Do Giants Have Tricks Up their Sleeve for Raiders? Week 9 Preview & Predictions

The New York Giants are dealing with a lot lately.

13 members of the team, including Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney, have tested positive for COVID-19. Both players are expected back at practice on Friday. In addition, at 2-6, the G-Men are coming off a heartbreaking loss at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night.

The Giants had the reigning AFC Champions right where they wanted them. New York was up 17-14 early in the fourth quarter, but bad penalties doomed Big Blue, as Patrick Mahomes led K.C. to a pair of field goals to steal the game late from the Giants.

Missed opportunities have really been the story of the season for the Giants. In week 2, the Giants couldn't build off a 26-20 lead against the Washington Football Team. Tyler Heinicke led Washington to a spirited 30-29 comeback win. Had the Giants scored a touchdown after James Bradberry picked off Heinicke late in the fourth quarter, and, had New York not committed 11 penalties, maybe that game would be a win.

Same thing could be said for The Giants 17-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3. New York had a lead of 14-7 in the fourth quarter and couldn't stop the Falcons from scoring 10-unanswered points late.

What will it be against the 5-2 Raiders? The Raiders are in first place in the AFC West, and are 2-0 since head coach Jon Gruden was abruptly let go in lite of the email scandal. Now Las Vegas is dealing with another distraction in the form of the horrific Henry Ruggs III speeding accident where Ruggs killed a woman and her dog.

Can New York catch Las Vegas in one of those "west coast team on the east coast" swoons? It's not like the Giants don't have fire power. They have the talent to beat a team like Las Vegas. They need to be consistent and discipline in their assignments if they even stand a chance.

Mike Cohen's Week 9 FOX SPORTS NEW JERSEY PICK SIX!

Last week: 2-4 

Season: 10-8 

Las Vegas Raiders (5-2) @ NY Giants (2-5) 1 p.m. - CBS 

As written above, the Giants cannot afford to make the same mistakes that have plagued them all year. This is a huge game for Head Coach Joe Judge, who has come under intense scrutiny for the Giants' poor and inconsistent play this season. At the same time, it's not like Daniel Jones is to blame for all of it. He has played fairly well at quarterback; he even leads the team in rushing. He just needs others to step up and play better. The Raiders mental makeup after another week of adversity, coupled with a huge division game on the horizon against Kansas City should not go understated.  Vegas is in a position to get picked off after two great weeks.

PICK: UPSET SPECIAL: GIANTS 26 - RAIDERS 20

New England Patriots (4-4) @ Carolina Panthers (4-4) 1 p.m. 

Two teams at 4-4, but heading in opposite directions. The Patriots have won two in a row, including a spirited 27-24 win out west against the LA Chargers. Mac Jones is playing well at quarterback for New England, and the Patriots are playing a solid brand of 'bend, but don't break defense.' As for Carolina, Christian McCaffery is out. And there is question about Sam Darnold's health heading into this one.

PICK: PATRIOTS 31 - PANTHERS 17 

Cleveland Browns (4-4) @ Cincinnati Bengals (5-3) 1 p.m. 

I can't remember the last time the Battle of Ohio mattered so much. But it does. Both teams are in the thick of the AFC North title race, and both teams are coming off bad losses a week ago. The Browns are trying to get past some internal drama with the release of Odell Beckham Jr., who wasn't happy with his lack of receptions this season. It's been a rough year for quarterback Baker Mayfield who has only six touchdown passes, and not one wide receiver over 400 yards receiving this year. The Bengals are looking to rebound from a brutal loss to the Jets. Cincy has a lot of firepower. From Joe Burrow to Ja'Marr Chase. Joe Mixon and Tyler Boyd. It's too much for Cleveland to handle right now. PICK: BENGALS 29 - BROWNS 24

Green Bay Packers (7-1) @ Kansas City Chiefs (4-4) 4:25 p.m. FOX

Oh boy! Once again we have a Packers vs. Chiefs game on the schedule, and once again we are denied a meeting between Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. Rodgers is out after testing positive for COVID-19, and there is question about whether he was even vaccinated. If he wasn't vaccinated, Rodgers and the Packers are facing steep fines from the NFL. This is a golden opportunity for Jordan Love to showcase his leadership and skillset at quarterback. Remember when Rodgers was holding out at the start of camp? Now, Love gets his shot.

As for K.C., they are a tough team to predict. Mahomes doesn't look like the same guy, and the Chiefs, as a team, really struggled to beat back a bad Giants team last week.  With Rodgers out, logic dictates that the Chiefs have a huge advantage, but I wouldn't be shocked if it's another slog for them. PICK: CHIEFS 27, PACKERS 23. 

Tennessee Titans (6-2) @ LA Rams (7-1) - 8:20, NBC 

Losing Derrick Henry for the season with a foot injury is going to be a huge loss for Tennessee. Henry is a game-changer, easily the best running back in the NFL. It would have been fascinating to see him run against a stout Rams front seven. Instead the pressure will only amp up on Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill. On the opposite side, the Rams are getting better. They just added all pro Linebacker Von Miller at the trade deadline, which makes their defense even scarier. Offensively Matt Stafford is having an MVP-type of season.

PICK: RAMS 34 - TITANS 20 

Chicago Bears (3-5) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)

Talk about a Monday Night Football game made for nap time. Both of these teams are brutal to watch. Justin Fields has really struggled for Chicago, and it doesn't help the Bears are an awful team. The Steelers are not any great shakes either. Especially with an aging Big Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback. Pittsburgh used its defense to pound the Browns last week. They'll need a similar effort on Monday.

PICK: STEELERS 16 - BEARS 9