NFL Picks Week 9: Picking the Denver Broncos was hard this week

Here we go again. I had quite a rough week last week and now find myself seven games out of first place in my Yahoo Pick'em League. I'm glad I won back half my entry fee in Week 1, because its not looking pretty with half a season to go here.

• Last Week: 8-7
• Season: 75-45-1

Thanks to a big Thursday Night Football win by the New Orleans Saints, however, my Week 9 is certainly off to a good start. Now if only I can stop myself from picking stupid teams. There a couple of interesting games on Sunday, which does not include the Oakland/Seattle game that I am forced to view out here in California.

Here are my picks this week, tell us yours in the comments!

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-6) at Cleveland Browns (4-3)

This is one of those rare cases when I go looking for baseball games on television rather than watching a football game. I couldn't be less interested in this game. The Browns should obviously win as the Buccaneers are really trying hard to get that first overall draft pick in 2015. In fact, all I care about in this game is that Josh Gordon is getting off suspension soon and I picked him up off the waiver wires in time for a late season championship run, baby!. Prediction: Browns 24, Buccaneers 13.

Arizona Cardinals (6-1) at Dallas Cowboys (6-2)

I went with the Cardinals based on one assumption. That Tony Romo is going to play. Tony Romo ensured the Cowboys would lose last week even though Brandon Weeden was performing pretty well in his absence. If I were coaching the Cardinals, I would be dialing up all out blitzes all day long for Romo to crumble in the face of. With my luck lately though, Romo will be game-time scratch and the Cowboys win. Prediction: Cardinals 27, Cowboys 24.

Philadelphia Eagles (5-2) at Houston Texans (4-4)

The Eagles were kind of manhandled last week in Arizona and the Texans defense has a nastier tendency at times, but I just can't bring myself to go with the upset pick as J.J. Watt can't do it all. When he isn't able to disrupt on every down, then the Texans defense has been shown to be prone to giving up huge chunks of yards and points. Arian Foster would need a huge day if the Texans are able to outgun the Nick Foles passing attack. Prediction: Eagles 28, Texans 21.

New York Jets (1-7) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-3)

The Jets should get steamrolled by every team in the NFL right now. In fact, if you want a really good laugh go read this article on the historic ineptitude of the Jets and then read the very first comment posted in that article. Hilarious. As much as I love dissing the Chiefs, they should win this game easily. The Jets are just that much of a mess right now. Eric Decker should have chosen a better organization to go play for. Prediction: Chiefs 31, Jets 10.

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-2-1)

As inept as the Jets are, the Jaguars just simply lack talent. Blake Bortles has potential, but without talent around him he could likely end up like another David Carr. On the other side, the Bengals have talent and rarely play to their maximum abilities. However, they won't need to play their best today. Prediction: Bengals 30, Jaguars 17.

San Diego Chargers (5-3) at Miami Dolphins (4-3)

Philip Rivers and the Chargers were red hot two weeks ago, but now they appear to be on the verge of one of their famous midseason slides out of contention. The Dolphins are currently red hot and Ryan Tannehill is playin some good football right now. I actually like the Dolphins here at home to put a hurtin' on the Chargers. Prediction: Dolphins 24, Chargers 20.

Washington Redskins (3-5) at Minnesota Vikings (3-5)

Robert Griffin III comes back into the lineup this week for the Redskins. The problem I have with that is that he has come back too early from injury time after time and his play has suffered immensely for it. I believe the Redskins have the better team right now, but RGIII will struggle in his first game back and Teddy Bridgewater will do just enough to lift the Vikings to another win this week. Prediction Vikings 20, Redskins 13.

St. Louis Rams (2-5) at San Francisco 49ers (4-3)

It's been a long two weeks for the 49ers, who are probably still itching to get the taste of that blowout loss to Denver. They get a softball bounceback game with the Rams coming to town. Colin Kaepernick should be able to do a lot of damage against this secondary, but the big question mark for me is guessing which Rams team will show up. The one that got blown out on the road last week or the one that beat Seattle the week before? I don't like Jekyll and Hyde teams. Prediction: 49ers 35, Rams 10.

Denver Broncos (6-1) at New England Patriots (6-2)

Ahhh, finally here is the big game. Initially, I picked Tom Brady and the Patriots to win this game, because they rarely lose at home and almost never lose when underdogs at home. However, this PFF article pissed me off so badly that I changed my pick to the Broncos. Screw it. The Patriots are not the better team and even if they win this game, they will not be the better team. Football is great because its any given Sunday and this Sunday is going to be an Orange one again. Prediction: Broncos 38, Patriots 28.

Oakland Raiders (0-7) at Seattle Seahawks (4-3)

And now we get to the game I will be forced to watch on Sunday. I will actually root for Derek Carr and the Raiders to win, because screw Richard Sherman. However, I never pick the Raiders when money is on the line. Prediction: Seahawks 23, Raiders 20.

Baltimore Ravens (5-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) SNF

Besides the Peyton Manning and Tom Brady Bowl, this is the other game of the week for me. I really like the Ravens from a talent perspective. So much so, that I see them as the biggest threat to the Broncos in the AFC besides the Patriots. I think the Steelers are playing well above their talent level and at some point they will come crashing down to Earth. I'm just not sure that crash starts on Sunday Night Football. Prediction: Steelers 24, Ravens 23.

Indianapolis Colts (5-3) at New York Giants (3-4) MNF

Andrew Luck and the Colts were shellacked last week in Pittsburgh and their defense is certifiable right now. Sure they blanked the Bengals two weeks ago, but outside that they are giving up 30 points per game. Eli Manning and the Giants are quietly underrated by many. It's going to be close with two of the better late game quarterbacks in the league, but I've got to go with Luck on this one.   Prediction: Colts 31, Giants 28.