{"id":372,"date":"2009-09-04T11:51:02","date_gmt":"2009-09-04T15:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=372"},"modified":"2009-09-06T10:58:21","modified_gmt":"2009-09-06T14:58:21","slug":"brys-week-by-week-nfl-preview-week-nine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=372","title":{"rendered":"Bry’s Week-by-Week NFL Preview: Week Nine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Week Eight <\/a>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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 In fact, this week may be hardest week of all 17 to predict.\u00a0 There are big games with evenly matched teams, and many teams that really need wins, at this point.\u00a0 This week is going to be fascinatingly pivotal to the 2009 season.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 The first projected playoff pairings will come out next week.\u00a0 (As always, winners in CAPS.)<\/p>\n

On Bye:<\/strong>
\nBuffalo (5-3)
\nCleveland (2-6)
\nMinnesota (5-3)
\nNew York Jets (1-7)
\nOakland (3-5)
\nSt. Louis (1-7)<\/p>\n

Sunday, November 8:
\n<\/strong>1:00 – Baltimore (5-2) at CINCINNATI (1-6) *
\nI 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.\u00a0 They tend to play down (and up) to competition.\u00a0 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.\u00a0\u00a0The Bengals may be able to\u00a0gameplan enough to get Carson Palmer going and beat the Ravens.\u00a0 This game may definitely be one that Baltimore fans look back on, if they fall short at the end of the season.<\/p>\n

1:00 – Miami (3-4) at NEW ENGLAND (6-1)
\nPatriots, at home, coming off of a bye, usually spells a victory.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

1:00 – Kansas City (3-4) at JACKSONVILLE (3-4) *
\nThe Jags should be able to take care of business against the Chiefs, at home.\u00a0 However, it is one that I think could go either way for two reasons:\u00a0 (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.\u00a0 However, the Chiefs really are not that good, and the Jags should be able to pull it out.\u00a0 But, don’t be surprised if they get a scare, in the process.<\/p>\n

1:00 – Green Bay (5-2) at TAMPA BAY (1-6)
\nUh, letdown?\u00a0 Ya, probably.\u00a0 The Packers are coming off an emotional win over their former quarterback and now they have to go play Tampa in Tampa?\u00a0 No, the Bucs are not headed to the playoffs, but they still have a decent team that can’t be taken lightly.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

1:00 – WASHINGTON (5-2) at Atlanta (2-5)
\nI think the Falcons are as good as the Skins, on\u00a0a neutral field.\u00a0 I think that, in a vacuum, they beat the Skins easily, at home.\u00a0 However, everything is working against the Falcons in this one.\u00a0 They are operating on a short week, after a tough Monday night game against division rival, New Orleans.\u00a0 They also are seven days away from a showdown with another division rival, Carolina.\u00a0 Meanwhile, the Skins are rested, healthy, and confident, as they knocked off the Eagles two weeks ago and had a bye last week.\u00a0 This is just one of those schedule wins for the Skins.\u00a0 They should not go into Atlanta and win, but everything works in their favor, schedule-wise.<\/p>\n

1:00 – Arizona (2-5) at CHICAGO (4-3)
\nTwo teams going in opposite directions, as the Bears win their 5th straight and the Cards drop their 3rd in a row.\u00a0 In Arizona, I like the Cardinals, but in Chicago, the Bears should be able to win this game.\u00a0 And, they can probably win regardless of weather.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

1:00 – HOUSTON (4-4) at Indianapolis (5-2) *
\nThis is the Super Bowl for the Texans.\u00a0 Their entire season will probably be riding on this game.\u00a0 They have a bye next week, and 5-4 is a whole lot different than 4-5.\u00a0 And, the Colts may be looking ahead to the Patriots showdown next week.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

4:05 – Carolina (5-2) at NEW ORLEANS (4-3) *
\nThis is another huge divisional showdown that could probably go either way.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Plus, because they are a game back, I think the Saints will “need” this one a little more.<\/p>\n

4:05 – Detroit (1-6) at SEATTLE (4-3)
\nAs 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.\u00a0 The Seahawks are simply more talented and incredibly tough at home.<\/p>\n

