With 9 weeks in the books, the cream is floating to the top.  The best teams are taking care of business in match ups and even in big games there were clear winners.

                                                                                                                  (Watch Out for the Chargers and This Guy)

Week 9 Review – Top Teams Flex Muscles

  • Several Top Teams Crush Lesser Teams
    • Bears roll Bills – Bills are not good.  A playoff team a year ago, and this team cannot score a TD.  I heard a stat that Buffalo has just 1 TD with Josh Allen out, while their offense has given up 3 TOs for TDs in that same time.  Bears crush Bills 41-9.
    • Chiefs trounce Browns – Give the Browns credit, they went for 2 a lot on Sunday, but the Chiefs train is unstoppable at this point.  RB Kareem Hunt scored 3 TDs in the big 37-21 win.
    • Vikes fleece Lions – The Lions went from buyer to seller in their trades for Snacks Harrison and trade off of Golden Tate.  The Vikings outclassed them with 11 sacks and easy 24-9 win.
    • Panthers throttle Bucs – Carolina is playing great football, and Cam didn’t need to do much in this one early.  The Panthers led 35-7 before FitzMagic put up some points, but not enough in the 42-28 loss.
  • Marquee Match Ups 
    • Steelers best Ravens – The Steelers are rolling now.  In the first meeting, the Ravens limited RB James Connor greatly, but in this one, Connor ran and received for over 150 yards.  The Ravens lose their 3rd straight and are trending down, as the Steelers grab control of the AFC North – 23-16.
    • Chargers continue run over Seahawks – The Chargers are playing great football.  Despite terrible kicking by K Caleb Sturgis (he gone!), the Chargers led big, but QB Russell Wilson got the Seahawks within a score and 2 point conversion.  On the final drive, Wilson almost did it, but to no avail, as the Chargers get to 6-2 with the 25-17 win on the road.
    • Patriots hold down Packers – Big QB match up was a bit overplayed, but the game was 17-17 into the 4th quarter.  However, the Patriots game plan was one step ahead of McCarthy’s Packers and Patriots won going away, 31-17, putting Green Bay on red alert to miss the playoffs.
    • Saints take home field advantage over Rams – The Saints offense in that dome was rolling over the Rams.  The Rams came in undefeated and leave with one loss and shaking their heads.  The Saints limited Gurley to 68 yards rushing and withstood a furious comeback to win 45-35 in one of the best games of the year.

Week 10 Previews

3 Games of Note This Week for me:

  • Panthers at Steelers – 2 really good teams playing their best football match up on Thursday Night Football.  The Panthers are trying to keep pace with the Saints in the South, while the Steelers have found their winning formula with James Connor and better defense.  It should be one of the best games on the weekend.  8:20 ET/7:20 CT – Thursday.
  • Seahawks at Rams – This late game hopefully will match their first meeting, where the Rams squeaked out the win 33-31.  Rams are stinging after that Saints loss, but the Rams defense has been exposed a lot lately.  Can the Seahawks keep the game in check to take a shot at the top team in the NFC West?  4:25 ET/3:25 CT Sunday.
  • Cowboys at Eagles – Maybe not the marquee match up expected by the NFL with this NFC East tilt, however these 2 teams have always had entertaining contests.  The Cowboys will get a rested and improving Eagles squad in Philly.  I think the Eagles win, but Cowboys may surprise by keeping it close.  8:20 PM ET/7:20 CT Sunday Night Football.

Wegs NFL Index – Week 10

NFL Index W10

Top 5 Teams:

1 – Rams – despite the loss to Saints, the Rams are a top the rating.  Their defense has been had, but that offense continues to churn.  Let’s see how they go against the Seahawks.

2 – Bears – probably the most favorable schedule in the NFL this year, give the Bears credit for taking care of business.  They have another easy one at home versus the struggling Lions.

3 – Panthers – The have been playing great football, and that shows up in the Index.  +8 TO differential really helps them.

4 – Patriots – The Pats have been climbing the rankings since the opening 3 weeks of the year.  Give the Pats’ coaching staff credit, they have found a way to keep teams out of the end zone enough to get win after win.

5 – 3 Way Tie – Chiefs – Duh!  They are good.  Chargers – this team is dangerous, and they will get DE Joey Bosa back. With the Raiders this week, I would say their arrow still goes up.  Ravens – this is from the first Quarter of the season, the team is going the wrong way.

Bottom 5 Teams:

28.  Cleveland – The Browns have become the Browns again.  Despite incredible TO differential (+11), the Defensive Metrics are 28th or worse.

29.  Giants – The Giants stink, not much else to say.  If you are not scoring or stopping people, then a -4 TO Differential kills you.

30.  Bills – The Bills’ offense is the worst with 10.7 PPG and 2nd worst in Yards Per Game, plus -9 TO Differential.  This team made the playoffs last year.  Incredible.

31.  Cardinals – Like the Bills, the Cards are worst in YPG 233.3 and 2nd in PPG.  Maybe the 2nd half will be better.

32.  Raiders – Chucky has an unmotivated and untalented group competing in the NFL.  The defensive metrics pull this team down, plus -6 TO differential.  Here come the Chargers to Oakland….

We are getting deep into the season, so hopefully your team still has a shot.

Wegs

 

 

 

About the author

I'm a 49 year old, twice divorced guy with a 20 year old. The blog has morphed a bit lately. Not just sports or dating, social commentary and now some stories from my past experience.