NFL 2011 Week 9 picks

As ever, let's start with the rankings...

Top Ten teams
1.  Green Bay Packers (7-0)
2.  Detroit Lions (6-2) : A strong performance last weekend propels them back to #2!
3.  San Francisco 49ers (6-1) : The team with the second best record  continues to torment opponents with the best defense in the league
4.  New Orleans Saints (5-3) : An uncharacteristic poor performance by Drew Brees allowed St Louis their first victory of the season
5.  Buffalo Bills (5-2) : Best team in the AFC!  Who would have thunk it?
6.  Houston Texans (5-3) : A dangerous defense and an offense that's working, too
7.  Baltimore Ravens (5-2) : Best defense in the AFC
8.  Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) : With a better offense AND better defense than Pittsburgh, the Bengals will be a tough divisional opponent
9.  New England Patriots (5-2)
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)

Divisional rankings
1.  NFC North : With the two best teams in the league, Chicago holding their own, and Minnesota improving, this is a tough division
2.  AFC North : Three Top Ten teams, three teams with only two losses and Cleveland only one game down from .500.  Recordwise, this is the best division
3.  AFC East : Two of the top offenses makes this division exciting
4.  NFC East : Records aren't the greatest here, but this division produces some interesting games
5.  NFC South : All of these teams can still be a threat to opponents
6.  AFC South : This division is not as interesting without Indy doing well, but at least Houston gets to shine
7.  AFC West : With San Diego's collapse and KC's four-game winning streak, this division has opened up, but their teams are too streaky and inconsistent
8.  NFC West : San Fran is the only team of interest here

Sunday early games
Atlanta Falcons (4-3) at Indianapolis Colts (0-8) : The Falcons have struggled offensively, but not as badly as the Colts have.  Through in a porous Colts defense and Matt Ryan and company can boost their numbers this game.  FALCONS, 27-13

Cleveland Browns (3-4) at Houston Texans (5-3) : With Adrian Foster feeling better, the Texans offense gets a great boost.  That doesn't help Cleveland, whose sporadic offense will face a brick wall against the stingy Texans' defense.  TEXANS, 23-13

Miami Dolphins (0-7) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) : A four-game winning streak after an 0-3 start indicates that KC has fixed their problems and can start to fulfill their preseason promise.  CHIEFS, 23-13

New York Jets (4-3) at Buffalo Bills (5-2) : The Jets defense isn't the collossus it has been the previous few years, so the Bills high-powered offense will move.  Sanchez and the Jets will attempt to keep up, but they won't.  BILLS, 27-23

San Francisco 49ers (6-1) at Washington Redskins (3-4) : The 49ers have the better defense and the smoother offense, as John Beck gets used to things.  In a couple of weeks the Redskins might be a force, but not this week.  49ERS, 20-13

Seattle Seahawks (2-5) at Dallas Cowboys (3-4) : All the national analysts are harping on Tony Romo again, but they've done that each of the last four years, and Romo rebounds.  Against a struggling Seahawks team, Romo and the Cowboys should rebound nicely.  COWBOYS, 21-17

Tampa Bay Bucs (3-4) at New Orleans Saints (5-3) : Drew Brees had a bad week last week, and the Bucs exploit teams having a bad day.  However, it is rare that Brees has two bad weeks in a row, so I think the Saints will not give the Bucs a chance to take control.  SAINTS, 27-21

Sunday late games
Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) at Tennessee Titans (4-3) : Tennessee's struggling offense against the stingy Bengals defense?  This game isn't in doubt.  The only question is how much offense will the Bengals generate?  BENGALS, 26-20

Denver Broncos (2-5) at Oakland Raiders (4-3) : The Broncos are sticking with Tim Tebow, but that makes him a target for the Raiders rushing defense.  Tebow can't throw on the run well, and he'll be running for his life in this game.  RAIDERS, 23-16

Green Bay Packers (7-0) at San Diego Chargers (4-3) : Philip Rivers is struggling right now, which does not help the Chargers in their attempt to unseat the unbeaten Packers.  I think Rivers and the Chargers will get up for this game, but it won't be enough.  PACK, 31-20

New York Giants (5-2) at New England Patriots (5-2) : Eli Manning is posting good numbers right now, but Brady's are better.  The Giants defense is good, but not as threatening as they've been in years past.  This will be a close game, but I have to favor the Pats.  PATS, 27-23

St Louis Rams (1-6) at Arizona Cardinals (1-6) : I'm not picking this game, because there is one crucial variable - will Kevin Kolb play?  His replacement has no experience, so the recovering Sam Bradford and the Rams should win if Kolb is sidelined.  If Kolb plays, though, I think the Cards can generate enough offense to overcome the wimpy Rams defense.

Sunday night
Baltimore Ravens (5-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) : The Steelers get a chance to avenge the pasting administered by the Ravens earlier this season.  Then, Big Ben was struggling, and the Steelers offense was a mess.  Now Ben is posting impressive numbers, the running game is working, and the defense is better rested, since they have more time off the field.  This will be a close defensive game, but the Steelers will gain the victory.  STEELERS, 21-17

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL -- Chicago Bears (4-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) :  Everyone is touting how well Sean McCoy is running.  The Bears have a good run defense, but they've allowed a couple of 100 yard rushers this season.  McCoy will be another.  However, the rushing Bears defense will frustrate Michael Vick.  If this was ANY OTHER time but Monday Night Football, I'd easily favor Chicago, but the Bears have a TERRIBLE record on Monday Night Football.  They will make mistakes, turn over the ball at crucial points, and give the game to the Eagles.  EAGLES, 24-17