NFL Week 9 survivor pool guide: Picks, analysis, strategy

There may not be a more soul-crushing way to lose a survivor pool than a winless team scoring 23 points in the fourth quarter to prevail by one point. 

That team being the Jets, who left many in anguish in bars across the nation on Sunday, made it all the more cruel last week.

Kirk Cousins face-planted in his redemption shot against the Dolphins as a seven-point favorite. 

Every other favorite won — and covered — in a slate that had eight games with a spread of six points or more. 

We turn the page to 14 games in Week 9 with the Jets, Browns, Eagles and Buccaneers on byes. 

Lamar Jackson is now confirmed to make his official return from a hamstring injury on “Thursday Night Football” after the Ravens deemed it safer within a short week. 

There are three games with double-digit point spreads, leading with the Rams laying 14 points on the Saints. 

Confidence	Game/Team
1	Rams (-14) vs. Saints
2	Chargers (-10.5) @ Titans
3	Packers (-12.5) vs. Panthers
4	Ravens (-7.5) @ Dolphins
5	Patriots (-5.5) vs. Falcons
6	Colts (-3) @ Steelers
7	Lions (-8.5) vs. Vikings
8	Jaguars (-3) @ Raiders
9	Cowboys (-2.5) vs. Cardinals
10	Bears (-2.5) @ Bengals
11	49ers (-2.5) @ Giants
12	Seahawks (-3) @ Commanders
13	Texans (-1.5) vs. Broncos
14	Chiefs (-1.5) @ Bills

Chargers (-10.5) @ Titans

It’s time to start seriously considering Justin Herbert as an MVP candidate. 

Only the second year into Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers tenure and what was initially considered a run-heavy attack has been transformed into aerial dominance.

Herbert leads the NFL in passing yards and has steered the offense to top-10 production in three straight weeks — a span in which he’s averaged over 303 yards and posted eight total touchdowns.

He just picked apart Minnesota’s secondary to power Los Angeles to 37 points and it’s hard to imagine the Titans posing any tougher of a challenge.

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It’s a defense that is among the worst in nearly every category. Opposing quarterbacks have a 122.8 passer rating, which is the No. 2 highest. 

Cam Ward has yet to record a game with more touchdowns than turnovers.

The canning of Brian Callahan hasn’t elicited any positive effect; the Titans have lost by 18 and 24 straight points. 

Patriots (-5.5) vs. Falcons

Drake Maye appears to have arrived. 

In his last three games, Maye has averaged 301 total yards. He’s completed 75.2 percent of his passes and owns the No. 4 overall QBR (76.3). 

Maye’s explosive play ability has benefited no one more than Kayshon Boutte, who is breaking out as a legitimate receiving threat with 18.7 yards per catch.

New England has won five straight — all of which it has covered (four were as a favorite). 

It feels like ancient history since the Falcons upset the Bills only two weeks ago. They have scored 10 points in the two games since.

The passing game has gone to shambles as both Michael Penix Jr. and Drake London were absent due to injury last week.

Maye isn’t as effective against zone coverage, but Atlanta’s key injuries and a New England run defense that’s allowed the third-fewest yards to neutralize the Falcons’ biggest strength is a bigger impact. 

In a week of big favorites, this is an independent choice to find an edge in your pool.

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Why Trust New York Post Betting

Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.