Before I get into our NFL picks for next week, let’s briefly recap some of the injuries from Sunday, particularly at the quarterback position. Kirk Cousins, Matthew Stafford, Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder, and Tyrod Taylor each suffered injuries in Week 8 and didn’t return to action. Brock Purdy also suffered an apparent head injury, but the San Francisco 49ers are on a bye this coming week.
Other notable players who suffered injuries today include Drake London, Darren Waller, Jalen Carter, and Minkah Fitzpatrick. How will these injuries, as well as the results from Sunday’s action, affect initial leans for our NFL Week 9 predictions? Let’s dive right into it.
NFL Week 9 Predictions and Picks
Once again, the NFL betting lines for this week feature low totals across the board, as nearly half of the games this week have a total below 40 points. The point spreads for Week 9 are also very tight yet again, with eight games opening with spreads under a field goal. There’s only one team giving more than a touchdown this week.
All odds are from FanDuel Sportsbook.
Tennessee Titans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Odds
- Spread
Steelers -2.5 - Moneyline
Titans +116, Steelers -136 - Total
36.5
The Tennessee Titans offense put up their second-most yards in a game this season in Will Levis’ first start, as the rookie was very impressive in his debut. If there is any drop-off from Ryan Tannehill to Levis, it appears much smaller than any of us would have expected this early.
MORE: Where Will Derrick Henry Get Traded?
Getting just under a field goal against a Pittsburgh Steelers team that struggles to move the football regardless of who is at quarterback seems like a no-brainer to me. Especially if Minkah Fitzpatrick is out, which would be a major blow to the Steelers’ pass defense.
Pick: Titans +2.5 (-115 at FanDuel)
Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs Odds
- Spread
Chiefs -2.5 - Moneyline
Dolphins +132, Chiefs -156 - Total
50.5
Another game that seems like an easy decision, if only betting was so simple!
The Miami Dolphins got back on track this week, but it was against another bad team: the New England Patriots. They still haven’t proven themselves capable of beating a really good defense, and despite a shocking loss to the Denver Broncos Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs still have one. Oh, and they have Patrick Mahomes, who is 19-6-1 ATS in games in which he is giving three points or less (h/t Action Network).
Miami’s defense looked really good on Sunday with Jalen Ramsey making his return, who was as good as ever. But that was against Mac Jones — let’s see them against Mahomes coming off a loss.
Pick: Chiefs -2.5 (-118 at FanDuel)
Los Angeles Rams vs. Green Bay Packers Odds
- Spread
Packers -2.5 - Moneyline
Rams +110, Packers -130 - Total
39.5
Until we get an update on Matthew Stafford, I’m going to hold off on making an official pick. But I do know that I will not be betting on Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers as a favorite anytime soon.
Green Bay’s currently on a four-game losing streak and failed to put up even 200 yards of offense at home against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Love had another abysmal day, throwing for just 229 yards on 41 attempts and finishing with a QBR of 16.9.
If Stafford is out and this line continues to move in the Packers’ direction, I could be tempted to play the Rams as a fade of Love and this Green Bay team giving points.
Pick: Pass for now
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Houston Texans Odds
- Spread
Texans -2.5 - Moneyline
Buccaneers +110, Texans -130 - Total
39
It appeared C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans were a bit overrated as 3.5-point road favorites on Sunday — they lost outright to the winless Carolina Panthers. Was this just an aberration for Stroud, who threw for only 140 yards with an average of 5.8 yards per attempt, or is this the beginning of a rookie wall?
I think the latter is a bit extreme after just one game, but this Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense is an above-average unit and will have the rest advantage here after playing on Thursday night.
Pick: Buccaneers +2.5 (-115 at FanDuel)
Washington Commanders vs. New England Patriots Odds
- Spread
Patriots -2.5 - Moneyline
Commanders +108, Patriots -126 - Total
38.5
This total feels awfully low, considering Sam Howell and the Washington Commanders put up 31 points and 472 yards of offense on Sunday against the defending NFC champs. At the same time, maybe Howell is just at his best against the Philadelphia Eagles, whom he set career-highs in passing yards, completion percentage, and touchdowns.
