Pro Picks: Lions, Packers keep winning
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Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers face Joe Burrow and the Bengals with first place in the AFC North at stake.
The Sunday night matchup is the only primetime game in Week 9 featuring two winning teams.
Rodgers outplayed Burrow in Pittsburgh’s 30-27 victory in Week 3. The Steelers (6-2) have won four straight and are coming off a bye. The Bengals (6-2) also have won four in a row and are back after a trip to Spain, where they beat Atlanta.
That’s an advantage for Pittsburgh.
Burrow is 4-4 in his career against the Steelers.
The Bengals are 3½-point favorites. Pro Picks sees a close game.
BENGALS: 24-23
NEW ENGLAND (5-4) at DETROIT (6-2) in Munich
Line: Lions minus 2½
Drake Maye and Christian Gonzalez struggled in a lopsided loss at home to Green Bay. The Patriots need their QB and star cornerback to play well to have a chance against Detroit. Jared Goff’s streak of 30 consecutive regular-season games with at least one TD pass ended last week in a win at Miami. The Lions have won five straight games after a 1-2 start.
LIONS: 26-22
BUFFALO (7-1) at NEW YORK JETS (2-7)
Line: Bills minus 8½
The Bills have played much better defense the past two weeks.
BILLS: 24-17
CAROLINA (3-5) at NEW ORLEANS (3-5)
Line: Saints minus 2½
The Panthers are reeling following three straight losses. But QB Bryce Young has played some of his best football this season.
UPSET SPECIAL: PANTHERS: 23-20
HOUSTON (3-5) at CLEVELAND (5-4)
Line: Texans minus 4½
C.J. Stroud has 16 TD passes with only two interceptions and the Texans have won three of four after an 0-4 start.
TEXANS: 20-17
JACKSONVILLE (6-2) at TENNESSEE (1-7)
Line: Jaguars minus 10½
The Jaguars were aggressive at the trade deadline, bolstering a defense that’s allowed just 15.1 points per game.
JAGUARS: 30-16
KANSAS CITY (6-2) at ATLANTA (3-6)
Line: Chiefs minus 3½
Patrick Mahomes has a new receiver after the Chiefs acquired Josh Downs.
BEST BET: CHIEFS: 26-17
MIAMI (1-7) at INDIANAPOLIS (2-7)
Line: Colts minus 3½
Kyle McCord will make his first career start for the Dolphins, who placed Malik Willis on injured reserve this week.
COLTS: 22-16
MINNESOTA (6-2) at GREEN BAY (6-3)
Line: Packers minus 3½
Kirk Cousins is back with the Vikings. He played for Kevin O’Connell in 2022-23 so he knows the offense. Minnesota has a championship-caliber defense and hopes Cousins can fix its offensive woes. Jordan Love was nearly flawless last week at New England and leads the NFL in passing. Green Bay’s Christian Watson and Matthew Golden are Nos. 3 and 4 in yards receiving. The Packers are last in the competitive NFC North despite a .667 winning percentage. The Vikings won the first matchup in Week 1.
PACKERS: 23-22
LOS ANGELES RAMS (5-4) at ARIZONA (3-6)
Line: Rams minus 9½
Matthew Stafford won’t have Puka Nacua for at least a month and Davante Adams is already out, so the Rams will need to rely more on Kyren Williams and the run game along with a stout defense.
RAMS: 26-13
SEATTLE (5-4) at LAS VEGAS (4-5)
Line: Seahawks minus 6½
Drew Lock fills in again for Sam Darnold while No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza makes his first career start going against the defending Super Bowl champions.
SEAHAWKS: 23-13
SAN FRANCISCO (7-1) at DALLAS (4-5)
Line: 49ers minus 4½
The up-and-down Cowboys haven’t been consistent enough on offense or defense.
49ERS: 30-27
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (0-8) at BALTIMORE (4-5)
Line: Ravens minus 4½
The Ravens have lost four straight and are turning to Jacoby Brissett after losing Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley to injuries and giving Joe Fagnano his first career start.
RAVENS: 23-20.
Last week: Straight up: 14-1. Against spread: 10-5.
Overall: Straight up: 90-46-1. Against spread: 77-57-3.
Best Bet: Straight up: 6-3. Against spread: 5-4.
Upset Special: Straight up: 4-5. Against spread: 4-5.
Editor’s note: Rob Maaddi predicted a 23-19 New York Giants win over Washington in Thursday’s game.