NFL Week 9 has come to a close, and we’re not officially more than halfway through the season.
The playoff picture is becoming clearer and clearer every week, and the results in Week 9’s games have helped to make things even clearer. There were surprising results, such as the Miami Dolphins’ first win and the New England Patriots’ first loss, as well as memorable performances by players like Russell Wilson.
Here are the biggest winners of Week 9.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens got the most impressive win of the week, toppling the previously-undefeated New England Patriots at home by a 37-20 final score.
Their win improved their record to 6-2, keeping the Steelers at bay and cementing themselves as the clear favorite to win the AFC North. What’s even more important is that their win, in which their running game had a huge day, combing for 250 yards and 3 scores against the stingy Pats defense.
The Ravens are for real, and they could be New England’s biggest conference threat come playoff time.
Melvin Gordon
Who said that Chargers running back Melvin Gordon had lost his mojo? After a big game in San Diego’s 26-11 home win over the Packers, those that had thought that Gordon had lost a step are re-evaluating their stance.
Gordon rushed for 80 yards on 20 carries, scoring two touchdowns on the ground. He also caught 3 passes for 29 yards, making him San Diego’s MVP in their big win. After a slow start to his season in which he had failed to accumulate more than 48 total yards, the two-time Pro Bowler appears to be getting back on track.
Cincinnati Bengals
Sure, the Bengals didn’t even play this week (mercifully for their fans), but they ended up as big winners after Miami won its first game of the season in a 26-18 triumph over the Jets.
This makes the hapless Bengals the odds-on favorite to grab the first pick in next year’s NFL Draft, giving them a choice between potential franchise quarterbacks in Oregon’s Justin Herbert and Alabama’s Tua Tagovaiola. Can they maintain their grip on the spot? Who knows, but for now, they look to be on a crash course for the #1 selection.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs might still be without NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes, but a big win over the Minnesota Vikings with a quality performance by backup quarterback Matt Moore has them sitting at 6-3 and maintaining their 1.5 game division lead intact.
Moore completed 25 of 35 passes for 275 yards and a touchdown to lead Kansas City over the Vikings in a tight matchup. They have kept their boat afloat during Mahomes’ multiple-week absence, and they could see him return as soon as this weekend against the Titans.
