NFL Week 9 Preview - Early Games

Week 9 of the NFL season certainly doesn't lack in great matchups. Many questions will be answered. In the early batch of games, we are treated to a rematch of the Ravens and Bengals, Miami travels to New England to the place where we first saw the Wildcat offense, and The Houston Texans will be playing their most important game in frnachise history. Let's get to the games!

Kansas City (1-6) @ Jacksonville (3-4)

Chiefs: RB Larry Johnson will not be participating this week due to his well publicized "remarks". He is only 75 yards away from breaking the frachise's all-time rushing mark and fans are wanting LJ to be released so he cannot do so. But Kansas City's problems go far beyond Johnson. The $60 million dollar man, aka QB Matt Cassel, has found the Chiefs roster not a whole lot different than that of his former team, the New England Patriots. RB Jamaal Charles will see the bulk of the running duties and the waiver wire acquisition of WR Chris Chambers may add a bit a punch to the 30th ranked offense. Charles stands to benefit from the Jags porous run defense. But the issues are not limited to only the offense. The Chiefs are extremely thin at safety with free safety Jarrad Page, a three year starter, going on IR and ending his season. Page's replacement, Jon McGraw is suffering with a thigh injury and may not play. With KC being a bit more vulnerable against the pass, this is bad news for the Chiefs and their 30th ranked defense.

Jaguars: RB Maurice Jones-Drew is liking this matchup with the Chiefs defense. For his last two games, MJD has 310 yards and 5 TD...against the Rams and the Titans. Neither of those teams have a stout run defense, and neither do the Chiefs, so look for MJD to continue his string of 100+ rushing games. What hurt the Jags last week was their inability to pass. With KC suffering in the secondary, QB David Garrard could be in for a good outing. With Garrard, it's been hit or miss this season. When he plays good, the Jags win. But the Jaguars defense will have this game in their hands. If they can stop the KC rushing attack, or lack of, then Jacksonville should bounce back from last week's loss against the Titans.

Fantasy Alert: JAC: Jones-Drew is a must play. QB Garrard could be a stellar choice since KC gives up 17.1 points a game to QBs (4th most). KC: Charles could be a decent pickup and a viable flex option. Cassel could be considered in deeper leagues since the Jags allow the 3rd most points to opposing QBs. WR Dwayne Bowe could also be a flex option. Jacksonville offers no defense to opposing WR (2nd most).

Green Bay (4-3) @ Tampa Bay (0-7)

Packers: Now that the whole "Brett Favre Experiece" is over, maybe the Packers will play better football. Maybe they'll be able to get QB Aaron Rodgers a bit more protection, too. Rodgers has been sacked a league leading 31 times, which eqautes to 72 for a whole season. The Bucs defense won't strike fear into opponents, ranking 28th overall, but 30th against the run. Enter, RB Ryan Grant. Grant has only seen the endzone three times this season. And that should change this week. WR Donald Driver is a go despite a neck injury. The loss of #2 TE Jermichael Finley has not been an issue with TE Spencer Havner stpping in. He may only have 6 receptions, but 3 are for TD. On the D, LB Brandon Chillar will be sitting this one out due to a hand injury. The Packers ever improving defense is 4th overall (9th v. the pass, 9th v. the run). I think we know what the outcome should be, but the Pack cannot look pass this game to next week's clash with the Dallas Cowboys. A trap game if there ever was one.

Buccaneers: First round pick QB Josh Freeman (left) will become the third different QB to start for the Bucs this year. With Tampa Bay coming off a bye (and being thrashed by the Patriots in London), it may not be such a bad move since the offense has shown little to no life with Byron Leftwich and Josh Johnson at the controls. The problem is they can't really run (24th) and they can't really pass (23rd). To make things tougher on the rookie, the Packers are undoubtedly the league's most improved unit when comparing '08 to '09. Sigh... And things aren't any better on the defense. This once feared Tampa Bay unit is struggling to stop anyone. They are decent against the pass (15th), but almost obscene against the run (30th) and in scoring (30th). If the Bucs are to have any chance, the defense will need to tighten up in all aspects.

Fantasy Alert: GB: Anyone on the Packer offense, maybe even TE Doanld Lee. Also, the Packers D/ST. TB: I wouldn't consider any Bucs. The Green Bay defense is clicking.

