Another week, another handful of toss-up NFL games making picks and predictions difficult. In Week 9, only four teams opened as favorites by a touchdown or more, according to the point spreads at Sportsbook Review.
The 49ers, Bills, Seahawks and Cowboys based on those lines were considered safe picks over the Cardinals, Redskins, Buccaneers and Giants, respectively. And we might as well add the Jets, who despite being a terrible team this season opened as 5 1/2-point favorites over the winless and hopeless Dolphins. Those are the closest things we get to painless predictions in Week 9, and even they are not exactly easy.
MORE: Get the latest NFL odds & betting advice at Sportsbook Review
The rest of the Week 9 NFL schedule — Texans vs. Jaguars, Titans at Panthers, Bears at Eagles, Vikings at Chiefs, Colts at Steelers, Lions at Raiders, Browns at Broncos, Packers at Chargers and Patriots at Ravens — might as well be considered a slate of educated guessing games with varying levels of predictability.
Here are our Week 9 NFL picks and predictions, all the way through the Monday night game in New York.
NFL picks, predictions for Week 9
- San Francisco 49ers (-8) at Arizona Cardinals
Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET, Fox, NFL Network, Amazon Prime Video
This is a mismatch in pretty much every area. The only element of this matchup that works in the Cardinals' favor is their quick-release passing game potentially neutralizing the 49ers' pass rush, but as Nick Bosa proved last week, even little passed out of the backfield can't be considered safe against this defense. On the other side of the ball, Arizona can't stop San Francisco's balanced attack. The NFC's only undefeated team will roll on a short week.
Prediction: 49ers 30, Cardinals 16
- Houston Texans (-2 1/2) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars in London
Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network
This is a low-key massive game for two squads fighting for position in the only NFL division that doesn't have a losing team. The Jaguars, who are London's most frequent NFL visitor, are riding a two-game winning streak and playing like legitimate contenders in the division. Jacksonville will make it close, especially without having to worry about J.J. Watt, but Houston's Deshaun Watson-DeAndre Hopkins duo will make a couple big plays to keep Houston on track.
Prediction: Texans 27, Jaguars 23
- Washington Redskins at Buffalo Bills (-10)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
The Bills' offense needs to produce better if they want to be considered legitimate AFC playoff contenders. One would think this matchup against a defense that allows 378.4 yards per game is a chance for Josh Allen and Co. to do just that, but Washington — on defense, at least — isn't as bad as its 1-7 record suggests. The other side of the ball is a different story. That Redskins offense has no chance to score enough points on the Bills to pull off a road upset.
Prediction: Bills 20, Redskins 13
- Tennessee Titans at Carolina Panthers (-3 1/2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
This is a game Carolina can win without Cam Newton, and its needs to do just that before its schedule gets tougher and the gap between itself and New Orleans in the division grows. Of course, this is a game Tennessee can win, too, and it needs to do just that to remain competitive in the super-tight AFC South. Newton's rushing production would have been enough to frustrate one of the NFL's best scoring defenses. Without Newton, a heavy dose of Christian McCaffrey should do the trick as long as the Panthers' defense does its part against Ryan Tannehill.
Prediction: Panthers 28, Titans 24
- Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles (-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Neither of these teams, which met in the wild-card round of the playoffs last season, is where it wanted to be at this point in 2019 for different reasons. The Eagles are in the bottom half of the league in scoring defense, and the Bears rank 27th in scoring offense. Both teams are strong against the run, but Philadelphia has the better rushing attack, complete with former Bear Jordan Howard. The home team also has the better quarterback by a landslide.
Prediction: Eagles 24, Bears 21
- Minnesota Vikings at Kansas City Chiefs (TBD)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
This game is tough to pick for the same reason the opening line was late to be released: It completely depends on whether Patrick Mahomes plays. With or without their star quarterback, though, the Chiefs will have big problems against the Vikings' rushing attack. Minnesota also has the NFL's third-ranked scoring defense, and even Mahomes would be in for a tough day. Ultimately, with Kansas City not getting any pressure from its rivals in the division standings, it still has no reason to rush Mahomes back before he's ready to play.
