NFL Quick Pick: Complete Week Nine Schedule, Vegas Lines, Stats, VAVEL Picks

It's Week 9 in the NFL and the playoff picture begins to come into view. After this week every team will have played half their games, with the contenders beginning to separate themselves from the pretenders.

For the first time in NFL history the league has four teams, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos and New England Patriots, undefeated at 7-0.

Injuries to star players around the league are threatening to change the fortunes of teams who have been experiencing promising seasons.

Week 8 saw another devastating blow to the Pittsburgh Steelers and their playoff hopes as running back Le'Veon Bell was lost for the season after suffering a torn MCL in their loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

The New York Jets, who currently hold the second wildcard in the AFC, saw quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick go down after he suffered torn ligaments in his left thumb in their loss to the Oakland Raiders. Fitzpatrick hopes to avoid surgery until the offseason and make it back this Sunday to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars. How much pain Fitzpatrick can tolerate in the thumb of his non-throwing hand will determine how effective Fitzpatrick will be and how long the Jets will have their starting quarterback behind center.

Spotlight Game:

Green Bay Packers - Carolina Panthers

The battle for home-field advantage positioning will be on the line as the Green Bay Packers head into Bank of America Stadium to take on the Carolina Panthers.

For the first time in franchise history, the Panthers find themselves undefeated at 7-0. The Panthers hold a one-game lead over the Atlanta Falcons for first place in the NFC South, and a one-game lead over the Packers for NFC home-field advantage.

The Panthers have been winning despite the loss of their top wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin in training camp. Carolina remains undefeated thanks to their ninth-ranked defense (allowing 342.3 total yards per game) and the arm and legs of quarterback Cam Newton (117-216, 1,523 yds, 11 TD, 8 INT, 286 rushing yds). Their offense has been unconventional, but when you have a 6-foot-5, 240 lb quarterback who can throw from the pocket as well as barrel down the field like a fullback, you can throw conventionality out the window.

The Packers are 2.5-point favorite over the Panthers despite coming off their first loss of the year against the Denver Broncos. Aaron Rodgers played the worst game of his career on Sunday night as the Broncos defense held the reigning MVP to just 77 yards passing and no touchdowns. Head coach Mike McCarthy called the loss a "humbling experience."

Packers wide receivers were unable to get open against the Broncos secondary and the offensive line struggled to hold off the pass rush that led to Rodgers being sacked three times. This week, Green Bay has been concentrating on fixing the offensive problems that plagued them in the Mile High City. Going up against the Carolina defense won't be any easier for Green Bay on Sunday.

Stats:

Stats via nfl.com

Pick in BOLD denotes a correct pick. *Did not pick in Week 1. **Did not pick in Week 1 and Week 3. +Did not pick in Week 1-3. #Did not pick in Week 6.