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Week 9 NFL Capsules

Submitted by SHNS on Fri, 10/31/2008 - 16:07

Capsule previews for Week 9 around the NFL. All times Eastern.SUNDAY:Baltimore Ravens (4-3) at Cleveland Browns (3-4) 1 p.m.Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Flacco is not only throwing more passes, he is catching them now, too. The Ravens won the first meeting in Baltimore, but the Browns are in the midst of a revival.Prediction: Browns, 23-16.Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-8) 1.Like the Steelers against the NFC East, the Jaguars are already 0-2 against the AFC North. But they have won their past two games on the road and, well, it is the Bengals.Prediction: Jaguars, 24-20.New York Jets (4-3) at Buffalo Bills (5-2) 1.The Bills, apparently, thrive better in cold-weather climates, if their losses in Arizona and Miami are any indication. They are unbeaten at home (3-0) and have won the past three vs. the Jets.Prediction: Bills, 34-21.Detroit Lions (0-7) at Chicago Bears (4-3) 1.Believe it or not, the defensive-minded Bears have scored more points (196) than any other team that has played only seven games. They might fatten that total against the defensively inept Lions.Prediction: Bears, 38-18.Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (1-6) 1.The Buccaneers are good, but just not good enough to beat the premier teams. Still, they are good enough -- and their defense is stingy enough -- to shut down the Chiefs.Prediction: Buccaneers, 17-12.Houston Texans (3-4) at Minnesota Vikings (3-4) 1.Other than Tennessee, no NFL team has more consecutive victories than the Titans, who have won three in a row. They have never won four in a row in franchise history.Prediction: Texans, 27-26.Arizona Cardinals (4-3) at St. Louis Rams (2-5) 1.If Ken Whisenhunt could convince the league to not schedule games in the Eastern time zone, Arizona would never lose. The Cardinals are 0-3 when they have to turn their clocks ahead.Prediction: Cardinals, 34-23.Green Bay Packers (4-3) at Tennessee Titans (7-0) 1.The Titans haven't lost a regular-season game in nearly 11 months, a span of 10 in a row, the longest streak in the NFL. They already own a four-game division lead.Prediction: Titans, 27-1.Miami Dolphins (3-4) at Denver Broncos (4-3) 4:05 p.m.The Broncos needed an open week to fix a defense that has more holes than a donut rack. And Miami has two players who can shoot gaps -- Ronnie Brown and Joey Porter.Prediction: Broncos, 31-27.Dallas Cowboys (5-3) at New York Giants (6-1) 4:15.The Cowboys might be able to beat Tampa Bay with Brad Johnson at QB. But they can't beat the Giants with him at quarterback, even if they have won the past three regular-season meetings.Prediction: Giants, 30-17.Atlanta Falcons (4-3) at Oakland Raiders (2-5) 4:15.The Falcons look unbeatable at home, where they are 3-0 and their average margin of victory is 13 points. But, get them on the road, and they can be as frightening as Darth Raider.Prediction: Falcons, 24-23.Philadelphia Eagles (4-3) at Seattle Seahawks (2-5) 4:15.Shame on those Seahawks, getting Mike Singletary all riled up in his first game as 49ers coach. They won't have to worry about that against Philadelphia, which has won its past two.Prediction: Eagles, 27-20.New England Patriots (5-2) at Indianapolis Colts (3-4) 8:15 p.m.In any other season, this would be the marquee matchup of the week, probably the season. We know what happened to Tom Brady? But what's happened to Peyton Manning?Prediction: Colts, 28-27MONDAY NIGHT:Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) at Washington Redskins (6-2) 8:30 p.m. Monday -- History -- or is it lore? -- says if the Redskins lose their last home game before a presidential election, the incumbent party in the White House also loses. That might not be good news for the maverick.Prediction: Steelers, 20-17 (Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)