Thursday
Game: New Orleans at Carolina
Pick: New Orleans - I was leaning toward Carolina before last night when the Saints beat the red-hot Packers by three touchdowns. It's by far and away the best the Saints have looked all year, and even though this game is on the road and the Saints haven't fared well on the road over the past year, I think they're about to go on a roll and should be able to finally get over the hump on the road against a struggling Carolina team. I'll take the Saints by a touchdown.
Result: New Orleans 28 Carolina 10
Record: 1-0
Sunday
Game: Tampa Bay at Cleveland
Pick: Cleveland - This is pretty much a toss-up game for me. I'm not overly-impressed with either team. I think Tampa is a bit better than their 1-6 record would indicate and that Cleveland isn't quite as good as their 4-3 record would suggest. With the game at home, though, I'll give the Browns the slight edge in this one. Cleveland by 6.
Result: Cleveland 22 Tampa Bay 17
Record: 2-0
Game: Arizona at Dallas
Pick: Arizona - Dallas has had arguably the best rushing attack in the NFL this year and Arizona has had arguably the best rush defense. In such match-ups, I tend to go with the defense. Also, while Dallas has allowed fewer points per game this season, the main reason for that is the fact they've held onto the ball longer on offense. They're actually near the bottom of the league again in yards allowed per play. So, while I love how Dallas has been playing, I give Arizona a slight edge in this one. I'll go with the Cardinals by a field goal.
Result: Arizona 28 Dallas 17
Record: 3-0
Game: Philadelphia at Houston
Pick: Philadelphia - J.J. Watt and company could give Nick Foles problems when he drops back to pass. However, while the Texans pass rush has been solid, their run defense hasn't been so great, and with LeSean McCoy and likely Darren Sproles coming back for the Eagles, that's bad news for Houston. I'll take Philly in a bounce-back win by 10.
Result: Philadelphia 31 Houston 21
Record: 4-0
Game: NY Jets at Kansas City
Pick: Kansas City - The New York Jets are reeling at the moment. They're 1-7, uncertain of whether or not to stick with the turnover-prone Geno Smith or to turn to veteran Michael Vick and start thinking about a new quarterback in the off-season. Whichever direction they go, with their offensive line and secondary as bad (or beat up) as they are, it probably won't matter much. I'll take the Chiefs at home by 10.
Result: Kansas City 24 NY Jets 10
Record: 5-0
Game: Jacksonville at Cincinnati
Pick: Cincinnati - Like with some other teams like New Orleans, Atlanta, and even Seattle, Cincinnati appears to be a different team at home than on the road, and with the one-win Jacksonville Jaguars coming to town, that trend should continue for at least another week. Jacksonville may keep things close for the first half, but Cincinnati should be able to pull away in the second and win by a couple of touchdowns (or so).
Result: Cincinnati 33 Jacksonville 23
Record: 6-0
Game: San Diego at Miami
Pick: San Diego - Miami has been playing better of late, but then again, they've also been aided by a kind schedule, as they've played winless Oakland, struggling Chicago, and one-win Jacksonville in recent weeks. San Diego, meanwhile, is coming off a tough Thursday night loss at Denver. With the extra rest and determination of a bounce-back win to try and keep pace with the Broncos in the AFC West, I like the Chargers to win a tough road game by 4.
Result: Miami 37 San Diego 0
Record: 6-1
Game: Washington at Minnesota
Pick: Washington - For whatever reason, I'm just not confident about Minnesota's offense right now. Sure, Washington's quarterback situation is up in the air at the moment, but they have better skill-position players than Minnesota, their defense has improved from a year ago, and I think regardless of who plays quarterback for them, they should be able to win a tight one on the road against the Vikings. I'll take Washington by a field goal.
