The Silcoff Selections are for Week 9 of the 2024 NFL Season! Below are my records for my straight up and against the spread picks for the season thus far.
Records Last Week:
Straight Up: 10-6
Against The Spread: 10-6
Season Records:
Straight Up: 78-45
Against The Spread: 60-58-5
Teams On Byes: Steelers, 49ers
Thursday Night Football: Houston Texans (6-2) @ New York Jets (2-6) I Line: Jets -2
The New York Jets are a joke, which makes them being favored in this game even funnier. Despite not having their top two receivers for this one, in Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs, Houston remains the more reliable football team. The Texans have superior coaching and are more simply more consistent. They hand the Jets their seventh consecutive defeat.
Prediction: Texans 24, Jets 17
Early Sunday Slate:
Dallas Cowboys (3-4) @ Atlanta Falcons (5-3) I Line: Falcons -2.5
Even in yet another loss against the San Francisco 49ers, Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb finally looked like their 2023 selves late in that contest. I think the Cowboys carry that momentum into a must-win spot this weekend. Atlanta has been one of the more inconsistent teams in the league this year, and I think they will take their foot off the gas after a huge divisional win in Tampa last Sunday. Dallas wins on a last second field goal to back to .500.
Prediction: Cowboys 26, Falcons 23
Miami Dolphins (2-5) @ Buffalo Bills (6-2) I Line: Bills -6
The Dolphins gave away a much-needed win last week in Tua Tagovailoa's return to the lineup in Week 8, and I think that will come back to bite them. Miami has been owned by Buffalo, and this week should be no exception. Josh Allen is looking to continue building his MVP case, and a victory here would all but guarantee the Bills the AFC East title before the second week of November.
Prediction: Bills 31, Dolphins 21
Las Vegas Raiders (2-6) @ Cincinnati Bengals (3-5) I Line: Bengals -7.5
Joe Burrow said he thinks the Bengals can still make the post-season and a win here is needed if that ends up being the case. The Raiders have lost four in a row and I don't see that streak stopping against this Cincy offense. There is not much time left for the Bengals to turn things around if they want to make it back into the postseason, and they hope their second-half comeback begins with a victory at home.
Prediction: Bengals 30, Raiders 20
Los Angeles Chargers (4-3) @ Cleveland Browns (2-6) I Line: Chargers -1.5
With Jameis Winston at quarterback, Cleveland's offense was far more efficient, and I imagine the Browns to be better as long as he can play clean and avoid turnovers. I don't like West Coast teams playing in the Sunday slate early. In the Chargers case, particularly when they are a dome team playing in the early stages of the Cleveland winter. The Chargers defense likely will force a couple of turnovers but I think somehow, someway, the Browns pull of the small upset at home.
Prediction: Browns 20, Chargers 19
New England Patriots (2-6) @ Tennessee Titans (1-6) I Line: Titans -3.5
New England is on a high following an upset win at home over their rival New York Jets, which essentially ended New York's season and playoff chances, while Tennessee is coming off a humiliating 52-14 effort against Detroit. I'll give New England a slight advantage based solely on vibes in this slope fest.
Prediction: Patriots 17, Titans 16
Washington Commanders (6-2) @ New York Giants (2-6) I Line: Commanders -4
We have seen teams struggle the week after such emotional victories like the Commanders had on Sunday but one thing I need to take into account is not many have faced Daniel Jones the next week. The Giants' passing offense is simply awful, even though the Commanders were saved by their game-winning Hail Mary. Washington's offense faced a difficult test against the Bears after a bye week. I believe Washington will win this game comfortably on the road.
Prediction: Commanders 24, Giants 14
New Orleans Saints (2-6) @ Carolina Panthers (1-7) I Line: Saints -7.5
The Saints are hopeful that Derek Carr will be available this week, and they desperately need him because they haven't been a viable offense without him. Carolina has lost five straight games by at least 10 points, and they seem to get worse every week. I expect that number to rise to six if the quarterback matchup is Derek Carr against Bryce Young.