Even if Howell is extremely unlikely to come close to the same production this coming week, he doesn’t need to for this game to go over such a low total. Mac Jones and the Patriots struggled to move the ball yet again on Sunday. However, any team can throw the ball on this Commanders pass defense.
Pick: Over 38.5 (-115 at FanDuel)
Chicago Bears vs. New Orleans Saints Odds
- Spread
Saints -7 - Moneyline
Bears +265, Saints -330 - Total
41.5
The Saints finally showed signs of life on offense on Sunday, and then some. After looking lifeless at times through the first seven weeks of the season, they put up 38 points and over 500 yards of offense in a win over the Colts. Now, they get a matchup against an even worse defense in the Bears.
The one concern in taking the over here is the Bears’ offense, regardless of who is under center, as they have struggled offensively both with Justin Fields and Tyson Bagent. But with the total being relatively low at 41.5, I think we could get enough Bears points to hit the over.
Pick: Over 41.5 (-115 at FanDuel)
Minnesota Vikings vs. Atlanta Falcons Odds
- Spread
Falcons -4 - Moneyline
Vikings +164, Falcons -196 - Total
36.5
It appears Cousins will be out for the remainder of the season, and rookie fifth-round pick Jaren Hall will take over as the Vikings’ QB. Meanwhile, at quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, it’s worth monitoring if Desmond Ridder clears concussion protocol this week.
Taylor Heinicke could be an upgrade at the position. Even if he isn’t, it certainly doesn’t compare to the downgrade at quarterback for the Vikings.
This will be Hall’s first career start against a Falcons team that is 3-1 at home this season. They did lose to a rookie quarterback on Sunday — and gave up 375 yards of offense — but I’m not counting on that happening two weeks in a row, especially to one who was drafted three rounds later.
Pick: Falcons -4 (-110 at FanDuel)
Arizona Cardinals vs. Cleveland Browns Odds
- Spread
Browns -7.5 - Moneyline
Cardinals +295, Browns -370 - Total
38.5
This Cleveland Browns defense going against Joshua Dobbs will be quite a mismatch, but I can’t stomach giving more than a touchdown considering their quarterback situation. P.J. Walker has been dreadful filling in for Deshaun Watson, who wasn’t playing well himself before the injury. Watson is an upgrade from Walker, but he looked terrible in his own right when he tried playing through his shoulder injury a couple of weeks ago.
MORE: Cardinals Backdoor Cover Results in Bad Beat for Ravens Bettors
This would scream to take the under, but these are very turnover-prone quarterbacks, which is scaring me off. For now, I trust the Arizona Cardinals to get more than a touchdown than I do the Browns to cover as large favorites.
Pick: Lean Cardinals +7.5 (-110 at FanDuel)
Seattle Seahawks vs. Baltimore Ravens Odds
- Spread
Ravens -5.5 - Moneyline
Seahawks +198, Ravens -240 - Total
42.5
The schedule makers did the Seattle Seahawks no favors by having them play against the two best defenses in the NFL in consecutive weeks. Playing against this Baltimore Ravens defense on the road will be no easy task, but the Seahawks are certainly a much more formidable opponent than the Cardinals.
Right now, I lean towards the under, as I believe that Geno Smith and the Seahawks offense might struggle in this tough environment. Also, the Ravens are too inconsistent offensively to trust week-to-week. They couldn’t even put up 300 yards against the Cardinals on Sunday.
Pick: Under 42.5 (-104 at FanDuel)
Indianapolis Colts vs. Carolina Panthers Odds
- Spread
Colts -2.5 - Moneyline
Colts -136, Panthers +116 - Total
44.5
Did the Carolina Panthers find themselves coming out of the bye week, particularly from the change in play-calling duties from HC Frank Reich to OC Thomas Brown?
