Ramblin’ Fan’s NFL Picks and Predictions: Week 9

With week 8 in the books its time to review our NFL picks and look forward to week 9′s picks and predictions.  Week 8 was a banner week for our picks here at Ramblin’ Fan, although we would have been more than happy to be wrong about the Monday Night game.  We went an impressive 11-2 with our NFL picks in week 8, so hopefully we can keep that going and hit double digits again in week 9.  This week both the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers will be off so only the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks will be in action from the NFC West.  The Cincinatti Bengals will take on the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football to kick off the week  Thanks for reading our weekly NFL picks article and as always Go Rams!!!

Cincinatti Bengals @ Miami Dolphins (TNF). 

The Bengals are starting to look like a Super Bowl contender behind a tough defense and an emerging young Quarterback.  The Dolphins 3-0 start is a distant memory at this point as they have lost 4 in a row now.  Tonight’s game presents another opportunity for the Dolphins to play well for a full 4 quarters, as they have shown a knack for giving away games late during their losing streak.  The Bengals defense proves to be too much for Tannenhill and the Dolphins offense.  Bengals win 28 – 20.

Tenessee Titans @ St. Louis Rams. The big storyline is that this is the first time Jeff Fisher faces his former team.  Then again there is the Super Bowl XXXIV rematch storyline as well.  The Titans are coming off their bye and the Rams are on a short week following a heartbreaking loss on Monday Night Football.  Fisher has shown a knack for having his team prepared for the Rams tough division opponents, maybe his familiarity with the Titans will lead to a similar result here.  If the Rams defense plays half as well against the Titans as they did against the Seahawks they will win this one.  Rams win 16 – 6.

 Kansas City Chiefs @ Buffalo Bills. The Chiefs are the NFLs last unbeaten team and they will hope to stay that way as they travel to Ralph Wilson Stadium to take on the Bills.  The Chiefs defense has been impressive, although detractors would say they haven’t played anyone with a strong offense yet.  The Bills will be starting Thad Lewis at QB again, a former Ram who has actually played pretty well for the Bills.  I expect a low scoring game as the Chiefs match their stout defense with a fairly low scoring offense.  Chiefs win 20 – 13.

Minnesota Vikings @ Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys sure squandered a golden opportunity against the Lions last week, but hey they are still in first place in the sad NFC East.  The Vikings on the other hand have been a mess at quarterback and really haven’t been able to take advantage of the fact that they have arguable the best football player in the league at tailback.  The Vikings defense didn’t get a single stop against the Packers on Sunday Night Football, and while Tony Romo is no Aaron Rodgers he is more than capable of shredding that secondary.  If Dallas can keep Adrian Peterson somewhat contained they should win big.  Cowboys win 31 – 20.

 New Orleans Saints @ New York Jets. The New Orleans Saints are one colossal collapse away from being  the NFCs lone undefeated team and arguably the best team In the NFL.  The Saints offense just keeps clicking and the defense is finally carrying its weight.  The Jets are an absolute roller coaster of a team due in large part to their rookie QB.  Geno Smith has looked equal parts impressive and abysmal this season, but that is what you get from a rookie.  The Jets defense is pretty solid in spite of giving up 49 points to the Bengals last week.  Drew Brees and the Saints may not put up 49, but expect them to control the game throughout.  Saints win 35 – 17.

 San Diego Chargers @ Washington Redskins.  The San Diego Chargers are fresh off their bye and ready to take on the struggling Redskins.  While RGIII has looked much better as the season has progressed he still isn’t the same dynamic player he was last season.  Philip Rivers on the other hand is having a resurgence under his new head coach and is on track for one of his best seasons.  The Chargers play pretty solid football in all phases, which should be enough to get them past the Redskins and help improve the Rams 2014 draft.  Chargers win 24 – 13.

 Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers. The Falcons sure have been a disappointment this season, a large reason for this has been a rash of injuries to key contributors on both sides of the ball.  They really need former Ram Steven Jackson to provide the offense with a running game and keep opposing defenses honest.  The Panthers pose a tough test as they have a solid front 7, but a pretty suspect secondary.  If the Falcons O-line can keep Ryan upright he should be able to carve up the Panthers.  Cam Newton has been impressive of late though, so this could easily turn into somewhat of a shootout.  Panthers win 31 – 28.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Oakland Raiders. The Eagles haven’t exactly lit the NFL world on fire with the highly anticipated offensive revolution Chip Kelly was supposed to bring.  The Raiders on the other hand have been far more competitive than many NFL experts predicted.  Terrell Pryor may have a long way to go towards becoming a quality NFL quarterback, but the kid is a heck of a football player who just seems to make plays.  If the Raiders can figure out a way to play a full football game this week they should win this one.  Raiders win 24-21.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Seattle Seahawks. The Bucs will head to Seattle to take on the NFC leading Seahawks.  The Seahawks were very fortunate last weekend to escape St. Louis with a win in spite of being thoroughly dominated at the line of scrimmage.  The Rams were able to stop the run and run the ball almost at will, if the Bucs can manage the same to do the same it could be a good ball game.  This game will feature two of the game’s elite cornerbacks in Sherman and Revis, so big passing plays may be few and far between.  Seahawks win 28 – 14.

Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns. The Ravens will try to get back into the playoff hunt against the division rival Browns.  The Browns nearly pulled off the upset of the undefeated Chiefs last weekend but couldn’t quite close it out.  Jason Campbell looked pretty decent for the Browns, and if he plays that way against the Ravens they just might get the victory.  The Ravens are coming off their bye week and two consecutive losses, expect them to be well prepared for their division rivals.  Ravens win 20 -16.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ New England Patriots. The Steelers very nearly fought their way back for a victory over the Raiders last weekend, but couldn’t quite finish it out.  If they fall behind Tom Brady and the Patriots early there will be no such hope in the 4th quarter.  The Patriots have looked fairly vulnerable this season, but the Steelers just don’t have the firepower to take down the Patriots in Foxborough.  Patriots win 28 – 17.

Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans (SNF). The Colts will travel to Houston to take on the Texans on Sunday Night Football.  Before the season started this looked like a premier matchup with major AFC South championship implications.  Instead the Texans are riding a 5 game losing streak and have been outscored 142-61 during that streak.  In an unusual coincidence both teams are coming off their bye this week.  It will be interesting to see how the Colts respond to the loss of Reggie Wayne.  Colts win 27 – 17.

Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers (MNF). The Packers will host the Bears in a Monday Night Showdown of one of the league’s oldest rivalries.   The Packers are without virtually every wide receiver on their original 53 man roster, while the Bears will be without Jay Cutler.  Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson put on an absolute clinic last Sunday Night against the Vikings, can they do it against the Bears?  As long as Eddie Lacy continues to give the Packers a legitimate running game teams will have a hard time stopping Rodgers.  Packers win 24 – 14.

NFL Week 9 Matchups

Pick

Bengals @ Dolphins (TNF)

Bengals

Titans @ Rams

Rams

Chiefs @ Bills

Chiefs

Vikings @ Cowboys

Cowboys

Saints @ Jets

Saints

Chargers @ Redskins

Chargers

Falcons @ Panthers

Panthers

Eagles @ Raiders

Raiders

Bucs @ Seahawks

Seahawks

Ravens @ Browns

Ravens

Steelers @ Patriots

Patriots

Colts @ Texans (SNF)

Colts

Bears @ Packers (MNF)

Packers

Last Week

11-2

Overall Record

75-45