How about that Week 8? A list of QBs put on quite a show. Dak Prescott, Matt Ryan, and Derek Carr were all clutch, while Tom Brady was classic Tom Brady.
As we take some more deep breaths to recover from those electrifying games, we’ll now preview the matchups for Week 9. It features a new chapter on the intense Steelers-Ravens and Eagles-Giants rivalry, along with more battles and storylines that’ll once again glue us to our seats.
Atlanta Falcons (-3.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3.5) – 8:25 PM ET
Matt Ryan, a strong contender for this year’s MVP, was on Matty Ice mode against the Packers Sunday, guiding the Falcons to another victory with his smooth passing. Atlanta is still ahead in the NFC South with the last-minute 33-32 win. His Bucs counterpart, Jameis Winston, didn’t have the same success last week, but he did have two touchdowns with no interceptions in their 30-24 OT loss to the Raiders.
Nevertheless, the two QBs will try to have a shootout similar to their Week 1 battle, where they combined for 615 yards and six TDs.
The Bucs defense have Ryan, Julio Jones, Mohammed Sanu, and back Devonta Freeman to worry about, while the Falcons D will only have to get to Winston, with backfield Jacquizz Rodgers possibly sitting out due to a foot injury.
Writer’s prediction: The Falcons win, 28-23.
Sunday, November 6
Detroit Lions (+6) at Minnesota Vikings (-6) – 1:00 PM ET
The Lions simply cannot solve their road woes. Even the confidence that three straight wins brought wasn’t enough, as they lost their third consecutive road game of the season, losing to the Texans, 20-13.
Detroit’s most effective offensive weapons last week were two guys with bum knees, Theo Riddick and Eric Ebron – Riddick had 11 carries for 56 yards and eight receptions for 77 yards and one TD, while Ebron had seven catches for 79 yards. The two, along with main receivers Golden Tate and Marvin Jones, will be a big threat to the Vikings defense.
For Minnesota, the primary concern should be the offensive and defensive line. Their QB, Sam Bradford, has now taken 11 sacks and 26 QB hits in the past two weeks — you read that correctly… 26 QB HITS. The D-Line, meanwhile, only has one sack and has allowed 129.5 rushing yards per game during the span.
There’s no question that a second half collapse has crossed the Vikes’ minds, but they should be able to somehow relax since they’ll be returning home for Week 9.
Writer’s prediction: The Vikings win, 24-14.
Sunday, November 6
Jacksonville Jaguars (+9) at Kansas City Chiefs (-9) – 1:00 PM ET
Well… so much for the Jacksonville Jaguars being a dark horse to land a playoff spot. At 2-6, with the last two losses being blowouts, the Jags appear to be back being the same old Jags.
Bortles is 27th among starting QBs in completion percentage (60 percent) and 26th in interception percentage (3.1 percent), while receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns are having lower stats in almost all WR stats compared to last season. They are hoping that the changing the OC will create a difference.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, are preparing to have starting QB Alex Smith sit the next week or two with a concussion. If he can’t go, Nick Foles will see the field, and will aim to have a good follow-up from Sunday’s 223-yard, two TD performance against the Colts.
As for the defensive units, both have respectable numbers, but the Chiefs have the clear advantage. They are 10th in fewest total yards allowed per game (350.7) and first in interceptions (11).
Writer’s prediction: The Chiefs win, 21-16.
Sunday, November 6
New York Jets (+3.5) at Miami Dolphins (-3.5) – 1:00 PM ET
The New York Jets finally have something going this season. They’re on a two-game winning streak and Ryan Fitzpatrick hasn’t thrown a pick in back-to-back games!
A large part of both wins, though, is their defense, particularly on the run. After almost shutting down the Ravens’ running backs with only 11 rushing yards, they held the Browns to only 68 yards on the ground.
With the momentum, they should have an exciting matchup with the Miami Dolphins, who are also on a roll, thanks to RB Jay Ajayi’s two TDs and 418 rushing yards (7.7 yards per carry) in the past two games.
It will also be interesting to see which group of linemen will succeed, will it be the Jets’ underwhelming front seven (1.7 sacks per game) or the Dolphins’ faulty offensive line (46.5 sacks allowed per season since 2012)?
