Week 9 was amazing, absurd, and downright ridiculous on the gridiron. The adjectives used in the first sentence could describe aptly what Josh Dobbs did for the Minnesota Vikings in Atlanta on Sunday. Dobbs was traded to Minnesota at the trade deadline last Tuesday in exchange for a 7th-round pick, which can become a 6th-round pick based on playing time. A quarterback usually spends weeks learning a new playbook before playing on the field. However, the loss of Kirk Cousins meant Dobbs had to play right away, but the former Tennessee Volunteer quarterback put in a remarkable performance in a come-from-behind 31-28 win. In the process, he became the first quarterback to score three TDs for different teams in back-to-back games. Yes, that is just one of the improbable stories from Week 9. In this article, we discuss the three biggest storylines from a wild week of football.
1. Thrillers in Frankfurt and Cincinnati- two matchups involving Patrick Mahomes, Tua Tagovailoa, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow would produce a combined 77 points. That stat indicates the defense struggle on Sunday, which ensured that fans would witness tight finishes in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs surged to a 21-point lead thanks to an amazing strip tackle by Trent McDuffie on Tyreek Hill, with Mike Edwards recovering the ball and lateralling it to safety Bryan Cook, who scampered 59 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown. The Dolphins mounted a second-half comeback through scores from Cedrick Wilson and Raheem Mostert to make it a one-score game. However, it crumbled on the final drive on a fourth and 10 when Tua could not catch an errant snap with Chiefs bringing an all-out blitz. In Cincinnati, Joe Burrow put in a vintage performance that propelled his team to a 21-7 halftime lead. However, the Bills kept it close by pulling to a 24-18 deficit following a Stefon Diggs touchdown and two-point conversion. However, Burrow shut the door close by efficiently running a four-minute offense to end the hopes of the Bills. I think for the Bills, what will concern them are the constant turnovers by the offense. The Chiefs will be concerned that their defense continues to excel while the offense struggles. The Dolphins are now 0-3 against winning teams, while the Bengals have won 4 straight games.
2. Prescott Shines but loses Games of inches- Dak Prescott was the best player on the field this past Sunday. Prescott completed 29 of 44 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns. Prescott was brilliant in the game and got help from CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson, who combined for 18 catches, 282 yards, and a touchdown. The Cowboys will rue the slight failure to execute its offense. For instance, Luke Schoonmaker should have been in the end zone before grabbing a catch and getting stopped at the 1-yard line. Also, Prescott had a scramble late in the fourth quarterback with a chance to reduce the deficit to 28-25, but on the two-point conversion, his foot stepped out of bounds. In the end, it cost the Cowboys, and the penalties prevented the Cowboys from scoring in the end zone. The Cowboys will feel that they should have won this game on the road, and it was another reminder that football is a game of inches.
3. C.J. Stroud Stud Performance-there was a constant debate last April about who the Carolina Panthers should select with the number one overall pick. At the draft, the franchise selected the former Heisman Winner Bryce Young as the heir apparent in Charlotte. Nine weeks into the season, Young has struggled mightily to kickstart the revolution. Young has thrown for 1,375 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions. On Sunday, he threw two terrible pick-six interceptions in a 27-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. On the other hand, C.J. Stroud has proven to be one of the best rookie quarterbacks ever in the league. He has thrown for 2,270 yards, 14 touchdowns, and one interception. On Sunday, he delivered a virtuoso performance against the Buccaneers by completing 71% of his passes, for 470 yards, five touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. It was not just the stats, but Stroud looked like an elite veteran. Baker Mayfield seemingly won the game for his team by leading them on a 10-play, 61-yard drive to take a 37-33 lead. However, Stroud answered completing a 6-play drive for 75 yards in 40 seconds to win the game 39-33. It might be too early in calling Young a bust because he is undersized, and playing behind a poor offensive line. However, Stroud is becoming an instant sensation, and it’s making them wish they could hit the reset button like on the Nintendo.