Welcome to the Pats Fan’s Rooting Guide To Week 9!
This is where we help you, the diehard loyal superfan, figure out who to root for in games that directly or even indirectly impact the future of the Patriots each week. Nota bene - this is for fans who want to see wins, or even A win (it’s been since late September), as opposed to losing to improve draft status (we don’t utter the T word for draft picks here, Rich Keefe).
Though your New England Patriots are a disappointing 2-5, there’s still hope for a turnaround, right? They’ve faced worse odds! Never give up, never surrender! 28-3! Right?
Look, we’re in the business of being Pats positive whenever possible here. So whatever camp you’re in, you’ve got a Sunday of Pats-free angst to root against rivals before the Pats face a division opponent Monday night. That they should beat -- stress should.
It’s 2020. We take nothing for granted anymore.
NB - Kansas City and Pittsburgh are likely postseason shoo-ins and division champs at this point, and Tennessee is also likely out of rooting range at this point as well. Feel free to root against them all you want. We’re looking at the games that impact the Pats' playoff odds, however slight they may be, immediately and directly.
SEATTLE (6-1) at BUFFALO (6-2) - 1 p.m.
Buffalo sits atop the division at 6-2, 3.5 games ahead of the Pats with a game in hand. They likely will be tough to catch. However it’s early-ish, wild card is an option, seven teams make it this season, plus you know, the Bills are flawed, and you want vengeance after last week’s last-minute heartbreaker. Enter MVP frontrunner Russell Wilson and the Seahawks, who sport the league’s most dangerous passing attack. And while every TD catch by DK Metcalf hurts right in the N’Keal Harry, we need to remember football fandom is a complicated affair, we judge not if you utter “Go Hawks!” once or twice by 4 p.m.
BALTIMORE (5-2) at INDIANAPOLIS (5-2) - 1 p.m.
Apologies in advance for daring to ask you to root for either of the teams directly implicated in the DeflateGate saga. It’s kinda gross, but chances are you play fantasy football and have had to cheer for one or two players that went against your local loyal code before. We forgive in the name of Foxboro. Both teams enter at 5-2. While an argument can be made that Baltimore winning would mean a less angry team coming to Foxboro the following Sunday night, truth is you can only control what you can control. And the Patriots host the Ravens next Sunday night. And if they’re 5-3, hunting for a Wild Card berth, only you can help make them 5-4 yourself. Rooting for Philip Rivers on a big stage feels like rooting for a deer to cross an icy pond without falling. Whatever...go Colts! And then you can go throw up.
DENVER (3-4) at ATLANTA (2-5) - 1 p.m.
This feels like the football equivalent of asking someone you pantsed at the prom for a favor. But when you lose to the Broncos, at home, when you’re over a touchdown favorite and you made the Broncos wait a week to come kick six field goals and somehow beat you -- then yes, you’re at the mercy of hoping someone you embarrassed to pull through for you. And they have no reason to want to do you a solid at all. Forever. Since you stole their soul in front of the world. If Atlanta wins what’s likely to be a high scoring affair, it’ll be because they’re trying to orchestrate their own turnaround under interim coach Raheem Morris. And get revenge one day. We’ll worry about paying that tab another day. Thanks for putting us here, Pats! Remember that as you hope Matt Ryan to Julio Jones seals the deal in favor of the ATL this time. Awkward, party of everyone -- time to rise up.
MIAMI (4-3) at ARIZONA (5-2) - 4:25 p.m.
Game Tua (sorry/not sorry) of a new era for the Dolphins, as Tua Tagovailoa gets his second start for Miami, his first on the road, against a lively Cardinals squad coming off a bye week. Miami is giving up the fewest points per game, a stat that should be put to the test quickly by Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins and the Arizona Air Raid offense. The Pats play the Cards in Foxboro in December. That’s a very next month problem. The Pats need a win now, as well as losses by all division opponents. So go Cards! Or whatever they say.
LAS VEGAS (4-3) at LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (2-5) - 4:25 p.m.
Once you look past the idea that this should read “Oakland at San Diego” you realize the Raiders, who the Pats beat 36-21 back in September, have a winning record. So even though you have a tiebreaker on them, you need them to lose. And though the Pats and Chargers have the same record, New England controls their destiny against Justin Herbert and Co. when they make a West Coast swing in December. Hopefully that game is more than a jockeying for draft position. Time to Bolt Up!
NEW ORLEANS (5-2) at TAMPA BAY (6-2) - 8:20 p.m.
Whether you do or do not root for Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski in someone else’s football uniform, this one is up to you. Gentle reminder: This is also Antonio Brown’s return game, so if you’re mad at Bill Belichick for any number of reasons then this is your game to go all out for Tompa. And if not then make sure to watch with one eye open.
