NFL Picks Week 9

Each week, the Steelers Now staff is picking each NFL game.

STANDINGS

Alan Saunders: 81-37
Parker Hurley: 73-45
Mike Asti: 73-45
Ron Lippock: 72-46

LAST WEEK

Mike Asti: 13-2
Parker Hurley: 11-4
Ron Lippock: 13-2
Alan Saunders: 13-2

THURSDAY

San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals

Asti: 49ers
Hurley: 49ers
Lippock: 49ers
Saunders: 49ers, but not to cover, and beware Thursday night weirdness here.

SUNDAY EARLY

Houston Texans vs Jacksonville Jaguars in London

Asti: Texans
Hurley: Jaguars
Lippock: Texans
Saunders: Jaguars, I guess? Texans are a talented team, but have led me astray many times this year.

Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles

Asti: Eagles. The Bears were even lucky to beat the Chargers and Philadelphia has found their stride enough for this game.
Hurley: Eagles
Lippock: Eagles
Saunders: Eagles, even if their offense might struggle.

Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers

Asti: Steelers. This is a pretty even matchup. Both teams have been starting a backup quarterback and are ranked near each other in most categories. It took Rudolph and the Steelers a half to get going against Miami, which can be a reason for concern, but it’s also possible they finally figured out how to utilize Rudolph and this offense, especially with Johnson seeming to fill that number two receiver option that has been a big issue most of the season. Steelers 26, Colts 20.

Hurley: Steelers. The Colts have a good offense and good defense but the Steelers have a potentially great defense. Against a great OC and a backup QB we will finally get to see just how special this defense can be. As the offense settles in with Mason Rudolph if they can take care of the ball, they can put the game in the hands of their defense who could show up in a big way once again at home. Steelers 20, Colts 17.

Lippock: Steelers. Talk about two evenly matched teams. Both rank near each other in offense and defense – almost carbon copies – and both playing with backup quarterbacks.

The biggest differences are home field advantage for the Steelers and the fact the Steelers are much better at forcing turnovers. Om the backs of those two facts, I give this one to the Steelers, 23-20.
Saunders: Steelers. I think the Steelers have been fine, but I’m really basing this pick on my feelings about the Colts, which have an entirely unimpressive collection of skill players. Turnovers will be the key in this one. Colts have been stingy, but won’t be able to handle the Pittsburgh pressure off the edge. Pittsburgh, 28-20.

New York Jets at Miami Dolphins

Asti: Jets. I can’t pick the Dolphins and if the Jets don’t win this they may not win another game.
Hurley: Jets
Lippock: Jets
Saunders: Dolphins. Ryan Fitzpatrick is clearly the better quarterback.

Minnesota Vikings at Kansas City Chiefs

Asti: Chiefs
Hurley: Vikings
Lippock: Chiefs
Saunders: Chiefs

Tennessee Titans at Carolina Panthers

Asti: Panthers
Hurley: Panthers
Lippock: Titans
Saunders: Panthers, I guess?

Washington Redskins at Buffalo Bills

Asti: Bills
Hurley: Bills
Lippock: Bills
Saunders: Bills are undefeated when playing teams that barely belong in the NFL, something they’ve done a ton this year.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Seattle Seahawks

Asti: Seahawks
Hurley: Buccaneers
Lippock: Seahawks
Saunders: Seahawks

Detroit Lions at Oakland Raiders

Asti: Lions. The Lions start their emergence.
Hurley: Lions
Lippock: Raiders
Saunders: Lions, though I’d feel better if this were in Detroit.

Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Chargers

Asti: Packers
Hurley: Packers
Lippock: Packers
Saunders: Packers

Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos

Asti: Browns. While Baker Mayfield and the Browns are falling apart, they just have to beat Denver.
Hurley: Browns
Lippock: Browns
Saunders: Broncos. I think things have totally gone off the rails in Cleveland.

SUNDAY NIGHT

New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens

Asti: Patriots
Hurley: Ravens
Lippock: Patriots, 30-20
Saunders: Ravens, because Lamar Jackson really is that dude, and I’m not going to pick the Pats every week.

MONDAY NIGHT

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants

Asti: Cowboys
Hurley: Cowboys
Lippock: Cowboys
Saunders: Cowboys, but this would this would be a classic Cowboys game to lose and keep the division close.