Broncos-Raiders Preview and Week 9 Picks!

The Broncos and Raiders meet on Sunday Night Football in the biggest game in this rivalry since Week 16 of the 2002 season. Both teams come in at 6-2, and the winner will have sole possession of the AFC West. It feels great to see this matchup really mean something at this point in the season. There are a lot of storylines surrounding this game. The Raiders have won five games on the road this year, and every game they have won have been close and wildly entertaining. Derek Carr and their offense are playing great, but now they get a test with the Broncos and their defense coming to town. The Raiders are only 1-2 at home, and you wonder if they are just a better team on the road. Plus, is Carr ready to go up against this Broncos defense? The Broncos have played very well when they have faced Carr in the past. Maybe the Broncos are too much for this Raiders team? The Broncos are banged up on defense and Aqib Talib looks like a game-time decision. I can see the Raiders being able to move the ball just enough to get a lead and get points on the board, and that doesn't bode well for Trevor Siemian and the struggling Broncos offense. In any event, this game will be fun to watch, and I have the feeling will get the better of the Broncos in this game, and the Broncos will get their revenge down the road when they host the Raiders in Week 17.

OAKLAND (-1) over Denver
Final Score: Raiders-24 Broncos-16

Last Week's Record: 7-6
Overall Record: 63-49-7
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

JACKSONVILLE (+7.5) over Kansas City: At 5-2, the Chiefs are on a roll and very much in the thick of the AFC West race. Alex Smith is out this week with a concussion, and Nick Foles will get the start. Normally, I would take the Chiefs here on the road, but I'm going to go with the Jags as big underdogs at home. I think this is a must win for the Jags, and they have to find a way to win this game. I think if they lose, they might be it for Gus Bradley, so I could see them playing well enough to pull the upset.

MINNESOTA (-6) over Detroit: The Vikings were dominant in their 5-0 start, but they have lost their last two games including a terrible loss at Chicago on Monday night. Then, offensive coordinator Norv Turner abruptly resigned. They seem like a team in turmoil, but I think they rebound here as the 4-4 Lions come into town. I think this game could be close, but I think the Vikings are going to come back and play well-especially with this game at home.

Philadelphia (+3) over NY GIANTS: This is a huge game in the NFC East. Philly comes in at 4-3 after a brutal loss to Dallas, and the Giants come in at 4-3. I think this will be a very close game, but I will side with the Eagles because I think their defense will be able to disrupt the Giants offense and that will be the difference.

Dallas (-7) over CLEVELAND: Sorry Cleveland fans, but the Browns aren't going to help ease the pain of the Indians World Series loss to the Cubs this week, and the red-hot Cowboys come to town to take out the Browns on Sunday. The Cowboys are here to stay this year, and they are a legitimate contender in the NFC. I don't think they lose their focus in this one.

MIAMI (-3) over NY Jets: The Jets have breathed life into their season after winning two in a row, and now are 3-5 as they head to their rivals in Miami. The Dolphins are 3-4 after a two game winning streak, and they have RB Jay Ajayi, who posted back-to-back 200 yard games. I think the Dolphins will be able to take care of business at home in this game. It is hard to trust the Dolphins a lot of times when they are the favorite, but I like them in this spot.

BALTIMORE: (+2) over Pittsburgh: The Ravens started 3-0, and now have lost four straight games and enter this game at 3-4. Joe Flacco doesn't look the same as he is recovering from an ACL injury, and the Ravens just look pretty bad the last month. The Steelers come in at 4-3 and it looks like Big Ben might actually play in this game. Even if Ben plays, I think the Ravens will win because they are the more desperate team, and the Steelers will be fine this year even if they lose this game.

SAN FRANCISCO (+5) over New Orleans: I know the 49ers are really terrible, and the Saints have found themselves at 3-4. The Saints are back into the mix somewhat as a wild card threat, but this game could be tricky. Can we really just that Saints defense on the road. I think this could be a upset I the making.

Carolina (-3) over LOS ANGELES: The Rams have only played two home games in Los Angeles since the season started. I think the Rams are going to be a hot mess the rest of the season, and at some point they will have to start Jared Goff at QB. I think their season will start to unravel, and I see the Panthers going into LA and coming away with a victory to get to 3-5.

GREEN BAY (-7) over Indy: The Packers lost a tough game on the road in Atlanta last week, and at 4-3 the doubts are starting to creep in. I don't buy it and this is a perfect game for them. The Colts just stink, and you have to worry about Andrew Luck making a late-game comeback, but I think the Packers will take care of business and get the win at home on Sunday.

SAN DIEGO (-4) over Tennessee: This is actually a very interesting game in the late window on Sunday afternoon. The Titans are playing pretty well, and they are in the mix for the AFC South crown. The Chargers lost a tough one at Denver on Sunday, but at 3-5 they still have a chance to make some sort of run in the wild card race in the AFC. Look for them to get the win at home, but I think this will be a very good game and should be interesting to watch.

SEATTLE (-7) over Buffalo: We all know about the Seahawks trouble on the offensive line. They have struggled mightily in that area, and they are coming off a tie at Arizona and bad loss at New Orleans. I think they will be okay at home in front of that crowd on Monday night. This looks like a very tough game for the Bills to win. As much as I love the Bills fans for their actions during tailgating (Throwing each other throw tables in a WWE style and doing shots off hot girls), they hit their apex as a fanbase when a fan threw a dildo on the field during a play in last week's game against the Patriots. Unfortunately, they are 4-4 and this seems like an impossible spot for them to win. This seems like a 22-10 type of win for the Seahawks.