NFL picks vs. the spread, Week 9: Saints, Bengals, Broncos, Patriots continue … – NOLA.com
What’s going in the AFC? The conference is the gridiron version of New Orleans demographics. There’s no middle class.
The Bengals, Broncos and Patriots are a combined 21-0 and the rest of the conference is 36-62. Ten of the AFC’s 16 teams have losing records.
The AFC South epitomizes the conference’s mediocrity. The Jaguars are 2-5 and have a legitimate shot to vault into a first-place tie with idle Houston if they can beat the Jets this weekend.
The conference is so top-heavy it’s possible that Cincinnati, Denver and New England will clinch their divisions by Thanksgiving. It’s not just possible but likely that one of three will finish the season at 13-3 or 14-2 and still miss out on a first-round bye in the playoffs.
The Broncos get the Patriots and Bengals at home in Weeks 12 and 16, respectively. Advantage Denver.
Titans at Saints (NL): Another week. Another opponent in disarray. Two weeks ago it was the Indianapolis Colts. This week it’s the Titans, who fired Coach Ken Whisenhunt on Tuesday after the team’s disappointing 1-6 start. At least one person was happy to see the Whiz ease on down the road. Matt Leinert, who played for Whisenhunt in Arizona, took to Twitter to celebrate the ouster. Rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota is expected to play this week but it won’t matter. The Saints are riding the momentum of a three-game winning streak and have found their identity on offense. Saints 29, Titans 20
Titans coach fired. Now Marcus Mariota has a chance!
— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) November 3, 2015
Raiders at Steelers (-5): The Steelers are the league’s most confounding team. They’re good enough to beat Arizona and St. Louis and bad enough to lose to Baltimore and Kansas City. The Raiders, meanwhile, have won two straight and are over .500 in November for the first time in four years. If you like offense, this is your game. The more desperate teams wins. Steelers 36, Raiders 30
Browns at Bengals (-10.5): Each week I pick the Bengals to stub their toes and each week they prove me wrong. They just keep winning games. They’re 7-0 for the first time in club history and four of their wins are one the road. With home games against the woeful Browns and Texans on deck, they should be 9-0 for their Week 10 visit to Arizona. The Battle of Ohio is always a tough, physical contest but the Bengals simply have the Browns outclassed. Bengals 28, Browns 21
Rams at Vikings (-2.5): Nobody is talking about the Rams or Vikings in the NFC playoff race but both teams have quietly snuck their way into contention. The winner of this one officially becomes a factor. If you like good old-fashioned run-based football you should love this matchup, which features the NFL’s top two running backs, Todd Gurley and Adrian Peterson. Pass the popcorn. Vikings 25, Rams 22
Dolphins at Bills (-3): The Bills crushed the Dolphins 41-14 five weeks ago in Miami. But that was B.C. – Before Campbell. New Coach Dan Campbell has Miami playing with energy and effort and that’ll be enough to overcome the quarterback-deprived Bills. Dolphins 23, Bills 16
Redskins at Patriots (-14): The last time the Redskins played Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in Foxboro was 2007. The Patriots routed the Redskins 52-7 and went on to an unbeaten 16-0 regular season. Repeats of both are possible. Patriots 42, Redskins 20
Packers (-2.5) at Panthers: There’s trouble in Cheese-ville. The Packers are 6-1 but they have allowed more than 500 yards the past two weeks to the Chargers and Broncos. Not even the great Aaron Rodgers can overcome such offensive defense. Can someone explain to me why the Packers have been favored the past two weeks, at Denver and now at Carolina? Panthers 24, Packers 23
Jaguars at Jets (NL): The Jets are losing games and quarterbacks at an alarming rate. Both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith are sidelined with injuries so rookie Bruce Petty is expected to start against Jacksonville. Things are so bad folks are calling for the Jets to make a run at Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III. Yikes. Jets 21, Jaguars 20
Falcons (-6) at 49ers: Remember when the Falcons were a trendy pick to win the NFC? Neither do I. The Falcons have lost two of their last three and the lone win was a cliffhanger against the free-falling Titans. If they lose to the anemic 49ers, they’re officially in trouble in the NFC playoff race. Falcons 27, 49ers 18
Giants (-2.5) at Buccaneers: How bad was the Giants defense against the Saints? The 614 yards the Giants surrendered to the Saints was the second most in Giants history. Here’s how NJ.com Giants beat writer Jordan Raanan described it: “Awful. Disgusting. Pathetic. Embarrassing. Abominable. Horrific. Frightful. Gross. Appalling. Ghastly. Hideous. Repulsive. Stinking.” Meanwhile, the Bucs are coming off an exhilarating road win at Atlanta, behind the stellar play of rookie linebacker Kwon Alexander. Alexander, not Jameis Winson, is the Bucs’ best rookie. Buccaneers 28, Giants 26
Broncos (-4) at Colts: Peyton Manning returns to the city where he spent the first 14 years of his Hall of Fame career. Three years removed from his unceremonious parting, his old team is complete disarray. The Colts have lost three consecutive games and the job security of head coach Chuck Paganao and general manager Ryan Grigson is in question. The Colts have been whistled for an NFL-high 23 holding penalties and now they face the league’s most dominant pass rush. Andrew Luck might want to wear a Kevlar flak jacket to for this one. His achy ribs are going to need it. Broncos 26, Colts 19
Eagles (-3) at Cowboys: Dallas has lost five consecutive games and hasn’t scored more than two touchdowns in any of the losses. Their last win was against these very Eagles in Philadelphia. Payback time for Philly. Eagles 30, Cowboys 20
Bears at Chargers (-4): It is possible for ESPN to flex this stinker out of Monday Night Football? Embattled Chargers Coach Mike McCoy might need this one to keep his job. Chargers 33, Bears 24
Week 8 overall record: 11-3
Week 8 record vs. spread: 5-6-3
Overall record: 71-47
Overall record vs. spread: 53-55-10
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