Washington (2-5) @ Atlanta (4-3)

Redskins: Amazing. We didn't really hear anything about the Redskins this week...except an apology from owner Dan Snyder. Snyder is an extremely private person and for him to offer that public statement is a major step to righting a wrong ship. This could be RB Clinton Portis' week to bust out. Yes, I said bust out because the Falcons offer little resistance against the run (23rd in the NFL). In fact the Falcons offer even less against the pass (31st). Could we see QB Jason Campbell and WR Santana Moss have big games? The loss of TE Chris Cooley has clearly created an opportunity for 2nd year TE Fred Davis. He's as versitile as Cooley and even has a deep threat ability. With all the publicized problems, the defense has been the pride of the D.C. faithful. 5th overall, 2nd against the pass, and 5th in scoring defense. It's the run that gets them (22nd). And now you see Atlanta RB Michael Turner coming off his best game ofthe season. Yipes!!

Falcons: How will the Dirty Birds bounce back from a division loss and a short week will tell us a lot about these guys. RB Michael Turner was an absolute monster against the Saints last week. I look for that trend to continue. But getting the offense back on track must begin with QB Matt Ryan. He's struggled in the last two games (both losses) with 3 TD and 5 INTand a combined 38 for 77 (49.4%). One problem: the Redskins do not let you pass. Ryan isn't the only one that needs to get things going. So does the defense. A lot has been made of the Falcons having such a great defense. Not true. 29th overall. 31st against the pass. 23rd against the run. Those are not impressive stats. The Falcons D will win this game.

Fantasy Alert: WAS: RB Clinton Portis could wrrant a start and TE Fred Davis may be a good pickup at TE since the Falcons allow 8.6 points a game to the TE. ATL: RB Michael Turner. This is a no-brainer. Ryan could be a sit this week against the 2nd ranked pass defense. Tha could mean sitting WR Roddy White, too.

Arizona (4-3) @ Chicago (4-3)

Cardinals: Will the '09 Cardinals be the same as the '08 Cardinals? It appears that way. Look good one week, look lousy the next. The offense still may have WR Anquan Boldin (right) available for this game. He practiced yesterday and looked good to the Cards coaches. QB Kurt Warner will love seeing #81 on the field. But as it always is with Arizona, Warner will have to play well...and not turn the ball over. He's got 11 TD...but 11 INT. The 5 INT last week against Carolina (did Warner somehow channel Jake Delhomme?) didn't help those numbers. Overall, Arizona is -6 in turnover ratio. That is a battle you almost have to win to get a victory. Getting a rushing game would help Warner even more, but that has not transpired as the Cards are dead last in rushing. Going into the Carolina game last week, the Cards were 1st against the run. Going into this week, 8th. Good running backs can get yards against these guys. And you can pass on them, too.

Bears: Even with Jay Cutler at the helm, the Bears offense has struggled. Just like Warner, Cutler has 11 TD and 11 INT. The offensive line has emerged as the Bears major area of concern especially since the Cleveland Browns, the worst rated defense, sacked Cutler four times. RB Matt Forte showed signs of his '08 rookie season last week. WR Devin Hester looks like he' going to play this week and Cutler couldn't be any happier having his deep threat available. The Bears defense is just consistent enough to possibly keep the Cards from scoring a lot. They're not spectacular at any one thing, but they're not lousy either. It's been proven that if you stop the Cards from running (and who can't), get pressure on Warner and force him into turnovers, you will win. And the Bears could use a quality win.

Fantasy Alert: ARI: Not particularly thrilled with any position player. If you have RB Beanie Wells, this is a week to sit him. CHI: WR Hester, despite coming off an injury, could be a viable #2 WR as the Card do give up points at the WR position.

Miami (3-4) @ New England (5-2)

Dolphins: In case you haven't noticed, QB Chad Henne doesn't have to be lights out for the Fins to get a win. All thanks to the Wildcat. It was at New England last year where Miami unveiled the Wildcat...to the tune of a big win and a scheme that has changed the entire NFL. RB Ronnie Brown is 4th in rushing TD but only 12th in rushing yards a game. Brown is pretty much to Dolphins offense. WR Ted Ginn, Jr. took his demotion from the #1 WR position pretty good...to the tune of 2 kickoff TD over 100 yards each. He will need to get one this week, too. Since the Dolphins aren't a prolific throwing team, it figures that's the weakness on defense. You can't really run on them, but you can pass. And you got Brady and Co. to worry about now.

Patriots: We all know about the offense. They love to throw with Brady, Moss and Welker. They rarely run. And they still steamroll you. While the offense gets all the attention, do not forget the defense. Even with all the turnover in personnel, the Pats rank 6th overall, 5th against the pass, 15th against the rush, and 3rd in scoring. You almost wonder how New England can be 5-2. This matchup should concern Dolphins fans as the Pats are coming off a bye and had 2 weeks to prepare for the Wildcat. And we all know what extra prep time for a Belichick team does.

