WEEK 9 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (8-5)

Week 8 was terrible picking as we suffered five losses. The Jets bombed the Bengals for their first win. Mr. Rogers’ old neighborhood screwed Aaron’s second revenge game of the year as we picked Steelers over the visiting Packers. Cannot figure out the 49ers for the life of us as they do opposite of whatever we have them down for. The Ravens resurrect themselves like some bad Jason movie, Friday the 13th: The Chicago Massacre, with a back up QB. The Captain Kirk Cousins should have his stripes removed for the Falcons offensive no show versus a weak ass Dolphins defense. It was bad week if you quit sniffing glue, drinking, and even smoking the good stuff.

We peel ourselves off the pavement and come out swinging for week 9.

OUR SEASON RECORD: (79-42)

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

BALTIMORE RAVENS (2-5) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-6)

I’m not buying what the Dolphins did last week versus an unpredictable Falcons team. The Ravens won with their old back up quarterback who is 3rd on the totem pole this season for the Ravens. Tyler Huntley looked like he should have been the number two after the Ravens beat the Bears and broke a long losing streak. And the win saved their season. This week they get Lamar Jackson back from injury. Bad Dolphins defense gives the Ravens their first back to back wins of the season.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

THE SUNDAY GAMES

ATLANTA FALCONS (3-4) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (6-2)

I don’t hear any more griping of all the people that were soured because the Patriots fired Jerod Mayo in the off-season for Mike Vrabel. The Patriots have won 5 straight games. This Falcons team plays well once in a blue moon and I’m not talking about the bottles in the cooler. The Falcons really do not do well on the road as they play better at home. The Falcons quarterback play has seen better days. I don’t care who they play this week. The Patriots will key on the Falcons rushing attack and that’s game when New England wins their 6th straight game.

OUR PICK: PATRIOTS

CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-4) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-1-1)

When Aaron Rodgers played for the Packers he owned the Bears. Since Jordan Love beat Rodgers’ Steelers does Jordan own Aaron? We do know the Panthers will have Bryce Young back behind center which they missed him last week. The Panthers do not play well on the road while the Packers are awesome defending their home field. I just don’t see banged up Young getting the job done. Love lit up the Steelers as he should have no problems with the Panthers defense.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

CHICAGO BEARS (4-3) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (3-5)

Last year when the Bears got to their 4th win, they went on a long losing streak that went into double digits. Can the Bengals come back from losing to the Jets?

The Bears offense should be able to generate points off a bad Cincinnati Bumbles defense which may be the worst in the league. If former Bears QB Justin Fields can light up the Bengals defense, why can’t Caleb Williams rebound from a bad game versus the Ravens. I like the Bears in this one because Joe Flacco is dealing with shoulder injury. Bears defense will bounce in this one.

OUR PICK: BEARS

DENVER BRONCOS (6-2) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (3-4)

This game features two of the best in the league at defense. The Texans played well last week in a win versus the 49ers. Their best performance overall the entire season. The Broncos have been rolling winning 5 straight games and are trying to stay one game ahead of the evil Chiefs in the AFC West which Kansas City has thrived in for years. I like Bo Nix over CJ Stroud. Nix threw 4 touchdown passes in a win over the Cowboys last week as he is heating up at the right part of the season. The Texans have issues with their offensive line. They do not have a balanced offensive attack as they lack a running game. The Broncos are balanced on offense and have the better defense which will make the Texans their 6th straight victory.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-1) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-3)

The Steeler are lucky they are playing in a bad division with teams like the Bengals, Browns, and Ravens who all have losing records. New York Giants fans have to be baffled seeing Daniel Jones playing well behind center for the Colts who are a team that looks like no one will stop. The Steelers have lost two straight games and their defense sucks. Aaron Rodgers has played well in a Steeler uniform, but he’s not the guy that will get you a guaranteed win when the defense does not show up. Jones is throwing dimes in the air. Jonathan Taylor is running wild and may be the best running back in the NFL. The Steelers will hang around all season until the Ravens finally over takes them for the division.