Prediction: Vikings 27, Chiefs 20
- New York Jets (-5 1/2) at Miami Dolphins
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
The 1-6 Jets, who are averaging 11.1 points per game, opened as almost full touchdown favorites on the road for Week 9. Only Dolphins week can make for such a spread. This, a game in which New York is facing the NFL's second worst rush defense, is a chance for Le'Veon Bell fantasy owners to have a big week — assuming coach Adam Gase gives the running back the opportunities he deserves. Speaking of Gase, this is his revenge game in Miami, for whatever that's worth.
Prediction: Jets 26, Dolphins 19
- Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers (PK)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
This game is tough to pick because both teams are well-coached and, more so in the case of the Steelers, exceeding expectations in the wake of big, early-season quarterback developments. They also are mirror images of each other statistically, with the Colts' superior offense being the only clear advantage for either team. In a toss-up, we'll take Mike Tomlin's team, with the chance to reach .500 being the carrot Pittsburgh chases to a win.
Prediction: Steelers 23, Colts 21
- Detroit Lions at Oakland Raiders (-2)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox
In a scheduling anomaly, the Raiders are playing at home for the first time since Sept. 15, when they lost to the Chiefs in Week 2. The silver-and-black faithful have watched from afar as Oakland went a respectable 2-3 during that stretch, the same record as that of Detroit over the last five games. Both teams can move the ball on offense, and neither team can consistently make stops on defense. The Lions' rush defense in particular, though, will be a problem against Josh Jacobs and Co.
Prediction: Raiders 34, Lions 28
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Seattle Seahawks (-6 1/2)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox
These teams are basically dead even in yards per game this year, with the Seahawks (395.9) holding a slight edge over the Bucs (395.3). Seattle is more balanced with its superior rushing attack, but the Buccaneers are solid against the run. The problem is they're anything but solid against the pass, and Russell Wilson will rip them to shreds, especially if the game flow dictates more passing for both teams. He won't make the same mistakes Jameis Winston will make.
Prediction: Seahawks 34, Buccaneers 26
- Green Bay Packers (-3) at Los Angeles Chargers
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
Green Bay rolls into Los Angeles on a hot streak fueled by its suddenly potent offense, and given the Packers' massive fan base, this home game for the Chargers will feel more like an away game than usual. LA, though, will be riding the high of its emotional win in Chicago, and its struggling rushing attack will find some room against Green Bay's defense. The Chargers will make things interesting, but, per usual, they'll find a way to lose a close game.
Prediction: Packers 23, Chargers 20
- Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos (-1 1/2)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
After excusable losses to the Rams, 49ers, Seahawks and Patriots, it's go time for the Browns. Sunday's tilt in Denver should be a get-well game statistically for a solid Cleveland defense that's allowing 25.9 points per game. While the Broncos' defense is good on paper, this also is a chance for the Browns' playmakers to shine thanks to some mismatches, especially if Chris Harris Jr. is traded before he gets his chance to mark Odell Beckham Jr.
Prediction: Browns 24, Broncos 14
- New England Patriots (-4 1/2) at Baltimore Ravens
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
One of two things will happen in this game. Either New England's league-best defense will contain the NFL's top rushing offense and force quarterback Lamar Jackson into uncomfortable situations on its way to another win, or Jackson will have his national TV coming out party as one of the league's best players to anybody who still doubts him. Thanks primarily to their dangerous QB, the Ravens are one of five teams capable of keeping the Pats from going undefeated this season. But Bill Belichick's teams have won 21 straight games against first- or second-year QBs for a reason.
Prediction: Patriots 27, Ravens 20
- Dallas Cowboys (-7) at New York Giants
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
Because the Cowboys limped through three straight losses before their bounce-back win over the Eagles a couple weeks ago, it's easy to forget they have the NFL's No. 1 offense in terms of yards per game. It's not as easy to forget the Giants, losers of four straight games, have one of the NFL's worst defenses. Dallas was upset by the other New York team at MetLife Stadium a few weeks ago thanks in part to a handful of key injuries. Those players are healthy now following the Cowboys' bye week, so they should be able to complete the season sweep of the Giants.
Pick: Cowboys 31, Giants 17