NFL Big Games for Week 9

I bet you thought we at PossessionPoints.com were going to talk about the Colts - Patriots game. Well. we're not – well, not really. Sure, we must acknowledge that this game is being played, and its outcome could determine home field advantage for the playoffs for the AFC, but you all know that already. You also know that the winner of that game could be well positioned to go 16-0 for the season, and that every broadcaster in the world will be pre-dubbing that winning team as the “As Close to Perfect as You Can Get NFL Team”. So, since there will be so much press on that game’s outcome, we aren't going to say anything more about it. Instead, we are going to highlight 2 NFC games that could have playoff implications: The Eagles - Cowboys and the Cardinals - Bucs games.

Both the Eagles and the Cardinals are 3-4, but the Eagles rank a surprising 7th on our RPM list for this week while the Cardinals are down at 14th. The surprising thing is that if both teams continue this level of performance, the Cardinals will go 12-4 and easily win their division while the Eagles will struggle to an 8-8 record and miss the playoffs. (See Chart)




How can this be? Schedules. For the remainder of the Cardinals’ season, the best team they play is currently ranked 17th -- the Lions who have a -7.9 RPM. The worst team the Cardinals play is the 32nd-ranked Rams who have an RPM of -59.4. The Eagles are not as fortunate with their schedule. They still have the #1 Patriots who have an RPM of 117.9, the #4 Giants with an RPM of 39 and the #6 Cowboys who the Eagles have to play twice and who have a current RPM of 35.6.

That is why this game is so big for the Eagles. This is a game they are picked and projected to lose. In order to make the playoffs they must reverse their fortunes in one of the games they are picked to lose. This game in Philadelphia looks to be their best shot. This game is huge for the Eagles.

But what about the Cardinals, they are expected to cruise to a playoff spot if they continue to play like they are - right? Well, don’t expect an easy victory as this game is big for their opponent- the Bucs. The Bucs are in a situation closer to the Eagles. The projected record for the Bucs is 8-8. A win here could put them in the 9-7 pack at the end of the year and keep their playoff hopes alive.

For more information on this season's projections and team records according to the PossessionPoints stat, go to PossessionPoints.com.