It’s an annual rite of passage for the NFL’s prognosticators. A surprise team exceeds expectations and forces the experts to rethink their original forecasts.

When three experts pick winners for 16 games, there are bound to be some disagreements.

The November Nine. No, it’s not just the name given to the final table at the World Series of Poker. It also represents a feat two NFL teams are trying to accomplish Sunday night.

Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris has proudly stated he thinks his team is the best in the NFC. Consider our Playbook analysts unimpressed. Sterling Sharpe, Joe Theismann and Brian Baldinger all predict the Falcons will knock off the Buccaneers in a crucial NFC South showdown.

During a week in which the “Playbook” analysts are mostly on the same page, Sterling Sharpe went out on his own to make a couple of gutsy picks.

There is dissension among the Playbook ranks this week. Sterling Sharpe, Brian Billick and Brian Baldinger all feel differently about the three biggest games.

Will the Patriots miss Randy Moss? That question won’t be answered for a few weeks, but our three Playbook analysts expect New England to get off to a rocky start without their former No. 1 receiver.

There are four teams that have yet to enjoy a victory so far this season. Three of those clubs will get off the schneid this weekend, according to Playbook analysts Sterling Sharpe, Joe Theismann and Brian Baldinger.

Four of the NFL’s better rivalries take place this weekend, and Playbook analysts Sterling Sharpe, Joe Theismann and Brian Baldinger are largely in agreement with their predictions.

It is rare all three Playbook analysts agree on seemingly toss-up games, but consider this week an exception. Sterling Sharpe, Joe Theismann and Brian Billick all like the Dolphins to move to 3-0 by beating the visiting Jets.

Playbook analysts Brian Baldinger, Mike Mayock and Sterling Sharpe agree Andy Reid made the right decision to name Michael Vick his starter.

The Bengals entered the season with huge expectations, but were immediately humbled by a blowout loss in New England. Can they rebound against the rival Ravens? Well, only one of our three analysts sees that happening.

Are the Texans finally ready to overtake the Colts in the AFC South this season? Time will tell, but two of our three Playbook analysts (Sterling Sharpe and Joe Theismann) expect them to get off on the right foot by knocking off Indianapolis in Week 1. Brian Billick is sticking with the Colts.

Which players are missing from the Pro Football Hall of Fame? NFL Network analysts Brian Baldinger and Jamie Dukes debated on Tuesday.

NBA godfather Michael Jordan, Cowboys QB Tony Romo and the Celtics’ Ray Allen will tee off together in the flesh, followed by a quarterback trio to die for: Troy Aikman, John Elway and Aaron Rodgers.