NFL Week 9 Calls

Here are my week 9 calls... lights out edition.

Redskins @ Falcons: The Redskins organization is in disarray as they just fired their GM. Hotlanta just lost on Monday Night after putting up a pretty solid effort against the Saints. Michael Turner seemed to get going last week and I look for him to stay hot. TE Tony Gonzalez and WR Roddy White should have a pretty good game against an overall struggling Washington team. I think the Falcons win this one pretty easily. 27-16 ATL

Cardinals @ Bears: Arizona looked awful at home last week against the Panthers. The Bears handled a terrible Browns team. Last time these two teams met.... this happened... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_N1OjGhIFc Classic. Anyway I look for the Cards to bounce back since they have been playing much better on the road this season. It should be a tight game but I think Arizona actually

pulls this one off and beats Da Bears. Look for WR Larry Fitzgerald to have a huge game. 31-24 ARZ

Ravens@ Bengals: Thankfully last week Baltimore handed the Broncos their first loss of the season (as predicted on Jake's Take). The Bengals have come back to earth a little bit in the past few weeks and I look for them to struggle against a fired up Raven defense. Joe Flacco needs to protect the ball for the Ravens and find RB Ray Rice as often as possible, because he is a stud. Carson Palmer better make sure he knows where safety Ed Reed is at all times or he could throw a pick-six or 2. Chad Eight-Five should have a decent day for the Bungles. But, in the end I think the Ravens are too much for Cincinnati, even at home. 34-24 BAL

Texans @ Colts: Houston benched their starting running back Steve Slaton last week only to have their backup Ryan Moats rush for 3 TDs. The Colts got more TD passes from RB Joseph Addai (1) than QB Peyton Manning (0) but they still won. Indy just has an all-around solid team and they are very tough to beat at home. I look for Peyton to light it up this week mainly because I play against him in two different fantasy football leagues and that always happens. Matt Schaub should play pretty well but will get upstaged by the huge day by Manning. The Colts remain undefeated. 34-26 IND

Dolphins @ Patriots: Miami beat the Jets last week despite being out gained on offense by over 200 yards... How did this happen? WR/KR Ted Ginn Jr. returned not 1, but 2 kickoffs for TDs which basically carried the Dolphins. The Patriots spent last week preparing for the Dolphins this week and that is not good news for Miami. Tom Brady should explode this week and I look for him to find WR's Randy Moss and Wes Welker early and often considering that Miami starts two rookies at the corner spots. The Pats take care of the Dolphins at home. 35-20 NE

Packers @ Buccaneers: Last week, Green Bay basically had an ex-girlfriend come over to their house with a new and better boyfriend and could do nothing to stop it. Brett Favre came in and shredded the GB defense with a much better Vikings team. Aaron Rodgers played really well himself, but its tough completing passes when you are getting smoked on every single play. Either way I look for the Pack to come back this week against a poor Tampa Bay squad. The Bucs have not won a game this season and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Look for the Packers to struggle early in this one and then erupt with a bunch of points as the game progresses. Green Bay robs the Buccaneers at home. 34-17 GB

Chiefs @ Jaguars: One thing that I know is that Kansas City is not very good. Jacksonville has been hard to predict this year because they play really well one week and look like the worst team in football the next. I see Maurice Jones-Drew having a great game against a pretty bad Chiefs defense. The Chiefs did sign WR Chris Chambers who was cut by SAN DIEGO earlier this week and that should help their passing game, considering their existing receivers aside from Dwayne Bowe are awful. Matt Cassel should have a better game but it will still be in a losing effort. Jaguars win at home. 27-16 JAX

Panthers @ Saints: "Sweet" Carolina looked just that last week, sweet. Even Neil Diamond was impressed as the Panthers dominated the Cardinals on the road. New Orleans handled business on Monday Night to remain undefeated. The Saints are almost impossible to beat at home and the Panthers have the privilege of going into the Superdome this weekend. I look for Panthers running game to have big day against a Saints D that allowed The Burner to run for 150 yards. The Saints defense leads the NFL in interceptions and no QB has thrown more the Carolina's Jake Delhomme. This could be a recipe for disaster for the Panthers. The only thing going right for the Panthers QB this season is is first name. I just think the Saints can attack you from too many angles on offense and even if Drew Brees is on phone sitting on the sidelines, the defense can score at any time as well. New Orleans is just too good for the Panthers. Saints go to 8-0. 37-24 NO

