What we have learned so far from Sunday's 9th matches

Here's what we've learned so far from Sunday's Week 9 games, which included the Pittsburgh Steelers' win over the Baltimore Ravens in a clash between AFC North and.

Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Baltimore Ravens 16

1. James Conner is the That's why the Steelers (5-2-1) are on a roll at the beginning of November. The semi-offensive rushed for 100 yards on the ground for the fourth straight game. Although he remained out of the ground zone, he was also Pittsburgh's main receiver for almost two quarters. He finished second in the receiving yards (seven catches for 56) and added a touchdown, becoming the first player in the Steelers history to find 10 times the best salary in the first eight games of the season . There is not much left to say, but if this information does not give you enough conviction, add the record of a recent Steelers game and it will become extremely obvious that Conner is the linchpin of this offense.

2. Apart from Conner, the Steelers have enough take a match that, for a moment, seemed about to wobble. Pittsburgh took a 20-6 lead and seemed to gain a considerable advantage before allowing Baltimore to return to the game with an 11-yard, 75-yard touchdown. From there, the Steelers entered a mode that was not to play no to lose, but to keep ahead. Think of it as a rationing: Pittsburgh converted third tries as needed, did not take too much risk and wisely put the ball back to Conner when he needed to burn the clock. The decisive moment of this approach: Roethlisberger snapped a bag within two minutes instead of throwing the ball in the third plane, keeping the clock running when Pittsburgh returned the ball to Baltimore. That's been wise, and for now, the victories – no matter the fashion – are and will continue to separate these Steelers from their divisional brothers as they stumble on the approach of Thanksgiving.

3. The pressure announces for John Harbaugh after the defeat of Ravens for the third time in a row and four out of five. Baltimore looked nothing like the team that dominated Pittsburgh in the fourth week of the season. This was particularly evident in the fourth quarter, when on several occasions a stop in third place would have placed them in a decent position to try to create a draw. The last chance of the Ravens (4-5) was not substantial. Baltimore lost his first balloon with a deep uprising. He lost a sack during the next game, burned about 20 seconds to return to the line for third base, was reported for a false start, then gave us a series of half-turrets before accepting the defeat. For a team that could have played away and move within 40 yards of the end zone before needing a deep uprising – and needed more victory than can -being even he did not realize – it did not work as if it was a chance. Everyone will accuse Harbaugh of being blamed, but the execution – not going home during a third blitz or shelling Roethlisberger's attempts – was the most serious problem for a team that is just beginning to next week.

– Nick Shook

Minnesota Vikings 24, Detroit Lions 9

1. The Vikings drew Matthew Stafford into the Jason Voorhees collective, terrorizing the Lions quarterback in a truly dominant performance that once again proclaimed Minnesota as one of the best teams in the NFC. The seven Vikings totaled a franchise record of 10 bags on Stafford, eliminating a Lions offense that has had some success – until reaching the red zone. Detroit failed to find the land in his three trips to the end zone while Minnesota put pressure and collapsed with Stafford with regularity. Danielle Hunter made a memorable performance, totaling 3.5 sacks and 3 tackles, and scored a 32-yard touchdown on a fumble recovery between Stafford and Kerryon Johnson. Recent free agent picker Tom Johnson had 2.5 sacks and 3 tackles for a loss and Everson Griffen had 1.5 sacks. They managed that feat without Anthony Barr, who missed the match because of a hamstring injury. The performance underscored how much the Vikings (5-3-1) dominated and how much work the Lions (3-5) had in front of them to repair their offensive line. The animated discussion of the offensive coordinator's facilitator Jim Bob Cooter with his O-line in the first half did not reverse the team's situation.

2. Adam Thielen missed his chance for history. He was aiming to become the first player to record nine consecutive games with 100 yards or more. Unfortunately, Stefon Diggs not playing because of an injury to the coast, the talented second-division Lions player found that it was easy to overtake Thielen and stay on him in the slot. Thielen was limited to 22 yards on four catches, but it still had a big impact, even if it was not in the record book. He made a nice touchdown in the second quarter in the second quarter and took some pressure on Laquon Treadwell's routes, recent signers Chad Beebe and Kyle Rudolph. Dalvin Cook was also a threat in the short-pass game, recording four catches for 20 yards to complete the 89 yards rushing that he had accumulated.

