NFL Week Nine

[WayneWonder]

Playing one early...

Cincinnati -1 @ Buffalo

Trent Edwards injured his wrist in the game against NYJ and is listed as questionable this week with what is being described as a combination contusion/sprain. This means that J.P. Losman may be making the start for Buffalo.

Buffalo has been a good home team, covering in each of their four games at home this season, but I do not see them being able to score with Cincinnati. The Bills have been outscored by 38, outgained by 947 yards and have 46 fewer first downs than its opponents. They rank 31st in total offense and are ahead of only Cincinnati and Cleveland in yards allowed.

The Bengals were booed lustily after Marvin Lewis made a timid decision to kick a field goal rather than go for six from the Steelers two-yard line on a fourth-and-one late in the second quarter. This decision not only went over badly with the fans but some of the players as well. Houshmandzadeh said. "Lack of confidence? It could possibly be that because on fourth-and-one, why wouldn't you go for it?"

The Bengals know they cannot afford to keep losing games if they hope to chink away at Pittsburgh's 3.5 game lead in the division. Their next five opponents have a combined 20-15 record. This is a must-win game for the Bengals if they have any hope of salvaging their season.

 

[Emersonboozer]

The Bengals were supposed to cover the spread last week and even with the mojo on thier side couldnt get it done. Buffalo is playing real strong fundamental football at home so I would hesitate to throw my money at the Bengals. Thier season was in the balance Sunday at home and they blew it. Who knows what they have left in the tank? Ill pass but best of luck.

 

[WayneWonder]

Adding...

Pittsburgh -9.5 over Baltimore

Flashback to Week 16 last season, the Ravens travel to Heinz Field and embarrass the home team 31-7. The Steelers looked god-awful, turning the ball over three times and unable to stop an offense that was by no means explosive. They allowed Big Ben to be sacked five times and he was eventually knocked out of the game. They were able to shut down Willie Parker (29 yards on 13 carries) as well. The Steelers had a down year last season but the fact is they were embarrassed by the Ravens in 2006. The Steelers were out-gained 634-423 and outscored 58-7 in the two losses to the Ravens.

The NFL is a cyclical league, though. This year, it is the Steelers who find themselves up and the Ravens are down. The Steelers should relish the opportunity to pay back the favor to a hated division rival at home. They are 3-0 at home this year, outscoring opponents 84-13, surrendering just one TD, a garbage time fourth quarter TD against SF.

 

[WayneWonder]

Seattle +1

It is hard to wager against this Browns team that just keeps winning. They have a potent offense who can score with anybody, but their defense is troublesome. They proved that last week in falling behind 14-0 to a winless Rams team.

Although they are fun to watch, they tend to shoot themselves in the foot often. The Browns are the third most penalized team in the league, while Seattle is fourth in penalties called against it's opponents.

Look for Seattle to try and put some distance between themselves and the rest of the mediocre NFC West this week due in part to a suffocating defense that has surrendered just 11 TD's all season long.

San Diego -7

The Chargers have gotten back to playing the kind of football many of us expected them to play coming into this season. During their three-game win streak, they are +10 in turnover margin and have outscored their opponents 104-27. Against Houston, they scored on four of five first half possessions before taking their foot off the gas in the second half. The Viking should be overwhelmed early by this Charger team, which has jumped on its opponents 72-10 in the first half of their last three. This should neutralize the Adrian Peterson effect and the Chargers should continue to roll.

 

[WayneWonder]

Kansas City -2.5

Short week for Green Bay off an emotional win. KC is winning with defense for a change. They have not allowed an opponent to score over 20 points in any game this season.