Can you believe it? The first half of the 2014 NFL season is already done and dusted and teams are slowly starting to emerge from the pack. The Cardinals have surprised fans and analysts alike with their brilliant play so far this season as they have stormed to a league-best 6-1 record.
Can they continue their strong performance in the second half? Or will another team steal their thunder as we enter the homestretch? Read on for our complete NFL Week 9 picks and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of the Thursday Night Football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers here.
[sc:Football ]Complete NFL Week 9 Picks
Thursday, October 30
New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers (8:25 PM ET)
Writer’s Pick: Saints -2.5
[sc:NFL240banner ]All is right with New Orleans once again as they humiliated Green Bay 44-23 to end the Packers’ four-game winning streak. Quarterback Drew Brees was the man of the match for the Saints as he completed 27 of 32 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns to put his recent struggles behind him.
He will look to give the Saints back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they travel to Charlotte to face the Carolina Panthers this coming Sunday. The Saints have struggled on the road, though, going 0-4 on the road so far this season.
Sunday, November 2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Cleveland Browns (1:00 PM ET)
Writer’s Pick: Browns -6.5
The Cleveland Browns bounced back from a humiliating loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars a week ago with a solid 23-13 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Quarterback Brian Hoyer completed 19 of 28 passes for 275 yards and a touchdown to help the Browns climb to within half a game of the AFC North lead.
The Browns can surpass their win total from last season with a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this coming Sunday. The Bucs are in the midst of a three-game tailspin after losing to the Minnesota Vikings in overtime, 19-13.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys (1:00 PM ET)
Writer’s Pick: Cowboys
The Arizona Cardinals will put on the line their three-game winning streak when they take on NFC East leaders Dallas at Cowboy Stadium. The Cardinals are coming off a nerve-wracking 24-20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday to go two games clear ahead of San Francisco and Seattle at the top of the NFC West standings.
They can create further separation when they take on the Dallas Cowboys who are reeling from their 20-17 upset loss to the Washington Redskins on Monday night. There are also plenty of questions surrounding quarterback Tony Romo who was sidelined for most of the second half after injuring his back in the third quarter.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Houston Texans (1:00 PM ET)
Writer’s Pick: Eagles -2.5
The Eagles wasted a glorious opportunity to tie the Dallas Cowboys for the NFC East lead after they allowed a late touchdown in their 24-20 defeat to the Arizona Cardinals. The Eagles had a 20-17 edge with 1:56 remaining but fell victim to a stunning 75-yard TD reception from rookie John Brown to book just their second defeat in seven games.
They will look to put their season back on track when they take on the Houston Texans who recorded a morale-boosting 30-16 win over the Tennessee Titans. Running back Arian Foster rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns as he helped the Texans end its three-game losing skid.
New York Jets vs. Kansas City Chiefs (1:00 PM ET)
Writer’s Pick: Chiefs -9.5
The Jets’ nightmarish season continued on Sunday as they lost to the Buffalo Bills 43-23 to crash to their seventh consecutive defeat. We might have seen for the final time this year quarterback Geno Smith who was benched once again after throwing three interceptions in the first quarter.
The Jets will be looking for a much better performance from QB Michael Vick who is expected to start for the first time this season against the Chiefs. It won’t get any easier for them, however, as they will face a Kansas City team that is firing on all cylinders right now. The Chiefs scored 34 unanswered points in their 34-7 rout of the St. Louis Rams to go over .500 for the first time this season.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cincinnati Bengals (1:00 PM ET)
Writer’s Pick: Jaguars +12.5
Quarterback Andy Dalton was the star of the show for the Bengals as his one-yard sneak touchdown with 57 seconds remaining gave Cincinnati the all-important 27-24 win. The victory helped the Bengals snap its three-game winless streak as they grabbed the solo lead in the ever-tightening AFC North race.
They can create further separation when they take on the hapless Jacksonville Jaguars who are back on the losing trail after being beaten by Miami 27-13. Quarterback Blake Bortles became the first QB since Geno Smith (not good when you’re mentioned with the Jets QB) last year to have two picks returned for TDs in the same game.
