Four Down Territory: Week 9

Week 9 is over and the playoff picture is getting clearer. What’s going to happen? Let’s start the drive.

1st Down: It’s time to start taking the Lions seriously. No, really. This week Matthew Stafford led his fifth game winning drive this season to beat the Vikings in overtime. Stafford is finally playing up to his potential and it’s right on time. The offense is clicking on all cylinders. It’s like they don’t miss Megatron at all. The schedule doesn’t get too tough, either. The Lions remaining opponents have a combined record of 29-27. It’s very possible that the Motor City can host its first playoff game since 1993. While you’re here, let’s all watch Golden Tate hand out this fade.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCxajKYgtLg[/embedyt]

2nd Down: Last year Melvin Gordon had an awful rookie season. The Charger had a rough start only to end up on season ending IR last December. To make matters worse he had to undergo microfracture surgery on the same knee that ended his rookie year. Fast forward to the 2016 season and Gordon has looked the part of a first round pick. He’s third in the NFL in rushing and is the front runner for Comeback Player of the Year. The Chargers aren’t completely dead but Gordon has to continue putting up Herculean numbers if San Diego is going anywhere.

3rd Down: It’s time to start talking about NFL officiating. Granted there have been many talks about how bad the officials are but there needs to be a SERIOUS talk. Each week it seems a game is ruined by a phantom or no call. This week it happened to be on primetime. The refs of the Seahawks/Bills game completely botched the end of the first half and overall failed at their jobs. Ratings have declined this year and my guess would be that officiating is a huge reason for it. The question is, what can the NFL do about it? If I knew I guarantee I wouldn’t be typing it for free.

4th Down: Each team has played at least eight games and the cream of the crop is starting to rise. Halfway through the year it looks like the Cowboys and Patriots are on a collision course for Houston. My prediction? In February we’re going to see the Seahawks and Patriots have one more round in Super Bowl 51. It will be more of the same, though. Tom Brady will hoist the Lombardi as the rest of the NFL wonders how the Patriots do it. Followed by a _____gate that questions the Patriots’ morals.

Extra Tidbits: Hey Browns, I think there’s someone interested in lining up on the opposite side of Pryor. Travis, you may have a dating show but you just can’t go around hitting on everyone. Shoutout to the Steelers’ special teams coach, LOL.

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

Tweet Me: @mattgarrett41

As always, thanks for reading.

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