NFL Week 9: Final thoughts headed into Sunday

The Sunday slate has 11 games, and there’s something to watch in almost every one of them. Here’s what you should be most focused on, though, in Week 9.

• The Baltimore Ravens have a chance for a huge statement. Baltimore has played one of the easiest schedules in football thus far, with its lone quality win coming against the Seattle Seahawks. This week? Sunday night under the lights against the New England Patriots. New England is undefeated, so taking it down in front of the nation would shed a different light on the Ravens. It would also keep the hype train rolling for Lamar Jackson.

• The time has come for the Cleveland Browns. The Browns are getting the luxury of seeing the Denver Broncos, who are without quarterback Joe Flacco. Flacco injured his neck against the Indianapolis Colts and is out for the remainder of the season, giving Brandon Allen the job. If Cleveland can’t beat Allen, regardless of the venue, it’s time to start thinking about whether head coach Freddie Kitchens is going to have that title by New Year’s Eve.

• The contest between the Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers ins’t the sexiest on the slate by any means, but it’s an important one. Both teams are on the fringes of playoff contention in their respective conferences, and a loss here would be devastating for each. Carolina has the advantage of playing at home, but how much does that mean? This likely. comes down to whether the Titans can stop Christian McCaffrey, who is having one of the best seasons from scrimmage in NFL history.

• Will Patrick Mahomes play on Sunday for the Kansas City Chiefs? Kansas City played the Green Bay Packers tight last week. without a bevy of stars including Mahomes. Now, the quarterback is listed as questionable for the Chiefs’ tilt with the Minnesota Vikings. If Mahomes doesn’t play, it tips the game in favor of Minnesota. If he does, one would imagine Kansas City is the favorite playing at home, even if the Chiefs are a woeful 1-3 at Arrowhead Stadium this year.

• Finally, the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears. Both teams had championship dreams entering this season, but the Eagles are 4-4 and the Bears 3-4. If Chicago can’t go on the road and win, it’s likely over for a team facing one of the league’s hardest schedules the rest of the way. As for the Eagles, this is a near must-win if they have playoff hopes as well.