NFL picks, Week 9

Picks for week 9 of the 2009 NFL season...

Washington at Atlanta (-10.5) - Hard to see a scenario in which the Redskins manage to lug all of their baggage into Atlanta and come out with a win, or even a close loss.

Green Bay (-10) at Tampa Bay - The Packers are now 0-2 against the Vikings coming off the ignominy of their former start beating them on their own field. This week, they lick their wounds and the Buccaneers at the same time.

Miami at New England (-10.5) - People keep telling me that I should be respecting of the Dolphins, concerned about them. I decline.

Kansas City (+6.5) at Jacksonville - I'm still buying Pioli and Cassell. And we're talking about a Jaguars team that just got smoked by the Titans.

Houston at Indianapolis (-8.5) - The 7-0 start notwithstanding, there are some problems in Indianapolis. Including several significant injury issues. The Texans could make a statement by going in to Indianapolis and winning, and truth be told, it's not out of the question. I don't see it happening.

Baltimore (-2) at Cincinnati - The Ravens have already lost, at home, to the Bengals. So they're going to go on the road and beat them in Cincinnati? Yup, that's what's going to happen.

Arizona (+3) at Chicago - The Bears are a fraud team. The Cardinals are a satyr team - half man, half goat. The goat half got embarrassed by the Panthers last week, the man half shows up in Chicago.

Carolina at New Orleans (-14) - Bask in the glow of your triumphant visit to Arizona, Panthers. Bask in the glow...

Detroit (+10) at Seattle - I must really be unimpressed by the Seahawks to be picking the Lions to keep it close and lose by single-digits. Yes, yes I am.

San Diego at N.Y. Giants (-5) - Flippin' a coin. Drawing cards. Examining the entrails of chickens. Tarot. Tea leaves. They all got nuthin', and so do I. Because a month ago, it would have been hard to imagine the Giants losing four straight, I'll take New York. Is that a terrible, illogical, irrational, no good, very bad reason to pick a team? Ayuh...

Tennessee at San Francisco (-4) - Congratulations, Vince Young - that's one in a row. But the next Titan win may be just as long in coming as the last one.

Dallas at Philadelphia (-3) - These two teams could, I think, do anything. I have no confidence in either QB, either defense, either running game, either special teams. No confidence in anything associated with this game. Except one thing. I'm confident that the Eagle fans will be unpleasant on Sunday night.

Pittsburgh (-3) at Denver - Sometimes, a team just needs to learn how to win. This Bronco team just needed to learn how to lose. They're going to get reminders on occasion during the rest of the season.