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NFL Week 9: Steelers, Saints leave winners, Packers losers on Sunday

By Cody Williams

BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 04: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with wide receiver Antonio Brown #84 after a play in the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 04: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with wide receiver Antonio Brown #84 after a play in the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 04: Marcus Peters #22 of the Los Angeles Rams tackles Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints during the third quarter of the game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 4, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 04: Marcus Peters #22 of the Los Angeles Rams tackles Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints during the third quarter of the game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 4, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Winner: New Orleans Saints

How can you not have the New Orleans Saints among the biggest winners of Week 9? They had a chance to put the NFL at large on notice as they welcomed the previously undefeated Los Angeles Rams to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday by trying to hand Sean McVay’s team their first loss of 2018. They not only were able to accomplish that, but they did so in emphatic fashion after a first-quarter explosion.

The way that the Saints won was the mark of a great team. Not only did they put the pedal to the floor immediately, putting up 35 points in the first half, but they then staved off a Rams second-half comeback. After allowing 18 unanswered points, they responded with a big play (a 72-yard score to Michael Thomas) that sealed the game. If you don’t know “Who Dat” is in 2018, they made sure to let you know they’re a Super Bowl contender on Sunday.

Loser: Lions offensive line

You honestly just have to feel bad for a quarterback like Matthew Stafford when a game like the one in Week 9 happens. On Sunday, the Detroit Lions had a chance to make a little bit of a statement as they went on the road and faced the Minnesota Vikings. Even if they didn’t come away with a win, acquitting themselves well would’ve been a positive sign moving forward. Spoiler: They did no acquit themselves well.

Instead, what happened is that the Lions offensive line got Stafford killed on Sunday. They allowed 10 sacks, which was more than the number that Detroit put on the scoreboard (9). While that’s not surprising considering that Stafford was getting hit as much as he was, it’s a bad sign for a Lions team that has made investments in this offensive line in recent years. Granted, this was against a fearsome Vikings front, but it was an alarmingly bad showing from Detroit’s big men up front.

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