Week 9 NFL Picks: Kirk Cousins Gets His Revenge
Josh Frey
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As we arrive at the midway point of the NFL season, the picks continue to hover right around .500. We went 3-4 last week, dipping a touch below that mark. Hopefully we can get back on track with the Week 9 NFL picks. Before we jump into them, here’s a quick reminder of how we did last week:
- Ravens ML (W)
- Cardinals +3.5 (L)
- Cardinals/Vikings U49 points (L)
- Seahawks -3 (W)
- Packers +11 (W)
- Bengals -3.5 (L)
- Bengals/Browns O46.5 points (L)
Season Record: 26-27-3
Philadelphia Eagles @ Houston Texans
- Spread: Eagles -13.5
- Eagles ML: -775
- Texans ML: +575
- O/U: 45.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Eagles -13.5
This game could be a massacre. It’s looking more and more like Brandin Cooks will not play on Thursday after he wasn’t dealt by the Texans at the trade deadline.
On the other side, the Eagles may be without Jordan Davis, but they ooze with star power all over the field, especially on the offensive side of the ball. They also have two of the very best cornerbacks in the entire NFL that will give Davis Mills fits. If Houston finds a way to keep this game close, it’ll be shocking.
Miami Dolphins @ Chicago Bears
- Spread: Dolphins -5
- Dolphins ML: -220
- Bears ML: +190
- O/U: 45.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Dolphins -5
The Chicago Bears offense has come around in recent weeks. Justin Fields is playing the best football of his young career, and he has a new weapon to play with in Chase Claypool. Additionally, the Bears running back duo of Khalil Herbert and David Montgomery continues to light up defenses. The team has piled up over 200 rushing yards in three straight games.
However, the Dolphins offense is as electric as it gets with Tua Tagovailoa throwing the ball to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. They’ve also added Bradley Chubb at the trade deadline, and he could wreak havoc on Chicago’s offensive line. The Dolphins will win this game comfortably.
Minnesota Vikings @ Washington Commanders
- Spread: Vikings -3.5
- Vikings ML: -178
- Commanders ML: +158
- O/U: 43.5 points
Frey’s Picks: Vikings -3.5, O43.5 points
It’s the long-awaited Kirk Cousins revenge game. For the first time since joining the Vikings in 2018, he will head back to Washington to take on his former team. With him comes a Vikings offense that has been revamped with the acquisition of tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Additionally, they’ve quietly built one of the best run defenses in the league, and that should cause the Commanders offense to falter. That team is at their best when they control the clock, and they won’t be able to do that without a running game.
Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals
- Spread: Cardinals -2
- Seahawks ML: +115
- Cardinals ML: -135
- O/U: 49.5 points
Frey’s Picks: Seahawks +2, U49.5 points
When these two teams played for the first time this season, the game turned into a defensive slugfest that finished in a 19-9 score. Obviously, things are a little different three weeks later with the Cardinals getting DeAndre Hopkins back.
That said, Seattle’s defense remains no joke, especially against the pass. It looks like they nailed their draft picks this year, especially in the middle rounds. This game may look very similar to the first matchup despite some recent success from the Cardinals offense.
Tennessee Titans @ Kansas City Chiefs
- Spread: Chiefs -12.5
- Titans ML: +485
- Chiefs ML: -625
- O/U: 46.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Titans +12.5
This feels like the Mike Vrabel special. The Tennessee Titans quietly have gotten hot over the course of the past month and a half. They’ve won five straight games, and they’ve jumped all the way up to the AFC’s No. 2 seed.
The Chiefs may ultimately win this game, but Derrick Henry is entering the peak of his powers at the midway point of the season. He rushed for over 200 yards last week against Houston. Malik Willis should add an interesting wrinkle as a mobile QB as well. This will be a closer game than expected.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. He also earned minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.