Week 9 NFL Previews - NFL News, Tips And Picks

Week 9 NFL Previews
By Chris Cluff
Posted: 11:00 am PDT 2006-11-04

Falcons (5-2) at Lions (1-6), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Falcons -5 (47)
Storyline: With seven touchdown passes in his past two games, Michael Vick suddenly has come alive as a throwing quarterback, and he has a good chance to continue his run of TD passes against Detroit, which has one of the league's worst pass defenses. It hasn't helped that the Lions have been missing as many as five starters on defense. Coming off a bye, Detroit might get three of them back, but DT Shaun Rogers is still suspended. The Lions might get reinforcements on the offensive line as well, with Rex Tucker and Ross Verba expected back.
Best Bet: The Falcons are a dual threat on offense now, and the Lions won't be able to stop them. Atlanta, 31-20.

Bengals (4-3) at Ravens (5-2), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Ravens -3 (41.5)
Storyline: Behind a resurgent offense, the Ravens aim to put the Bengals in their rear-view mirror by securing command of the NFC North. After the Ravens had lost two straight, Coach Brian Billick took control of the offense and the Ravens put up 35 points on New Orleans last week. The Bengals' offense - missing two starting linemen to injury - has had its own problems; Carson Palmer has been sacked 21 times, and the running game has failed to gain 90 yards in four of the past five games. Things don't figure to get much better against the Ravens' third-ranked defense, which leads the league in interceptions.
Best Bet: The Ravens are turning into a complete team and should end a three-game losing streak to Cincinnati. Baltimore, 23-20.

Cowboys (4-3) at Redskins (2-5), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Cowboys -3 (41.5)
Storyline: Tony Romo takes his show on the road for the first time, making his second NFL start a week after he led Dallas to a team-record 25 fourth-quarter points and a season-high 414 yards in a comeback win over Carolina. The Cowboys beat Washington 27-10 in September and look to extend the Redskins' three-game losing streak, which included a 36-22 loss to Indianapolis just before Washington's bye. The Redskins' offense has been shut down in the second half of the past three games - a sign that Washington is being out-coached. Mark Brunell will start at quarterback for the Redskins despite a strained rib muscle, and Clinton Portis is probable despite a sprained ankle. Santana Moss (hamstring) is doubtful.
Best Bet: The Cowboys have won 10 of the last 13 in the series. Dallas, 24-13.

Packers (3-4) at Bills (2-5), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Bills -3 (40.5)
Storyline: After losing four of their first five games, the Packers have won two straight to put themselves squarely in the playoff hunt. They have scored 85 points in the past three games after getting just 67 in the first month. They produced two 100-yard rushers in their win against Arizona last week, but Ahman Green is on his own after Vernand Morency hurt his back in that game. The Bills had lost three straight entering their bye last week, and their poor offense has been the culprit. During the skid, they have been outscored 88-30 and averaged 214 yards, and QB J.P. Losman has been sacked 10 times and thrown five interceptions. To try to fix those problems, the Bills made two moves along the offensive line.
Best Bet: The Packers are running the ball well, and Brett Favre is not turning the ball over. Green Bay, 23-13.

Texans (2-5) at Giants (5-2), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Giants -13 (43)
Storyline: The Giants have surged to the front of the NFC East with a four-game winning streak spurred by a powerful pass rush. The Giants have 18 sacks during the streak, and Michael Strahan is poised to break a tie with Lawrence Taylor as the team's all-time sack leader (132.5). He has a great chance to do it against Houston, which has allowed David Carr to be sacked 20 times this season. Carr also has fumbled a league-high 10 times; he was pulled from Houston's loss last week after turning the ball over three times. Adding to Carr's challenge this week will be the expected return of Giants DE Osi Umenyiora, who sat out last week with a hip problem.
Best Bet: The Texans have lost 11 straight road games, and this is not the week they will turn the corner. New York, 27-13.

Chiefs (4-3) at Rams (4-3) 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Rams -2 (47.5)
Storyline: In place of Trent Green (concussion), Damon Huard has led the Chiefs to wins in four of the past five games, including a 35-28 victory over Seattle last week in which he threw for a career-high 312 yards. Huard and the Chiefs will try to extend a two-game winning streak when they visit their interstate rivals. The Chiefs have hit 30 points in the last two while the Rams have given up 30 or more in a two-game losing streak. This could be a very high-scoring affair because Marc Bulger continues his excellent play for the Rams, with 12 touchdown passes and just one interception.
Best Bet: The Chiefs are 3-0 against NFC teams, averaging 33 points. Kansas City, 30-27.

Dolphins (1-6) at Bears (7-0), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Bears -13.5 (37)
Storyline: The Dolphins will have a much tougher time ending the Bears' perfect season than they had in 1985, when they handed Chicago its first loss after an 11-0 start. These Bears possess the NFL's top defense both in yards (269) and points (9.9) allowed per game. The Dolphins are 0-4 on the road and have lost four straight overall - the last a 34-24 defeat at the hands of Green Bay before their bye. Joey Harrington is 0-3 since taking over for Daunte Culpepper, with seven interceptions and three touchdowns, and now he faces a defense that has forced 22 turnovers.
Best Bet: The Bears have allowed just 30 points in four home wins. Chicago, 34-10.

