The Opening Drive: Week 9, 2011

Week nine in the NFL season is chock-full of significant division match-ups that could go a long way in deciding seeding come playoff time. Let’s waste no time with introductory witticisms, The Opening Drive starts now!

(4-3) New York Jets at
(5-2) Buffalo Bills

Is it odd that I like the Bills in this one? I just feel that even though Revis is playing out of his mind on defense, the Jets won’t have enough offense to match points with the Bills. Or ya know, the Bills could fall apart and give this one up.

How much of a spanking will the ‘Boys lay on the ‘Hawks today? This is a classic Dallas bounce-back game. They’ll light up a clearly inferior team and get some good publicity for the week.

Todd Haley should have brought in Admiral Ackbar as an inspirational speaker this week, because this game IS A TRAP! Miami is actually better on the road than they are at home, oddly enough. KC has a great chance to leap-frog San Diego and can’t afford to waste it.

The Bucs still bore me, but they’ve got a shot to sweep the Saints in their season series today. Whatever the result, you can bet we’re going to see some picks thrown from Freeman and Brees, who are tied for second in the league with 10 each. That alone might get me to tune in.

I’m putting this game on the list completely based on the records involved. I don’t have a great feel for either of these teams, but the Bengals have to handle this roadie if they’re going to be taken seriously in the AFC.

One more Tebow suck-fest and I’ll do my best to avoid putting his team anywhere near The Opening Drive. This week the Raiders make the list because this will be Carson Palmer’s true debut. With two weeks of prep, he needs to make a good showing versus a shittastic Bronco squad.

I can tell you ONE thing about this game. There will be points. Oh yes, there will be points. Eli gets to torch a Patriot secondary that is among the worst I’ve ever seen and Tom Brady is well… Tom Brady.

As a Bears fan, I shouldn’t be rooting for the Packers. That being said, fuck the Chargers. I love watching them implode, explode and every other type of ‘ploding that can be done. Philip Rivers is clearly out-of-sync and won’t get any help from a blitz-crazy Packers defense.

The rematch is on! After being whupped in week one and supposedly falling out of the AFC North race, the Steelers are back in control and ready to return the favor against a flailing Ravens. I’ll be at the ready for the Sunday nighter.

Get your NFL on!