Where does the time go? We will be past the half way point of the NFL season after this weekend already. The Steelers are the only side yet to taste defeat while the Jets are the only side waiting for a first win. Will their fortunes change this week? Well here are my thoughts.
Here are my NFL 2020 Week Nine Predictions:
Green Bay Packers @ San Francisco 49ers
The Packers were going along nicely but last weeks surprise defeat to the Vikings will start putting doubts over their seasons chances. Factor in that Aaron Rodgers doesn’t have a great record against the 49ers and that his team have injuries this week, and all of a sudden this one doesn’t look so straight forward. Luckily for them the 49ers are back to having their own problems and will be without key players including quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. This is a tough one to call but I think the Packers may edge it.
Packers 24 49ers 21
Denver Broncos @ Atlanta Falcons
This is another tough one to call due to both teams inconsistency so far this season. Both teams are coming off good victories from last week where the Broncos edged past the Chargers and the Falcons beat the Panthers. I am going for the Broncos to do it in a close game with Drew Lock making the difference.
Broncos 28 Falcons 24
Seattle Seahawks @ Buffalo Bills
We continue with the common theme of close encounters this week as Seattle travel to Buffalo. The Bills are 6-2 and the Seahawks 6-1 in what has been a good season for both teams so far. The Bills were a little bit lucky last week as they squeezed past the Patriots but I can’t see them being afforded the same luck against Russell Wilson who continues to impress at quarterback.
Seahawks 31 Bills 26
Chicago Bears @ Tennessee Titans
Both teams seem to have lost their way in recent weeks after a blistering start to the season. I guess the Bears sitting at 5-3 is kind of where we expected them to be at this stage. Now that they are going into games looking like the underdog again, they have enough quality to surprise teams like the 5-2 Titans who are already on the back of a surprise defeat to the Bengals last week. I think the Bears can cause them further pain this week.
Bears 31 Titans 28
Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts
It would be hard to believe a few weeks back, but the Ravens are starting to look a but shaky. Last weeks defeat to the Steelers put them at 5-2 and while they won’t be too worried yet, another defeat here will have their fans wondering. Lamar Jackson has also looked under the weather recently while his opposite quarterback Philip Rivers is rolling back the years with some great performances. The Colts will now fancy their chances in this one.
Ravens 26 Colts 31
Carolina Panthers @ Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs (7-1) continue to rack up big scores every week while the Panthers (3-5) are on a three game losing streak. That can only mean misery for this Carolina side I am afraid. They do have a few players returning from injury but that still won’t enough.
Panthers 18 Chiefs 37
Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings pulled off one the biggest surprises of last week as they beat the Packers. The Lions defense meanwhile struggled badly against the Colts. I think that confidence from last week will see the Vikings win this one.
Lions 17 Vikings 25
New York Giants @ Washington Football Team
OK this might not be one for the neutrals but it’s still a big game for both sets of fans. It’s big because both teams know they have a decent chance of winning and that hasn’t happened too often this season. To be fair to New York they were a little unfortunate last week in their narrow defeat to the Buccaneers. The performance should give them enough confidence to see off Washington this week and pick up their second win.
Giants 26 Washington 21
Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars
The Texans and the Jags are both 1-6 for the season and both come into this after a rest last weekend. So who will be better prepared? You would think the Texans have a better shot at victory seeing as the Jaguars just can’t get the offense moving in recent games against this opponent.
Texans 18 Jaguars 10
Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert looks like he has a lot of potential but this Los Angeles team are letting him down with late game collapses. The Raiders can still get something from this season if they start to show consistency and that has to start here.
Raiders 27 Chargers 24
Miami Dolphins @ Arizona Cardinals
Two exciting young quarterbacks go head to head with Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray facing off for the first time since the Orange Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal. Both teams desperately need the win if they want to stay in play-off contention. The Dolphins have been a great underdog story but I think it will be a different kind of pressure now that people are taking notice of them.
Dolphins 29 Cardinals 39
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Dallas Cowboys
Is this NFL’s best team against the worst? The Cowboys have lost 3 straight while their opponents are the only undefeated team left. We have seen enough surprises this season already to write Cowboys off completely but I just can’t see where they can get something from this game
Steelers 31 Cowboys 16
New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers are on a 3 game win streak while the Saints are on a 4 win streak, meaning this could easily be the game of the week. And yes it is Drew Brees versus Tom Brady in the battle of the veteran quarterbacks. It’s yet another tough one to call but I am going with the Saints to prevail.
Saints 26 Buccaneers 23
New England Patriots @ New York Jets
Monday nights game could be a bit of a damp squib. The Patriots season has collapsed (mainly due to injuries) and they have lost their last 4. The Jets meanwhile can’t buy a win and have lost 8 straight. This is probably the only game that the Patriots could win right now and I think they will.
