The NFL Roundup 2021: Week 9 Preview

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Hello again, football fans and welcome to another edition of the NFL Roundup and wow, do we have a lot to talk about today. Because the trade deadline and some other surprises prior to today, have left some of the league’s teams reeling. To the point where the winds of fortune might change for teams that were riding momentum’s wave and well, with that in mind… let’s not waste any more time and get right down to discussing all the big storylines hanging over Week 9 in the NFL and spotlight the best games to watch this weekend. 
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Will the Packers be able to win without Aaron Rodgers this weekend?
It is definitely safe to say that the Green Bay Packers have been on cloud nine. After all, they rebounded from their devastating week one loss in a dynamic manner, by winning every single game thereafter. In fact, they’ve been so dynamic and so red hot that they even toppled the best team in the NFL in the Cardinals. But alas, a single poor choice might change their fortunes this weekend. For Aaron Rodgers is out with Covid-19 and that means the oft shaky Jordan Love will likely get the nod and well, I don’t think the Packers will beat the Chiefs. Because Love just isn’t ready for prime-time and Kansas City is going to use that to their advantage.  
 
What will the Dolphins look like on offense after their trade deadline drama?
Whether you love Tua Tagovaiola or not, we can all agree on one thing, the Dolphins did him dirty. Because it doesn’t matter how many times Head Coach Brian Flores has said Tua is his guy, the fact that the front office was working on a trade with Houston for Deshaun Watson, lets Tua and the team know… they don’t believe in #1 anymore and that… can impact how this team’s offense will perform on the field. Because a vote of no confidence in a QB, immediately makes him a lame duck. The kind that no one listens to, and it will be quite incredible to see how the offense operates on Sunday, now that the team has made it clear they’re moving on from Tua in the offseason. 
 
The NFL needs to provide its players with the best mental health care programs out there.
At this point, you’re already aware of what happened with Henry Ruggs and the decision that Calvin Ridley came to and well, that moment and that decision, underscore the fact… that the time has come for the NFL to offer its players the best mental health care programs available. Because clearly, the league has players in need, and I can guarantee there are other players struggling with substance abuse and their mental well-being as these men currently are. So, it is time for the league to shed all the bravado surrounding mental toughness and just do whatever it takes to ensure that their players feel good both mentally and physically.

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The Most Fascinating Games to Watch This Weekend

Denver Broncos (4-4) at Dallas Cowboys (6-1)
AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas
Sunday, November 7, 2021 – 1:00 p.m. EST – FOX

So, this particular game is of note, simply because… it’s the last chance for Vic Fangio and his coaching staff to show the football world that they’re worthy of their positions. Because 4-4 is not where the Broncos are supposed to be, not after all the moves GM George Paton has made, and his decision to jettison the team’s best defensive player in history, speaks volumes to the fact that he is ready to start the rebuild of this team, and if Vic can’t get this team to play in a competitive manner against the Cowboys… then the clock will starting ticking for Fangio and honestly, I think this really is going to be the beginning of the end for him. Because his Broncos haven’t been able to beat quality teams under Vic’s tutelage, and they often look unprepared, and they won’t beat Dallas. So, this game should solidify the fact… that George Paton needs a different guy on the sidelines and the search for a new coach will either quietly or loudly begin, after Fangio loses this game.

New England Patriots (4-4) at Carolina Panthers (4-4)
Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, North Carolina
Sunday, November 7, 2021 – 1:00 p.m. EST – CBS

​This game is of note, because it features a pair of teams that are genuinely at a crossroads. For both squads are at .500 and their season could go in any direction at this point and this game will help give us a great idea of which team is going to enjoy a solid future, and which one is in long-term trouble… based upon their play and their drive, and how they handle the adversity that will come their way as the game plays out. Plus, this is a matchup that features a pair of quarterbacks that have everything to prove to the league, so this really does have the makings of a solid game. One that could be a defensive struggle or fireworks show if the QBs get hot.

Sunday Night Football
Tennessee Titans (6-2) at Los Angeles Rams (7-1)
SoFi Stadium – Inglewood, California
8:20 p.m. EST – NBC

​Let’s be honest, it is the Los Angeles Rams that have made this matchup one of note. Because they went wild this week and traded for one of the best linebackers to ever play the game in another all-in effort to get back to the Super Bowl and well… we are all dying to see how Von Miller is going to fit in with the Rams and what he has left in the tank and my guess is that the Miller will indeed snag a couple of sacks since the Rams rush system is designed for guys like him. Oh, and I’m also expecting a Los Angeles win as well. Because the Titans are missing Derrick Henry and that’s a huge deal. Because he’s the centerpiece to the Tennessee offense and without him, I don’t see how this offense is going to put up that many points, and that is something that is a must for any team that is playing the Rams.