Nick Foles threw seven touchdowns in week nine, becoming just the seventh NFL quarterback in history to do so. The Kansas City Chiefs, who were 2-14 a season ago, moved to 9-0 on the year despite scoring zero offensive touchdowns. And for the icing on the cake, last week’s Monday Night Football game yielded a battle between backup quarterbacks thanks to an Aaron Rodgers injury.
The moral of the story? Even when the unexpected occurs, there is still value and entertainment in the NFL.
In fact, that Eagles/Raiders game was a horrific blowout (49-20), but no one (except maybe Raiders fans) left the game sad, as they got to witness NFL history. That Chiefs/Bills game that sent Kansas City to 9-0? It saw an undrafted quarterback hit a 59-yard touchdown for the Bills to take an early lead. Then the Chiefs responded with two defensive touchdown returns. As for the Bears/Packers battle on MNF? Chicago got the upset win, while Packers fans got to see running back Eddie Lacy power his way to 150 rushing yards and two scores.
The end result isn’t always necessarily what we want it to be, but the entertainment and value was there in week nine, and really has been there all season.
1. Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears | Avg: $365 | Get-in: $143 | Trend: No Movement
Matthew Stafford, Reggie Bush and Calvin Johnson make their way to Chicago, in what is shaping up to be the most expensive Detroit Lions tickets for a road game of 2013. It only makes sense, as Jay Cutler is set to return for this battle, which at least temporarily will decide who sits atop the NFC North division.
2. Dallas Cowboys @ New Orleans Saints | Avg: $359 | Get-in: $133 | Trend: -22%
Drew Brees and Tony Romo face off in the second most expensive Saints tickets at home game in 2013. It only makes sense, as the two teams traditionally produce a competitive game, while both teams lead their respective divisions and need to keep winning to continue doing so. Dallas is fresh off of a win, while the formerly 5-0 Saints have dropped two of their last three. A win for the Saints shows the NFL world they’re truly elite, while a win for the Cowboys shows they’re finally creeping away from mere mediocrity.
3. Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers | Avg: $284 | Get-in: $150 | Trend: +10%
Oddly not the game of the week, Peyton Manning and co. take one loss into San Diego, where they’ll face a solid but inconsistent Chargers squad. The mere presence of the mighty Broncos, both a great team and a fierce division rival, easily sets this one up as the most expensive San Diego Chargers tickets at home all season. Philip Rivers has done enough so far in 2013 to suggest this one will be close, while Denver’s porous defense might even offer up an explosive shootout.
4. Oakland Raiders @ New York Giants | Avg: $275 | Get-in: $100 | Trend: -11%
Terrelle Pryor and co. will try to erase that 49-20 drubbing of a week ago, as they travel to take on the Giants in their second most expensive road game of 2013. NY Giants tickets don’t come cheap to start, but New York is suddenly chasing a third straight win after a horrific 0-6 start. With a bye week to get their minds right, the G-Men should be prepared to knock out the Oakland Raiders and get their sights set on reclaiming the NFC East.
5. Carolina Panthers @ San Francisco 49ers | Avg: $267 | Get-in: $147 | Trend: No Movement
San Francisco 49ers tickets are never cheap, but when you add Cam Newton to the mix, things only get more interesting. Newton’s Panthers are red-hot thanks to four wins in their last five games, while the 49ers are equally hot and tough to beat at home. As far as Carolina Panthers tickets go, this one is their most expensive road contest of the season, which only makes sense thanks to how popular the 49ers have been and how much success they’ve seen. It’s unlikely Carolina edges out San Francisco on their own field this week, but it should be a close battle and brings decent value as the fifth cheapest game on this top-five list.