Result: Minnesota 29 Washington 26
Record: 6-2
Game: St. Louis at San Francisco
Pick: San Francisco - St. Louis is tough to figure out. A week after upsetting Seattle at home, they got pummeled by Kansas City. Now they head to San Francisco to take on a well-rested and angry 49ers team. They're coming off a bye week, after getting embarrassed by Denver the previous Sunday night. Look for the Niners to get back to their winning ways with a 10-point win in this one.
Result: St. Louis 13 San Francisco 10
Record: 6-3
Game: Denver at New England
Pick: New England - This pick could change if the forecast alters any. However, for the time being, meteorologists are calling for a drastic cool-down in Foxboro on Sunday (high of 39). Historically, Tom Brady and his Patriots have tended to get the best of Peyton Manning at home in such conditions. Both teams are as hot as can be at the moment, but even though I think the Broncos are better top to bottom than the Patriots, I'll give the home team the slight edge in this one. I'll take New England by a field goal.
Result: New England 43 Denver 21
Record: 7-3
Game: Oakland at Seattle
Pick: Seattle - Winless Oakland against the Seahawks in Seattle? Yeah, I think I'll take Seattle...by three scores.
Result: Seattle 30 Oakland 24
Record: 8-3
Game; Baltimore at Pittsburgh
Pick: Pittsburgh - When both teams are health, I think Baltimore has the better team. However, given how in-sync the Steelers offense has been the past couple of games and how banged up the Ravens secondary is, I think I'll have to take the Steelers at home in this one. Pittsburgh by a touchdown.
Result: Pittsburgh 43 Baltimore 23
Record: 9-3
Monday
Game: Indianapolis at NY Giants
Pick: Indianapolis - The Colts' defensive showing against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday has me a bit worried, but like to think that was an aberration than the start of a trend. In any case, I'd like to think Andrew Luck and the Colts offense will be able to put up enough points against the Giants defense even if their defense struggles again. I'll take Indianapolis by 6.
Result: Indianapolis 40 NY Giants 24
Record: 10-3
Week 9 Record: 10-3 (.769)
Overall Record: 83-50-1 (.624)
Game: New Orleans at Carolina
Pick: New Orleans - I was leaning toward Carolina before last night when the Saints beat the red-hot Packers by three touchdowns. It's by far and away the best the Saints have looked all year, and even though this game is on the road and the Saints haven't fared well on the road over the past year, I think they're about to go on a roll and should be able to finally get over the hump on the road against a struggling Carolina team. I'll take the Saints by a touchdown.
Result: New Orleans 28 Carolina 10
Record: 1-0
Sunday
Game: Tampa Bay at Cleveland
Pick: Cleveland - This is pretty much a toss-up game for me. I'm not overly-impressed with either team. I think Tampa is a bit better than their 1-6 record would indicate and that Cleveland isn't quite as good as their 4-3 record would suggest. With the game at home, though, I'll give the Browns the slight edge in this one. Cleveland by 6.
Result: Cleveland 22 Tampa Bay 17
Record: 2-0
Game: Arizona at Dallas
Pick: Arizona - Dallas has had arguably the best rushing attack in the NFL this year and Arizona has had arguably the best rush defense. In such match-ups, I tend to go with the defense. Also, while Dallas has allowed fewer points per game this season, the main reason for that is the fact they've held onto the ball longer on offense. They're actually near the bottom of the league again in yards allowed per play. So, while I love how Dallas has been playing, I give Arizona a slight edge in this one. I'll go with the Cardinals by a field goal.
Result: Arizona 28 Dallas 17
Record: 3-0
Game: Philadelphia at Houston
Pick: Philadelphia - J.J. Watt and company could give Nick Foles problems when he drops back to pass. However, while the Texans pass rush has been solid, their run defense hasn't been so great, and with LeSean McCoy and likely Darren Sproles coming back for the Eagles, that's bad news for Houston. I'll take Philly in a bounce-back win by 10.
