Here's a look at the games from Week 9:
Miami 13, N.Y. Jets 6 - This was more or less what you figured the game would be, right? The Jets and Fins locked in a low-scoring battle defined by offensive woes on both sides was pretty much the kind of game that most would have expected here. Brock Osweiler completed 15 of 24 passes for 139 yards. For Gang Green, Darnold completed 21 of 39 passes for 229 yards, but with a rather incredible 4 INT's that helped doom the Jets. The win helps stop the bleeding for Miami, who had lost four of five going into this game, as they get back to a winning record at 5-4. The Jets, meanwhile, have dropped three straight games with this loss and sink to 3-6, just one game ahead of last place Buffalo. My pick: Accurate
Pittsburgh 23, Baltimore 16 - The Ravens fought to get back into this game after the Steelers took a commanding 20-6 lead in the third quarter. But the Steelers hung on for the predictable outcome, as the Ravens season is beginning to resemble an unraveling at this point. Roethlisberger completed 28 of 47, passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns. James Conner picked up an additional 107 yards on 24 carries, allowing fans to forget about Bell for the time being. In a losing effort, Baltimore's Joe Flacco completed 23 of 37 passes, but the motivated Pittsburgh defense made him pay for his words earlier this season questioning the Steeler's toughness following a Baltimore win at the Steel City. The Steelers continue to stay atop the AFC North with the win, as they are now half a game ahead of Cincy. The Ravens, meanwhile, keep falling closer to complete irrelevance, as a once promising season seems to be spiraling out of control for them. My pick: Accurate
Chicago 41, Buffalo 9 - The Bears needed to win this one convincingly in order to continue the roll that they are on this season, as well as to feel like a more legitimate contender. Barely winning, even on the road, against surely one of the weakest teams in the league would not do. And so, the Bears scored early to take the lead, and then just kpt pounding away, until this became the blowout win that they needed. Mitchell Trubisky played a decent game, completing 12 of 20 for 135 yards, with one touchdown and one INT. Jordan Howard picked up 47 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. Buffalo's Nathan Peterman went 31 for 49 for 189 yards, but had a whopping three interceptions. The Bills lose their fourth straight, while the Bears win their second in a row and, most importantly, stay atop the NFC North. Buffalo, meanwhile, continues to solidify their place as cellar dwellers this season in the AFC East. My pick: Accurate
Atlanta 38, Washington 14 - You just kind of had to know that the Falcons would get hot at some point this season, right? This is a team with deep playoff experience, and with loads of talent, especially on offense. They can get the job done when needs be, yet they were standing at a paltry 1-4 just a few weeks ago, looking dead in the water after a blowout loss in Pittsburgh. But now look at them! They are beginning to run on all cylinders, reeling their third straight win, and roaring back to life and relevance again. No, they would not be in the playoffs right now if the season ended, but there is a whole entire half of the season left to play, and the Falcons finally are showing that they are still the same team that have been regular playoff contenders, and Super Bowl contenders, the last few seasons. The wins against Tampa Bay and the Giants might have seemed like no-brainers, given the level of competition, but this was an impressive win. And Atlanta took over this game right away, taking the early lead and building it up and building it up, eventually earning themselves a convincing road win against a quality opponent, one with one of the best records in the league heading into yesterday. Now, the Falcons have woken up, and their next two games look winnable, before the travel down to New Orleans for what likely will be a big showdown later this month. My pick: Accurate
Kansas City 37, Cleveland 21 - The Browns were fighting for a while in this one, trying desperately to keep up with one of the league's true elite teams, the team with the very best record in the AFC heading into this weekend. However, in the end, KC's offense and overall talent indeed just proved too much for Cleveland. They fought hard to stay in this one, but simply could not pull it off. The Chiefs stayed hot, with their third straight win, and obviously their eight win in nine games so far this season. But that means that the Browns losing streak has now reached four straight, and they are solidly in last place in the AFC North. Not unexpected, but a little sad, given the injection of enthusiasm and good fortune that everyone in Believeland was enjoying earlier this season. My pick: Accurate
Minnesota 24, Detroit 9 - Minnesota did more than enough to earn the win here, as this game went pretty much as expected. K. Cousins completed 18 of 22 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown, although he also had one INT. Running back Dalvin Cook contributed as well, gaining 89 yards on 10 carries. In a losing cause, Matthew Stafford completed 25 of 36 passes for 199 yards, although Detroit's offense was largely ineffective. The Vikings defense relegated the Lions to field goals instead of touchdowns, and Minnesota took a solid lead in the second quarter. But Minnesota's defense came up big once again in the fourth, when Detroit was threatening late, when Danielle Hunter picked up a fumble and ran it in 32 yards for the touchdown to ice the game. The Vikings now have provided themselves some cushion from both Detroit and Green Bay, who also lost, and can now focus on their battle for first place with the Bears. My pick: Accurate
