A couple of high profile teams have really begun to hit their stride and impressive Week 9 play illustrated some improving prospects for the postseason. First, the Philadelphia Eagles edged out a 28-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars to better their record to 6-2 on the season. The Eagles started out the year with an underwhelming 2-2 record, but they have since rattled off four straight victories to sit second in the NFC East. Superstar running back Saquon Barkley has been crucial in their turnaround, gaining 159 yards on the ground against the Jaguars, as well as successfully hurdling a defender backward in a major highlight play.

The Baltimore Ravens are another squad that has revitalized their season. Their Week 9 domination over the Denver Broncos in a 41-10 victory was emblematic of their complete pivot from a frustrating early portion of the season. In fact, the Ravens started their season in an agonizing fashion with a 0-2 record. But they have rebounded fantastically, winning six of their last seven games to catapult themselves to 6-3. Much of this can be attributed to the play of their star quarterback Lamar Jackson who is currently a leading candidate to win the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award. If Jackson continues his otherworldly tear then the Ravens will be a major threat in the postseason.

In other news, the Indianapolis Colts made a high profile switch at quarterback this past week due to controversy involving Anthony Richardson, the player that they started at the position to begin this season. From a statistical perspective, Richardson’s benching makes a fair deal of sense. In six games he has thrown for just four touchdowns and a paltry seven interceptions. These statistics combined with his pedestrian 44.4% completion rate showcase his failure to live up to expectations in his second year. 

However, Richardson still has many redeeming qualities. His athleticism, strength and uncanny ability to throw accurate passes from great distances still make him an intriguing developing quarterback, especially at the young age of 22. Unfortunately, his inability to lead his team successfully on the field was only part of the reason for his benching. In an inexplicable moment during a Week 8 matchup against the Houston Texans, Richardson tapped on his helmet to sub himself off for a play during the game. When asked in the postgame press conference as to his reasoning, he remarked that he left the game momentarily because he was tired from scrambling on the two previous plays. 

Richardson’s decision has drawn the ire of many in the NFL world, including former star quarterback Cam Newton. It was essentially an unprecedented moment for a quarterback to leave live play citing anything other than a serious injury. As a result of the buildup of these factors, Richardson was benched in favor of veteran Joe Flacco during week nine. The Colts still lost 21-13 to the Minnesota Vikings in a game where both Flacco and the Colts offense sputtered and failed to gain any substantial traction. Despite his less than stellar performance, Colts head coach Shane Steichen stressed that Flacco remains the Colts starting quarterback for the immediate future. It will be fascinating to watch this situation develop, especially because it could easily be argued that a faltering thirty-nine-year-old Flacco should make way for an unpolished, but promising twenty-two-year-old Richardson. Regardless, the Colts hope that either option will give them a proper chance to contend in the non-competitive AFC South.

The Colts have not been the only team making major changes to their team’s current composition. Notably, on Nov. 4, the New Orleans Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen after two and a half seasons at the helm. Allen’s firing came at the heels of a demoralizing 23-22 loss in Week 9 to the Carolina Panthers, giving them only their second victory of the season. Meanwhile, the Saints dropped to a 2-7 record after the defeat, and their seven-game losing streak is their longest in 25 years. 

The Saints have acutely felt the injury bug, with multiple key players missing time with various ailments. However, the Saints organization deemed that Allen was not moving their squad in the correct direction. Only time will tell if the Saints can replicate their prior success under legendary quarterback Drew Brees, who won them the Super Bowl in 2010. Current quarterback Derek Carr has major shoes to fill and he must start improving his performance, or else he will suffer the same fate as his head coach.

This past week, the NFL has offered a great deal of drama off the field, with organizational turnover and play personnel switches dominating the news stream. But the season is only halfway through, and there is much more on-the-field action that needs to occur before we start priming for the main event: the NFL playoffs!

Games to watch:

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens, 8:15 p.m. E.T. on Nov. 7, 2024

San Francisco 49ers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:00 p.m. E.T. on Nov. 10, 2024