Week 9 NFL Musings

Another week is past, and more revelations have presented themselves. I can't remember a season where the major contenders were so damn inconspicuous. Sure, the Titans are undefeated and already practically in the playoffs, but can they really contend with the big boys? In my opinion that question has yet to be answered, but then again its becoming increasingly difficult to tell who the "big boys" are. More on that after the jump.

1. As I write this, the Washington Redskins are losing to Pittsburgh. Again, I’m compelled to ask, who is this Washington team? They get big wins against division foes and then drop games to the likes of St. Louis (who admittedly is a much better team than they started out as). This is the kind of game they need to win if they want to make a run at the playoffs, and it looks grim. Oh yeah, and Roethlisberger isn’t even playing. They’re being taken for chumps by good ol’ Byron Leftwich. Classic.

2. Derek Anderson is officially back on the bench. Here’s a question for all you couch coaches: When your team was supposed to be a playoff contender but has only managed to win three games midway through the season, do you: A) Continue to instill faith in your Pro Bowl quarterback and make changes to the receiving corps, or do you B) Bench said Pro Bowl quarterback in favor of your second year, second string QB who has thrown only eight regular season passes in hopes that his balls will be more catchable? The Browns are going with B, and keeping Braylon “Drop ‘Em” Edwards at the top of the depth chart. Nice.

3. Cincinnati won a game! Which proves once and for all not how capable the Bengals are, but just how miserably bad the Jaguars are. Detroit is the lone winless team in the league. It’s fun to watch, isn’t it?

4. The Cardinals have made their case for a serious playoff run. With every other team in the division three games behind and utterly terrible, they have little competition and should cruise right in. Can they get past the first round? That remains to be seen.

5. The beginning of the NFL’s “flexible scheduling” will be starting Week 11, and the schedule will change in the event that the Sunday Night game is a poor matchup. This week, the matchup will be Dallas vs. Washington as regularly scheduled because, quite simply, it will be a decent game. Chicago at Minnesota in Week 13 as well as Seattle and New England the following week may not be so lucky.