Peyton Manning’s return to Indianapolis highlights the Week 9 NFL schedule, but the most important game on the slate is at an irregular location. Plus, a few matchups could play a significant role in eventual playoff tiebreakers.
Competition level, impact and entertainment value each factored into the list, though competition and impact carry the greater weight.
Note: The Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks are on byes.
13. Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals
Thanks for "Thursday Night Football," but this should be a snoozer. Johnny Manziel will start for the Browns, which does provide some entertainment value. Nevertheless, Thursday games are notoriously mediocre because of the short week, and Cincinnati shouldn’t have an issue locking down Manziel like it did during a 30-0 win last season.
12. Washington football team at New England Patriots
Did you know Tom Brady has thrown for at least 275 yards and two touchdowns in every game, including 350-plus yards four times and four scores twice? Did you know Washington’s defense has intercepted a league-low three passes? Kirk Cousins will not like this Patriots blowout.
11. Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers
There’s no question the Falcons are the NFL’s worst team with at least six wins. Fortunately for Atlanta, it’s taking on perhaps the worst NFL team — one that recently decided Blaine Gabbert is a better option than Colin Kaepernick. Although the Falcons will beat the 49ers, the game won’t be glamorous.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets
On the surface, it might appear this matchup doesn’t offer much. However, if Blake Bortles can pick apart a New York secondary that hasn’t met expectations, the stadium maintenance crew might need to make sure the scoreboard is still functioning properly. Granted, this is dependent on Ryan Fitzpatrick being under center, not Geno Smith.
9. Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints
Fresh off a seven-touchdown performance, Drew Brees will take on a Titans team that has lost six straight outings. New Orleans needs a win to keep up with the Falcons and Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card chase. Brees will likely lead the Saints to that victory, but Marcus Mariota will put plenty of points on the board, too.
8. Chicago Bears at San Diego Chargers
While the biggest impact of this contest is the loser takes another step toward a top-five draft pick, the "Monday Night Football" clash should be one of the more competitive tilts of Week 9. San Diego allows the sixth-most points per game, while Chicago surrenders the fourth-most. Let’s score some touchdowns.
7. New York Giants at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Although the Buccaneers stand at 3-4, the next five opponents could send them to a 3-9 mark. Playoffs are essentially a dream for Tampa, but the 4-4 Giants are actually leading the NFC East. New York knows it must create separation in the division before Tony Romo returns, so Odell Beckham Jr. should be playing with urgency against the NFL’s No. 28 pass defense.
6. Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills
The loser of this AFC East showdown is basically eliminated from playoff contention. Both the Bills and Dolphins are 3-4, but another conference loss will damage that team’s place in Wild Card tiebreakers down the road. On the other hand, the winner will stay alive as the No. 8 team in the AFC.
5. Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys
Philadelphia sits a mere half-game behind New York for first place in the NFC East, while Dallas is 2-5 — but the Cowboys are 2-0 within the division. The Eagles are mediocre at full strength, so it’s critical to knock off a short-handed Dallas squad. Otherwise, Philly will fall to 3-5 and allow the Cowboys to continue earning the pivotal intra-division tiebreaker.
4. St. Louis Rams at Minnesota Vikings
Todd Gurley has made the Rams relevant, but the Vikings are sitting pretty for the Wild Card. The latter could change on Sunday. St. Louis is 4-3, so a win over 5-2 Minnesota would immediately change the standings. If the Vikings triumph over the Rams, though, a two-game lead with the tiebreaker could all-but-mathematically eliminate St. Louis.
3. Oakland Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers
As long as Ben Roethlisberger is healthy, the Steelers are bound for the postseason. But since he tends to struggle immediately after returning from an injury, Oakland needs to capitalize on an opportunity to topple Big Ben. Plus, the Raiders have a brutal December schedule, so recording at least three more wins in November is imperative.
2. Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts
Few analysts expect Andrew Luck to bounce back on Sunday. The Broncos defense just held Aaron Rodgers to his worst career 60-minute performance, and Luck has struggled mightily in 2015. However, this is probably the final time Peyton Manning plays a game in Indianapolis, the city where he rose to the peak of NFL quarterbacks. Watching history is important, even if the game isn’t close.
1. Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers
Rodgers wants to bounce back after his awful performance against Denver. Cam Newton wants to show Carolina can compete with every opponent. The 6-1 Packers and 7-0 Panthers are atop the NFC, so the winner gains the edge in the chase for home-field advantage during the postseason. In Week 9, it can’t get more important than the showdown in Charlotte.
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