Chasing greatness: NFL Week 9 Predictions

Let's get right to the Week 9 picks. Remember, picks this year are made against the spread and I'll be using the spread values that ESPN uses in their Pigskin Pick'em game. Inching closer to .500 on the season!

Record Last Week: 9-4, .692
Overall Record: 58-59, .496

Byes: Broncos, Jaguars, Niners, Rams, Redskins, Titans

Sunday Day Games:

Bucs (5-2) @ Falcons (5-2, -8.5)
The Bucs fade will start this week but I can't pick the Falcons to win by more than a touchdown. My pick: Bucs

Bears (4-3) @ Bills (0-7, +2.5)
It's finally your time, Bills. You've been getting closer and closer to that first win every week and you've got a bad Bears team coming to Toronto. It might be now or never. My pick: Bills

Patriots (6-1) @ Browns (2-5, +4.5)
The Pats haven't been great this year but they always seem find a way to win. The Browns are coming off a bye but that still isn't enough time for them to figure out how to beat New England. My pick: Patriots

Jets (5-2) @ Lions (2-5, +4.5)
After how the Jets played last week, this game is a tough one to predict. If they want to be a Super Bowl contender, the Jets must rebound. My pick: Jets

Cardinals (3-4) @ Vikings (2-5, -8.5)
Whoa, what exactly did the Vikings do to earn this spread? The Cardinals aren't good, either, but I can't see the Vikings winning by more than a touchdown. My pick: Cardinals

Saints (5-3) @ Panthers (1-6, +7.5)
The Saints are getting back on track. The Panthers have never been on track. My pick: Saints

Dolphins (4-3) @ Ravens (5-2, -5.5)
The Dolphins have had a rough schedule this season and things don't get any easier as they travel to Baltimore this week. My pick: Ravens

Chargers (3-5) @ Texans (4-3, +1.5)
I'm not sure what the oddsmakers are thinking on this one. The Texans are at home yet the Chargers, who have been maddeningly inconsistent, are the favorite? Maybe it's a trap but I gotta go with Houston. My pick: Texans

Giants (5-2) @ Seahawks (4-3, +5.5)
Coming off their bye, the Giants are looking to cement themselves as the best of the NFC. Seattle is a tough place to play but I say the Giants make a statement. My pick: Giants

Chiefs (5-2) @ Raiders (4-4, -2.5)
Who would have thunk that this was going to be a good game between two teams with a legitimate shot at making the playoffs? That the Chiefs are about to be 6-2 is nothing short of shocking. My pick: Chiefs

Colts (5-2) @ Eagles (4-3, -2.5)
This is another head-scratching line. I know the Colts haven't exactly been great this year but it's hard to justify going with the Eagles to win this game. Not with Peyton Manning ready to shred the Eagles shaky secondary. My pick: Colts

Sunday Night Game:

Cowboys (1-6) @ Packers (5-3, -7.5)
I wish I could actually feel bad for the Cowboys. Well, not really. My pick: Packers

Monday Night Game:

Steelers (5-2) @ Bengals (2-5, +4.5)
What a pathetic effort by the Bengals this season. What used to be a pretty good rivalry is going to get ugly this week as the Steelers whip Cincy for 60 minutes. My pick: Steelers

Those are my picks for Week 9 of the NFL Season. Check back every Thursday (or Friday) during the season for the latest predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comment section!