Gridiron Blitz: Week Nine NFL Preview

Time to preview Week Nine of the NFL season:

Music to listen to:  South Side of the Sky by Yes

Its been a while since I put a Yes song on the Inquirer…　

Here are the picks (home team in CAPS):

ATLANTA (-7) Indianapolis: I’m done taking the Colts after last week’s debacle at Tennessee for Indy. The Falcons are coming off of a bye wee, should be well rested and the Colts look like they’re in full-tank mode. Manning needs to just sit this season out, pray that the Colts don’t get the top pick because the organization WILL pick Andrew Luck in that spot, and get healthy. If Luck gets picked, Manning won’t get traded but would be in Indy for no longer than a year.

NEW ORLEANS (-8) Tampa: I know that the Bucs are coming off of a bye and the Saints looked bad in St. Louis last week but the Rams were due for a good performance and just happened to do it against New Orleans. This seems like one of those games where the Saints get healthy at home and win the game by double-digits.

Cleveland (+11) HOUSTON: The Texans win this contest but they don’t blow any teams out accept for Indy in the season-opener. The Browns are still without Peyton Hillis, who has handled his contract dispute right down the middle for disgruntled NFL disgruntled running backs. You can hold out in the preseason (Chris Johnson) and underperform or you can report to camp (Matt Forte) and have a career-year. Allegedly faking an injury during the regular season while reporting to camp and underperforming has been Hillis’ end result.

BUFFALO (-2) NY Jets: New York State’s real NFL team will continue its undefeated home record against a squad that hasn’t won a road game all season. Fred Jackson may approach 200 yards rushing in this contest. For all of the talk about the NY Jet’s defense the past three years, this unit may be the most disappointing in all of the NFL for 2011.

Miami (+4) KANSAS CITY: The Dolphins have to win one of these contests and the Chiefs are coming off of an emotional win at home on Monday night against San Diego.

San Francisco (-3.5) WASHINGTON: I’m a believer in the 49ers. They do two things that translate to success on the road, run the ball and play good defense. I would normally take the home team hosting a team coming from the west coast in the early 1 pm game but these are the Redskins who start John Beck at quarterback. This game could take place at the Lincoln Memorial and it wouldn’t help Washington.

Seattle (+11.5) DALLAS: The Seahawks are terrible but that line seems two points too high.

OAKLAND (-8) Denver: The Broncos insist on starting Tim Tebow and that will result in a double-digit win for the Raiders who will finally get to see a fully-acclimated Carson Palmer in the offense.

Cincinnati (+3) TENNESSEE: The Bengals are spunky on the road and Chris Johnson isn’t the same. This is my upset special of the week. Bengals 20, Titans 14.

ARIZONA (-2.5) St. Louis: This has to be a win for the Cardinals at home, right?

NY Giants (+9) NEW ENGLAND: This is a tough game to call on both fronts. The Patriots are at home but face a decent Giants’ passing attack that will test the worst secondary in the NFL. The Giants have won a few games in a row but have injuries at running back and has arguably the second-weakest secondary in the NFL against a solid passing attack from New England. I expect a large amount of points to be scored but the Patriots getting a late touchdown for the victory.

Green Bay (-5.5) SAN DIEGO: The Packers will lose a regular season contest this year but it won’t be against the Chargers. However, if there is a contest where Green Bay may get slipped up in, this is a good candidate. The Chargers need the win, been told all week how bad they are, especially Philip Rivers, and still have enough talent to beat the majority of teams in the NFL.

PITTSBURGH (-3) Baltimore: Outstanding game that could go either way. I’ll take the home team.

PHILADELPHIA (-7.5) Chicago: The Eagles seem like a team that’s a front-runner, meaning that when things are going right, they’re an elite team. However, when adversity hits, they struggle. Philly just had an impressive home win against Dallas and looked outstanding doing it.

Last week: 6-7-0

Season: 38-49-3