USA TODAY International Edition
Parity reigns across the top of NFC
As the Buccaneers, Seahawks and Cardinals lost and the Packers and Saints won, there’s suddenly a logjam atop the NFC as the NFL has reached the halfway point of the 2020 season.
That sets up what could be a thrilling race for the No. 1 seed in the second half of the season. All those teams have either five or six victories and either two or three losses.
The Rams, who were on their bye week, are also in the mix at 5- 3.
Due to changes to the playoff format, only the top seed in each conference will enjoy a bye.
Making this even more salivating for football fans, each of these teams has a quarterback who can dazzle and take over games when called upon. At different points this season, each squad looked like it might be the best in the conference.
With the landscape so wide open, there should be an even higher sense of urgency as the season wears on.
Other Week 9 winners and losers.
Winners
QB futures in Miami and Arizona: Though the Dolphins beat the Cardinals in a thrilling 34- 31 game, both teams have to be feeling optimistic about what they saw out of their young quarterbacks. Dolphins rookie Tua Tagovailoa’s second career start answered many of the questions that popped up in his first. He showcased mobility, erasing any concerns from his significant hip injury sustained while at Alabama. He demonstrated he can make throws when flushed out of the pocket. Most important, he showed he can put the game in his hands and make plays when the Dolphins needed him to do so. Tagovailoa finished 20 of 28 for 248 yards with two scores.
Meanwhile, Kyler Murray continued to develop into one of the most dangerous dual- threat quarterbacks in the entire NFL. He became the first player in league history to throw for 275 or more yards with three passing touchdowns while adding 100 or more rushing yards with at least one rushing score. In fact, it was conservative play- calling late in the game that led to a missed Zane Gonzalez 49- yard field goal attempt and the Cardinals’ loss.
Patrick Mahomes: While everyone was talking about Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers early in the MVP race, Chiefs passer Patrick Mahomes kept plugging along in a 33- 31 victory against the Panthers.
Mahomes completed 30 of 45 attempts for 372 yards and four touchdowns. He has now thrown nine touchdowns in his last two games and has a touchdown- to- interception ratio of 25to- 1. He also became the fastest in NFL history to reach 100 passing touchdowns, doing so in 40 games, four fewer than Dolphins legend and previous record holder Dan Marino. Mahomes is in his third year as Kansas City’s starter, has the defending Super Bowl champions sitting at 8- 1 and might be on pace to add his second MVP award after this season.
Losers
Seahawks’ fatal flaw: Seattle had won eight consecutive games in the early slate of Sunday games but fell Sunday in a 44- 34 loss to the Bills. And for the Seahawks, who had looked like one of the top contenders in the NFL, it has become clear that their fatal flaw could be a defense that simply yields far too many yards and big plays. The 44 points were the most a Pete Carroll- led Seattle team has ever allowed. “So out of character across the board,” Carroll said after the game. “I don’t even recognize us.”
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen went off in an ultra- efficient performance, completing 31 of 38 passes for 415 yards and four total touchdowns. The Seahawks are now giving up an average of 30.4 points per game, ranking them in the bottom quarter of the NFL. Though they generated seven sacks against Buffalo, their pass rush had been inconsistent. No other secondary in the NFL has allowed more passing yards ( 2,897). And while Wilson has been very impressive, Seattle’s leaky defense just puts too much pressure on its offense to outscore opponents. While the Seahawks ( 6- 2) have been able to manage so far this season, as competition tightens and as they face tougher opponents if they reach the postseason, that pace might be unsustainable.
The Bears as a contender: Chicago has enjoyed a light schedule on the way to a 5- 4 mark through the first half of the season, but this looks like a team that is worse than its record indicates. Coach Matt Nagy’s offense, again, was woeful and underwhelmed in a 24- 17 loss to the Titans.
Midway through the third quarter, the Bears had failed to convert any of their nine third- down tries. Their leading rusher was Barkevious Mingo, a linebacker, who had one carry for 11 yards. They had just four offensive first downs. By the end of the game, those numbers weren’t much better. Chicago went 2 of 15 ( 13%) on third down; running back David Montgomery ( 14 carries for 30 yards) was their rushing leader; and the Bears finished with 22 first downs, though most were secured in garbage time. The offensive line cedes too much pressure and cannot open rushing lanes. To characterize production out of the tight end position as spotty would be quite generous. And situational coaching and play- calling decisions often make things harder than they need to be. The Bears have lost three in a row, and a playoff run looks like a pipe dream.