Sanders's Week 9 NFL Predictions

By Jacob Sanders

We’ve reached Week 9 and are officially half way through the season. And we lost another NFL franchise player. And no, it’s not too soon to call Deshaun Watson that. The kid has been incredible through is first 7 weeks and proving me wrong each week in my doubts of how far a rookie QB can carry a team. We also lost Joe Thomas as well. Yes, the Browns don’t have a win but Thomas is the toughest player you’ll find in the trenches. Look no further than his Top 100 rankings every year. Players and coaches will tell you the same thing. Well…it’s a league where we all must move on. Moving along…

Sanders went 9-4 last week putting his total to 59-46 on the season.

UPSET OF THE WEEK!!!!

Buffalo Bills VS New York Jets

I think this is the first time where I have put a Thursday Night game as an upset pick. Frankly, this has more to do with that I don’t see many upset picks. This also has to do with gut-feeling. To me, the Bills can wrap up their wildcard chances with a win here. However, it’s a Divisional game, in primetime, in New York. And the Jets have been no easy out almost beating the Falcons last week. For me, the Gang Green shows up and puts a stop to Lesean McCoy forcing Tyrod Taylor to win the game. Not sure if that can happen. This should be a nail-biter down to the wire.

Bills 23 Jets 24

Atlanta Falcons VS Carolina Panthers

Okay. I just don’t trust either team. And frankly, no one should. The Panthers are the definition of a rollercoaster. High highs and low lows. They drive me insane as an amateur writer with no inside resources like professional writers have. You know what else drives me insane? Atlanta’s offense. They just aren’t the same. However, they have been a rather steady presence not really winning games but not losing them either. The Panthers, on the other hand, seem to win or lose depending on if their offense can so much as MOVE the chains. Ugh. You can tell I don’t like this matchup at all. Picking the steady team or the low floor-high ceiling team.

Falcons 20 Panthers 13

Indianapolis Colts VS Houston Texans

You know what. I will pick the Colts here. I’m going to gamble one win away and see if it pays out. Honestly, the Texans were a seriously flawed team with Deshaun Watson covering up a lot of their mistakes. Hmmm. Sound familiar? *cough* Andrew *cough* Luck *cough*. Anyway. There will be no Luck or Watson in this game but my how wonderful that sounds. Maybe next year. For now? Brissett VS Savage. I personally think Brissett is better. As for the defense? Probably Houston. But they’ve given up a lot of points recently and Watson just scored a ton. There is a reason the Texans are 3-4.

Colts 24 Texans 16

Cincinnati Bengals VS Jacksonville Jaguars

Well. This one’s interesting to say the least. PSYCH! Not really. The Bengals almost lost to the Colts. I’ll repeat that. THE BENGALS ALMOST LOST TO THE COLTS. Anyhoo, the Bengals run defense hasn’t exactly been up to par this season. And that’s how you lose to the Jaguars. It’s not secret they’re going to run the ball down your throat. So far, no one in the AFC North has been able to stop Fournette. Good luck Cincy. Oh and welcome to Jacksonville’s Jungle.

Bengals 14 Jaguars 27

Tampa Bay Buccaneers VS New Orleans Saints

Ah yes. The matchup I had circled on my calendar in preseason . The matchup that I thought would declare the Saints or the Bucs the division winner. That statement still remains half true. However, the Bucs are no where near the team I thought they would be. I definitely thought the division would be a tight race between the Bucs and the Saints but the Bucs failed to live up to expectation. Meanwhile, the Saints have been a pleasure to watch and finally (after 3 years up hyping them up) they have met my expectations. So. What about the game pick Sanders? Pff. The Saints. I think that was obvious from the start. Maybe when Winston starts making some plays, we can talk more about the Bucs winning another game this season. Till then….

Buccaneers 10 Saints 26

Los Angeles Rams VS New York Giants

I feel like this is a no-brainer. And it should be. But, I have another gut-feeling for a second New York team. But I’m not picking the upset. I have zero trust in this Giants offense. Yes, they beat the Broncos when I had zero trust. But we’ve seen the Broncos true colors in the last several weeks. The Rams are for real and should show it here by improving to 6-2 on the season. They’ve played steady on offense and have quickly tightened up on defense. A perfect formula for winning in today’s NFL. Just ask the Jaguars.

Rams 28 Giants 14

Denver Broncos VS Philadelphia Eagles

So. The Broncos are playing Osweiler. That would be fine. IF…IF…yes IF he had a running game to lean on to set up the play-action and an offensive line to protect him. Neither have been happening in recent weeks. I almost feel that Osweiler will be swallowed whole by the Eagles D-line because they are just that good. It might be an easy day for Wentz if they can keep the Broncos D on the field to wear them out. One does have to wonder if the Broncos secondary will push Wentz’s buttons. The 2^nd year quarterback has been great but we’ll see what he does against one of the toughest secondarys in the NFL.

Baltimore Ravens VS Tennessee Titans

I’ve picked Baltimore to lose the last couple weeks. And most analysts are picking Tennessee to win. Not me. I had the Titans as my pick to win the AFC South in preseason and they just haven’t looked like a team to win their division, however they still can with Watson injured making the division wide open. The key for them to win this game is to get the running game going. If last weeks performance by the Baltimore defense is any indication, I don’t think they will. The same goes for Baltimore though. They have to run the ball and Tennessee’s front seven is no joke. This comes down to who has the better overall defense. Balitmore’s secondary is much better than Tennessee’s.

Ravens 20 Titans 13

Arizona Cardinals VS San Francisco 49ers

Some may think the 49ers can get their first win here with Carson Palmer out. I don’t think so. The 49ers have played some close games, but the Cardinals can probably lean on Peterson to win the game for them. It’s not ideal, but neither is the 49ers roster, in general. So…Cardinals win. #birdgang

Cardinals 17 49ers 10

Washington Redskins VS Seattle Seahawks

Oof. Terrible matchup for the Redskins. And a good one for the Seahawks. With the Redskins offensive line (or roster in general) banged up, it’s hard to imagine them pulling off the upset here. Cousins would have to play lights out to keep the Redskins in this game. Even then, Wilson has shown to respond he can play lights out as well when his opponents steps up to the plate.

Redskins 17 Seahawks 23

Kansas City Chiefs VS Dallas Cowboys

Whether Elliot is in or not, doesn’t change my pick. The Chiefs are winning this game. This is a “prove it” game right here and while I have enjoyed the Cowboys resurgence during the middle of the season, the Chiefs are the better team in my opinion. Also, I think Alex Smith steps up and puts on an MVP performance at Jerry World. For the Cowboys to win this, they need to harass Smith all day. It’s possible, but I want to see it first.

Chiefs 27 Cowboys 23

Oakland Raiders VS Miami Dolphins

I…..Idk. I just. I give up. I can’t pick games this week. I have nothing to say about a team that lost 40-0 and then traded their No. 1 RB away. That and the quarterback play is bad. There is no other word than just bad. So, I’m giving this to the Raiders. I’m not sure how this game wasn’t flexed for the Chiefs VS Cowboys game. That would be been a wonderful Sunday Night matchup.

Raiders 17 Dolphins 10

Detroit Lions VS Green Bay Packers

I don’t trust the Lions. At all. I find Stafford to be one of the better quarterbacks in the League but the rest of this team is just a mess. The Packers, on the other hand, are at home in primetime and have much better roster talent overall. While I don’t think the Packers are a very strong with Hundley under center, I think it’s enough to beat a Lions team that looks lost and without a clear identity as to who they are to win games. At least outside of Stafford heroics.

Lions 17 Packers 24