Prediction: Saints 21, Panthers 10
Denver Broncos (5-3) @ Baltimore Ravens (5-3) I Line: Ravens -9
I wouldn’t have believed it if you had told me before the season that these two teams would have the same record heading into Week 9. In an odd turn of events, this game may actually have a significant impact on the AFC playoff race as it begins to heat up. Although Denver has an excellent defense and Bo Nix is improving every week, the Ravens are still the more talented team. I think the Ravens win convincingly, but Denver gets the backdoor cover.
Prediction: Ravens 29, Broncos 21
Sunday Afternoon Slate:
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) @ Philadelphia Eagles (5-2) I Line: Eagles -7.5
The Eagles seem to be finding their groove while the Jags seem to be ready to finalize their vacation plans. I like the Eagles in a blowout here, and would it not be rather poetic that if Doug Pederson gets fired after this one, his coaching career likely ends in the place it began.
Prediction: Eagles 40, Jaguars 20
Chicago Bears (4-3) @ Arizona Cardinals (4-4) I Line: Cardinals -1
Does anyone remember about 14 months ago when everyone thought the Cardinals were going to finish last in the league in 2023 setting themselves up for the chance to draft Caleb Williams in 2024? Well, Arizona has played well recently and Kyler Murray has the Cardinals in essentially a four way tie for first place in the NFC West. After suffering a crushing defeat to the Commanders last weekend, I think the Bears will start slowly. Cardinals get their third straight win.
Prediction: Cardinals 24, Bears 21
Detroit Lions (6-1) @ Green Bay Packers (6-2) I Line: Lions -3.5
In my opinion, these are the two best teams in the NFC, and this battle will be the first of three matchups we see between them. If I had to predict right now, I’d say we’re in for an NFC North showdown in the postseason. The Lions are playing the best football in the league at the moment, and with Jordan Love unlikely to be fully healthy—if he plays at all—in this first game of the season between these division rivals, I’ll take the Lions to win this road game at Lambeau Field based on Love's health concerns.
Prediction: Lions 28, Packers 24
Los Angeles Rams (3-4) @ Seattle Seahawks (4-4) I Line: Rams -1.5
As a Seahawks fan, one of my biggest takeaways this season is that even though they still are in the playoff race, this team simply can't compete with above-average offenses right now. After a 1-4 start, the Rams suddenly have a real chance to win the division title with the return of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. In fact, if I had to predict right now, I would pick them to win the NFC West. With Kupp and Nacua on the field, Matthew Stafford is still a terrific quarterback, and the Rams look like a different team. I believe the Rams win this one relatively easily.
Prediction: Rams 33, Seahawks 24
Sunday Night Football: Indianapolis Colts (4-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (5-2) I Line: Vikings -5.5
Given how close the NFC North race and the NFC playoff race are in general, the Vikings, who have lost two in a row after a 5-0 start, might have to consider this a must-win. Joe Flacco is now QB1 in Indy, and I think that gives the Colts a spark this week, but the Vikings get the primetime win behind their elite defense.
Prediction: Vikings 24, Colts 20
Monday Night Football: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) @ Kansas City Chiefs (7-0) I Line: Chiefs -9
The more I think about it, the more I realize that Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield have low key given us some unreal duels over the years. Before the injuries to their top receivers, the Buccaneers were looking like a sneaky Super Bowl contender in the NFC, now I honestly would be surprised if they make the playoffs. This game should be won by Kansas City, and if they do, I believe it's time to start considering whether 17-0 is really possible for this group.
Prediction: Chiefs 26, Buccaneers 16
ATS Picks Recap:
Texans +2
Cowboys +2.5
Bills -6
Bengals -7.5
Browns +1.5
Patriots +3.5
Commanders -4
Saints -7.5
Broncos +9
Eagles -7.5
Cardinals -1
Lions -3.5
Rams -1.5
Colts +5.5
Chiefs -9
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