San Diego Chargers vs. Miami Dolphins (1:00 PM ET)
Writer’s Pick: Chargers +1
The Miami Dolphins won consecutive games for the first time this season after beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-13 on Sunday. It was their defense that took center stage this time around as they returned two Bortles passes for touchdowns. The Dolphins are the eighth-best defensive team in the league this season allowing an average of just 322.7 total yards per game.
They will have their hands full, however, this coming Sunday when they host the San Diego Chargers. Behind quarterback Philip Rivers, the Chargers are tied for ninth in the league in scoring with an average of 25.6 points per game. San Diego’s offense have sputtered recently though, averaging just 20.5 points per contest in their last two defeats to Kansas City and Denver.
Washington Redskins vs. Minnesota Vikings (1:00 PM ET)
Writer’s Pick: Redskins
The Washington Redskins will be heading into their game against Minnesota with extreme confidence after they upset Dallas 20-17 on Monday night. Quarterback Colt McCoy was the hero for Washington as he led the Redskins to the game-winning drive that helped set up Kai Forbath’s 40-yard field goal in overtime.
Even with his heroics, his status for the game against the Vikings is still up in the air with QB Robert Griffin III inching closer to his much-awaited return.
St. Louis Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers (4:05 PM ET)
Writer’s Pick: 49ers -9.5
San Francisco’s bye week couldn’t have come at a much opportune time after they were humiliated by the Denver Broncos 42-17 in Week 7. The 49ers had no answer for quarterback Peyton Manning who surpassed Brett Favre in the career TD passes list during that game.
The 49ers will have it much easier this coming Sunday, though, as they host the struggling St. Louis Rams. The Rams were dealt a 34-7 hammering by the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday to slip to their fifth defeat in seven games. Also, the 49ers are 4-0-1 in their last five meetings with St. Louis at San Francisco.
Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots (4:25 PM ET)
Writer’s Pick: Patriots +3.5
One of football’s greatest rivalries will be renewed on Sunday as legendary quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady square off at Gillette Stadium. It is the 16th meeting between the two with Brady holding a 10-5 advantage. It was Manning, however, who emerged victorious the last time out, as the Broncos defeated the Patriots 26-16 in the AFC Championship game last January.
Oakland Raiders vs. Seattle Seahawks (4:25 PM ET)
Writer’s Pick: Raiders +15
It wasn’t pretty but the Seattle Seahawks finally returned to winning ways with a gritty 13-9 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Quarterback Russell Wilson was the hero for Seattle as his 23-yard touchdown pass to Luke Willson with 47 seconds remaining helped the Seahawks snap its two-game losing streak.
They can right the ship even further when they take on the struggling Oakland Raiders this coming weekend. The Raiders are now 0-7 after losing to the Cleveland Browns 23-13 on Sunday. The league’s only winless team have now lost 13 straight games dating back to November of last season.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (8:30 PM ET)
Writer’s Pick: Steelers -1
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was back to his brilliant ways on Sunday as he set franchise records in passing yards (552) and touchdowns (6) in Pittsburgh’s 51-34 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Big Ben completed 40 of 49 passes in the victory that gave the Steelers back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
The Steelers will look to continue their offensive mastery when they take on division rivals Baltimore. It won’t be that easy for Pittsburgh, though, as the Ravens are the second-best defensive team in the league this season allowing just 16.4 points per game this season.
You can read a complete preview of the game here.
Monday, November 3
Indianapolis Colts vs. New York Giants (8:30 PM ET)
Writer’s Pick: Giants +3.5
Indianapolis’ much-vaunted defense took a huge hit on Sunday as they were humiliated by Ben Roethlisberger and the rest of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers generated 639 yards in total offense in the 51-34 win as they snapped the Colts’ five-game unbeaten run.
They will look to bounce back in a big way when they face the New York Giants who are also looking for a pick-me-up win this coming Sunday. The Giants are in the midst of a two-game tailspin after losing to the Dallas Cowboys 31-21 last week, leaving them three games out of first place in the NFC East.
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