Stampede Blue’s NFL Week 9 staff picks

Week 9 of the NFL season is here and already under way after the Cardinals and 49ers battled it out on Thursday Night Football — with San Fransisco narrowly taking it, 28-25.

Sunday has gifted us with the second day-long slate of the season, starting with the 9:30 a.m. AFC South game in London and finishing with the Ravens and Patriots at 8:20 p.m. on Sunday Night Football. With 13 games standing between us and the end of Week 9, here’s how I have them broken up in terms of intrigue.

Can’t miss contests:

Patriots vs. Ravens

Vikings vs. Chiefs

Should be good:

Texans vs. Jaguars

Colts vs. Steelers

Lions vs. Raiders

Could be surprisingly fun:

Bears vs. Eagles

Titans vs. Panthers

Buccaneers vs. Seahawks

Cowboys vs. Giants

Hit the snooze button:

Jets vs. Dolphins

Redskins vs. Bills

Packers vs. Chargers

Browns vs. Broncos

Now lets take a look at some weekly awards ...

The boldest upset award: Mateo Caliz (KC over MIN & BAL over NE)

There were several staffers who had at least one of the upsets mentioned above, but Caliz was the only one to double down and pick the Chiefs to take down the Vikings and the Ravens to send the Patriots back to Boston with their first loss of the season.

The Chucky Chalk award: Chris Shepherd

Only going against the grain just once on the week, Shep is on the side of the majority of the staff in all but the Jets/Dolphins game.

The road warrior award: Josh Hudgens (10)

Josh only has four home teams winning this weekend — the Eagles, Bills, Raiders and Seahawks. Lots of upsets in enemy territory for this one.

Greg Rader: 85-35 (70.8%) / Elliot Denton: 82-38 (68.3%) / Mateo Caliz: 80-40 (66.7%) / Blake Pace: 79-41 (65.8%) / Zach Hicks: 69-36 (65.7%) / Chris Blystone: 78-42 (65.0%) / Brett Mock: 78-42 (65.0%) / Josh Hudgens: 68-38 (64.2%) / Matt Danely: 72-48 (60.0%) / Chris Shepherd: 63-42 (60.0%) / Andrew Aziz: 69-51 (57.5%) / Stephen Reed: 69-51 (57.5%)

Note: Thursday Night Football picks were submitted prior to kickoff (not like anyone was going to pick the Cardinals)

Thursday 8:20 pm ET

49ers @ Cardinals

Sunday 8:30 am ET

Texans @ Jaguars (5) | Contrarians: Andrew Aziz, Mateo Caliz, Elliot Denton, Josh Hudgens, Brett Mock

Sunday 1:00 pm ET

Bears @ Eagles

Vikings (7) @ Chiefs | Contrarians: Caliz, Blake Pace, Greg Rader

Colts @ Steelers

Jets (7) @ Dolphins | Contrarians: Chris Blystone, Stephen Reed, Chris Shepherd

Redskins @ Bills

Titans @ Panthers (8) | Contrarians: Hudgens, Pace

Sunday 4:05 pm ET

Lions @ Raiders (8) | Contrarians: Aziz, Caliz

Buccaneers @ Seahawks

Sunday 4:25 pm ET

Packers @ Chargers

Browns (6) @ Broncos | Contrarians: Aziz, Blystone, Mock, Reed

Sunday 8:20 pm ET

Patriots @ Ravens (6) | Contrarians: Hudgens, Mock, Pace, Rader

Monday 8:15 pm ET

Cowboys @ Giants

Who do you have coming out on top in Week 9?