The NFL Round 2020: Week 9

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Expect the unexpected. That should be the NFL’s 2020 slogan, simply because that’s the mental mantra we’ve all had to embrace on gameday. Because every week, new surprises come our way and that’s made for a wild and oddly satisfying year of football. For this notion has allowed for some epic upsets to take place and it has changed the balance of power in both conferences, for the better, since parity is what we want in this league. If anything, it appears as though this constant change is here to stay. Because this weekend’s schedule looks primed to bring us more upsets and surprises and with that in mind, the time has come to dive into Week 9 in the NFL and every twist and turn it might send our way.
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The Denver Broncos could turn their season around this weekend.
It wasn’t all that long ago, that the football world was preparing to move on from the Denver Broncos. For their defense was dire and the offense couldn’t do anything with the scoreboard. But over the past two weeks, this team has suddenly come to life, and played some delightful defense and some inspired offense. Which leaves one to wonder if they can pull to .500 this weekend against the Falcons and honestly, I think they can. Simply because the Broncos are eager to rise above their mediocre standing and the Falcons just aren’t that good of a football team this year. So, don’t be shocked to see Denver come out and beat this team in an epic manner, because they fully understand that a win here could turn their season around, and keep them in the playoff conversation.
 
The Titans need to go old school in order to get their season back on track.
The Tennessee Titans started off their season in elite fashion, with some big wins and some dominant performances. But that all changed against Pittsburgh, and all the flaws that the Steelers put on display are being exploited by other teams, and that allowed for the lowly Bengals to beat them as well and that also means that this team is vulnerable coming into Chicago. But… it is possible for Tennessee to get back to their winning ways, provided they go back to basics. Which means they have to be aggressive on defense again and they need to pound the rock, and if they can do those things consistently, they’ll have the win they desperately seek and a sense that everything is right in their world once again and they definitely need that. Because a loss here will definitely shatter this team’s confidence further and if doubt creeps in… their storybook season could unravel.
 
The San Francisco 49ers might stun the Green Bay Packers.
Yeah, I know. That’s a bold statement. Especially when one considers that the Niners are coming into this game, without their franchise QB and their star TE. But the fact of the matter is, Green Bay has a tendency this season to take their opponents for granted and not prepare for them with a measure of seriousness, and that’s led to a pair of ugly losses. The kind that quite frankly have left the football world wondering as to whether or not this team is as elite as they appeared to be when the season got underway. Because elite teams give it their all week in and week out, and always take their opponents seriously. That means, this is Green Bay’s game to lose. For it they walk onto that field, thinking that they have this game in the bag and can phone it in, then San Francisco is going to hammer them for sixty minutes and add to the doubt that’s currently surrounding the Packers.

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The Most Fascinating Games to Watch This Weekend

Seattle Seahawks (6-1) at Buffalo Bills (6-2)
Bills Stadium – Orchard Park, New York
Sunday, November 8, 2020 – 1:00 p.m. EST – FOX

It’s always a wonderful thing when two teams that are fun to watch take the field, and that’s exactly what we are getting in this game. Because both of these quarterbacks know how to find the end zone and find it often for that matter, which means we can expect this one to be a high scoring affair. But while a shootout always makes for a wonderful time, someone has to win this game and honestly, I think the Bills are the ones that are going to pull out a victory. Simply because time and time again, the Seahawks defense has proven to be a liability for this squad, the kind that Josh Allen is going to exploit while his defense figures out Russell Wilson and once they do… they’ll shut him right down and secure a huge victory for the Buffalo Bills.

Miami Dolphins (4-3) at Arizona Cardinals (5-2)
State Farm Stadium – Glendale, Arizona
Sunday, November 8, 2020 – 4:25 p.m. EST – CBS

The expectation when it comes to pro football, is that we get a fast paced and polished game, one that doesn’t resemble the college game in the slightest. But that particular expectation might be thrown out the window for this matchup. Simply because it features a pair of dynamic quarterbacks that are playing as though they never left school, thanks to their coaches, since they decided to install a pro/college hybrid offense for their young QBs. Which means this one might look like a fast-paced college game, with all kinds of spread offense and RPOs and that is going to lead to a fun matchup to say the least. One that should be a high scoring affair through and through and one that honestly, is difficult to call. Because both of these teams are evenly matched, which means that really, the fans win the end. For you can never go wrong with a shootout, especially one that features two franchise quarterbacks that are eager to strut their stuff.

Sunday Night Football
New Orleans Saints (5-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2)
Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, Florida
8:20 p.m. EST – NBC

​Speaking of games that feature franchise quarterbacks, well here is another one that features two seasoned ones. For Drew Brees and Tom Brady have seen it and done it all in this league and they’ll make use of their vast knowledge of the game to try and lock up an important win in the NFC South. Which means we are in for some quality football since these two veterans know exactly how to spot a defensive weakness and exploit it and well, while a little back and forth is always nice; someone has to win this game. And I would venture to say the winner of this one will be Tampa Bay in the end. Simply because, they have the better defense and they know how to stop Drew Brees and control of the NFC South is on the line, and that’s the perfect reason for this defense to leave it all on the field on their way to 7-2.