Carolina 42, Tampa Bay 28 - The Bucs deserve some credit here, coming back from a 35-7 deficit to pull within a touchdown, giving themselves a chance to pull off what would have been a truly great comeback. But, in the end, the Panthers still proved just a little too much. Still, in the comeback effort, Tamp Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick showed glimpses of how well he was playing earlier in the year, as he completed 24 of 40 passes for 243 yards, with four touchdowns and two interceptions. However, the production of th Carolina offense was a bit too much. Cam Newton completed 19 of 25 for 247 yards and two touchdowns, while also picking up 33 additional yards on the ground. Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey picked up 79 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. After the Buccaneers closed in to make it a tight 35-28 game, Newton's 19-yard touchdown pass to Curtis Samuel sealed the win for the Panthers. My pick: Accurate
Houston 19, Denver 17 - Sometimes, when a team gets on a roll, everything just seems to go their way. Right now, that seems to be the case with the red hot Texans, who pulled off their sixth straight win, which is tied with the Patriots for longest active win streak, now that the Rams finally lose. It was a back and forth affair, until Denver missed a field goal attempt very late that would have won it for them, instead preserving the narrow win for the visiting Texans. Deshaun Watson completed 17 of 24 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns, helping to lift his team to victory. In a losing effort, Denver's Case Keenum had a decent day as well, completing 26 of 42 for 290 yards and a touchdown pass. Houston solidifies their hold on the AFC South, while the Broncos keep falling closer and closer to the edge of irrelevance. My pick: Accurate
L.A. Chargers 25, Seattle 17 - The Chargers, like the Houston Texans, are hot, and everything seems to be going their way. They earned a tough road win in Seattle, which is hardly the easiest place in the league for a visiting team. Philip Rivers provided the veteran leadership that the Chargers have come to expect, completing 13 of 26 for 228 yards and two touchdowns. Melvin Gordon added 113 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries for L.A.. Seattle's Russell Wilson had a good day in a losing cause, completing 26 of 39 pass attempts for 235 yards, with two touchdowns, but one costly interception. Running back Mike Davis added 62 yards on 15 carries. The win allows the Chargers to stay on the heels of Kansas City in the AFC West, while this loss sinks the Seahawks a bit more in the NFC West, as they fail to capitalize on the Rams first and only loss so far this season. It also hurts the Seahawks playoff positioning. My pick: Inaccurate
New Orleans 45, L.A. Rams 35 - What a game! This one lived up to the billing, which is saying something! Even in a loss, the Rams showed just why they have looked like the NFL's best team so far this season, coming back from a 35-14 deficit to pull even, and seemingly having all of the momentum. But to their credit, the Saints showed why they, too, have been one of the elite teams this season. Their defense tightened up, and the offense got hot again. It was enough to lift New Orleans to their seventh straight win, which now stands as the longest active win streak in the NFL. Drew Brees completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards and four touchdowns, while Alvin Kamara added 82 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in 19 carries. Michael Thomas also had a simply incredible day for New Orleans, notching 12 catches for 211 yards and a touchdown. Jared Goff completed 28 of 40 for 391 yards and three touchdowns, as well as one INT, for the Rams in a losing effort. Todd Gurley II added 68 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, while Brandin Cooks had a solid game with 6 receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown. Simply a great day for offense in the Big Easy, with a lot of fireworks throughout this game. Truly a battle of elite teams here, but New Orleans earns the huge win, handing the previously undefeated Rams their first loss on the year. My pick: Accurate
Sunday Night Football
New England 31, Green Bay 17 - This was a clash between two of the elite quarterbacks in the league - Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. In the end, though, TBrady confirmed why so man believe he is the GOAT, coming up with the goods in the end to break what was seemingly a stalemate, to give the Patriots the win, which was their sixth straight. Brady completed 22 of 35 passes for 294 yrds and a 55-yard touchdown pass to Josh Gordon late that clinched the win for New England. Cordarrelle Patterson gained 61 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries to help the Pats offense. Rodgers, in a losing cause, completed 24 of 43 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns. The win helps solidify the Pats as an elite team, and allows them to maintain a comfortable lead in the AFC East, while this loss hurts the reeling Packers, who are closing in on irrelevance. My pick: Accurate
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