NFL Takeaways: Week 9
Photo by Scott Taetsch from Getty Images
We are officially halfway through the NFL season, and it seems very clear now that I have absolutely no idea who is going to win the Super Bowl.
Sounds like my kind of football season.
Not to mention, we actually had a fun day of football for the first time in weeks.
Here is what we learned from week 9.
Ravens defeat Dolphins 28-6
Are the Ravens potentially back?
Lamar Jackson was once again great, and the defense did shut down a Dolphins offense that was red hot against Atlanta.
But then again, that might say more about Atlanta…
It’s, at the very least, a good start forward for the Ravens.
Bears defeat Bengals 47-42
This was almost the perfect Bears loss, giving up 14 points in under two minutes, but it turned into the perfect Bengals loss, scoring a boat load of points and still losing because the defense can’t stop a nosebleed.
It was performance art.
Vikings defeat Lions 27-24
There was a lot of talk about J.J. McCarthy possibly getting a soft benching from the Vikings in favor of Carson Wentz, and I never really bought that.
Now after seeing him do a decent job in an upset win over the Lions, I’m thinking the Vikings just didn’t want to rush him back in the second year of his career.
More on both of those details in later games.
Panthers defeat Packers 16-13
The Packers just simply need Jordan Love to play decently and they’ll be legitimate title contenders.
But in their two losses, which are two of the worst losses in the NFL this year, Jordan Love has made some inexplicably horrible throws that cost his team the game.
Simply can not happen.
Chargers defeat Titans 27-20
This game really had no business being as close as it was, and the injuries just keep adding up for the Chargers, as per usual.
Brutal.
Patriots defeat Falcons 24-23
Very, very sloppy game from Drake Maye, and it didn’t matter in the end because the Falcons missed an extra point to lose.
That’s the Falcons for ya!
49ers defeat Giants 34-24
Mac Jones had a tough couple of games, but came charging back to play very well against a sliding Giants team that is getting closer and closer to a coaching change after that humiliating loss to the Broncos a few weeks ago.
They haven’t recovered, and they might not.
Steelers defeat Colts 27-20
I’m not going to read too much into this one.
This Steelers defense has the pieces to be elite. They just haven’t all year.
But on Sunday, they were insanely good and made Daniel Jones life a living hell.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re fixed, and it doesn’t mean the Colts are ruined.
It’s just simply what happened on Sunday.
Or at least, that’s what it is right now.
Broncos defeat Texans 18-15
The Broncos offense continues to not look very good most of the time (Eagles, Jets, three quarters of the Giants game, Texans) but they also continue to win.
And in the end, that’s what matters.
If the offense actually does look good going forward, they’ll be insanely dangerous.
But I’m still waiting to see it.
Jaguars defeat Raiders 30-29
This was an absolutely awesome game, and likely the ideal result for both teams.
The Jags win to stay in the playoff hunt, and the Raiders continue their quest towards a good draft pick.
Remember, this is still a rebuilding team in Vegas.
Rams defeat Saints 34-10
The Tyler Shough era began in New Orleans after taking over for Spencer Rattler and he was…
Fine?
He wasn’t bad, but he certainly wasn’t good.
I don’t know.
Neither are the answer in New Orleans.
Bills defeat Chiefs 28-21
Patrick Mahomes played horribly, Josh Allen was fantastic, and the Bills won by 7 and had to hold on for one final Hail Mary to get the win.
And I’m supposed to believe things will be different when they meet in the playoffs?
Nah.
Not falling for it.
Seahawks defeat Commanders 38-14
Just a dominant game from the Seahawks. They’re playing some fantastic football.
This thing was over before the clock even struck 9:30 P.M.
Which is why it was kind of weird for the Commanders to still have Jayden Daniels, coming off a sore knee and sore hamstring, playing in the 4th quarter down 38-7.
His dislocated elbow injury has nothing to do with those previous injuries, but they still had a good chance to prevent possible injury to their young franchise QB, and they failed to do so.
Now, it looks like a lost season in Landover.
And for what?
To lose by a little less?
Foolish.
Cardinals defeat Cowboys 27-17
Remember the soft benching we talked about with J.J. McCarthy earlier and how I didn’t buy it?
I’m buying it with Kyler Murray in Arizona.
He was healthy enough to play, but the Cardinals, with their season on the line, didn’t start him and instead went with Jacoby Brissett, who was awesome and was able to utilize their number 1 receiver more effectively than Murray has in his entire career.
I think Gannon and the Cards organization might just be done with Murray.