3. Kirk Cousins ​​was a moderate success against Lions defense, but struggled to find the pace for extended periods. He scored 18 of 22 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown. In addition, he was chosen by Darius Slay – a game that ultimately led to a field placement of Lions. The absence of Diggs on the ground certainly helped to limit the effectiveness of Cousins. Stafford made 25 assists on 36 passes for 199 yards under constant pressure that was intensifying as the Lions sank deeper into the Vikings' territory. With Johnson limited to 37 yards, the Lions had no reliable way to break Minnesota's stellar defensive efforts.

– Austin Knoblauch

Atlanta Falcons 38, Washington Redskins 14

1. Redskins (5-3), who took first place in the trenches, spared no effort, but the Falcons (4-4) dominated the front end on both sides. ball. Already playing without left tackle Trent Williams, Washington saw right tackle Morgan Moses and the two starting guards hurt themselves during the match. The remaining linemen were guilty of severe penalties, putting Alex Smith and Adrian Peterson behind. Peterson had no room to run, taking shots too often in the backfield before he could get his momentum.

A solid defense that kept Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott and Saquon Barkley under 100 yards on the ground combined The tandem of Tevin Coleman and Ito Smith was crushed, giving up more than 7.0 yards per race in the first three quarters. A team built to jump quickly in the lead and take the air out of football simply does not have the firepower needed to catch up after a 28-7 fall.

2. Nobody claims the head of Atlanta offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian this season. Matt Ryan's attack spotted the goal zone on four of his first five possessions, an interception in the red zone being the only exception in the first two and a half. Redskins coach Jay Gruden admitted at half-time that his third defense was "a joke", but the Falcons do it almost every week. They convert about half of their third attempts, including Sunday's touchdown at 40 yards from Calvin Ridley. Coleman and Smith rushed for 148 yards on a defense that gave them only 80 rushing yards per game. It's one of the most dangerous offenses in the league, with Ryan playing at a level similar to that of his 2016 MVP season. On a run of three consecutive victories – linebacker Deion Jones being eligible to return from the injured reserve in two weeks – the Falcon have realistic hopes of a replacement spot.

3. Julio Jones goalless series is over! Jones broke a tackle from Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to the goal line to complete a 33-yard game in the fourth quarter. He nearly scored the goal on a bomb, but Josh Norman tackled it with the ball in the air for a 47-yard penalty for interference. Jones made his way with Norman, scoring seven passes for 121 yards and a touchdown against the struggling Coverman. Despite his entire series of goals, Jones leads the NFL with 116.5 yards per game.

– Chris Wesseling

Heads of Kansas City 37, Cleveland Browns 21

1. After a week of total chaos outside the field, the Browns (2-6-1) found themselves in a difficult situation against the Chiefs (8-1). After Acting Head Coach Gregg Williams neutralized Damarious Randall's safety, Cleveland saw Denzel Ward, the rookie cover man, go off with a hip injury before EJ Gaines was excluded with a concussion. The thin paper secondary was immediately submerged, abandoning blocks of 50, 40, 25, 25, 23, 21 and 19 yards in the first period only. With 375 yards and three touchdowns during the day, the Chiefs' signalman Patrick Mahomes broke the 300-yard barrier for an eighth straight game, placing him tied with Andrew Luck for the longest run of the season. the season. Kareem Hunt beat Cleveland for 141 yards on 19 passes by scoring twice on the ground and again in the air. Travis Kelce had 99 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches, while Tyreek Hill, Spencer Ware and Sammy Watkins played many games against a Browns team that refused to tackle.

2. With his mentor Bruce Arians on the CBS stand, Freddie Kitchens, the new Browns member, highlighted the quick throws for Baker Mayfield. The kitchens also tried to stay away from the Chiefs with a 12-yard walk that started 75 yards out with more than seven minutes behind Nick Chubb's eight-run time (22/85). / 1). Nice idea, but the Chiefs flew into the field in the next race to go up 21-9 and push the Browns into a hole. It was quietly one of Mayfield's best games, with first overall pick with 29 shots on 42 shots for 297 yards and two touchdowns. The rookie led a great two-minute run before the half, but also made a less than perfect choice in the lost time. Duke Johnson was finally involved with two touchdowns and 86 yards on 10 touchdowns. The Browns scored two goals after their three touchdowns, but failed each time. They felt doomed after a secure deflated punt led to a quick touchdown of the Chiefs and a 34-15 lead.

