Bing Predicts NFL Week 9

Oakland Raiders @ San Francisco 49ers

Game time: Thursday, Nov. 1, 8:20 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Oakland Raiders lead series 7-6

On Halloween week, there is no good way to dress this game up—these are two of the worst teams in the NFL playing in a largely meaningless primetime bout that many outside of the Bay Area couldn’t care less about. If for no other reason than fantasy football implications, the public will tune in as this Northern California rivalry is renewed.

The San Francisco 49ers look to halt a league-worst, six-game losing streak, and the depleted Oakland Raiders may be the best opponent for them to achieve that goal. The Niners are favored on Thursday night despite relinquishing a 12-point, fourth-quarter lead to another of the NFL’s worst teams, the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona’s only two wins this season have been at the expense of the 49ers.

In an equally embarrassing collapse, the Raiders watched a fourth quarter lead disappear and allowed 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter in a 42-28 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.   

Of the 784 primetime games in league history played on Nov. 1 or later, no two teams have combined for a lower winning percentage. Tune in if you dare.

Bing Predicts Winner: San Francisco 49ers (69% chance)

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Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings

Game time: Sunday, Nov. 4, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Minnesota Vikings lead series 72-39-2

The NFC North remains wide open: Any one of its four teams could hold the division’s top spot after Week 9 is said and done. The Detroit Lions travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings this Sunday for the first of their two division meetings this season.

The Vikings were overmatched last Sunday night in a rematch of the Minneapolis Miracle. One of the league’s most talented and consistent receivers this season, Adam Thielen, uncharacteristically coughed up the ball (his first lost fumble of the season) as Minnesota was on the cusp of scoring and extending its lead. The New Orleans Saints turned the fumble into a touchdown drive and never looked back in a 30-20 victory.

The Lions also dropped their contest last week, halting their two-game winning streak. Detroit was dominated 28-14 by the Seattle Seahawks, and the game felt even more lopsided than the point margin. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson dismantled the Lions’ secondary on just 17 pass attempts (14-of-17 for 248 yards, three touchdowns, and a perfect passer rating). Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford had a passer rating under 100.

The Lions have won three of their last four over the Vikings, but are big underdogs this week.

Bing Predicts Winner: Minnesota Vikings (67% chance)

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Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens

Game time: Sunday, Nov. 4, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Pittsburgh Steelers lead series 27-22

Since the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers met back in September, it has been a tale of two different seasons for the AFC North rivals. The Ravens bested the Steelers, 26-14 in Week 4, but have lost three of their last four and have fallen to third place in the division. The Steelers have strung together three consecutive wins since the loss to Baltimore and currently sit alone in first place.

Pittsburgh easily handled the Cleveland Browns 33-18 on Sunday behind running back James Conner's 146 yards rushing, 66 yards receiving, and two touchdowns. The Browns have since parted ways with head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

The Ravens gave up 36 points in a loss to the red-hot Carolina Panthers, yet remain the league's #1 defense. That stout D will need to be firing on all cylinders when they welcome in the NFL's #2 passing offense. Prior to the Week 4 loss, Pittsburgh had won the previous three matchups between the two but are underdogs as they enter Sunday's contest.  

Bing Predicts Winner: Baltimore Ravens (55% chance)

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New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins

Game time: Sunday, Nov. 4, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: New York Jets lead series 54-51-1

It is almost always a foregone conclusion who will sit atop the AFC East at regular season’s end. The Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets have just one division title each during the Tom Brady era. The other 14—not including the 2001 season when Brady did not start the season, but won the Super Bowl—have all gone to the Patriots. So yet again, this division battle appears to be a fight to keep each team’s Wild Card hopes alive.

The Dolphins, after a 3-0 start, have lost four of their last five, including a 42-23 beatdown by the Houston Texans last Thursday. Miami’s defense gave up five passing touchdowns on only 20 Deshaun Watson attempts.

The Jets fell to an NFC North opponent for the second-straight week, this time 24-10 to the Chicago Bears. This matchup marks the first of three-consecutive games against division opponents and is being touted as a “must-win” by players in the New York locker room.

It remains unknown if Miami’s starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill will make his return, or if Brock Osweiler will start for the fourth-straight week. Regardless of who is under center for the Dolphins, the Jets need to focus on what they can control, including pre-snap penalties. New York had five false starts in last week’s loss.

Bing Predicts Winner: Miami Dolphins (63% chance)

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Kansas City Chiefs @ Cleveland Browns

Game time: Sunday, Nov. 4, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Kansas City Chiefs lead series 12-11-2

This contest between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cleveland Browns features one team who appears to have everything figured out at the season’s midpoint and one team who suffers from an extreme identity crisis. Their records indicate which is which.

Despite showing some signs of promise this season, a regressing Browns team has parted ways with both head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley after Sunday’s 33-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jackson was a staggering 3-36-1 in his tenure with the team. Gregg Williams, previously the defensive coordinator, will now serve as interim head coach.

