NFL Week 9 is our final slate of games before the trade deadline, which could create quite a bit of fun leading up to the final day to make big deals around the league. We’ve already seen several big-name players on the move and those trades will certainly be felt in some of our NFL Week 9 predictions but, at the same time, how these games play out could also spark even more action in the days before the deadline.

Two NFC North rivals who could definitely be moved to make a trade after Sunday are certainly the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. Set to square off at Lambeau Field in NFL Week 9, both squads are entrenched as playoff-caliber teams. At the same time, the Lions have seen some key injuries and suspensions offer up some questions while the Packers have injuries of their own. And who prevails in this rivalry matchup could go a long way in determining the division race.

That’s certainly the marquee matchup of the week but there’s much more to unpack. So after a disastrous week of picks (7-9 straight-up, 6-10 ATS), let’s get back on track with our NFL Week 9 predictions, offering up my picks both straight-up and against the spread for every game.

Note: All lines are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. All bets are 1 unit unless otherwise noted. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

2024 NFL Picks Straight-Up Record: 62-45 | ATS Record: 54-53-0

Teams on Bye in NFL Week 9: Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers

While there might not be a name-brand matchup outside of Lions-Packers on the board, this is still a fascinating NFL Week 9 slate. Can the Vikings stop their two-game losing streak against a Colts team going through a QB change? What in the blue hell is going to happen in the wide-open NFC West, especially with the Rams visiting Seattle and the Cardinals favored against the Bears? And let’s not forget the Falcons and Cowboys, two teams that direly need a win in this spot, battling in Atlanta.

We have our picks but, as always, some were much more difficult to make than others. But one definitely stood out as being almost too easy.

Lions (-3.5) at Packers

There are so many complicating factors when it comes to this NFC North showdown. Jordan Love’s health is chief among the things to consider as we could see Malik Willis again — though the Packers are 2-0 with him at the helm. Then you throw in that the Lions still need more pass-rush help after losing Aidan Hutchinson yet have still been dominant but now go to Lambeau Field, and this is just a tough one.

For me, though, with all indications being that Willis will start, I don’t foresee Green Bay simply having the horses to keep up with Detroit in this game. Perhaps that’s a foolish assertion come Sunday given how in-his-bag Matt LaFleur has been this season but the Lions have done more than enough, with or without Hutchinson, to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Broncos (+9.5) at Ravens

While Denver comes into this matchup at 5-3, the only win to their credit that they can speak of is an upset victory over the Buccaneers. Even coming off of a shocking loss to the Browns, the Ravens in Baltimore offer arguably the toughest task yet for the Broncos defense and another stern test for Bo Nix and a rollercoaster offense.

Having said that, taking the Ravens to win but the Broncos to cover is where I landed on. Even if my doubts remain about Nix in the current iteration of this offense, the defense looks legitimate at every turn. So giving them nearly 10 points as underdogs seems far too aggressive and Denver should be able to keep this one a bit closer than that barring an unmitigated disaster offensively.

Texans (+1.5) at Jets – Thursday Night Football

Did C.J. Stroud’s leg fall off and we don’t know about it? Has every defender for the Texans contracted the black plague? If the answer to either of these questions is no, then I don’t understand this line in the slightest outside of, perhaps, public bettors simply overvaluing the Jets at this point, expecting the team to turn it around despite no real signs of that happening.

Make no mistake, the Texans haven’t been perfect this season but the truth of the matter is that they’ve still been winning games and, even at their worst, looking better coached, better built and simply better than New York. Unless Aaron Rodgers has a time machine to evade Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, it’s hard for me to envision the Jets coming through after this one.