3. The game had only three balls of the day, while the leaders reminded us that they just could not be slowed down in attack. Quick strikes, deep shots and passes in the flats, without a defenseman within one kilometer, all helped the Chiefs to do what they did all year long. With a cupcake affair against the Cardinals next week, it is likely that a 9-1 Kansas City behemoth lands in Los Angeles to face the Rams in the 11th week. Both teams are similar in their ability to simply pour over the distance. and points. The defense is worrisome, but this attack from the leaders can yield 40 points in their sleep.

– Marc Sessler

Carolina Panthers 42, buccaneers of Tampa Bay 28

1. Cam Newton has always been a good winner and the performance of the Panthers should give Newton a reason to smile. Newton and the Panthers took the best of Tampa Bay for a franchise record of 35 points in the first half behind a balanced effort punctuated by a solid ground game led by Christian McCaffrey. The sophomore rushed 79 yards in 17 carries and scored two touchdowns. He also had 78 yards on five catches. Newton had a solid game, completing 19 of 25 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. Carolina's effort in the second half was not as impressive as Tampa Bay did not come back in the game, but it was finally a game that the Panthers (6-2) should have easily won, and they 'did. The Panthers' third consecutive victory marks their bid for NFC South.

2. Newton's offensive support cast staged Super Friends' performance in the win. Wide receiver Curtis Samuel channeled his inner flash, scoring perhaps the most amazing touchdown of the season in the second quarter on a well-executed setback that zigzagged completely around the Bucs defense. Scoring the 33-yard goal, Samuel hit the line of scrimmage at over 20 mph before reaching a staggering 103.85 yards from his pay-per-goal goal, according to statistics from next generation.

Curtis Samuel scored 103.8 yards in his 33-yard double-throw run against the Buccaneers in the second quarter.

This is the longest distance traveled as a running back in a hurry this season. #TBvsCAR #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/R3Cen6ACep

�� Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats)
November 4, 2018

Later in the first half, forward Greg Olsen made a spectacular one-handed take as the doubles team doubled in the end zone with a perfect 24-yard pass from Newton. There were other cool games – Devin Funchess repeatedly cashed a lot of yards in his second effort on the catches and McCaffrey made a spectacular mid-game jump over a defender in one game. receiving 32 yards in the second quarter. When Norv Turner Carolina's team makes click, she is just as fun to watch as to devastate her opponents.

3. Ryan Fitzpatrick's last climb to Bucs was a long way from Jameis Winston's four interception disaster last week. He managed to resurrect a stillborn or stillborn offense since the third week, even though a defensive tourniquet was just as necessary. The veteran quarter finished with 24 out of 40 passes for 243 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. The performance should keep Fitzpatrick integrated as a starter in front of Winston – for now. Nevertheless, the incremental progress in attack is not enough to reverse the litany of misfortunes of the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay's defensive weakness is remarkable given the notable names the team brought in during the off-season, but the complete absence of the current game is just as troubling. Peyton Barber and Jacquizz Rodgers had 45 yards in 13 races for the Buccaneers (3-5).

– Austin Knoblauch

Miami Dolphins 13, New York Jets 6

1. This was not a game for those who do not like punts, offensive mistakes and offensive defenses that sometimes fall into turnovers. I know that reading does not speak of appetite, but sometimes that's how this sport is played. Sunday was a tricky affair between two AFC East teams that will probably not be on the hunt at the end of December. The dolphins (5-4) are the best of the two at the moment, but the margin is not as wide as one might think. Brock Osweiler was often under pressure and struggled to get a 15-for-24 passing line for 139 yards and a 78.3 pass mark. New York tied a season high with four bags of Osweiler. On the other side of the field, the Jets (3-6) rushed for a run of 3.8 yards per run. Their third conversion down came only 1:29 – and that's through a mask on a Sam Darnold bag. The only thing worse than all that was, well …

