CLEVELAND — "Sometimes you're the windshield. Sometimes you're the bug." - Mary Chapin Carpenter
After five straight non-losing weeks, I now find myself in the loss column for the second straight week, posting a 5-9 record in my Week 8 picks. That brings my total for the season to 56-61-1 on the season.
Let's get back on track with my Week 9 picks.
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San Francisco 49ers (+6) vs. Green Bay Packers
Pick: 49ers +6
The 49ers have been decimated by injury but are still well-coached enough to hang around with an inconsistent Packers team. Plus, I'm not sold the drop off from Jimmy Garoppolo to Nick Mullens is a drastic one.
Buffalo Bills (+3) vs. Seattle Seahawks
Pick: Seahawks -3
This pick feels pretty chalky, but I'm not about to bet against Russell Wilson and D.K. Metcalf.
Atlanta Falcons (-4) vs. Denver Broncos
Pick: Broncos +4
This line feels a point too high. The Falcons are still very much capable of blowing a lead on any given Sunday.
Tennessee Titans (-5.5) vs. Chicago Bears
Pick: Titans -5.5
As the Rams showed two weeks ago, you can run on this Bears defense. It should be a big day for Derrick "The Big Dog" Henry.
Minnesota Vikings (-4) vs. Detroit Lions
Pick: Vikings -4
A commitment to getting Dalving Cook involved should bode well for the Vikings against a Matthew Stafford-less Lions squad.
Indianapolis Colts (+2.5) vs. Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Ravens -2.5
Lamar Jackson hardly looks like his MVP self, but the Ravens are still one of the league's most complete teams. Should Baltimore get ahead early, it's hard to imagine Indianapolis keeping pace.
Kansas City Chiefs (-10.5) vs. Carolina Panthers
Pick: Panthers +10.5
The Panthers' defense will have its hands full -- as every team that faces Patrick Mahomes does. But with Christian McCaffrey back on the field, Carolina should be able to keep this one closer than expected.
Jacksonville Jaguars (+7) vs. Houston Texans
Pick: Jaguars +7
I haven't seen enough from the Texans this season to justify taking them as a seven-point road favorite. Even without Gardner Minshew, the Jaguars have enough offensive weapons to put up some points.
Washington Football Team (-3) vs. New York Giants
Pick: Football Team -3
Turnover prone Daniel Jones vs. this Washington defensive line seems like a potential recipe for disaster for the Giants.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Pick: Chargers
The Raiders are more disciplined than they are explosive. So long as Justin Herbert doesn't turn the ball over, Las Vegas could have trouble keeping up.
Dallas Cowboys (+14) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick: Steelers -14
Quite frankly, I'm not sure you could have made this line large enough for me to take the Cowboys.
Arizona Cardinals (-4.5) vs. Miami Dolphins
Pick: Cardinals -4.5
Tua didn't have to do much in his debut, so I still don't know what to expect from him. That should change on the road against a Cardinals team that's balanced on both sides of the ball.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-4.5) vs. New Orleans Saints
Pick: Buccaneers -4.5
Something's off about this Saints team and I can't quite put my finger on it. This feels like a big revenge spot for the Bucs after their Week 1 loss in New Orleans.
New York Jets (+7) vs. New England Patriots
Pick: Patriots -7
Adam Gase in primetime against Bill Belichick? I don't care who's at quarterback for New England.