Week 9 of the 2020 NFL Season produced some very close finishes and some very lopsided games. There has been a shuffle at the top of the leaderboard in the NFL. The NFC has four teams that are looking to be the favorites, but only two of them won this week (Packers and Saints). In the AFC, the picture is clearer. The Steelers and Chiefs are leading the way in the league at the moment.
Four Up: Steelers Lead the Way After 2020 NFL Week 9 Despite Close Call With Cowboys
The Steelers managed to win a dogfight against the Dallas Cowboys, 24-19. Even though the Steelers did not play their best, the best teams can win ugly. The Steelers missed two extra points. This proved to be consequential as the Cowboys had a chance to win on the gameโs final play. However, Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin have been in games like this at numerous points throughout their career. The Steelers are the favorites, as no teams have figured them out yet. On any given Sunday, any team can win. The Steelers have managed to win every Sunday so far this season.
2. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs managed to beat the Carolina Panthers 33-31 on Sunday. Patrick Mahomes put up another gaudy stat line, with 372 passing yards and four passing touchdowns. Many believe that he has worked his way to the front of the MVP conversation yet again. No team has shown a cohesive game plan to stop Mahomes. With all his offensive firepower at his disposal, do not expect him to ease up on having MVP performances.
3. New Orleans Saints
The Saints, who I picked to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, have finally made their way on to this list. However, this part of the season seems to be the part where they make their ascent. New Orleans has always played well in the early part of November the past few seasons, and that trend has not changed this year. The challenge for the Saints will be sustaining the level of play they displayed Sunday night in Tampa. If they can do that, it is hard to see any team being able to surpass them in the NFC.
4. Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers bounced back last Thursday with their 34-17 victory over an injury-ravaged 49ers team. Rodgers and wide receiver Davante Adams are the gameโs best quarterback-wide receiver duo right now. No one can stop them. However, the Packers need more consistency from their defense if they want to fulfill their championship aspirations. It will be interesting to see how they do against running backs like Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry later in the season, as that has been their Achilles heel on defense.
Four Down: Two NFC East In Bottom Four Yet Again
29. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have potentially found their short-term solution at quarterback with Garrett Gilbert. He played much better than Ben DiNucci. Despite keeping things close with the Steelers, the Cowboys still have work to do. They have to show more consistency in the run game and on defense if they want to be taken seriously in the NFC East.
30. Washington Football Team
Washington suffered another loss to the New York Giants, a team that has not beat any of the other 30 NFL teams. Kyle Allen is hurt, so it looks like Alex Smith will be able to lead a team as a starter for the first time in two years. Washington has some winnable games against Detroit and Dallas coming up in the next three weeks. Fans will want to see on-field results with a team that has come so far off the field in the past few months.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars started Oregon State product Jake Luton at quarterback last Sunday. This development basically signaled that they want to be involved in the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes. There is not too much to say otherwise. James Robinson has showed promise at running back. Jacksonville has talent on the roster defensively. It will be interesting to see how that will work around whoever is quarterback for this franchise in 2021. My prediction that it will be someone who is currently not on the roster.
32. New York Jets
The Jets competed with the Patriots on Monday night, which is encouraging for embattled head coach Adam Gase. However, the focus for Jets fans is still on if they will get Trevor Lawrence in the 2021 NFL Draft. Nothing has changed here. However, the Jets arguably should have won Monday night. They were able to control the ball, but Joe Flacco turned the ball over in the fourth quarter. The Jets haven’t had much momentum this season, but for a little bit it looked like they might have won.
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