Week Eight saw the Birds fall to last place in the East, the Packers take the lead in the North, and Pittsburgh improve to a league best 7-0. Both the Lions and Jets got their first wins of the year, leaving no one left to chase the Detroit’s 2008 legendary 0-16 season. Week Nine shows a third straight divisional game for the Eagles, as well as a couple other big divisional matchups, including showdowns in the NFC and AFC Southern divisions. In fact, this week may be hardest week of all 17 to predict. There are big games with evenly matched teams, and many teams that really need wins, at this point. This week is going to be fascinatingly pivotal to the 2009 season. Furthermore, by the end of this week, all by two teams will have had their byes, so the playoff picture should start to take shape. The first projected playoff pairings will come out next week. (As always, winners in CAPS.)
On Bye:
Buffalo (5-3)
Cleveland (2-6)
Minnesota (5-3)
New York Jets (1-7)
Oakland (3-5)
St. Louis (1-7)
Sunday, November 8:
1:00 – Baltimore (5-2) at CINCINNATI (1-6) *
I don’t really have a good reason for this, other than the Bengals have two weeks to prepare, but this just seems like a game that the Ravens would drop. They tend to play down (and up) to competition. Obviously, this can go either way, but I think coming off a tough game with the Broncos, this may not be a walk in the park for an inconsistent offense. The Bengals may be able to gameplan enough to get Carson Palmer going and beat the Ravens. This game may definitely be one that Baltimore fans look back on, if they fall short at the end of the season.
1:00 – Miami (3-4) at NEW ENGLAND (6-1)
Patriots, at home, coming off of a bye, usually spells a victory. Yes, the Dolphins have given them trouble in recent history, but there is no reason to think that a Belichick team drops a home game for which they have two weeks to prepare.
1:00 – Kansas City (3-4) at JACKSONVILLE (3-4) *
The Jags should be able to take care of business against the Chiefs, at home. However, it is one that I think could go either way for two reasons: (1) the Chiefs are coming off of a bye, while Jax is coming off a really physical game with Tennessee, and (2) this is just the kind of game that Jacksonville loses. However, the Chiefs really are not that good, and the Jags should be able to pull it out. But, don’t be surprised if they get a scare, in the process.
1:00 – Green Bay (5-2) at TAMPA BAY (1-6)
Uh, letdown? Ya, probably. The Packers are coming off an emotional win over their former quarterback and now they have to go play Tampa in Tampa? No, the Bucs are not headed to the playoffs, but they still have a decent team that can’t be taken lightly. As good as I think the Packers are this year, I think that they drop this one, just as it looked like they were taking control of the NFC North.
1:00 – WASHINGTON (5-2) at Atlanta (2-5)
I think the Falcons are as good as the Skins, on a neutral field. I think that, in a vacuum, they beat the Skins easily, at home. However, everything is working against the Falcons in this one. They are operating on a short week, after a tough Monday night game against division rival, New Orleans. They also are seven days away from a showdown with another division rival, Carolina. Meanwhile, the Skins are rested, healthy, and confident, as they knocked off the Eagles two weeks ago and had a bye last week. This is just one of those schedule wins for the Skins. They should not go into Atlanta and win, but everything works in their favor, schedule-wise.
1:00 – Arizona (2-5) at CHICAGO (4-3)
Two teams going in opposite directions, as the Bears win their 5th straight and the Cards drop their 3rd in a row. In Arizona, I like the Cardinals, but in Chicago, the Bears should be able to win this game. And, they can probably win regardless of weather. Prior to getting an actual quarterback, this game would probably have more to due with the weather than the teams playing, but now that the Bears have a real QB, they can win this game even if it’s one of those unseasonably mild days in Chicago in early November.
1:00 – HOUSTON (4-4) at Indianapolis (5-2) *
This is the Super Bowl for the Texans. Their entire season will probably be riding on this game. They have a bye next week, and 5-4 is a whole lot different than 4-5. And, the Colts may be looking ahead to the Patriots showdown next week. This could go either way, but I like the Texans to step up and win a game that they not supposed to, for a change.
4:05 – Carolina (5-2) at NEW ORLEANS (4-3) *
This is another huge divisional showdown that could probably go either way. But, I am going with the Saints to win the game at home, despite operating on a short week after a Monday night win over Atlanta. I like the Panthers and see the difficulty in the Saints getting up for back-to-back big games, but I trust Drew Brees and company at home. Plus, because they are a game back, I think the Saints will “need” this one a little more.
4:05 – Detroit (1-6) at SEATTLE (4-3)
As much as I would love to pick the Lions to win two in a row, I really don’t see how they can go into Seattle and win. The Seahawks are simply more talented and incredibly tough at home.
4:15 – Tennessee (4-3) at SAN FRANCISCO (3-4) *
This is the start of a very interesting stretch of games for the Titans, which will probably make or break their season. The next four or five weeks all have games which the Titans can win, but may not, for various reasons. This one is a tough one to pick, but I am going with San Fran, at home. The Titans are coming off a tough, physical game with Jax. And, with the Cardinals struggling, I think the Niners might start believing that they can win this division. This one is one of the toughest games I have picked all year, but I’m going with Singletary.
4:15 – San Diego (4-3) at NEW YORK GIANTS (5-3) *
In yet another game that could really go either way that I have to give to the home team. There is so much intrigue in this game. Both teams are coming off of wins against divisional foes, with the Giants going into Philly and winning, while the Chargers took care of Oakland at home. The Giants are off next week, while the Chargers have to host the Eagles. What really tipped the scales for me in this one is that the Chargers just do not play that well on the road, in adverse conditions. And, New Jersey in November in front of 60,000 Giant fans are about as “adverse” as conditions can get. This game is another one of the toughest I have had to pick all year, but I am picking the Giants…barely.
8:20 – Dallas (6-1) at PHILADELPHIA (4-3)
The Eagles, coming off back-to-back losses to the Redskins and Giants, now get the 6-1 Cowboys on Sunday night. It is now or never for the Birds, who cannot afford to drop to 0-3 in the toughest division in the game. Plus, they have a tough trip to the Left Coast to play San Diego next week, so they could be staring at 4-5 if they don’t pull this one out. And, I really think they will. They have played the Cowboys extremely well over the past couple of years, and I think that they are too proud and, more importantly, too talented not to win this game.
Monday, November 9:
8:30 – PITTSBURGH (7-0) at Denver (3-4)
Defending Super Bowl champs. Only remaining undefeated team. 15 days to prepare. The Steelers should go into Mile High and take care of business against the fading Broncos.
To go to Week Ten, click here
STANDINGS AFTER WEEK 9:
NFC EAST:
6-2 Dallas
6-2 Washington
6-3 New York Giants
5-3 Philadelphia
NFC NORTH:
5-3 Chicago
5-3 Green Bay
5-3 Minnesota
1-7 Detroit
NFC SOUTH:
5-3 Carolina
5-3 New Orleans
2-6 Atlanta
2-6 Tampa Bay
NFC WEST:
5-3 Seattle
4-4 San Francisco
2-6 Arizona
1-7 St. Louis
AFC EAST:
7-1 New England
5-3 Buffalo
3-5 Miami
1-7 N.Y. Jets
AFC NORTH:
8-0 Pittsburgh
5-3 Baltimore
2-6 Cincinnati
2-6 Cleveland
AFC SOUTH:
5-3 Indianapolis
5-4 Houston
4-4 Jacksonville
4-4 Tennessee
AFC WEST:
4-4 San Diego
3-5 Denver
3-5 Kansas City
3-5 Oakland
