Quick Picks; Week Nine
Every week throughout the season, we make our Quick Picks (in bold) on the upcoming slate of games, focusing on the key points for each match-up. After Tuesday’s breathless trade deadline, several teams made trades that should make the second half of the season very interesting. Here are Week Nine’s picks.
Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets (TNF)
Buffalo’s defense is legit and could fuel a surprise playoff run. The running game has looked rejuvenated over the past two weeks and the Bills should be able to out-grind the Jets, who have lost four straight games. While trade acquisition Kelvin Benjamin likely won’t play this week, excitement should build in Buffalo.
Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans
Coming off a stellar performance despite losing in Seattle, Deshaun Watson has fuelled the Texans this season. He now hosts a Colts team that has been competitive yet severely lacks talent. A win will keep Houston in the AFC South mix.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville is coming off a bye and their defense is a top five unit. The Bengals are an inconsistent team struggling on offense, and Andy Dalton will have a tough game against the Jaguars. With Leonard Fournette due back, expect Jacksonville to control a low-scoring contest.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints
The disappointing Bucs are sleepwalking through the season and now face a Saints team that has won five straight. Tampa’s defense cannot pressure quarterbacks or stop the run, so New Orleans’ balanced unit should enjoy another big game as they put their stamp on the NFC South.
Los Angeles Rams @ New York Giants
Both teams are coming off a bye with different goals. The Rams will be looking to secure their place as a true playoff contender, while the Giants will yet again be fighting to salvage their season. With dysfunction wrecking New York’s secondary, the Rams should ride Todd Gurley to another big win.
Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers
Both NFC South teams are on a precipice. The Falcons struggle to finish games strong ad lack identity on offense while the Panthers are maddeningly inconsistent and just traded their best receiver. Carolina’s strong defense could be the difference, but they need to stop Julio Jones, who could be due a big game.
Denver Broncos @ Philadelphia Eagles
Trade pickup Jay Ajayi arrives ahead of a big game for Philly, who will want to prove their league-best record is no fluke against a top five defense. Meanwhile, the Brock Osweiler era belatedly begins in Denver, but expect the offense to struggle again, letting the defense down as the Eagles gradually pull away.
Baltimore Ravens @ Tennessee Titans
Marcus Mariota should be fully healthy after a bye week but needs a win to keep the Titans in the AFC South race. Although Baltimore shut down Jay Ajayi last week, they could struggle when facing a better offensive line and a bruising Derrick Henry.
Arizona Cardinals @ San Francisco 49ers
Blockbuster trade acquisition Jimmy Garoppolo may not play immediately as he gets up to speed, so C.J. Beathard will have one more start. In a lacklustre game between two free-falling franchises, Adrian Peterson figures to be in for a huge workload with Drew Stanton under centre, and could run rampant against a soft 49ers defense.
Washington Redskins @ Seattle Seahawks
Despite some flashes, Washington’s offense hasn’t completely figured things out. To make matters worse, injuries have severely depleted the offensive line and the Redskins now face a Seahawks team coming off a huge win. Duane Brown figures to contribute immediately for Seattle after arriving via trade as the Seahawks start stacking wins.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys
With Ezekiel Elliott almost certain to begin his suspension this week, Dallas has caught the Chiefs at the wrong time. Kansas City needs to keep winning to keep pace with Pittsburgh and New England and will focus on shutting down Dak Prescott. Kareem Hunt should have a big game against the Cowboys’ front.
Oakland Raiders @ Miami Dolphins (SNF)
A moribund Sunday Night Football matchup should be a good one for Oakland. Miami’s defense couldn’t stop the morose Ravens offense and now faces Derek Carr and Co. While the Raiders are little better on defense, Miami has been close to unwatchable offensively this season, even before trading away Jay Ajayi.
Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers (MNF)
The Lions may look slightly stronger on paper, but they are injured and coming off some bad losses. Brett Hundley could shine against Detroit’s defense,and if Aaron Jones continues to ball, Aaron Rodgers’ replacement could notch his first career win.