Lions @ Seahawks: The Lions lost to a team I predicted would not win a game this entire season... so that should tell you how well they are playing, or how dumb I am. Seattle got destroyed by Dallas last week but they get to come home Sunday where they are much tougher to beat. Matt Hasslebeck should play well against a bad Detroit defense. WR's Nate Burleson and T.J. Houshmenzadeh or however you spell it should have big numbers in this one. The Lions desperately need WR Calvin Johnson back this week to boost a struggling offense with a rookie QB. I think the Seahawks fly high at home. 27-17 SEA

Titans @ 49ers: Vince Young played pretty well last week in his return to the starting lineup. San Francisco played the Colts really close but could not come through with the win. I think RB Chris Johnson could explode again this week for Tennessee as long as he runs away from All -Pro linebacker Patrick Willis. Alex Smith needs to find TE Vernon Davis and WR Michael Crabtree early to open up things for RB Frank Gore. I think Mike Singletary will get his troops in shape this week and they will beat the Titans in the Bay Area. 27-24 SF

CHARGERS @ Giants: SAN DIEGO outplayed Oakland last weekend but barely held on for the win. It was nice to see that Shawne Merriman remembered how to do his light-out dance. The G-Men have lost three straight and are looking to get back on track. The most intriguing match up in this entire game is between 2 players who will only be on the field at the same time during the coin flip. QB's Philip Rivers and Eli Manning will meet for the first time on the field after the infamous 2004 draft day fiasco. Terrible looking Eli refused to play for the CHARGERS and demanded a trade after the BOLTS drafted him #1 overall. The Giants drafted Philip Rivers with fourth overall pick and then the trade was made. I think both QB's will play well and if the CHARGERS offense line can protect P-Riv he will have a huge day. But that is a big IF. The Giants offense should run the ball pretty well and I can see safeties Eric Weddle and Stephen Gregory getting ran over by RB Brandon Jacobs. In the end I think the Giants pull this one out, ruining a great effort by Philip Rivers and the passing attack. Eli is outplayed by Philip, but wins the Draft-Day-Trade Bowl. 34-28 NYG

SNF: Cowboys @ Eagles: Dallas have been playing well of late which means they will lay an egg this week. Philly has been playing great and they are tough at home. QB Tony Romo should play well after finding a #1 receiver in "I Can See For Miles and..." Miles Austin. WR's DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin have been a great 1-2 threat for the Eagles and when you throw in TE Brent Celek, they are tough to stop offensively. I see more of the big play success for the Philly offense. The Eagle D should get a few key turnovers late that will fuel the win. Eagles win a big one at home. 34-27 PHI

MNF: Steelers @ Broncos: This will be a great game. We will see if Kyle Orton can handle the blitzes and pressure of the Steel Curtain. Pittsburgh is coming off a bye week after handing Minnesota their first loss in Week 7. I think Big Ben will spread the ball to WR's Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Mike Wallace and TE Heath Miller. Denver RB Knowshon Moreno should find running lanes few are far between. I see Pittsburgh going into Mile High and handing the Broncos their 2nd straight loss of the year. The defense carries the Steelers once again. 27-16 PIT

Jake's Power Rankings through Week 8

1. New Orleans Saints

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Minnesota Vikings

4. Denver Broncos

5. New England Patriots

6. Philadelphia Eagles

7. Cincinnati Bengals

8. Pittsburgh Steelers

9. Baltimore Ravens

10. Dallas Cowboys

Jake's Bottom of the Barrel Rankings

28. Kansas City Chiefs

29. St. Louis Rams

30. Detroit Lions

31. Cleveland Browns

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

That's it for Week 9...

---J