The NFL Roundup 2021: Week 9 Recap

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Hello again, football fans and welcome back to another edition of the NFL Roundup, one that is basically going to spotlight, the Bizarro NFL World we are currently residing within. Because normally this time of year, we have a solid idea of who is heading to the playoffs and which teams are elite. But after two weeks of upsets galore and bad play from ‘great’ teams… who knows which way is up. But either way, the upside-down world of the NFL still provided us with some compelling stories, so let’s dive right in and recap those stories and all the lessons that Week 9 in the NFL sent our way.
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There might be some life left in the Denver Broncos after all.
Normally trading away a franchise player at the trade deadline leads to all kinds of disaster. Because not only is there a void where they played, but it sends a strong message to the team that the season is over, and more people will be moving on, and that message brings down morale and brings forth poor play. But the Denver Broncos saw the trade of Von Miller, as a wakeup call. One that informed them that new GM George Paton expects the best and expects his players to contribute and for proof… then look at Sunday’s result. Because they utterly answered the call and obliterated the Dallas Cowboys in their house and well, clearly there is still fight in Denver and they do want to win and hopefully they can keep the message close to heart and play like this more often so that Broncos Country, can enjoy a little joy for a change.
 
It is official, Sam Darnold is a bust.
Whenever a player at any position is struggling badly to succeed, sometimes the right thing to do is release them or trade them. Because such a move sometimes provides them with a necessary wake up call to get their head in the game and play, plus a change in scenery might be what they need, since they weren’t the right fit for their original team. But sometimes, going this route also helps to inform everyone in the league, as to whether or not this player can in fact… handle life in the NFL and well, it is safe to say that Sam Darnold is not long for this league. Because after getting his fresh start and after starting the season off hot, Sam has regressed and is struggling badly, and it really seems as though the game is too much for him. So, it’s unfortunate, but obvious, that Darnold is a bust and now it is only a matter of time before the Panthers move on from him and he is relegated to backup duty for the rest of his career.
 
The Tennessee Titans are not to be underestimated.
More often than not, when a team loses its centerpiece star for any length of time, things go south real quick. Because that star is a transformative player, the kind that can dictate the fate of a game and that’s precisely why this writer, believed that the Titans were going to lose on Sunday Night. Because Derrick Henry is that kind of player and not having him in the lineup should have led to disaster. But the offense rallied around Ryan Tannehill and the defense played inspired ball and for their efforts, the Titans upset the Rams in their own house, in prime time and well… clearly it is unwise to underestimate the Titans going forward. Because they are a team that understands the importance of next man up and stepping up and it will be quite interesting to see how this team continues to push ahead without #22 in the lineup.
 
Where do the Packers go from here at quarterback?
Things are not good in Green Bay. Because despite the wonderful 7-2 record they boast, there is some serious trouble in their locker room. For Aaron Rodgers exposed himself to be a selfish teammate that is putting his own fame and legacy and (incorrect) beliefs ahead of the players that share the field with him and to make matters worse, his understudy is terrible. Which really does beg the question… where do the Packers go from here at quarterback and honestly, I dunno. Because there is indeed friction between them and their star QB. The kind that extends beyond this one incident, as evidenced by his reworked contract and they really have no backup plan QB wise in the event he bounces. So, for now, all we can do is sit back and watch this ugly rollercoaster ride play out and hope the front officer in Green Bay figures out a fix and fast.
 
Kudos to Josh Allen for beating Josh Allen in Josh Allen v. Josh Allen.
Okay, so, it’s best we end today’s recap on a high note and spotlight the awesomeness that happened in the very weird Bills/Jaguars game. Because how cool is it that Linebacker Josh Allen, of the Jaguars, managed to sack, intercept, and recover a fumble from Josh Allen… of the Bills? It’s just one of those weird, hardcore football moments of fate that might never happen in league history ever again. So, it’s definitely worth nothing and celebrating, as is the Jacksonville win over Buffalo. Because that was another upset that shouldn’t have happened. But it did and it really is the icing on the cake of this rare and wonderful feat.

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