What we do know is that they’re finally in the win column. Now, they get to face an Indianapolis Colts defense that allowed 511 yards to a New Orleans Saints offense that put everyone to sleep on Thursday Night Football the week prior.
As bad as the Saints’ offense has looked, they still have far more explosive playmakers than this Panthers offense. Even in their win Sunday, Carolina averaged just 3.7 yards per play on offense. If there is any get-right spot for this Colts defense after allowing 77 points over their last two games, it’s this one.
Pick: Under 44.5 (-108 at FanDuel)
Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles Odds
- Spread
Eagles -2.5 - Moneyline
Cowboys +130, Eagles -154 - Total
46.5
The Game of the Week! Despite playing each other twice a year, this will be Dak Prescott and Jalen Hurts’ first meeting since 2021, as they each missed a game in this matchup last season.
Prescott has owned the Eagles in recent years, and this defense just surrendered 472 yards of offense to the Commanders. Since Nick Sirianni has been the head coach, the Cowboys have scored 132 points in three games with Prescott under center (one was against the Eagles’ backups).
On the other side, this Eagles offense looks as good as ever right now, particularly the Hurts-to-A.J.-Brown connection. Furthermore, the Cowboys’ defense has looked vulnerable against good offenses. I’m expecting both offenses to have success in what should be a close game.
Pick: Over 46.5 (-110 at FanDuel)
New York Giants vs. Las Vegas Raiders Odds
- Spread
Raiders -3.5 - Moneyline
Giants +176, Raiders -210 - Total
38.5
Tyrod Taylor left the game with a rib injury on Sunday, but it looks like Daniel Jones will be making his return. As bad as Jones looked earlier this season, at least he can complete a pass for positive yardage, unlike Tommy DeVito on Sunday.
MORE: NFL Bye Weeks Schedule 2023
The Giants have looked terrible for most of this season, but have started to improve defensively in recent weeks, holding their last three opponents to a combined 41 points. That’s encouraging enough to take them getting more than a field goal against a bad Raiders team.
Pick: Giants +3.5 (-122 at FanDuel)
Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals Odds
- Spread
Bengals -1.5 - Moneyline
Bills +100, Bengals -118 - Total
47.5
Are the Cincinnati Bengals back? It appears that after a much-needed bye week, Joe Burrow is completely healthy, and their offense is back to playing at a high level after a 31-17 win over the 49ers.
Cincinnati should have even more success against a Buffalo Bills defense that has been struggling in recent weeks since losing key players to injury.
The Bills will have had 10 days to prepare for this one, however, which is especially important when you’re facing a team that eliminated you in the playoffs last season. I’m expecting them to come out extra motivated on offense after the Bengals held them to just 10 points in the AFC Divisional Round last year.
Pick: Over 47.5 (-105 at FanDuel)
Los Angeles Chargers vs. New York Jets Odds
- Spread
Chargers -2.5 - Moneyline
Chargers -134, Jets +114 - Total
42.5
The Jets had a really lucky win over a team that couldn’t register more than zero net passing yards on Sunday. That won’t be the case this coming week going against Justin Herbert and the Chargers, who had a convincing bounce-back win over Chicago on Sunday Night Football.
You’re getting the Chargers under a field goal here, and unless they’re playing against the Bears, they don’t win by more than one score. As elite as the Jets’ defense has looked in recent weeks, I don’t think they will win the turnover battle by four or hold the Chargers to -9 passing yards. Seems like a good sell-high spot.
Pick: Chargers -2.5 (-110 at FanDuel)
Our Betting Lines page has the freshest lines and promos to get BANG for your buck. PFN’s FREE Parlay Calculator and Betting Odds Calculator are also available for your betting process! New to sports betting? Check out our guide on How to Bet on the NFL. Visit our Sports Betting Legal Tracker on how to bet legally in the U.S.