The Chiefs, who currently hold the best record in the AFC, are heavy road favorites over the reeling Browns. Patrick Mahomes II, who threw for 303 yards and four touchdowns in a 30-23 victory over the Denver Broncos Sunday, remains the front-runner for NFL MVP. Mahomes leads the NFL in passing yards, touchdown passes, and is top-five in passer rating.

Bing Predicts Winner: Kansas City Chiefs (78% chance)

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Chicago Bears @ Buffalo Bills

Game time: Sunday, Nov. 4, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Chicago Bears lead series 7-5

The Chicago Bears were back on the winning side of things last week, taking down the Jets 24-10. The Bears won easily even without star linebacker Khalil Mack, who was out with an ankle injury. Mack may rest again this week, even if healthy enough to play, as Chicago prepares for a stretch of five division games over the final eight weeks of the season.

Buffalo kept things close in the first half against the Patriots, but a Derek Anderson pick-six thrown in New England territory changed the course of the game. The Bills were held without a touchdown in the 25-6 loss. To make matters worse, Anderson suffered a concussion in the loss, which will likely mean Nathan Peterman will start at quarterback Sunday.

Buffalo has been without starting quarterback Josh Allen, who suffered an elbow injury two weeks ago against the Texans and remains week-to-week. The Bills haven’t ruled out shutting down Allen for the remainder of what is essentially a lost season as a precautionary measure.

Chicago should handle the Bills this week, but second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky will need to be more consistent down the stretch. He missed on 24 throws in the Bears’ Week 8 loss to New England and failed to connect on a few easy throws last week as well.

Bing Predicts Winner: Chicago Bears (58% chance)

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers

Game time: Sunday, Nov. 4, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Carolina Panthers lead series 22-13

If you love ‘Fitzmagic,’ you’ll be happy to get some more this week. The Buccaneers announced Monday that quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will be the starter when they travel to Carolina to battle the Panthers. Jameis Winston, who started for the Bucs last week, was benched in favor of Fitzpatrick after throwing his fourth interception of the day.

Fitzpatrick came up just shy of an incredible comeback, bringing his team back from an 18-point deficit to a 34-34 tie, but was inevitably let down by Tampa Bay’s horrendous defense. The Buccaneers are worst in the NFL in points-per-game given up (33.3) and gave up 37 and the game-winning drive to the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday.  

With or without a little magic, it’s a tough ask to slow down the red-hot Panthers who continue to fly under the radar as one of the NFL’s best teams. After a convincing 36-21 victory over the Baltimore Ravens and their league-best defense, Carolina has proven they are a force to be reckoned with in the NFC. The Panthers have won eight of the last 10 matchups and are favored at home on Sunday.

Bing Predicts Winner: Carolina Panthers (67% chance)

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Atlanta Falcons @ Washington Redskins

Game time: Sunday, Nov. 4, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Washington Redskins lead series 15-9-1

The Atlanta Falcons-Washington Redskins matchup is one of the best of the Week 9 slate. The Redskins hold a commanding and surprising lead in the the NFC East while the Falcons are fighting for their playoff lives, but Atlanta could be the better of the two.

After a blowout loss to the Saints in early October, Washington has won three straight and boasts one of the best defensive units in the NFL, especially against the run. The Redskins currently rank #2 in the NFL in rushing yards-per-game and, over the last three games, have stymied three of the league's top backs. Carolina's Christian McCaffrey, Dallas' Ezekiel Elliott, and New York Giants' Saquon Barkley combined for 91 rushing yards.

Washington hopes to keep that trend up against running back Tevin Coleman and the Falcons. The Falcons' running attack is not what should concern the Redskins though; Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan currently leads the NFL in passing yards-per-game (333.6) and receiver Julio Jones currently leads the NFL in receiving yards-per-game (116).

The Falcons have only played on the road twice this season, and they lost both of the contests. They will visit the Redskins on Sunday.

Bing Predicts Winner: Washington Redskins (60% chance)

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Houston Texans @ Denver Broncos

Game time: Sunday, Nov. 4, 4:05 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Denver Broncos lead series 4-2

The Houston Texans ride a five-game winning streak into Denver this Sunday, but they suffered a huge loss to their receiving corps after Will Fuller tore his ACL in the team’s Thursday night victory over the Miami Dolphins.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson loses one of his major pass-catching options, but added wide receiver Demaryius Thomas in a trade with none other than their opponent this Sunday, the Broncos. The Texans hope to seamlessly integrate Thomas into an offense that appears to have found a groove after a bleak start to the season. On only 20 attempts last week, Watson threw for an incredible five touchdowns, dismantling the Dolphins.

The Broncos are a far cry from striking distance in the AFC West, but their record may not be an accurate indication of their talent. Three of Denver’s losses came from two of the best teams in the league—the Chiefs beat them twice, both times by one score, and the undefeated Rams barely held on for a 23-20 victory.

Houston has a few extra days of rest after its Thursday night contest, which could be important against a desperate Denver team who will be fighting to keep its season alive.