Writer’s prediction: TheJets win, 24-21.
Sunday, November 6
Dallas Cowboys (-7.5) at Cleveland Browns (+7.5) – 4:05 PM ET
The Dak Prescott show (featuring Ezekiel Elliot) is continuing in Dallas. They just had another big win courtesy of the rookie QB, this time via overtime TD pass. Prescott’s starter record is now 6-1, and he now has 1,773 passing yards, nine passing TDs, and only two picks this season.
As they head to Week 9, we might as well mark the Cowboys 7-1, because the Browns’ chances of cooling off one of the NFL’s hottest teams is about as slim as it can get.
Browns RB Isiah Crowell and their versatile player Terrelle Pryor can provide sparks every time, but the QB situation is just a hot mess for them to be consistently effective. The team is just one or two injuries away from pulling some fan from the crowd to play QB – they have now used six different guys at the position.
Dallas’ seventh-ranked offense and defense should have no problems operating opposite Cleveland’s bottom-ranked offense and defense. Should the upset be pulled off, expect an ESPY nomination next year.
Writer’s prediction: Cowboys win, 28-14.
Sunday, November 6
Pittsburgh Steelers (+3) at Baltimore Ravens (-3) – 1:00 PM ET
The Steelers will be coming off a much-needed break. They got ran over by the Dolphins, lost Ben Roethlisberger for at least a couple of games, and had a forgettable performance against the Pats in consecutive weeks.
Landry Jones, as expected, will remain as the starter for Week 9. The fourth-year QB had a mediocre Week 7, only completing 29 of 47 passes for 281 yards, one TD, and one pick. He and his offense will be challenged well by the Baltimore defense, who are seventh inside the top 10 of passing and rushing defense, as well as points allowed per game.
As for the home team, it’s still about Joe Flacco’s on and off performance. The veteran has to be more consistent, especially with the run game appearing to be quite unreliable – the Ravens have only rushed for 100-plus yards in a game twice in seven games this season.
Writer’s prediction: The Steelers win 20-14.
Sunday, November 6
Philadelphia Eagles (+3) at New York Giants (-3) – 1:00 PM ET
Philly got a good taste of Dak Prescott’s magic this past Sunday, as they lost a heartbreaking 29-23 OT loss to the Cowboys. The Eagles will now look to bounce back against the Giants, another division rival with a QB that has a knack for clutch plays.
Eagles’ rookie QB Carson Wentz still has confidence, but he has to be careful with the Giants defense that has six INTs in its last two games, while also allowing QBs to only complete 57.4 percent of their passes.
Eli Manning and his Big Blue crew, meanwhile, will be back from a bye week. They have two straight wins, one each led by the offense and defense – the offense had 435 total yards (222 receiving yards from Odell Beckham) against the Ravens in Week 6, and the defense intercepted the Rams four times the following week.
Writer’s prediction: The Eagles win, 26-21.
Sunday, November 6
New Orleans Saints (-3) at San Francisco 49ers (+3) – 4:05 PM ET
These two teams are on very different moods heading into the game. The Saints are feeling good after picking up a great 25-20 win against the Seahawks’ mighty defense, while the Niners probably can’t wait for their season to end because they can’t stop stinking it up.
New Orleans should have their way against San Francisco. Brees is in a zone right now, going 98-of-132 (74.2 percent) in his last three, along with seven TDs. RB Mark Ingram is poised to have a great game, as the Niners are dead-last in rushing yards allowed, with 1296.
The Saints D are ranked 22nd in passing yards and tied for second-worst in sacks, but they shouldn’t be worried with the Niners’ QBs – Gabbert and Kaepernick are only completing 54.5 percent of their passes. Kaepernick, the starter for Week 9, is only 29-for-63 this season for 110 yards per game.
Writer’s prediction: The Saints win, 30-21.
Sunday, November 6
Carolina Panthers (-3) at Los Angeles Rams (+3) – 4:05 PM ET
The Panthers have finally ended their losing streak, as they beat the Cardinals 30-20. Cam Newton was only 14-of-27 for 212 yards and no TDs, but back Jonathan Stewart had 95 rushing yards and two scores, and the D was able to get to Carson Palmer 15 times (eight sacks, seven QB hits).