4:15 – Tennessee (4-3) at SAN FRANCISCO (3-4) *
\nThis is the start of a very <\/em>interesting stretch of games for the Titans, which will probably make or break their season.\u00a0 The next four or five weeks all have games which the Titans can win, but may not, for various reasons.\u00a0 This one is a tough one to pick, but I am going with San Fran, at home.\u00a0 The Titans are coming off a tough, physical game with Jax.\u00a0 And, with the Cardinals struggling, I think the Niners might start believing that they can win this division.\u00a0 This one is one of the toughest games I have picked all year, but I’m going with Singletary.<\/p>\n

4:15 – San Diego (4-3) at NEW YORK GIANTS (5-3) *
\nIn yet another game that could really go either way that I have to give to the home team.\u00a0 There is so much intrigue in this game.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 The Giants are off next week, while the Chargers have to host the Eagles.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 And, New Jersey in November in front of 60,000 Giant fans are about as “adverse” as conditions can get.\u00a0 This game is another one of the toughest I have had to pick all year, but I am picking the Giants…barely.<\/p>\n

8:20 – Dallas (6-1) at PHILADELPHIA (4-3)
\nThe Eagles, coming off back-to-back losses to the Redskins and Giants, now get the 6-1 Cowboys on Sunday night.\u00a0 It is now or never for the Birds, who cannot afford to drop to 0-3 in the toughest division in the game.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 And, I really think they will.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

Monday, November 9:
\n<\/strong>8:30 – PITTSBURGH (7-0) at Denver (3-4)
\nDefending Super Bowl champs.\u00a0 Only remaining undefeated team.\u00a0 15 days to prepare.\u00a0 The Steelers should go into Mile High and take care of business against the fading Broncos.<\/p>\n

To go to Week Ten, click here<\/a><\/p>\n

STANDINGS AFTER WEEK 9:<\/strong>
\nNFC EAST:
\n<\/strong>6-2\u00a0\u00a0 Dallas
\n6-2\u00a0\u00a0 Washington
\n6-3\u00a0\u00a0 New York Giants
\n5-3\u00a0\u00a0 Philadelphia<\/p>\n

NFC NORTH:<\/strong>
\n5-3\u00a0\u00a0 Chicago
\n5-3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Green Bay
\n5-3\u00a0\u00a0 Minnesota
\n1-7\u00a0\u00a0 Detroit<\/p>\n

NFC\u00a0SOUTH<\/strong>:
\n5-3\u00a0\u00a0 Carolina
\n5-3\u00a0\u00a0 New Orleans
\n2-6\u00a0\u00a0 Atlanta
\n2-6\u00a0\u00a0 Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

NFC WEST:
\n<\/strong>5-3\u00a0\u00a0 Seattle
\n4-4\u00a0\u00a0 San Francisco
\n2-6\u00a0\u00a0 Arizona
\n1-7\u00a0\u00a0 St. Louis<\/p>\n

AFC EAST:<\/strong>
\n7-1\u00a0\u00a0 New England
\n5-3\u00a0\u00a0 Buffalo
\n3-5\u00a0\u00a0 Miami
\n1-7\u00a0\u00a0 N.Y. Jets<\/p>\n

AFC NORTH:<\/strong>
\n8-0\u00a0\u00a0 Pittsburgh
\n5-3\u00a0\u00a0 Baltimore
\n2-6\u00a0\u00a0 Cincinnati
\n2-6\u00a0\u00a0 Cleveland<\/p>\n

AFC SOUTH:<\/strong>
\n5-3\u00a0\u00a0 Indianapolis
\n5-4\u00a0\u00a0 Houston
\n4-4\u00a0\u00a0 Jacksonville
\n4-4\u00a0\u00a0 Tennessee<\/p>\n

AFC WEST:<\/strong>
\n4-4\u00a0\u00a0 San Diego
\n3-5\u00a0\u00a0 Denver
\n3-5\u00a0\u00a0 Kansas City
\n3-5\u00a0\u00a0 Oakland<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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.\u00a0 Both the Lions and Jets got their first wins of the year, … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[748],"class_list":["post-372","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nfl","tag-nfl-week-by-week-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/372","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=372"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/372\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=372"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=372"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=372"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}