The average Joe trying to predict outcomes from NFL games this season might be having the same difficulties I’ve run into as it is seemingly harder every week trying to pick a winner. Such was the case with my picks in week nine of the season as it has become glaringly obvious that on any given Sunday no team can be heavily favored to win.
At this point of the 2025 campaign, it appears any of the teams with winning records are capable of having an equal chance of winning the Super Bowl. Another week of upsets and surprises and some incredible performances as well as some devastating injuries highlight my quick reactions from the action.
Week 9 Knee Jerks
Baltimore 28 Miami 6 (Harv’s score: Ravens 35 Dolphins 20). Lamar Jackson returns, and an expected result is the result. For Steelers fans keep in mind this was the terrible Miami team that Baltimore defeated.
Chicago 47 Cincinnati 42 (Harv’s score: Bengals 28 Bears 17). Talk about a team, that is a complete mess and disaster on defense and you are talking about the Cincinnati Bengals. Thought to be a contender in the preseason, Joe Burrow gets injured again and their season goes into the dumpster. The Bears are one of the surprising teams of 2025. I never thought the Bungals would blow a lead…AGAIN.
Minnesota 27 Detroit 24 (Harv’s score: Lions 30 Vikings 21). Try to figure out the Detroit Lions. One week they look like a powerhouse and the next they can’t figure out how to win another game. J.J. McCarthy is back, and all is right with the Vikings. Right? Only time will tell. With Baltimore coming to town, this will be a good test.
Carolina 16 Green Bay 13 (Harv’s score: Packers 37 Panthers 9). REALLY? Only the very lucky got this one right. At Lambeau, to lose to the Panthers? The Pack scored just 13? What? Craziest upset of the season with Green Bay coming off a very impressive win in Pittsburgh. This one doesn’t make sense, but Panthers fans don’t care. They knocked off Micah Parsons and the big dogs.
Denver 18 Houston 15 (Harv’s score: Texans 24 Broncos 23). Houston was on a high and somehow the Broncos just keep winning. With the Chiefs losing the door to the AFC West is wide open.
New England 24 Atlanta 23 (Harv’s score: Patriots 32 Falcons 18). Coach of the Year? My vote goes to Mike Vrabel. What a turnaround from a season ago. The Pats are absolutely for real. The Falcons are pretenders and just not playoff worthy.
San Francisco 34 New York Giants 24 (Harv’s score: 49ers 27 Giants 20). Giants fans enjoyed a very short upswing with Jaxson Dart now reality is sinking in. The 49ers will always be a dangerous threat.
Indianapolis 20 Pittsburgh 27 (Harv’s score: Colts 31 Steelers 24). The one game I picked against my team, and they pull the major upset. Oh well. I’m happy with being wrong on this one. This is how I expected the Pittsburgh defense to play. Or is this a case of the Colts being a smokescreen and they really are not that good?
Los Angeles Chargers 27 Tennessee 20 (Harv’s score: Chargers 41 Titans 13). Are the Titans close to being a good team or did the ‘Bolts have a bad day at the office? We will find out in week 10 when the Black and Gold travel west to take on the Chargers.
Los Angeles Rams 34 New Orleans 10 (Harv’s score: Rams 35 Saints 17). Which team is the worst in the NFL right now? Tennessee or New Orleans? Coin toss. This was easy pickings for the Rams.
Jacksonville 30 Las Vegas 29 (Harv’s score: Raiders 20 Jaguars 17). I’ve given Pete Carroll and the Raiders too much credit this season. They are simply not very good. The Jags were powered by a 68-yard record setting field goal. Without that boot they lose. That means they are not quite as good as their record and their next game is in Houston. Ouch.
Buffalo 28 Kansas City 21 (Harv’s score: Bills 25 Chiefs 23). I’m sure Bills fans are celebrating this victory. They know once the post season begins if they have to face Kansas City, they’ve never won a playoff game facing the Chiefs. That is IF K.C. even makes the playoffs. They are walking a thin line right now.
Seattle 38 Washington 14 (Harv’s score: Commanders 28 Seahawks 24). The wrongs just kept on going in week nine as I missed yet another game. Who was to know Jayden Daniels would get injured again and now he may miss the rest of the season. Sam Darnold has yet to come back to earth since he turned his career around last season in Minnesota.
Arizona 27 Dallas 17. (Harv’s score: Cowboys 36 Cardinals 16). Is this the end of Kyler Murray’s Cardinals career as Jacoby Brissett leads Arizona to another win? You have to wonder if Jerry Jones is regretting trading Micah Parsons yet as the Cowboys defense is just bad.
Week 10 Picks
You just can’t stop trying when it comes to picking winners. Despite the bad week and finishing under .500 for week nine, the chances of getting games correct is dwindling as we enter the 10th week of the season. So, without further ado, here I go again.
