The NFL is playing this weekend, but you might have a tough time finding the best game…
Let us help you out.
Excited For Week 9?
What Happened: Week 9 in the NFL doesn’t feature the most exciting slate of games, but it’s still NFL football, and of course, we have thoughts. Here are some games we are paying particular attention to, and what’s at stake.
Why It Matters: 1. The Lions (6-1) visiting the Packers (6-2) is absolutely the can’t-miss game of the weekend, although Jordan Love not being able to suit up would be a major bummer. Coming off a brutal NFC Championship game loss, Detroit looks poised to get over the hump, but first, it needs to win its own division. If the Packers can defend Lambeau Field, it would pull these teams even in divisional record and give Green Bay one win more for the time being. Dan Campbell’s team is still 65% in projections to top the NFC North when all is said and done, but with four winning teams, it won’t be easy.
2. How in the world do the Broncos (5-3) have the same record as the Ravens (5-3)? Oddly enough, it’s Denver that’s leaned heavily on its defense (the league’s 5th-best by DVOA) while the Ravens are riding the NFL’s top-ranked offense to their success. If Sean Payton can steal a road win here, we might have to start taking his team seriously, Bo Nix and all.
3. Saints (2-6) at Panthers (1-7). Would anyone really be upset if this games just…wasn’t played? (And no, we don’t want to hear about your fantasy team.)
4. Somehow, the Bengals (3-5) still have a 25% chance of reaching the playoffs. Joe Burrow seems to think it’s doable, but just beating the Raiders wouldn’t be enough to make you back Cincy again, would it? A multi-TD win is one thing, but we should know after Sunday if the Bengals really can claw their way back into the race.
What We’re Watching Today
Panthers at Stars (2:00 PM ET) – This game is taking place in Finland (hence the odd start time) and the NHL couldn’t pick a better game. The defending champion Panthers are off to a hot start, winning seven of their first 11 games. Dallas, meanwhile, is 7-2 and boasting the lowest goals against per game (1.89) in the league.
Nuggets at Timberwolves (9:30 PM ET) – Mediocre starts for these two 2-2 teams, but we expect both to be contenders from the West, so this is a good early-season test in primetime.
#4 Ohio State at #3 Penn State (Saturday, 12:00 PM ET) – Penn State has the home-field advantage here, but also the burden of trying to erase a 7-game losing streak against its Big Ten rival. The Buckeyes enter as 3.5-point favorites with history on its side.
The Look Ahead
Overwhelmed by all the sports going on lately? Mid-season NFL, NBA and NHL just getting going, and a thrilling World Series that just ended…it’s a lot! Thankfully, we have you covered with plenty of profit to show for it:
😎 We go into the weekend coming off a 4-1 Thursday Night Football play. Everyone laughed when we took the Jets and mocked us when we doubled down on Garrett Wilson. Of course, we cashed on both.
🏀 It’s early in the season, but our NBA chops are already at work. We swept our basketball card on Wednesday night, with a special kudos to Gradey Dick, who popped off immediately after we backed him for a big night!
🏒 Finally, hockey fans…it’s back! Our GIFT play (that’s Goal in First Ten Minutes) is back and scorching already. We’ve hit four straight with no plans to stop anytime soon.
