The average Joe trying to predict the results of NFL games this season might have the same difficulties as me, as it seems more difficult every week trying to pick a winner. This was the case with my picks in week nine of the season, as it became clear that on any given Sunday, no team can be heavily favored to win.
At this point in the 2025 campaign, it appears that every team with a winning record is capable of having an equal chance at winning the Super Bowl. Another week of upsets and surprises and incredible performances plus devastating injuries highlight my quick reactions after the action.
Week 9: knee reflexes
Baltimore 28 Miami 6 (Harv score: Ravens 35 Dolphins 20). Lamar Jackson returns, and an expected result is the result. For Steelers fans, keep in mind that this was the terrible Miami team that Baltimore beat.
Chicago 47 Cincinnati 42 (Harv score: Bengals 28 Bears 17). Talk about a team, it’s a complete mess and a disaster on defense and you’re talking about the Cincinnati Bengals. Thought to be a contender in the pre-season, Joe Burrow gets injured again and their season goes down the drain. 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 score: Lions 30 Vikings 21). Try to understand the Detroit Lions. One week they look like a powerhouse and the next they don’t know how to win another game. JJ McCarthy is back and all is well for the Vikings. RIGHT? Only time will tell. With Baltimore coming to town, it will be a good test.
Carolina 16 Green Bay 13 (Harv score: Packers 37 Panthers 9). REALLY? Only the very lucky ones made it. In Lambeau, losing to the Panthers? The Pack only scored 13? What? The craziest surprise of the season with Green Bay after a very impressive victory in Pittsburgh. This one doesn’t make sense, but Panthers fans don’t care. They took out Micah Parsons and the big dogs.
Denver 18 Houston 15 (Harv score: Texans 24 Broncos 23). Houston was on top and somehow the Broncos kept winning. With the loss of the Chiefs, the door to the AFC West is wide open.
New England 24 Atlanta 23 (Harv 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 real. The Falcons are contenders and simply not playoff worthy.
San Francisco 34 New York Giants 24 (Harv score: 49ers 27 Giants 20). Giants fans had a very short recovery with Jaxson Dart, now reality is sinking in. The 49ers will always be a dangerous threat.
Indianapolis 20 Pittsburgh 27 (Harv score: Colts 31 Steelers 24). The only match I chose against my team, and it was them who created the surprise. Too bad. I’m glad I was wrong on this one. This is how I expected Pittsburgh’s defense to play. Or are the Colts a smokescreen and really not that good?
Los Angeles Chargers 27 Tennessee 20 (Harv score: Chargers 41 Titans 13). Are the Titans about to be a good team or did the Bolts have a bad day at the office? We’ll find out in Week 10 when the Black and Gold travel west to face the Chargers.
Los Angeles Rams 34 New Orleans 10 (Harv score: Rams 35 Saints 17). Which team is the worst in the NFL right now? Tennessee or New Orleans? Draw. It was an easy choice for the Rams.
Jacksonville 30 Las Vegas 29 (Harv score: Raiders 20 Jaguars 17). I gave Pete Carroll and the Raiders too much credit this season. They’re just not very good. The Jags were powered by a record 68-yard field goal. Without this boot, they lose. This means they are not as good as their record and their next game will be in Houston. Ouch.
Buffalo 28 Kansas City 21 (Harv score: Bills 25 Chiefs 23). I’m sure Bills fans are celebrating this win. They know that once the playoffs start, if they have to face Kansas City, they will never have won a playoff game against the Chiefs. That is, IF KC even makes the playoffs. They’re walking a thin line right now.
Seattle 38 Washington 14 (Harv score: Commanders 28 Seahawks 24). The mischief continued into week nine as I missed another game. Who would have thought Jayden Daniels would get injured again and now could miss the rest of the season. Sam Darnold has yet to come back to earth since turning his career around last season in Minnesota.
Arizona 27 Dallas 17. (Harv score: Cowboys 36 Cardinals 16). Is this the end of Kyler Murray’s Cardinals career as Jacoby Brissett leads Arizona to another victory? You have to wonder if Jerry Jones regrets trading Micah Parsons because the Cowboys defense is just plain bad.
Week 10 Picks
You just can’t stop trying when it comes to picking winners. Despite the bad week and finishing week 9 below .500, the odds of winning games are diminishing as we enter the 10th week of the season. So, without further ado, I’m going back.
