NFL Week 9: Notes and observations

The NFL season has reached the halfway mark, and we started this week off with an upset at MetLife Stadium. The New York Jets beat up on the Buffalo Bills, 34-21, putting Buffalo a game behind the idle New England Patriots in the AFC East.

Perhaps that is a harbinger of things to come this weekend, with plenty of games that project to be close. The Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans are meeting at Nissan Stadium this Sunday, two teams that are desperate for a win to boost their AFC playoff hopes. Baltimore is 4-4 and coming off a thrashing of the Miami Dolphins on national television, while the Titans are well-rested at 4-3, coming off their bye week. The winner will feel good about their chances to be playing in January, while the loser will be frantically trying to make up ground.

Staying in the AFC, the Dolphins and Oakland Raiders will meet up on Sunday night with plenty on the line. Oakland is 3-5 and on life support, already forced to look at the wild card situation with the Kansas City Chiefs running away in the AFC West. The Raiders have to win at Miami under the lights or be all but eliminated before Thanksgiving, in a season that was expected to end in a Super Bowl chase.

On the NFC side, the Dallas Cowboys have to find a way to win on Sunday at home against the Chiefs. Dallas will have star running back Ezekiel Elliott, who was granted his stay by the court system. Elliott should have a huge day against a Kansas City team that allows 4.9 yards per carry. However, that might not be enough when you look at the matchups the Chiefs present for Dallas’ defense. Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Kareem Hunt could all have big days, something the Cowboys — and their playoff hopes — can’t have.

Also, we have a huge game at Bank of America Stadium between the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons. Both teams have three losses, so whoever wins this initial matchup between NFC South foes is going to have a huge leg up. Carolina has the advantage of being at home, but will miss both Greg Olsen and Kelvin Benjamin, with the latter being dealt to the Buffalo Bills at the trade deadline.

Finally, Monday night gives us the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The Packers desperately need to win to calm things down without Aaron Rodgers. Can Brett Hundley get the job done against a Lions team that has lost three straight? If he can, Green Bay is back in the mix.