Week 9 NFL Picks

November 5, 2015

By the Football Garbage Time Staff

Time now for our Week 9 NFL Picks!

Week 9 Games

Ha Kung Wong’s Picks

Ha Kung’s Thoughts:

As I mention every week, copy my picks and you can thank me later. After Week 8, I’m still in the lead with 76-43 for the season. So if you like winning, I think I can help.

This week I want to focus on another of my “against the grain” picks, and that’s the Green Bay Packers @ Carolina Panthers.

Honestly, we say the best and the worst from Carolina last week against the Indianapolis Colts. The Panthers defense dominated for about 3 and half quarters, they completely ran out of gas for the final 10 minutes or so, almost letting the game slip away in overtime. Sure, Cam Newton was also partially at fault, as he threw an interception, lost a fumble and botched a handoff to Jonathan Stewart that led to another lost fumble. And Ted Ginn Jr. did manage the drop a perfectly thrown pass behind the secondary that should have been an easy TD. But the Panthers still prevailed, partly due to Andrew Luck’s poor decision making and partly due to having an opportunistic defense.

The Green Bay Packers, on the other hand, came out flat on all fronts. Not only did they allow Peyton Manning to have one of is most efficient games of the season (even with the INT), but the much celebrated Aaron Rodgers led offense failed to get anything going, even with a moderately productive Eddie Lacy on the ground. It wasn’t just a loss, it was a complete beat down by the Denver Broncos.

Aaron Rodgers – GuysNation.com Photo

So what does this all mean for this week’s showdown in Carolina? Well, the Carolina defense is not as stingy as Denver’s, but they’re still 7th in terms of limiting passing yards allowed to opposing teams. It’s clear that the strength of the Packers offense is through the air, but the less then optimal health surrounding Randall Cobb and Davante Adams is taking its toll, limiting Rodger’s effectiveness, as is the moderately productive, but still subpar, ground game. Green Bay’s defense has been effective as well, but they let the unimpressive tandem of C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman pile up 161 rush yards and 3 TDs last week. With Newton’s mobility and Jonathan Stewart continuing to improve as the every-down back, I can see Carolina eating away at the clock with yards on the ground while limiting Rodger’s ability to go downfield.

Jonathan Stewart

I think this will be a close game, but Carolina will be at home and have significant momentum right now, and I’m predicting Carolina maintains their perfect record, at least for one more week.

Scott King’s Picks

Joanne Kong’s Picks

Joanne’s Thoughts:

Miami Dolphins (3-4) @ Buffalo Bills (3-4)

The Bills defeated the Dolphins in Week 3, 41-14. But that was before interim coach Bill Campbell. Although they might not have looked like it against the New England Patriots in week 8, the Dolphins are a better team…or maybe I should say a team making progress but still figuring out the kinks.

Tyrod Taylor will be returning to the quarterback position for the Bills, which makes this pick very difficult. My inexplicable love for the Dolphins always gets me into trouble. How many times will the Dolphins let me down? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me ten times, shame on me. Let’s make it eleven.

Dolphins win.

Washington Redskins (3-4) @ New England Patriots (7-0)

Come on…Patriots at home. Do we really believe Kirk Cousins and the Washington Redskins will outplay Tom Brady and the Patriots? No, not even Redskins fans can possibly believe their team will win.

Atlanta Falcons (6-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (2-6)

The Atlanta Falcons have been on an unexplainable downward spiral – losing to the New Orleans Saints, narrowly winning against the Tennessee Titans and losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in overtime. Fortunately for the Falcons, or maybe not so fortunately, the 49ers have benched Colin Kaepernick and are starting Blaine Gabbert.

Although I’m picking the Falcons to win, it wouldn’t be surprising if they lost to the 49ers.