NFL - Week Nine Preview

Here it is the month of November and the NFL season has reached the halfway point. 

Last week's games definitely provided surprises and the picks here for those games took a beating. In fact, it was the first losing record for the Heftyinfo NFL weekly picks in well over a year. Oh well, back at it this week with several key matchups taking place, including the Green Bay Packers traveling to Kansas City to face the Chiefs. 

Only the Packers will be without quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who tested positive for COVID-19 this week. The Chiefs are 4-4 and need to keep a good thing going if they want to stay in contention in the AFC West chase. The Packers (7-1) have a comfortable lead in the NFC North, but would like to keep their winning streak going. 

The Browns and Bengals will do battle in Cincinnati and the AFC North is a tight race. The Bengals are 5-3 and just a half game behind the first place Baltimore Ravens. The Browns are 4-4 and just two games back of first place in the loss column. However, after their 3-1 start this year, the Browns have dropped three of their last four games to fall to the cellar. 

The Sunday night game is an interesting one with the Tennessee Titans (6-2) traveling to facing the red hot Los Angeles Rams (7-1). The Rams added linebacker Von Miller to their roster in a trade with the Denver Broncos. Meanwhile, the Titans lost Derrick Henry, the league's leading rusher, to a foot injury and he could very well be out for the rest of this season. That definitely tilts things to the Rams' favor for this game. 

The previews for all the games are condensed into the capsule style and the Heftyinfo predictions follow up. Looking to have a rebound weekend after last week's disastrous results. 

 

Atlanta (3-4) at New Orleans (5-2) - The Saints stunned Tampa Bay last week, so now they have to be ready for the Falcons. They should come away with the win. 

Denver (4-4) at Dallas (6-1) - Can the Cowboys' magic carpet ride continue? It should this week.

New England (4-4) at Carolina (4-4) - These two teams are very similar so far this season. Toss up in this one. 

Minnesota (3-4) at Baltimore (5-2) - The Ravens are smarting after their blowout loss two weeks ago. Minnesota let one get away at home against a depleted Cowboys team last week. Something has to give. 

Cleveland (4-4) at Cincinnati (5-3) - The battle of Ohio with two playoff contenders going at it. Toss up. 

Buffalo (5-2) at Jacksonville (1-6) - The Bills should win this one, but the Jaguars will not just lay down in this game. 

Houston (1-7) at Miami (1-7) - Who cares? 

Las Vegas (5-2) at N.Y. Giants (2-6) - The Raiders are reeling again with off the field events. The Giants looked better in their last two games, so this one could go either way. 

L.A. Chargers (4-3) at Philadelphia (3-5) - The Chargers have struggled in their last two games. The Eagles had a big win last week  . . . against Detroit. 

Green Bay (7-1) at Kansas City (4-4) - Can the Chiefs make it two in a row? The Packers enter this game without QB Aaron Rodgers. 

Arizona (7-1) at San Francisco (3-4) - The 49ers find themselves in a must win situation this week against an NFC West foe. The Cardinals might not have starting QB Kyler Murray in this one. 

Tennessee (6-2) at L.A. Rams (7-1) - The Rams are on a roll while the Titans have been the same in recent weeks. However, no Derrick Henry for Tennessee will likely spell trouble. 

Chicago (3-5) at Pittsburgh (4-3) - The Monday night game in the Steel City should be a good one. Steelers rate a slight edge in this one. 

 

The Heftyinfo picks for Week Nine  . . . . . . . .     (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS) 

 

INDIANAPOLIS over N.Y. Jets 

New Orleans over Atlanta 

Dallas over Denver 

New England over Carolina

Baltimore over Minnesota 

Cincinnati over Cleveland 

Buffalo over Jacksonville 

Miami over Houston 

Las Vegas over N.Y. Giants 

L.A. Chargers over Philadelphia 

Kansas City over Green Bay 

San Francisco over Arizona 

L.A. Rams over Tennessee 

Pittsburgh over Chicago 

Last Week's Record - 6-9 

SEASON RECORD - 75-47 

Lock of the Week Record - 8-0