Bing Predicts Winner: Denver Broncos (55% chance)

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Los Angeles Chargers @ Seattle Seahawks

Game time: Sunday, Nov. 4, 4:05 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Seattle Seahawks lead series 26-24

After rough starts to the season for both of these squads, the Los Angeles Chargers and Seattle Seahawks have turned things around in a major way. The Chargers, winners of four straight, make their way north to Seattle where they’ll take on the Seahawks, winners of four of their last five.

158.3 is the top passer rating one can record, and that’s exactly what Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson recorded Sunday in a 28-14 victory over the Detroit Lions. Wilson was 14-of-17 for 248 yards and three touchdowns. He has thrown nine touchdowns over his last three contests (three in each game).

Philip Rivers is quietly having one of his best seasons as a pro. He has eclipsed 2,000 yards through seven games, and his combined passer rating of 117.8 ranks only below Drew Brees for highest in the league among regular starters. Rivers and the rest of the offense will need to be great on Sunday because, over the last four games, Seattle ranks #1 in opponents points-per-game and #4 in opponents yards-per-game.

Los Angeles is fresh off of a bye week, but the rest was not enough for star pass rusher Joey Bosa who is still not “anywhere near ready” for game action.

Bing Predicts Winner: Seattle Seahawks (61% chance)

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Los Angeles Rams @ New Orleans Saints

Game time: Sunday, Nov. 4, 4:25 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Los Angeles Rams lead series 41-33

The Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints are the NFC’s two best teams. The Rams are undefeated and off to their best start since 1969, while the Saints haven’t lost since Week 1. One team’s winning streak will come to an end in New Orleans on Sunday.   

The Rams faced their toughest task of the season last week when they narrowly beat Aaron Rodgers and the Packers 29-27. The Rams might be 7-1 if not for a Ty Montgomery fumble on a kick return that denied Rodgers the chance at a game-winning drive. Running back Todd Gurley II is in the midseason MVP conversation. He leads the NFL in scrimmage yards (1,151) and touchdowns (15).

The Saints proved Sunday that they don’t necessarily need to rely on Drew Brees every week. The MVP candidate threw for only 120 yards in the 30-20 victory, the lowest total he has amassed in a full game since he signed with New Orleans 13 years ago.

Both teams utilize innovative offensive schemes, which is a big part of why they’ve been so successful. The Saints in particular have found success incorporating Taysom Hill, the dual-threat quarterback who also returns kicks, and will surely use him to confuse a dangerous Rams defense that just got better after acquiring Dante Fowler at the trade deadline.  

No two teams averaging 33 points-per-game or more have ever met this late in the season. This one is going to be fun.

Bing Predicts Winner: New Orleans Saints (57% chance)

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Green Bay Packers @ New England Patriots

Game time: Sunday, Nov. 4, 8:20 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Green Bay Packers lead series 6-5

This is the marquee matchup of Week 9 namely because these two elite quarterbacks are meeting only for the second time (and what could be the last). Tom Brady. Aaron Rodgers. A battle between two of the best we’ve ever seen.

The last time the Green Bay Packers traveled to Foxborough, Aaron Rodgers sat with a concussion in a 31-27 loss. When the Patriots visited Green Bay four years ago, the Packers fended off New England 26-21.

After a slow start, the Patriots have reasserted themselves as one of the best teams in football. They’ve won five straight and easily dismissed the Buffalo Bills 24-6 on Monday night.

Aaron Rodgers was denied a chance at a game-winning drive after Ty Montgomery made two major mistakes in bringing a kickoff out of the end zone just prior to the two-minute warning and then proceeded to fumble the ball. It’s reported that Montgomery was told to take a knee but defied orders. The Packers locker room was in disbelief after the 29-27 loss. Montgomery was traded to Baltimore for a 2020 seventh-round pick in wake of the decision.

Green Bay needs a win in a bad way, and one on the road over the Patriots would prove they can contend this season.  

Bing Predicts Winner: New England Patriots (69% chance)

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Tennessee Titans @ Dallas Cowboys

Game time: Monday, Nov. 5, 8:15 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Dallas Cowboys lead series 8-6

The Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans enter Monday night each with extra rest immediately off of bye weeks. Both teams saw games go down to the wire when they were last on the field in Week 7.

Tennessee could have tied the game with an extra point after scoring a late touchdown in their London game with the Chargers, but head coach Mike Vrabel opted to go for two and the win. The Titans couldn't convert and went on to lose 20-19.

Dallas also had a chance to tie their game against Washington in the final seconds, but kicker Brett Maher watched his 52-yard field goal attempt glance off and outside of the left upright. The kick appeared like it would have been good from 47 yards, which is significant, because the Cowboys were penalized for a questionable "snap infraction," which backed the field goal unit up five yards. Dallas fell 20-17.

Both teams currently sit below .500 in their divisions, but neither is out of the race yet. The Cowboys hope the addition of Amari Cooper can help salvage the season and keep the team perfect at home, where each of their three wins this season have been.

Bing Predicts Winner: Dallas Cowboys (61% chance)

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