Week 9 NFL Predictions: Two Inter-conference Games to Watch

The Patriots keep on winning and are en route to having the best defensive season in modern history as well as the best odds to win the Super Bowl at Bovada sportsbook. Meanwhile, in the AFC East, the Dolphins keep on losing and are on track to have the worst season in modern history.

The Ravens are sitting firmly atop the AFC North, and somehow, the Oakland Raiders are hanging on to the No. 2 spot behind the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West. The Luck-less Colts have found a bit of luck in Jacoby Brissett and are currently in first place in the AFC South.

Over in the NFC, despite mediocre play, the Cowboys are on top of the NFC East. The 49ers remain undefeated in the West, and the Packers are trudging thier way along to take the NFC North. Teddy has been a bridge over troubled water during Drew Brees’ injury and the Saints are 7-1, miles ahead of everyone else in the NFC South.

Are there any shakes-ups in store for Week 9?

I wouldn’t quite call them shakeups, but the AFC West could have a pole position change after Week 9. The Chiefs are headed into Sunday as home underdogs against the Minnesota Vikings. This Minnesota defense is tough, allowing just 19 points per game on the road. The offense isn’t great on the highway, putting up just 23 per game, but KC’s home defense has been far from stellar, allowing 26 per game. Offensively, the Chiefs are only putting up 23 per game in arrowhead, and that is likely to be a few points fewer against this Minnesota defense.

I have a feeling the Chiefs will be 5-4 after Week 9.

But KC isn’t the only AFC West team facing an NFC North squad this Sunday. The 3-4 Raiders host the Detroit Lions and the Silver and Black are listed as two-point favorites! Unfortunately for Gruden’s men, the Raiders offense has been lack-luster at home, putting up just 19.3 points per game – they actually play much better on the road. The Lions are similar in nature, playing better on the highway. Patricia’s men are dropping 25 points per game on opponents as the visiting squad, which is good enough for the No. 9 road offense in the league. The Raiders have the second-best home rushing defense in the league … and to be honest, the Lions suck at running the ball, so we shouldn’t see much there. But Stafford and company are 6th in the league in passing yards and they are going against a microwaved butter secondary.

I would lean towards the Lions getting the upset win in Oakland, but the Raiders might pull it off. If they do, they’ll move to 4-4 and be that much closer to taking over in the AFC West – at least until Mahomes comes back and puts his bum foot on the throat of the rest of the division.

A Side Note

We should not miss the Battle of the Bad. Can the Jets get their second win of the season? This is literally the No. 31 offense going against the No. 32 offense. The Jets have a horrible No. 25 ranked defense, but they head into Miami to face the worst defense in the league… Something’s gotta give, right? I wouldn’t be surprised if somehow, both teams managed to lose this game…