OUR PICK: COLTS

LA CHARGERS (5-3) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (1-7)

If you’re a Titans fan, what are the plans if you get another number 1 pick in next season’s draft? Is Cam Ward your guy? The Chargers are coming off a big Thursday night victory over the Vikings and should have no problem dispatching the Titans this week. Make it your survivor pick. The Titans are giving up 7.3 yards per pass play this season. Justin Herbert has played well. Perfect recipe for the Chargers. Make sure you rinse the vegetables before preparing the game plan.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-4) AT DETROIT LIONS (5-2)

For the Vikings, Sam Darnold is that one night stand you want back. It was such a magical night when the Vikings fans and team met Darnold. Everything was new and refreshing. The team was fighting for the number one seed versus the Lions in the last game of regular season. Now what? Carson Wentz is done for the season. Now it’s back to the rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy who has been very injury prone since they drafted him. I don’t see McCarthy coming back behind center after missing the last few weeks and beating a very solid Lions team. The Vikings have had luck on their side most years inserting a QB into the offense like a light bulb. Now they are facing taking their lumps with a rookie QB. The Lions D will provide McCarthy with some lumps.

OUR PICK: LIONS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-3) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (2-6)

The 49ers this season have been the story of cry wolf. You think they should win, they lose. You pick them to lose, they win. On offense they need a wolf because they have not been scoring points lately. Another road game for the 49ers as they lost in Houston last week. The Giants are like that novelty can of shooting snakes.

Some teams will not fall for it. Some will loosen the jar and the snake will Dart out. I have a feeling Jaxson Dart will hit a bullseye this week and give the Giants an upset victory over nonchalant injured ridden 49ers squad.

OUR PICK: GIANTS

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-3) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-5)

Both of these teams are desperate for a win. Both teams are well rested coming off their bye weeks. The Jaguars have been having trouble establishing their aerial attack. While the Raiders have had issues generating offense. The Raiders defense have played well. The Jaguars defense has played better and seem to have the knack of getting turnovers. They are playing the man Geno Smith for the Raiders who has already thrown 10 interceptions. Trevor Lawrence will have a decent game and give the Jags what they need to crack the win column this week.

OUR PICK: JAGUARS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-7) AT LA RAMS (5-2)

The Saints were dreadful on offense last week versus Tampa Bay. That was with Spencer Rattler behind center. Now the Saints will start Tyler Shough who has seen some action versus the Buccaneers defense last week. The Rams are coming off a bye week. Matthew Stafford will have a big game versus a Saints defense that has problems with the aerial attack. The Rams defense should give Shough in his first NFL start, a tough day at the office.

OUR PICK: RAMS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-3) AT BUFFALO BILLS (5-2)

The Bills and Chiefs, a pair of heavy weights in the AFC, are squaring off in the game of the week. Josh Allen has dominated Patrick Mahomes in regular season. It’s the other way around in the post-season as the Chiefs have knocked out the Bills in multiple post-season meetings. The Chiefs offense is firing on all cylinders. The Bills came off their bye week and got their offense back on track putting up 40 points versus the Carolina Panthers. Whose defense is better right now? I think both defenses will be MIA this weekend. This game has shoot out written all over it. I like Allen at home in this one. The Bills win it in the last few minutes by one score.

OUR PICK: BILLS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (5-2) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (3-5)

I don’t care if Jayden Daniels is playing for the Commanders in this one. The Commanders defense is a problem. Sam Darnold and the Seattle offense have played well and will score points off this Washington team. It’s a long flight for Seattle, but they are well rested coming off their bye week. Seattle’s defense has played well and will give Daniels a tough match up trying to give a go and being banged up. I just don’t see anything good here for the Commanders.

OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-5) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (3-4-1)

The Cardinals started off the season 2-0 and since have lost 5 straight games. The Cowboys were beating up by the Broncos last weekend. The Cardinals coming off their bye week will have the services of their starting quarterback Kyler Murray. Even with Murray, the Cardinals will not score a ton of points. Even against a bad Cowboys defense. No way Murray will match points with Dak Prescott. The Cowboys have one of the best offenses in the league. Their defense will make two key stops to give the Boys a home victory on Monday night in front of the entire world watching.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS