1. Week 9 Takeaways
Me:
-12 teams have three wins or less at the halfway point of the season. Last season, only one team (Cardinals) finished the season with three wins or less. That number is almost certain to rise this year. It will be fascinating to see by how much and whether or not it forces certain teams to try to “tank” harder for a better draft pick.
Matt: Home teams dominate after a season of historical success for road teams
2. Truth/Exaggeration
-Minkah Fitzpatrick is a serious contender for DPOY honors
-After the season, the Jaguars should trade either Nick Foles or Gardner Minshew
-Cam Newton has played his last snap as a Carolina Panther
-For the remainder of the season, the Chicago Bears must roll the dice and use Mitchell Trubisky the same way the Ravens used Lamar Jackson late last season
-Three years from now, Lamar Jackson will be regarded as THE best QB from the 2018 draft class
-The Niners and Saints are starting to separate themselves from the rest of the pack in the battle for the NFC
-Regardless of what happens the rest of this season, Vic Fangio has made a convincing case that the Broncos must ride with him for at least two more seasons as they move forward with their rebuild
3. GAME OF THE WEEK: Seahawks at 49ers
-The 49ers are for real, but they face arguably their biggest test of the season with Russell Wilson coming to town. And their vaunted defense suffered a major loss last week as LB Kwon Alexander suffered a season ending torn pectoral. How will the Niners compensate for his absence, specifically in this game?
-Russell Wilson is obviously having an MVP caliber season and a big reason why is he arguably has his most explosive WR duo to date in Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. And that explosive duo just might have become an explosive trio as the Seahawks claimed Josh Gordon off waivers from the Patriots last week. How much more dangerous does Gordon make the Seattle aerial attack?
-Game deciding matchups: Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny/49ers LB’s in passing game, 49ers DL vs. Seahawks OL
-Game Predictions
4. This or That?
-Who would you give the NFL MVP to if the season ended today: Russell Wilson or Lamar Jackson?
-Who would you name NFL Assistant Coach of the Year if the season ended today: Robert Saleh or Greg Roman?
-Which city will be a better market for the Chargers should they decide to move again: London or St. Louis?
-Whose 2019 draft class looks more impressive so far: Jaguars or Raiders?
5. Game Predictions
-Chargers at Raiders
-Chiefs at Titans
-Bills at Browns
-Ravens at Bengals
-Lions at Bears
-Giants at Jets
-Falcons at Saints
-Cardinals at Buccaneers
-Dolphins at Colts
-Panthers at Packers
-Rams at Steelers
-Vikings at Cowboys
6. BOLD PREDICTIONS
ME: Christian McCaffrey totals over 300 scrimmage yards
MATT: Kyler Murray and Jameis Winston combine for 9 TD’s
7. Challenge Flags
ME: Kirk Cousins, SILENCE THE DOUBTERS AND WIN A CLOSE GAME IN THE FOURTH QUARTER!!!!!
MATT: Browns and Jets, FIRE YOUR COACHES THIS WEEEKEND!!!!!!!!!
