NFL 2008 Week 9 Picks

Mark Twain once said, "Climate is what we expect. Weather is what we get."

The 2008 NFL season is at the midway point, and it has been anything but calculable. It has lived up to the reputation of this league by swatting at off-season expectations like pesky flies at a Sunday picnic.

There are teams like Indianapolis, Seattle, and San Diego who are used to surveying the scene from a much higher mountain top than the mesa where they currently reside. What about those squads who entered the season with very low expectations? Buffalo, Washington, Atlanta, and Baltimore have posted winning records when many expected them to be smelling a little ripe right about now.

And, you can't ignore the very impressive displays of dominance and efficiency by Tennessee, NY Giants, Pittsburgh, Carolina, and even New England in the wake of Tom Brady being MIA.

Here are some notes of recognition that I think are worth pointing out at the half-way mark:

1. MVP - Clinton Portis. He has 944 yards averaging 5 yards per carry plus 7 TD's to help lead Washington to a very impressive 6-2 record. Honorable mention: Kurt Warner. Drew Brees is having a phenomenal year, but Warner's numbers are also excellent as Arizona is in first place in the soft NFC West.

2. Rookie of the Year - Chris Johnson. He leads Tennessee with 626 yards rushing while averaging 5.1 yards per carry plus 4 TD's and has given coach Jeff Fisher an excellent tandem along with LenDale White to strike fear in opposing defenses. Honorable mention: Matt Ryan. Atlanta...yes, Atlanta...is 4-3 and a legitimate playoff dark horse team.

3. Coach of the Year - Jeff Fisher. To lead a team to a 7-0 record with a fossil QB, sub-par WR's, and a youthful running attack takes a special head coach, and you couldn't ask for a better one in Fisher. Of course, an ironclad defense helps too. Honorable mention: Jim Zorn. This man had never been a head coach or even called plays. This hire is now looking like a genius move by Daniel Snyder.

4. If the Super Bowl were played today... - NY Giants vs. Tennessee Titans. Two punishing and explosive defenses. Two lethal running attacks. Two emotional coaches. One earth-shaking battle.

Here is how the second half of the season is kicking off...trust me, you'll want to cancel your Sunday plans:

• NY Jets (4-3) at Buffalo Bills (5-2): CBS, 1pm EST -This is a critical AFC East battle. The Bills are undefeated at home and have displayed a well-balanced team this season. Brett Favre must protect the ball and get good field position from the Jets defense that ranks third in sacks and fourth in stopping the run.

• Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-8): CBS, 1pm EST - Brush up on the candidates' platforms.

• Baltimore Ravens (4-3) at Cleveland Browns (3-4): CBS, 1pm EST - Both offenses are scraping the bottom of the barrel, but QB Joe Flacco and Co. have stomped their last two foes, Miami and Oakland. The Ravens defense is making waves wherever it goes this season.

• Houston Texans (3-4) at Minnesota Vikings (3-4): CBS, 1pm EST - There hasn't been a problem in Houston as the Texans offense has been hot the last few games giving the Texans three straight wins. Minnesota's defense and Adrian Peterson will be enough to bring them back to earth.

• Detroit Lions (0-7) at Chicago Bears (4-3): FOX, 1pm EST - Stop and think of any possible way to lose an NFL game, and Detroit has probably done it. Why stop now?

• Green Bay Packers (4-3) at Tennessee Titans (7-0): FOX, 1pm EST - I love this match-up. Both teams have excellent secondaries so look for the Pack and the Titans to get their running game going. That's good news for Tennessee as the Pack is 25th in stopping the run. Green Bay is rested and just might put up a good fight, but that Tennessee defense and running attack should prevail once again.

• Arizona Cardinals (4-3) at St. Louis Rams (2-5): FOX, 1pm EST - Motivation has a way of trumping all the stats and rankings. Kurt Warner always seems to have an extra potion of hunger when he comes back to St. Louis.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (1-6): FOX, 1pm EST - Last season after losing 6 straight games, Coach Herm Edwards said, “People aren’t used to this in Kansas City. Get over it. It happens. It’s called life. You can’t think you’re too big that it’s not going to happen to you. It happens to everybody." If you follow that chain of logic, so does unemployment.

• Miami Dolphins (3-4) at Denver Broncos (4-3): CBS, 4:05pm EST - It's been very difficult for Denver to stop the pass this season, but it's been even more of a challenge to stop the run. A ruptured defense can be like walking around with a cement block tied to your leg. You can move forward but no one can tell. Miami's offense is ranked higher than Jacksonville and New England -- Denver's last two losses.

• Atlanta Falcons (4-3) at Oakland Raiders (2-5): FOX, 4:15pm EST - It's not often that beating a 4-3 team at home is considered a huge upset, but this is what the Raiders are facing. They are very hobbled at RB, QB JaMarcus Russell continues to disappoint, and the defense is shameful. Atlanta QB Matt Ryan is blossoming well, WR Roddy White is white hot, and Michael Turner is lethal at RB.

• Dallas Cowboys (5-3) at NY Giants (6-1): FOX, 4:15pm EST - Last season's divisional playoff loss at home was crushing for Dallas and is seared into their memories. But, they are simply too banged up and off-balance to seek revenge this time vs. a Giants team that appears to be impenetrable. This contest may need an "R" rating for gore and disturbing images.

• Philadelphia Eagles (4-3) at Seattle Seahawks (2-5): FOX, 4:15pm EST - This season isn't exactly the warm farewell tour that coach Mike Holmgren pictured this past off-season. Philadelphia poses a huge problem for a dormant Seahawks team which is 31st in offense and 27th in defense.

• New England Patriots (5-2) at Indianapolis Colts (3-4): NBC, 8:15pm EST, Sunday Night - QB Matt Cassel is putting up Brady-like numbers in his first seven games as an NFL starting QB. But, their defense hasn't been as effective as years past, and that just might come into play on the road against a Colts team that needs to rebound offensively. Indy's defense isn't doing well either, but they are 2nd in pass defense and will probably give Cassel fits especially with S Bob Sanders back in the fold.

• Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) at Washington Redskins (6-2): ESPN, 8:30pm EST, MNF - Pittsburgh has beaten Houston, Cleveland, Baltimore, Jacksonville, and Cincy while losing to the Giants and Philly. They have a great defense and solid running game, but this will be a true measure of how good they are so far this season. Washington has beaten New Orleans, Arizona, Dallas, Philly, and Cleveland. Their losses have come against the Giants and Rams. FedEx Field will be registering on the Richter scale.
  

STANDINGS

Chris Mortensen: 9-5, 78-38

Mark Schlereth: 9-5, 70-46

Ron Jaworski: 7-6, 68-40

Mike Golic: 8-6, 68-47

Eddie Chinn: 9-5, 68-48