Week 9 sees three huge matchups in the AFC playoff race and two NFC teams looking for a lifeline
1. Newly-boosted Miami Dolphins travel to Chicago to face the Bears
The Dolphins went all in on Tuesday, trading a first-round pick for edge-rusher Bradley Chubb, putting them right up there with the best in the AFC.
Chicago were active too, first losing Roquan Smith to the Ravens for a 2nd, but then flipping another 2nd to Pittsburgh for Chase Claypool, giving Justin Fields another weapon.
Luke Getsy’s Bears offense run the ball over 50% of the time, will they be successful against the league’s sixth-best run defense?
2. Buffalo Bills and New York Jets face off in key AFC East matchup
PFF’s #1 ranked offense (Bills), faces off against the #1 defense that the New York Jets possess, expect them to cause Josh Allen problems.
New York’s offensive line is really banged-up, look for Von Miller, Ed Oliver and co to feast.
A win for the Jets will see them hold the tiebreaker over not only the Buffalo Bills but also the Miami Dolphins, setting up a spicy end to the AFC East.
3. Arizona Cardinals are in need of a win vs Seattle Seahawks
Arizona scored over 25 points once whilst DeAndre Hopkins was suspended, in the two games since he came back, they’ve done it twice.
Seattle were 19-9 winners when these two sides met in Week 6, Pete Caroll’s team have won the past two against Kliff Kingsbury’s Cardinals.
With two of the worst defenses in the NFL statistically, this one, as most Seahawks games have been this year, could be a shootout.
4. Two pre-season NFC favourites looking for mid-season lifeline
Who would’ve thought before the season started that both the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers would have losing records in their Week 9 meeting?
Both teams, who have plenty of talent offensively, have only scored more than 25 points once all season.
This one could be a sack fest as two of the NFL’s best defensive lines are up against two poor pass-protection units.
5. Arrowhead hosts the 2020 AFC Championship Game rematch on SNF
Two of the league’s most in-form teams in the Kansas City Chiefs, and Tennessee Titans, battle it out to end the ninth NFL Sunday of the season.
This one sees an interesting battle between the Tennessee offense that runs the ball 52.1% of the time, and the Chiefs’ third-ranked rushing defense.
A win for either side will be very important when it comes to playoff seeding, because right now they both sit 5-2 and lead their respective divisions.