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3 Things To Watch In NFL Week 9

Week nine officially starts the second half of the NFL season. This is the time when teams start to figure out if they are going to be playoff contenders, or pretenders.

For teams like the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals, wins in the coming weeks will be crucial. Division leaders like the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots have extra wiggle room to prepare for the playoffs.

Here are the three things to watch during week nine of the NFL season:

1. Division Lead Changes

Three divisions in football could see a new team at the top of the standings after week nine is over.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens

The AFC North has a battle between the first place Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3) and Baltimore Ravens (3-4). This has been a heated match-up over the years and with the division as close as it is, it's bound to be heated once again.

If the Ravens can secure a win at home against the Steelers, the two teams will be tied atop the AFC North with the Cincinnati Bengals (3-4-1) not too far behind.

Denver Broncos @ Oakland Raiders

One of the most historic rivalries in football will take center stage during Sunday Night Football with the winner taking sole possession of the AFC West.

Both teams are currently 6-2 enterting the first of two season match-ups.

If the Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) win its game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the loser between Oakland and Denver will drop down to third place by mere percentage points.

Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings

Indianapolis Colts @ Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers (4-3) trail the Minnesota Vikings (5-2) in the NFC North by just one game. While the two teams don't play each other this week, the Packers can tie the Vikings for a lead in the division with a Green Bay win and a Minnesota loss.

After starting off 5-0, the Vikings lost two games in a row which let the rest of the division back into the race.

If the Detroit Lions (4-4) can pull out a win, they will move a half game back of the Vikings, regardless of what the Packers do.

2. Upset Alert

Dallas Cowboys @ Cleveland Browns

The biggest surprise of the 2016 NFL season so far has been the Dallas Cowboys. After losing Tony Romo in the preseason, America's Team has been led by a rookie quarterback and running back.

Now with the best record in the NFC at 6-1, rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot, head to Cleveland to face the only team without a win so far.

Unlike most 0-8 teams, the winless record isn't due to a lack of effort. The team plays hard for head coach Hue Jackson, but injuries and inexperience have kept the team from ending Sunday with a win.

The Browns will rely on its own rookies with quarterback Cody Kessler returning from a concussion and wide receiver Corey Coleman who missed the last six games.

With newly-acquired linebacker Jamie Collins playing in his first game with the Browns, and the return of the two rookies, Cleveland should come out with a lot of energy.

If the Cowboys take the Browns too lightly entering the game, the game may just end in the biggest upset of the year.

3. Roughing The Passer

Carolina Panthers @ Los Angeles Rams

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has been beat up all season. After the week eight win against the Arizona Cardinals, Newton complained to the media that he thinks the refs are not treating him like the rest of the quarterbacks in the league.

Two things can come from the quarterback calling out the referees publicly. The refs will either disregard his comments as just another player whining about calls, or they will call roughing the passer an immense amount of times to prove Newton's comments are incorrect.

Either way, it will be something to watch in a game with two teams which have under performed all season long. 

 

 

 

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