2. Sam Darnold. The rookie served a pair of his classic interceptions both sooner and later, throwing a ball into the linebacker Kiko Alonso's back, then trying to throw a ball at linebacker Jerome Baker, but without putting enough, which has caused an overwhelming hit. six. Darnold also launched an interception that once again demonstrated his difficulty in seeing the underlying defenders in a mistake that was too reminiscent of the mistakes of the past. The fourth and final interception was ugly, but in desperation we will blame him for some of the blame. The merit I'm going to attribute to Darnold in this unforgettable game is for A) always giving him the title of college student, professional essay and B) showing an improvement in the safety department of the ball. On two Wake bags, Darnold looked like it was when he would get kicked out and fumble at the USC. Instead, he held the ball, including while he was rolled over the head. This is encouraging. The rest of Sunday – including a pass mark of 31.8 – not so much.

3. The good thing for the dolphins is that they won a match that they could easily have lost, which allowed them to defeat a team they should defeat. Their defense rebounded after being torn apart by Deshaun Watson and the Dolphins. The four interceptions will hang over their cloaks as a welcome take. The offensive, however, leaves much to be desired. Tannehill Watch continues while Osweiler shows that he is at best an average quarterback and that the Dolphins rely heavily on Frank Gore to achieve an average of less than three yards per race. This offense needs a coup de send. His defense was sufficient during the 9th week.

– Nick Shook

Chicago Bears 41, Buffalo Bills 9

1. The Bears' choking defense has entered Buffalo with a decisive advantage against a law offense lost at sea. Vic Fangio's unit has responded to the waiting: she has chained the passes at hand and imposed four turnovers, including two touchdowns in the first period. Security Eddie Jackson eliminated striker Bills, Jason Croom, for a score of 65 yards. Linebacker Leonard Floyd then took a bye for the house. Both scores were more than enough to open the game. Corner Kyle Fuller was arguably the most impressive defender of the day, with one interception and three defended passes. That day, a dominant Bears D generated four takeaways, four three and more and gave only nine miserable points. The Bears rested Khalil Mack with an injured ankle. It was a smart decision from Chicago. The bears did not need Mack that day. Although Buffalo is not under overwhelming pressure (zero sacks in the first half, four per day), Chicago has enough high school playmakers to be blamed for paying Buffalo. Keeping Mack healthy for running is key as the Bears (5-3) continue to lead a hotly contested NFC North.

2. The billing offense is a wheelless car stuck in a flowing mud. Quarterback Nathan Peterman started. With the sterile collection of offensive weapons, a porous offensive line and a zero play, it matters little to know which starts under center. The turn-maestro launched three interceptions, including a choice of six. The first two INTs were not entirely the fault of Peterman. The first was jostled by Terrelle Pryor, the new receiver, and fell into the hands of a defender. Pryor did nothing to help the Bills attack (2/17). On pick-six, receiver Zay Jones was hit in the line of scrimmage as the ball came in and found himself in the hands of linebacker Leonard Floyd, who raced for the score. Peterman avoided difficult shots, opting for a mix of fast and short shots that did not keep up the offensive pace. Without a deep threat, the Bears could squat on short routes, leading to the three interceptions. A decisive quarter-point time ended a series of 39 possessions over 12 quarters without a touchdown for Buffalo. Futility knows your name.

As depressing as Peterman's game was the lack of ground game is also worrying for Buffalo. Sean McCoy continues his putrid play behind a line that can not open the holes. The running back generated 1.0 yards per run for 10 sacks. McCoy's dance style is not conducive to positive games in this offense.

3. Faced with a very good D bank note, the Bears offensive was not asked to do much and did not have to do it with its own dominant defense. Chicago had only 190 yards and 11 first tries that day (the Bills' offense scored 264 yards and 22 first tries). Jordan Howard scored two touchdowns in the first half and Anthony Miller became a reliable target for Mitch Trubisky. The quarterback missed some shots otherwise the Bears could have set up a 50-hamburger that day. Even if they do not get much in offense and have 14 penalties for 129 yards, the important thing for Chicago is that they won a road match they had to dominate. Dominate the defense did.

Now the schedule is warming up for Matt Nagy. The Bears have three consecutive division pitches against the Lions, Vikings and Lions in the next three games. On the road, clashes with the Rams, Packers and Vikings are coming up again in what should be a crazy race for the division's Bears.

– Kevin Patra