after last getting starter work in a 146 yard, 1 Td outing against the Broncos. Patriots will be without Damien Harris but have Brandon Bolden ready to pick up the slack.
Pick: Patriots
4:25-Seahawks (3-5) @ Packers (7-2)
With the return of Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson we suddenly have a very watchable game. Seattle was already on a slide pre-injury and Wilson’s actual throwing ability has to be questioned after pins were removed from his finger. Coming off a bye hopefully the squad can compete with a motivated Rogers, returning from Covid list, whether Wilson is healthy or Geno Smith has to step in.
Pick: Packers
8:20-Chiefs (5-4) @ Raiders (5-3)
LV is having trouble keeping the season on the rails after a hot start and the Chiefs badly need a division victory to hold onto playoff hopes. Off field issues have effect on-field production and it caught up in a bad 23-16 loss to the Giants for LV last week. Carr is having issues pushing the ball down the field and the pass game is limited. KC can’t get out of their own way and struggled against this very defense last season. With the offense only putting up 40 combined points over the last 3 games the Raiders should be favored at home to win again even with limitations.
Pick: Raiders
Lower Grove
1 – Jaguars (2-6) @ Colts (4-5)
The Colts blasted the Jets 45-30 on TNF and have had ten days to prepare. Taylor racked up 172 yards and 2 Tds and has been a monster. Wentz also put up 3 Tds and 272 yards. The offense is a real threat but the defense has holes. In a 9-6 upset of the Bill last week the Jags defense looked good but the offense struggled. If they can string a full game together on both sides of the ball they can disrupt the Colts.
Pick: Colts
1-Bills (5-3) @ Jets (2-6)
Buffalo couldn’t exploit the Jags last week and need to run the ball. The Jets had ten days off to prepare after the Colts blasting but still managed 30 points with 3rd stringer Josh Johnson after Mike White hurt his arm.
Pick: Bills
4:05-Vikings (3-5) @ Chargers (5-3)
Let’s start with the positives: Both offense are top-10 in passing and the Vikings top 10 run offense. The negatives: Neither team can stop the run with the Charges bottom of the league by a mile allowing 161.6ypg compared to 3rd most Minnesota 136.6ypg. The Vikings should be in good shape to control the ground and pull the upset.
Pick: Vikings
4:25-Eagles (3-6) @ Broncos (5-4)
Philly pushed the Chargers in a 27-24 loss while the Broncos put a defensive game plan together that stunned the Cowboys 30-16. The ground game for the Eagles is almost non-existent and everything goes through future backup Jalen Hurts. Denver’s defense should hopefully keep them one step ahead.
Pick: Broncos
Rot
1-Lions (0-8) @ Steelers (5-3)
Can Detroit finally grab a win coming out of a bye? Philly isn’t very good but they flew into Detroit and slaughtered the Lions 44-6 two weeks ago so traveling down to the other Pittsburg team isn’t looking so good. The Steelers have won 4 straight.
Pick: Steelers
1-Buccaneers (6-2) @ Washington (2-6)
The Bucs are coming off a bye somehow less healthy with Godwin questionable and Gronk and Antonio Brown out. The run game is still a question mark but question marks for every team in the league has to instill confidence in another Bucs run and make them one of the Super Bowl favorites going forward. The final 9: @ Washington, Giants, @Colts, @ Falcons, Bills, Saints, @ Panthers, @Jets, Panthers are all winnable. In the division, the road game against the surging Falcons might be the toughest match with the Saints hurt and two dates against the crumbling Panthers. Washington is falling apart on both sides of the ball, the Giants roster isn’t great and the skill players can’t stay healthy, the Colts don’t have a great defense, the Bills can’t run the ball and the Jets….well Brady is familiar with grounding Jets. Forgiving a slipup, an 8-1 run and 14-3 over record is on the table.
Pick: Buccaneers
4:05-Panthers (4-5) @ Cardinals (8-1)
Darnold’s shoulder is fractured and so are the Panthers playoff chances. Cam Newton might be ready to go with limited practice. PJ Washington is the other option. Kyle Murry is out for the Cards but Colt McCoy was enough against the 49ers.
Pick: Cardinals
MNF – Los Angeles (7-2) @ 49ers (3-5)
Odell made his decision to sign with the Rams and Robert Woods tore his ACL the same day. Instead of upgrading the receiving core we’ll see if it’s an upgrade. LA had no business losing to a Titans team that had just lost Henry, signed Peterson off the street, put up 69 yards rushing, didn’t have Julio Jones, and put up less than 250 yards total offense. Stafford’s two pick sixes hurt them but they should bounce back against a SF team that’s had several back articles released on the team this week. Kyle Shanahan is receiving heat for the team’s poor performance and player development. They’ve lost 4 of 5 including 31-17 to a Colt McCoy Cards team last week.
Pick: LA Rams
