Last week was a great weekend for my picks because I went 4-1. The Buccaneers losing at home spoiled my perfect record, but I will take it and move on to this week. Week nine starts with a Thursday Night matchup of the Philadelphia Eagles traveling to Houston and facing the Texans. It will be a shock if the home team wins this matchup, and I expect Hurts to continue to make his case for MVP and the Eagles to continue their undefeated season. The Sunday matchups will be much more difficult to predict, and that is where we come in as we look at the top 5 matchups this weekend.
Overall record: 25-15
1. Indianapolis Colts (3-4-1) at New England Patriots (4-4)-Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Last season, these two teams met in December when they were battling for playoff positioning. The Patriots were riding high on a seven-game win streak and coming out of a late bye week to play a Colts team at home. The Colts cooled off the Patriots in a 27-17 Saturday win capped by an impressive 60-yard run by Johnathan Taylor for the victory. Fast-forward a year, the Patriots and Colts are scrapping it out to make the playoffs. The Colts have been abysmal offense because they have averaged only 13 points in their current two-game losing streak, and the benching of Matt Ryan has not improved matters. The Patriots appeared to get back on track last week in New York after a nightmarish performance on Monday Night. The offense is still trying to find its way, but Bill Belichick will sell out on the run to stop Taylor and make Sam Ehlinger beat him. I will ride with the Patriots’ defense winning the better of that matchup and the home team to win this game.
Patriots 24-Colts 17
2. Buffalo Bills (6-1) at New York Jets (5-3)- Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
On paper, it should be a heavyweight match for the division lead, but this game will not be close at all. The Jets got exposed last week because their quarterback is not very good, and makes way too many hopeful throws that end up with the opposing team. The Buffalo Bills are, on the other hand, a juggernaut, and Josh Allen will try to play mistake-free football in this matchup. The only interesting thing to watch from this game is the matchup of Stefon Diggs and Sauce Gardner which will be a spicy duel. I have the Bills winning handily at MetLife Stadium.
Bills 31-Jets 17
3. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3) at Atlanta Falcons (4-4)-Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
I think this game is sneakily one of the best this weekend. The 1 pm start for any west coast team is always a disadvantage because of the internal clock of players. Nonetheless, I give Justin Herbert and the Chargers the slight because they will be coming out of the bye week, and the Falcons tend to struggle against teams with good passing games. However, Atlanta is starting to believe they are playoff contenders with the faltering Buccaneers in the division. I have the Chargers edging this game on the road in a thriller to follow up the incredible ending with the Panthers a week ago.
Chargers 31-Falcons 30
4. Los Angeles Rams (3-4) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5)- Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET CBS
When the schedule was released, this matchup may have looked like a glitzy matchup of the last two Superbowl Champions. We know the broadcasters wanted to feature this game because it is America’s game of the week. However, these two teams are struggling to say the least. However, I think the Rams are the worst of the two teams with their offensive line struggling to protect Matthew Stafford. This game can be considered an early eliminator because the loser will have an uphill task to make the playoffs.
Bucs 23-Rams 19
5. Tennessee Titans (5-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)-Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC
If there is one definite game to watch this weekend, it would be this matchup. After starting the season 0-2, the Titans have found their form in recent years by reeling off five straight victories. The team has been propelled by the impressive performances of Derrick Henry, who ran for over 200 yards for the sixth time in his career last week. I think the Titans can give the Chief’s problem with that running game and Patrick Mahomes 1-2 against the franchise from the volunteer state. However, I favor the Chiefs because they are coming off a bye, and Andy Reid is 20-3 off a bye with a ridiculous 12-1 record.
Chiefs 27-Titans 21