Newton’s 251.3 passing yards per game this season is the second-highest in his career, but his 57.4-percent completion rate and 81.2 passer rating are both career lows. It will be interesting to see how he’d fare under the Rams’ middle-ranked pass defense – 16th in passing yards allowed and 13th in passing TDs allowed.
For the Rams, they are still rallying with Case Keenum, who’s always making people guess as to which QB version of himself will show up – one week he’s completing 27-of-32 passes, the next week he’s throwing four ugly interceptions.
Writer’s prediction: The Panthers win, 24-13.
Sunday, November 6
Indianapolis Colts (+7) at Green Bay Packers (-7) – 4:25 PM ET
Indy’s up and down year was on the “down” last week, as the Chiefs easily blasted them for a 30-14 victory. Andrew Luck passed poorly but was able to throw two TDs that kept them in the hunt, while also leading the Colts in rushing, with 60 yards. He just couldn’t build any rhythm all throughout the game.
Luck and his receiving corps will have a similar test against Green Bay, or maybe even tougher. The Packers are giving up 242.7 passing yards and only 74.4 rushing yards per game.
Aaron Rodgers, on the other hand, should have an easier task compared to previous weeks, since the Colts are one of the league’s bottom five in giving up yards (402.5 per game) and opposing QBs’ completion percentage (66.7 percent).
Writer’s prediction: The Packers win, 35-27.
Sunday, November 6
Tennessee Titans (+5.5) at San Diego Chargers (-5.5) – 4:25 PM ET
The Marcus Mariota-DeMarco Murray combination is doing a lot for the Titans offense – Mariota has a 69-percent completion rate with 10 TDs and only one INT in his last four, while Murray is second in rushing yards (756) and third in rushing yards per game (94.5). They’ll likely have another big production against the Chargers, who are on the bottom half of the fewest total yards allowed (361.1 per game).
For San Diego, expect them to continue imposing a run and gun offensive attack. Their longtime QB, Philip Rivers, is having a classic Philip Rivers season, with 288 passing yards per game, with 15 TDs. He’s also on pace to once again have another season with 4000-plus passing yards.
Writer’s prediction: The Chargers win, 31-24.
Sunday, November 6
Denver Broncos (+1) at Oakland Raiders (-1) – 4:25 PM ET
It’s this week’s offense vs. defense battle. The Broncos’ vaunted D will surely be tested by the streaking Oakland Raiders and their high-powered offense, led by Derek Carr, who’s slowly reaching for that “elite QB” label. The third-year QB has guided the Silver and Black into a 6-2 record (tied for first in the AFC West), and is fresh off a 513-yard, four-TD performance against the Bucs, whom they beat 30-24 in OT.
The Broncos will be asking a lot out of Trevor Siemian if they ask him to go mano y mano with Carr on offense. Coach Kubiak should know that their offense is, as of this moment, a work in progress. Their best bet, obviously, is their monster lineup on defense. If they don’t get to Derek Carr effectively, they will easily lose this game.
Denver’s top-notch secondary should also have an exciting clash with Oakland’s receivers, especially Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree.
Writer’s prediction: The Raiders win, 26-20.
Monday, November 7
Buffalo Bills (+7) at Seattle Seahawks (-7) – 8:30 PM ET
Monday Night Football will feature a defensive slugfest. These two are some of the intense defensive units in the NFL.
We should expect two hungry and eager teams, with Buffalo being handily beaten by the Patriots last Sunday, and Seattle coming off a frustrating tie game and a loss to the Saints.
The teams’ two QBs, Bills’ Tyrod Taylor and Seahawks’ Russell Wilson have a bit of similar skill set – mobile QBs that can throw deep at any given snap. However, Wilson is obviously the more proven player, since he is able to do it on a much bigger stage more often, and he has a Super Bowl ring, while Taylor is still looking for his first playoff berth.
The same goes on defense, even with end Michael Bennett out. Seattle is simply more battle-tested.