Saints (5-2) at Buccaneers (2-5), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Saints -1 (38.5)
Storyline: Reggie Bush's trouble running the ball was explained this week as he revealed that he had sprained an ankle in the season opener. He aggravated the injury last week against Baltimore, but he said he will play in this game. Bush's biggest impact so far came in the Saints' 24-21 win over the Bucs on Oct. 8, when he returned a punt 65 yards to put the Saints ahead. Bush could loom large in this game, too, because Deuce McAllister is hindered by a hurting hamstring. The Bucs are surely happy to see the Saints' backs banged up because Tampa Bay is giving up 146 rushing yards per game - most in the NFC. Tampa Bay rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski had an excellent debut against the Saints earlier, and the Bucs will try to give him more help with their own running game.
Best Bet: The Bucs have won two straight at home against quality teams (Cincinnati and Philadelphia). Tampa Bay, 20-17.

Titans (2-5) at Jaguars (4-3), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Jaguars -9.5 (37.5)
Storyline: After David Garrard helped the Jaguars bounce back from an embarrassing loss to Houston with a win over Philadelphia, the backup QB will start again in place of the hobbled Byron Leftwich (ankle). After the win last week, Garrard is 5-1 as a starter the past two seasons. He should do well against a Tennessee defense that is the worst in the league (372 yards per game) and 29^th in points allowed (25.6). But Vince Young has the Titans on a bit of a roll, with two straight wins, and he faces a Jaguar defense that is missing multiple starters.
Best Bet: The Jags are 3-0 at home, including shutouts of Pittsburgh and the Jets. Jacksonville, 24-10.

Vikings (4-3) at 49ers (2-5), 4:05 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Vikings -4.5 (42.5)
Storyline: Brad Johnson gets a chance at redemption after he threw three interceptions and was yanked from a 31-7 home loss to New England on Monday. It was a return to the offensive struggles the Vikings had endured early in the season. The 49ers' porous defense (367.7 yards per game) offers an opportunity for Minnesota to bounce back with its third win in four games. The 49ers have allowed a league-high 235 points, including three games of more than 40 last month. Of course, the Vikings' defense has problems of its own, with three starters questionable, including both tackles.
Best Bet: The 49ers are averaging almost 25 points at home, and Frank Gore could carry them to the upset against a Minnesota team that has lost its past seven visits to San Francisco. San Francisco, 24-20.

Browns (2-5) at Chargers (5-2), 4:15 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Chargers -12.5 (41)
Storyline: The Chargers will try to stay undefeated at home despite the suspension of the NFL's sack leader, Shawne Merriman. The Chargers, who also figure to be without two other starters (not counting Steve Foley), are lucky they face a Cleveland offense that ranks next to last in the league. San Diego's offense should be able to pick up any slack; the unit is averaging 31 points per game, second in the league, and is coming off a 38-24 win over St. Louis in which LaDainian Tomlinson ran for 183 yards and scored three touchdowns.
Best Bet: The Chargers should easily secure their seventh straight November win. San Diego, 31-13.

Broncos (5-2) at Steelers (2-5), 4:15 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Steelers -3 (36.5)
Storyline: How far the mighty have fallen. Nine months after beating the Broncos 34-17 in the AFC title game, the Steelers are off to the worst start by a defending Super Bowl champion since the 1987 Giants. The biggest problem has been the play of QB Ben Roethlisberger, who returned from a concussion last week to throw four interceptions, including two that were returned for touchdowns by the Raiders. Now he faces a riled-up Denver defense that was picked apart by the Colts' Peyton Manning last week. Even after giving up 34 points to the Colts, the Broncos are first in the AFC with 11.1 points allowed per game.
Best Bet: The Broncos will use the league's No. 3 rushing offense to pound the Steelers. Denver, 20-13.

Colts (7-0) at Patriots (6-1), 8:15 p.m. ET, NBC
WagerWeb.com line: Patriots -3 (48.5)
Storyline: This is easily the game of the year so far, with the Colts aiming to become just the second NFL team to go 8-0 in consecutive seasons - and, just like last year, they have to beat the Patriots for that eighth win. This game features two of the league's hottest quarterbacks - Indy's Peyton Manning and New England's Tom Brady each threw for 300 yards and combined for seven touchdowns last week. It also is a homecoming for Adam Vinatieri, the All-Pro kicker who was such a big factor in the Patriots' three Super Bowl titles and who now kicks for the Colts. He hit the winning 37-yard field goal for the Colts in Denver last week. Last year, the Colts ended the Patriots' six-game winning streak in the series with a 40-21 win in which Manning and Brady both threw for three touchdowns.
Best Bet: The Patriots' defense has yet to allow more than 17 points to a team this season, while the Colts' defense allows 21.9 points and is last against the rush. New England, 27-20.

Raiders (2-5) at Seahawks (4-3), 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
WagerWeb.com line: Seahawks -7 (37.5)
Storyline: After wins over Arizona and Pittsburgh, the Raiders are looking for their first three-game winning streak since 2002. Meanwhile, the injury-ravaged Seahawks are trying to avoid losing three in a row for the first time since 2004. They have dropped back-to-back games to Minnesota and Kansas City - games in which the defense surrendered too many big plays. The Raiders have the league's worst offense, but they also have Randy Moss. The Seahawks are still without QB Matt Hasselbeck and RB Shaun Alexander, who both might not return for another two weeks; the Seahawks are 1-3 without Alexander. Seneca Wallace, who threw three touchdown passes last week, will make his second start for Hasselbeck.
Best Bet: The home team has won the past eight meetings, and the Seahawks should be able to get to Andrew Walter, who has been sacked 28 times in seven games. Seattle, 24-17.

LAST WEEK: 7-7
SEASON: 72-42

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