Result: Philadelphia 31 Houston 21
Record: 4-0
Game: NY Jets at Kansas City
Pick: Kansas City - The New York Jets are reeling at the moment. They're 1-7, uncertain of whether or not to stick with the turnover-prone Geno Smith or to turn to veteran Michael Vick and start thinking about a new quarterback in the off-season. Whichever direction they go, with their offensive line and secondary as bad (or beat up) as they are, it probably won't matter much. I'll take the Chiefs at home by 10.
Result: Kansas City 24 NY Jets 10
Record: 5-0
Game: Jacksonville at Cincinnati
Pick: Cincinnati - Like with some other teams like New Orleans, Atlanta, and even Seattle, Cincinnati appears to be a different team at home than on the road, and with the one-win Jacksonville Jaguars coming to town, that trend should continue for at least another week. Jacksonville may keep things close for the first half, but Cincinnati should be able to pull away in the second and win by a couple of touchdowns (or so).
Result: Cincinnati 33 Jacksonville 23
Record: 6-0
Game: San Diego at Miami
Pick: San Diego - Miami has been playing better of late, but then again, they've also been aided by a kind schedule, as they've played winless Oakland, struggling Chicago, and one-win Jacksonville in recent weeks. San Diego, meanwhile, is coming off a tough Thursday night loss at Denver. With the extra rest and determination of a bounce-back win to try and keep pace with the Broncos in the AFC West, I like the Chargers to win a tough road game by 4.
Result: Miami 37 San Diego 0
Record: 6-1
Game: Washington at Minnesota
Pick: Washington - For whatever reason, I'm just not confident about Minnesota's offense right now. Sure, Washington's quarterback situation is up in the air at the moment, but they have better skill-position players than Minnesota, their defense has improved from a year ago, and I think regardless of who plays quarterback for them, they should be able to win a tight one on the road against the Vikings. I'll take Washington by a field goal.
Result: Minnesota 29 Washington 26
Record: 6-2
Game: St. Louis at San Francisco
Pick: San Francisco - St. Louis is tough to figure out. A week after upsetting Seattle at home, they got pummeled by Kansas City. Now they head to San Francisco to take on a well-rested and angry 49ers team. They're coming off a bye week, after getting embarrassed by Denver the previous Sunday night. Look for the Niners to get back to their winning ways with a 10-point win in this one.
Result: St. Louis 13 San Francisco 10
Record: 6-3
Game: Denver at New England
Pick: New England - This pick could change if the forecast alters any. However, for the time being, meteorologists are calling for a drastic cool-down in Foxboro on Sunday (high of 39). Historically, Tom Brady and his Patriots have tended to get the best of Peyton Manning at home in such conditions. Both teams are as hot as can be at the moment, but even though I think the Broncos are better top to bottom than the Patriots, I'll give the home team the slight edge in this one. I'll take New England by a field goal.
Result: New England 43 Denver 21
Record: 7-3
Game: Oakland at Seattle
Pick: Seattle - Winless Oakland against the Seahawks in Seattle? Yeah, I think I'll take Seattle...by three scores.
Result: Seattle 30 Oakland 24
Record: 8-3
Game; Baltimore at Pittsburgh
Pick: Pittsburgh - When both teams are health, I think Baltimore has the better team. However, given how in-sync the Steelers offense has been the past couple of games and how banged up the Ravens secondary is, I think I'll have to take the Steelers at home in this one. Pittsburgh by a touchdown.
Result: Pittsburgh 43 Baltimore 23
Record: 9-3
Monday
Game: Indianapolis at NY Giants
Pick: Indianapolis - The Colts' defensive showing against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday has me a bit worried, but like to think that was an aberration than the start of a trend. In any case, I'd like to think Andrew Luck and the Colts offense will be able to put up enough points against the Giants defense even if their defense struggles again. I'll take Indianapolis by 6.
Result: Indianapolis 40 NY Giants 24
Record: 10-3
Week 9 Record: 10-3 (.769)
Overall Record: 83-50-1 (.624)
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