NFL Office Pool Picks - Week 9

Presented by Dale Sims

The Crystal Ball

Well I got back on a winning week managing a tepid 8 – 6 for the week.  So I am now 68 – 46 on the year straight up.  Unfortunately, I reversed those numbers and went 6 – 8 and am 54 – 55 against the spread to get back on the losing side of that number.

I pick the weeks games as preliminary choices for a pick’em league I am in.  This is the early week version; I make changes based on injury reports and other information that comes out after this is submitted.  These choices are made without discussion with anyone else at Football Forecasters and are uniquely mine.  Anyone even thinking of using this for purposes other than entertainment is obviously out of their mind.

Week 9

Atlanta at Detroit – Detroit is coming off the bye and at home to host an Atlanta team that has been playing very well of late.  To control Atlanta they have to be able to control Vick, the Detroit defense is not up to that task just yet; Atlanta wins 28 – 21.

Cincinnati at Baltimore – Cincinnati plays a critical divisional match up against Baltimore who found an offense last week.  Cincinnati is missing many pieces off their offense and the defense has had its own issues, the Ravens win at home 24 – 20.

Dallas at Washington – A classic rivalry this one becomes a struggle to stay alive in the division for Washington.  Washington is at home and off the bye but their defense has been poor and their offense inconsistent, too much to fix in one week, Cowboys win 21 – 17.

Green Bay at Buffalo – Green Bay won two in a row with better ball protection; Buffalo comes off their bye week which they spent reorganizing their offensive line.  Expect the Buffalo running game to frustrate Green Bay enough to get careless, Bills win 28 – 21.

Houston at N.Y. Giants – The Giants are playing very well and this game looks to be a bit of a mismatch.  The Giants should not get caught looking past this game, the Houston offense has some quality weapons, even if they do they should still win, Giants 24 – 14.

Kansas City at St. Louis           - Kansas City has been playing well given their patchwork offensive line and injury situation.  Both teams are also showing markedly improved defenses this season but Kansas City is less effective on the road, Rams win 28 – 24.

Miami at Chicago – The Bears at home have winning margin of over thirty points a game, you can’t be too optimistic about the chances of a one-win team coming into that environment.  Miami has offensive line problems, which the Chicago defense will exploit, Bears win 30 – 10.

New Orleans at Tampa Bay – New Orleans travels at Tampa.  They lost at home last week and need to win on the road within the division if they want a clear shot to the playoffs.  Tampa is playing better, particularly at home; but Saints win 20 – 17.

Tennessee at Jacksonville – It is hard to get a clear idea of what Jacksonville is going to show up from week to week.  They have some significant defensive injuries to overcome but Tennessee while dangerous, has limited offensive weapons, Jaguars win 30 – 21.

Minnesota at San Francisco – San Francisco was destroyed in the first half last week but has been a tough out playing at home.  Minnesota has played solidly this season and their offensive line is getting better from week to week, Vikings win 28 – 21.

Cleveland at San Diego – Cleveland won their second game of the season, given their remaining schedule it could be a while before victory three happens.  This trip to play San Diego on the road is not likely to be pleasant, Chargers win 24 – 10.

Denver at Pittsburgh – Both these teams lost but to opponents of very different quality.  Pittsburgh has been up and down offensively, usually when teams have been able to bring pressure on Roethlisberger, not a strength for Denver; Steelers win 21 – 20.

Indianapolis at New England – This has become an annual event and one of the best games on the schedule, this one should be no exception.  New England can run and Indianapolis cannot stop the run; the New England defense at home can slow Indianapolis down just enough to win 28 – 27.

Oakland at Seattle – Seattle has key players out and an underachieving defense.  Oakland has an underachieving offense and a defense that is athletic though raw and mistake prone at times.  Seattle is strong at home even as crippled as they are, Seahawks win 17 -10.