NFL Week 9: Notes and observations from Sunday
With the NFL Week 9 schedule in the books, we look back at what made the most impact from Sunday and its results.
– The Dallas Cowboys were one of the shocks of NFL Week 9. Expected by most to roll the Denver Broncos as a double-digit favorite, the Cowboys instead were pummeled, trailing 27-0 before adding on some points in garbage time. Dak Prescott was awful, only completing five passes through three quarters of the rout. While the result doesn’t impact Dallas’ mammoth lead in the NFC East, it could be a devastating defeat for seeding purposes in the ultra-competitive NFC playoff picture.
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– We saw the future of the Green Bay Packers, and it wasn’t pretty. Jordan Love made his first NFL start, taking on the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The Packers lost 13-7 in an ugly affair, with Love throwing a late touchdown but also a fourth-quarter interception in the red zone. All told, Love posted a QBR of 27.4, failing to make many impact plays despite Kansas City offensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo consistently playing Cover-0. The Packers lily can’t wait for Aaron Rodgers to come back from the COVID-19 protocols.
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– Give the Arizona Cardinals their flowers. On the road against the San Francisco 49ers without a litany of stars including quarterback Kyler Murray and receiver DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona improved to a league-best 8-1 behind Murray’s backup, Colt McCoy. The veteran threw for 249 yards and a touchdown on 22-of-26 passing, leading Arizona to a 31-17 victory. For the 49ers, the loss dropped them to 3-5 — including a hideous 0-4 at Levi’s Stadium — and all but finishes off any hopes of making the playoffs.
– The 2022 NFL Draft order got a shake-up on Sunday. While the 0-8 Detroit Lions didn’t play this week and therefore maintain their hammer-lock on the No. 1 spot, we saw movement beyond them. The Houston Texans lost to the Miami Dolphins in a battle of one-win teams, meaning Houston now holds the No. 2 slot. Also, the Jacksonville Jaguars pulled off a stunning victory over the Buffalo Bills. With these results, Miami sits third — the Philadelphia Eagles own the pick — while the Jags slide (happily) to fifth, with the New York Jets nestled between them.
