ESPN senior writer Mike Sando asks league insiders to pick winners in selected games each week. Three personnel evaluators took the challenge in Week 9. The games on the docket: Falcons-Buccaneers, Steelers-Ravens, Lions-Vikings, Eagles-Giants, Panthers-Rams and Broncos-Raiders.
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Thursday: 8:25 p.m. ET, NFL Network | Point spread: ATL by 4
Thursday night road teams are 2-6 and have been outscored by nearly eight points per game this season, but all three insiders took the Falcons to avenge their Week 1 defeat to Tampa Bay.
"That game is going to be really hard for Tampa, because that was such a physical and emotionally draining game against the Raiders," one of the insiders said. "Just to go through that disappointment and have to get yourself back up to play a really good Atlanta team, that is tough. The way the Falcons won their game against the Packers at the end, that is a big shot of adrenaline going into a short week."