Fantasy Alert: MIA: the only viable choice might be RB Ronnie Brown. And I said might. NE: QB Tom Brady is a must start. But if you have K Stephen Gostkowski, he's a must, too. Miami yields the third most points to opposing kickers. As always, if you play Brady, Moss and Welker should be starts, but don't overlook TE Benjamin Watson. Miami gives up over 9 points to TE and that's not chump change for TE in fantasy terms.

Houston (5-3) @ Indianapolis (7-0)

Texans: The biggest game in Texans franchise history. The main question concerns RB Steve Slaton. Head coach Gary Kubiak is non-commital on Slaton or Ryan Moats (left) starting this week. Considering Slaton leads the NFL in lost fumbles, Kubiak's decision may be an easy one to make. Again, the most important game in Texans history. All Moats did last week was rush for 126 yards and find the endzone three times. QB Matt Schaub is 3rd in passing yards per game (292.8) behind Indy's Peyton Manning and Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger. The loss of TE Owen Daniels will be felt, and that will lead more emphasis on WR Andre Johnson. The offesnse is good (8th overall), but if Houston is to pull off the road upset, the defense will be the reason. The area of weakness is the rushing defense, but Defensive Coordiantor Frank Bush, Jr. has seen that become an area of strength in recent weeks (26th after wk. 5, 24th after wk. 6, 21st after wk. 7, 20th after wk. 8).

Colts: When will the injuries stop? WR Anthony Golnzalez had knee surgery and will be out at least another 2-3 weeks, maybe even more. S Bob Sanders and LB Tyjuan Hagler both suffered torn biceps and their season is done. CB Marlin Jackson's season was ended due to a knee injury. But Indy has overcome Gonzalez's injury and enlightened us to WRs Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon. Throw in a bit of TE Dallas Clark along with the elder Manning at QB and you have the NFL's best passing offense. The defense isn't anything to sneeze at either. They allow the fewest points. Talk about keeping up tour nd of the bargain.

Fantasy Alert: HOU: Considering Schaub? Indy allows the fourth least QB points (3 TD and 7 INT). It's hard to sit Schaub and WR Andre Johnson at any time. Indy's D has only yielded 1 receiving TD. IND: Manning is a weekly start, but don't expect too much as Houston allows only 11.9 points a week to QBs.

Baltimore (4-3) @ Cincinnati (5-2)

Ravens: Exactly how much did last week's win over the previously unbeaten Broncos take out of the Ravens? We saw the old Ravens defense last week, and they get another shot at Cincy. By all accounts, Baltimore should have won the last meeting, but neither the offense nor the defense stepped up when it mattered. That will not happen this week. QB Joe Flacco looked like a strggling second year QB the lsat time these teams squared off. He must do a complete 180 this week. RB Ray Rice has turned into a bona fide Pro-Bowl running back. Through seven games, Rice averages almost 125 of total offense a game. He had 143 against the Bengals in week 5, but 49 were on one play. Stopping RB Cedric Benson is mission #1 for the D. Benson tore through the Ravens for 120 yards during the week 5 game. Did you ever think you'd see the day when the Ravens offense was rated higher than the defense? That's where we're at now.

Bengals: The Men in Stripes are coming off a bye week only to stare their hated division foe in the eyes. The issue of the week: Can RB Cedric Benson repeat his week 5 performance. If he does, the Bengals win. That would mean Cincy is controlling the clock and that's how the Bengals beat you. Cincinnati is 8th in time of possession. The defense is allowing yards through the air (30th) but that's because you can't run on them (5th) and you're playing catch up and have to abandon the run. This week will be no different, right? Wrong. Cincy must re-establish a pass rush in the absence of DE Antwan Odom. Odom's season has been over for a few weeks,but he's accounted for 8 of the Bengals' 17 total sacks.

Fantasy Alert: BAL: RB Ray Rice did get those 143 yards and a TD last time against Cincy, but the Bengals don't usually yield a lot of points to RBs. If you're going to play a Raven, QB Joe Flacco might be the better option. CIN: WR Chad Ochocinco had 90+ yards lst game v. Baltimore and had 118 yards and 2 TD in the Bengals last game. That can lead to a decent game against a divisional foe as Chad usually backs up what he says.

Tomorrow, we'll peek at the late Sunday games including the Sunday nighter between Dallas and Philly.