NFL Week 9: Divisional Domination as Raiders, Falcons, Lions Win

We have arrived at the mid-point of the 2016 NFL season, and this week held a whopping six divisional matchups, many which provided a clearer picture of the contenders and pretenders in the league. Oh, and the Browns remain winless. Big surprise. Here’s a full recap of all the action from Week 9 in the NFL.

We’ll start with Thursday’s NFC South matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons (6-3) continued to solidify their standing as the best offense in the league, as well as the class of the NFC South, as they avenged their Week 1 loss against the Buccaneers (3-5), this time throttling them 43-28. The game wasn’t as close as the score indicated, as Matty Ice and the Falcons scored touchdowns in every quarter. Quarterback Jameis Winston and the Bucs made it exciting early, but a big hit to the knee knocked the young man out of the game, and by that point it was too little too late for the team.

Julio Jones was once again a man among boys in this game, going over 100 yards receiving and out-leaping the competition on this touchdown:

https://twitter.com/BestNFL_Plays/status/794584800518672384

The Minnesota Vikings, previously one of the last undefeated teams at 5-0, have now lost three in a row – two to divisional opponents – after a second upset loss to the Detroit Lions, 22-16. The vaunted Vikings defense couldn’t get off the field, as Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford spread the ball around to six receivers. Then, with the Vikings up 16-13, Lions kicker Matt Prater scored on a 58-yard field goal to tie the game. In overtime, Stafford drove his Lions down the field for the winning touchdown pass to Golden Tate:

Golden Tate caught the ball, stayed inbounds, broke a tackle, & then hit dog wit a WWE drop kick for the winning TD https://t.co/RIPJ1EI5Oi

— Malcolm Elliott ★ (@MalcolmMusic) November 6, 2016

The New York Giants threw the Philadelphia Eagles’ hype train further off the rails with a 28-23 victory. Quarterback Eli Manning was intercepted twice, but he also threw four touchdown passes. Rookie quarterback Carson Wentz was harassed all day and didn’t throw a touchdown, whereas star Giants receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. caught two:

What an acrobatic grab by Odell Beckham Jr. #Giants #FantasyFootball pic.twitter.com/wwpY5dAsdw

— Roto Street Journal (@RotoStJournal) November 6, 2016

The AFC North matchups of old were always long, drag-out, barn-burners. With the announcement that Ben Roethlisberger would be starting, fans and analysts alike awaited yet another great game in the Steelers-Ravens rivalry. And if you’re a fan of struggling offense, then this was the game for you. Roethlisberger looked out-of-sync all the way until the fourth quarter, but with 48 seconds left in the game, the Steelers got within a touchdown. Then, this sad attempt at an onside kick was performed, and the game ended in a Ravens victory, 21-14:

https://twitter.com/DylansFreshTake/status/795387488210681856

https://twitter.com/T_Fizzle/status/795375394023161857

The upstart Oakland Raiders faced the defending champion Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football in a battle for AFC West supremacy. In the end, it was the Raiders, a team long mired in mediocrity, that came away with the victory, 30-20. Oakland’s offensive line and running attack was dominant all game, taking advantage of an injury-riddled Broncos defense, with running back Latavius Murray feasting to the tune of three touchdowns:

3rd time is the charm as Latavius Murray scores the 1 yd TD giving #RaiderNation a 13-0 lead over the #Broncos #SNFhttps://t.co/jg08qW72Ha

— Fantasy Sports Degens (@FantasyDegens) November 7, 2016

Catch up on the rest of Week 9’s final scores and Fantasy Stars in our full scoreboard below.

Atlanta Falcons (6-3) def. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5) 43-28
Fantasy Star: Matt Ryan – 25/34 for 334 yards and 4 TDs

Dallas Cowboys (7-1) def. Cleveland Browns (0-9) 35-10
Fantasy Star: Dak Prescott – 21/27 for 247 yards and 3 TDs; 4 carries, 20 yards

Detroit Lions (5-4) def. Minnesota Vikings (5-3) 22-16
Fantasy Star: Golden Tate III – 11 catches, 79 yards, 1 TD

Baltimore Ravens (4-4) def. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-4) 21-14
Fantasy Star: Mike Wallace – 4 catches, 124 yards, 1 TD

Kansas City Chiefs (6-2) def. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) 19-14 
Fantasy Star: Blake Bortles – 22/41 for 252 yards, 2 TDs; 1 INT; 6 carries, 54 yards

Miami Dolphins (4-4) def. New York Jets (3-6) 27-23
Fantasy Star: Jay Ajayi – 24 rushes, 111 yards, 1 TD

New York Giants (5-3) def. Philadelphia Eagles (4-4) 28-23
Fantasy Star: Eli Manning – 22/36 for 257 yards, 4 TDs; 2 INTs

Carolina Panthers (3-5) def. Los Angeles Rams (3-5) 13-10
Fantasy Star: Cam Newton – 20/32 for 225 yards, 1 TD

New Orleans Saints (4-4) def. San Francisco 49ers (1-7) 41-23
Fantasy Star: Drew Brees – 28/39 for 323 yards, 3 TDs

Indianapolis Colts (4-5) def. Green Bay Packers (4-4) 31-26
Fantasy Star: Aaron Rodgers – 26/43 for 297 yards, 3 TDs; 1 INT; 6 carries, 43 yards

San Diego Chargers (4-5) def. Tennessee Titans (4-5) 43-35
Fantasy Star: Melvin Gordon – 32 rushes, 196 yards, 1 TD; 4 catches, 65 yards

Oakland Raiders (7-2) def. Denver Broncos (6-3) 30-20
Fantasy Star: Latavius Murray – 20 rushes, 114 yards, 3 TDs; 1 catch, 13 yards

Seattle Seahawks (5-2-1) def. Buffalo Bills (4-5) 31-25
Fantasy Star: Russell Wilson – 20/26 for 282 yards, 2 TDs; 3 carries, 10 yards, 1 TD