Rex Ryan ‘can whip most head coaches’ (but he can’t actually beat them)

REX RYAN WILL BEAT YOU UP: The latest sensible thing to slip from the mouth of the Buffalo Bills head coach is that he believes he can “whip most coaches” except for one. He’s not talking about Bill Belichick either, but given his record against the Patriots, maybe he should be.

BROWNS-BENGALS: The Browns and Bengals have more in common than just Ohio. Both teams used to hover around the bottom of the standings, but the Bengals kept getting better, to this year’s 7-0 start. The Browns, however, have not shared a similar fate. So what happened?

BATTLE OF OHIO: The last time the Browns visited the Bengals for a game, on Thursday night during Week 10 last season, they came away with a 24-3 win. That seems less likely this year, but you never know. The Browns are starting Johnny Manziel for this one, and he’s lucky to have a pretty good O-line in front of him. The real question for the Browns is how they plan to stop A.J. Green.

PLACE YOUR BETS: The Bengals are favored by 11.5 points on Thursday. However, Cincinnati is 0-7 since 1990 when they’re favored by 11 points or more. The Browns are sitting on a 7-3 run as a road underdog, but are 0-2-1 against the spread in their last three.

COLTS KNEW: Firing offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton was no simple “knee-jerk reaction,” said head coach Chuck Pagano. Of course not, Kremlin watchers believe that Rob Chudzinski, the new OC, is Pagano’s preferred guy anyway.

WEEK 9 PICKS: Our panel picked every game this week. Everyone seems to believe that the Patriots, Bengals and Broncos will stay undefeated. The Panthers, not so much.

FOR HIS OWN GOOD: 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula explained why he benched Colin Kaepernick on Wednesday.

GURLEY SO GOOD: Todd Gurley might be the player who can drag the Rams out of a decade of boring football.

DRUNKEST FANS: Bills fans are the drunkest, of course, but Lions fans are giving them a run for their money. Here’s how all the NFL fans rank when it comes to inebriation levels.

PATRIOT CHEATERS: Now they’re cheating the coin flips, too?

FANTASY CORNER

RANKINGS: Bills QB Tyrod Taylor is looking like a sneaky good play this week, maybe not Tom Brady against Washington, but a solid option. Are you starting Stefon Diggs yet? You probably should be. Doug Martin checks in above Dion Lewis on the running backs rankings this week.

WAIVERS: It’s not too late to find a little help on the waiver wire, especially with so many teams on a bye this week.

THURSDAY NIGHT FANTASY: You could very well have some lineup decisions to make before tonight’s game. Consult us before hitting submit.

INJURY NEWS

JETS OFFENSE HEALS: The Jets will have Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback this week against the Jaguars. Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker did not practice on Wednesday, but both are expected to play.

ROMO PRACTICES: Tony Romo was back on the practice field this week. He can’t play until Week 11, but it’s a good sign for the Cowboys.

LUCK, HILTON: Andrew Luck is apparently healthy, but T.Y. Hilton wasn’t practicing on Wednesday.

BUCS OFFENSE: Vincent Jackson missed practice. Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins was limited in practice and may be able to play this week against the Giants.

JPP PRACTICING AGAIN: The big question in New York is whether or not Jason Pierre-Paul will be able to play this week.