Week 9 Preview

Week 9 in the NFL is noteworthy for its paucity of powerhouse battles.  Only two games feature opponents with winning records.  The 4-3 Steelers at the 6-2 Giants is the headliner of the weekend, and the 4-3 Dolphins at the 4-3 Colts is its homely little sister. 

Both Pittsburgh and New York have pulled a foul ball or two this season, but the Giants are clearly in better shape overall.  Plus, I think they’re the better team.  Plus, because of the recent east coast chaos, the Steelers’ routine will be dramatically thrown off by having to fly into New York on game day itself.  I like the Giants in this, the best game of the week. 

The Dolphins-Colts tilt appears on paper to be an important AFC match-up.  Personally, I can’t work up much enthusiasm over it.

Meanwhile, though there are no other games between two teams with winning records, a couple of games are of interest because of the desperation involved.  The 3-4 Eagles at the 2-5 Saints is a good case in point.  Everyone thinks that both Andy Reid and Michael Vick’s necks are on the chopping block, while the Saints are in an absolutely dismal situation, yet too proud and talented to fold their tents for 2012.

Another case is the Panthers trip against the Redskins.  Both teams (and their fans) came into the season with much higher hopes than have been realized so far.  Cam Newton is suffering a most severe sophomore slump, and he is not handling it with grace.  RGIII, meanwhile, is showing great promise, but his Redskins are generally underperforming at 3-5.

Elsewhere, desperate meets undefeated when the Cowboys travel to Atlanta.  Dallas, like Philly, is another instance where coach and quarterback are under intense scrutiny and pressure, and a 3-5 record at the halfway mark would create a bit of a steep hill for them.  On the other hand, it’s going to be hard for them to get to .500 this week against the 7-0 Falcons in Atlanta.  Still, the birds have to come down to earth sometime this season.  Could this be the week?  I doubt it.

Within our own division, our rivals all hit the road this week, while we stay at home.  The struggling, undisciplined Lions will face the team we just beat: the 1-6 Jaguars.  I think Jacksonville is better than its record, and so I have some hope that they might pull off the upset.

Meanwhile, the bloom has come off Minnesota’s rose in recent weeks, and they face a tough road test now against Seattle.  Again, I think this is another one that could go our way.  In fact, if I had to bet on one of the NFC North games going the right way this weekend, this would be the one I’d put some money on.  

Finally, the Bears visit the Tennessee Titans.  As I mentioned earlier this week, I haven’t bought into the 6-1 Bears yet.  Consider the foes they have vanquished thus far: the Colts (4-3), the Rams (3-5), the Cowboys (3-4), the Jaguars (1-6), the Lions (3-4), and the Panthers (1-6), the latter being a mere 1-point victory at home.  By record, therefore, the best team that the 2012 Bears have beaten was the Colts – i.e., the worst team from 2011 in a rookie QB’s first NFL game.  I’m not impressed by that resume. 

All of which is not to say that I’m picking the Titans.  But Tennessee did manage to beat the Steelers a few weeks back, and I think they might surprise the Bears.  More to the point, though, is that one preview of this game referred to “the mighty Bears,” which I think is ridiculous.  Three of their next four games are against the Texans, 49ers, and Seahawks.  Ask me in a month how mighty they are.

Then there is the Cardinals’ visit to Lambeau Field.  The forecast calls for temps in the low to mid 40s, which is just fine for a team coming up from Arizona (where it will be 80-degrees at kickoff.

Peter King offers this interesting factoid about the 2012 Cardinals:

Cards opened 4-0, averaging 23 points a game. They're 0-4 since, averaging nine.

So I guess we’re catching them at a good time.  Plus, they’re coming off a huge disappointment at home on Monday Night against the division-rival 49ers.  It’s a short week for them, they’re on the road, and they’re not playing well.  The Packers, meanwhile, are riding a three-game win streak, they’re at home, they may be getting Jordy Nelson back, and they see a light at the end of their tunnel as next week is their bye.  If Green Bay doesn’t win this game, I will be stunned. No, I’m looking for an all-around good week for Packer fans.