FRIDAY AFTERNOON QUARTERBACK: NFL WEEK 9

BY ADAM GREENE

It turns out Mike White never really got the chance to show the New York Jets they screwed up by drafting Zach Wilson with him already on the roster as he was quickly knocked from Thursday Night’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. White looked just good enough on his first scoring drive to make his injury that much more frustrating for a Jets fanbase just looking for something to pin some hopes on.

Carson Wentz remained upright and got back to protecting the ball once again, throwing for 272 yards and three touchdowns in 45-30 win that keeps Indianapolis alive for a Wild Card window that seems to get tighter every week. The big thing the Colts were able to do was run the ball, with Jonathan Taylor getting the lion’s share of carries and turf with 19 for 172 yards and two scores. Nyhiem Hines did double duty, rushing six times for 74 yards and a TD and catching four passes for 34 yards.

While New York lost, again, the big loser really could have been Zach Wilson, along with the Jets’ scouting department. For the second week in a row New York got a pretty terrific performance by a guy who’s spent more time on the practice squad and in other football leagues than on an NFL field. Josh Johnson came in cold and completed 27 of 41 for 317 yards, three touchdowns and an interception while adding 18 yards on the ground.

It was better numbers than Wilson has produced in any game all season long.

The bye has come just in time for the Seattle Seahawks, who might get Russell Wilson back in time for their Nov. 14 game against the Green Bay Packers. The Detroit Lions have a full week to think about everything they’ve done wrong and realize they have no real way on their roster to fix it. The Washington Football Team can kick rocks because they were probably the landing spot for Tua Tagovailoa if the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans could have pulled off a Deshaun Watson trade and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can all start their TB12 training regime in hopes of fielding some healthy defensive backs for their stretch run.

Byes: Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Football Team

HOUSTON TEXANS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (-5.5, O/U: 46)

The worst game of the week got a tad more interesting as the Texans announced Thursday that Tyrod Taylor would be returning as their starting quarterback. Considering he hasn’t played since September, it probably won’t mean a whole lot in the win column, but I do expect them to be able to move the ball better. As for Miami and Tua Tagovailoa, he’s playing for his job now. And losing this one is a resume killer. Dolphins 27, Texans 20

DENVER BRONCOS AT DALLAS COWBOYS (-10, O/U: 50)

The Broncos assessed their roster and chances and decided to go ahead and fold their hand this season. Dallas is coming in with Dak Prescott expected to start at home with a chance to all but put the NFC East away in Week 9. The only bad news coming out of the Cowboys’ facility is TCU is already openly courting offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as its next head coach and they’re doing it before other NFL teams get the shot. I will say this again — Jerry Jones can not let Moore leave the building. Cowboys 41, Broncos 23

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (-6, O/U: 50)

There’s ugly losses, then there’s losing at a home to team playing its backup quarterback who looks like a divorced dad trying to do standup comedy for the first time at an open mic. Minnesota isn’t out of it, because none of the middling NFC teams are, but Baltimore comes in off a bye and a stinging loss. They’ll take it out on Minny. Ravens 45, Vikings 16

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (+3.5, O/U: 41)

Here’s the good news for the Panthers, they might get Christian McCaffrey back for this game and you know what that means; a spectacular first quarter before he hobbles off to the locker room midway through the second quarter with a re-injured hamstring. How bad is Sam Darnold playing that there’s no question that Mac Jones, a rookie, is the better QB in this game? I’m not ready to dub Jones the best of this class yet by a longshot, but he’s certainly in the best situation. Patriots 23, Panthers 13

BUFFALO BILLS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (+14.5, O/U: 48.5)

The Buffalo Bills have the NFL’s highest scoring offense and its highest scoring defense. The Jaguars have Urban Meyer. But, hey, if you’re a Bills fan and you live in Florida, tickets for this game should be pretty cheap. If you needed another reason to pick against Jacksonville, they’ll probably be without starting running back James Robinson. Bills 38, Jaguars 10

CLEVELAND BROWNS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (-1, O/U: 47)

Cincinnati has to be stung by blowing their game against the Jets last week. Cleveland, on the other hand, should be used to losing to the Steelers at home considering it’s happened nearly every time since Ben Roethlisberger took over as Pittsburgh’s QB. Baker Mayfield still isn’t 100 percent and the team has been dealing with an Odell Beckham Jr. sized distraction all week. Meanwhile, Cincy just has to be looking to get the taste of Mike White’s Disney movie debut out of their mouths. Bengals 27, Browns 21

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT NEW YORK GIANTS (+3, O/U: 47)

Speaking of distractions, the Raiders have been all but cursed this season. It’s cost them a garbage head coach, which is a good thing, and a former first round pick, which has been a horrific thing for all involved. They at least did the right thing by cutting ties with both Jon Gruden and Henry Ruggs III and will go to battle with some bruised men in need of some good news. New York will help them get it. Raiders 26, Giants 20

ATLANTA FALCONS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (-6.5, O/U: 41.5)

The lack of disrespect shown to the Falcons by this spread is well deserved. Atlanta is devising new ways to lose every week. New Orleans will either be starting Taysom Hill or Trevor Siemien and no one cares. Here’s something no one would believe looking at this season; Matt Ryan is a former NFL MVP. The fact that Atlanta is more than a touchdown favorite against a team fielding a couple of Fudrucker’s Grillmasters at QB should be hard to swallow for a team that played in the Super Bowl five years ago. Saints 20, Falcons 17

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (+1.5, O/U: 49.5)

The Chargers had as disappointing an ending to October as they could get. LA had the chance to take not only firm control of the AFC West, but take the early lead in the AFC home field seeding. Instead, they’re down in Wild Card territory and looking for their first win in their last three tries. As for Philadelphia, there’s no telling what kind of performance they’ll deliver each week. Here’s what I do know. They’ve yet to beat a good team. Jalen Hurts is starting to stack up some decent performances, but it’s time for Justin Herbert to show the stuff that made him the 2020 Offensive Rookie of the Year. Chargers 33, Eagles 19

GREEN BAY PACKERS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (-7.5, O/U: 48)

Thanks to Aaron Rodgers lying about his vaccination status and spending Halloween dressed as a plague rat, Jordan Love makes his first start of the season against a defense that has welcomed yardage and touchdown all season. Kansas City isn’t broken all over, but just enough to pretty much guarantee they won’t go to the Super Bowl. Or cover a spread like this for the rest of the year. Patrick Mahomes is trying to do too much on the field and at home as he attempts to stay clear of his brother’s TikTok videos. Chiefs 27, Packers 24

ARIZONA CARDINALS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (-1.5, O/U: 44)

The Cardinals are in rare territory for them in 2021, trying to find a way to bounce back after a loss. They have to do it against a San Francisco team that found a winning formula last week. Kyler Murray is banged up. J.J. Watt is out for the year and A.J. Green is on the COVID-19 protocol. I like the Niners chances to get back into the playoff race at home. 49ers 23, Cardinals 20

Last week

Straight up: 5-10

Against the spread: 5-10

Season

Straight up: 76-46

Against the spread: 63-59

The NFL season is rolling along and the Week 9 Schedule is up and taking bets at BetOnline.AG.

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