NFL Week 9 schedule: 5 teams that need to win the most
Looking at the NFL Week 9 schedule, these five playoff contenders must win. If they don’t, they face a steep uphill climb over the next two months.
5. Cincinnati Bengals
After being a victim to the New York Jets, the Bengals now come home to take on the reeling Browns (more on them below). Cleveland is 4-4. Meanwhile the Bengals are 5-3 and trying to stay out of the AFC North basement, after being the AFC’s top seed only a week ago. If Cincinnati handles the Browns, it moves two games ahead and at least earns a split of the season series.
4. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are reeling after losing to the Dallas Cowboys with backup quarterback Cooper Rush at the helm. Minnesota is 3-4 and now finds itself on the outside of the jumbled NFC playoff picture. They have a tough game against the Baltimore Ravens on the road coming up. For Kirk Cousins and Co. it’s an opportunity to beat what is a good but enigmatic football team.
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3. Cleveland Browns
Now to the other side of the Bengals-Brown tilt on Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. Cleveland is 4-4 after losing at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and this week is largely being consumed about the future (and fate) of star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. With a loss, the Browns would get a fifth loss and start to be in real danger of missing the playoffs. If Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland offense have the ability to get going, it must start against a division rival on the upswing.
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2. New England Patriots
The Patriots have taken care of business the last two weeks, beating the Jets and Los Angeles Chargers to run their record to 4-4. With the Carolina Panthers on deck in Charlotte, the Patriots have a chance to get over the .500 mark for the first time this season and start to establish position as a wild card threat. New England still has a tough road ahead. A victory over Sam Darnold and the Panthers would be a huge moment in the campaign.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are also at 4-4 and caught a huge break — from a football perspective — when Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was ruled out of Sunday’s game with COVID-19. With Jordan Love making his first NFL start, the Chiefs have a real opportunity to beat the youngster and get to 5-4 before a critical showdown next week with the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday night. However, a loss to Love at Arrowhead Stadium would be crushing.
