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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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LANDOVER, MD – NOVEMBER 04: Cornerback Josh Norman #24 of the Washington Redskins is called for pass interference against wide receiver Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at FedExField on November 4, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – NOVEMBER 04: Cornerback Josh Norman #24 of the Washington Redskins is called for pass interference against wide receiver Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at FedExField on November 4, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

Loser: Washington Redskins’ grasp on the NFC East

Suffice it to say that the Washington Redskins were riding high coming into Week 9, sitting comfortably atop the NFC East with the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys struggling still for footing. What’s more, they were welcoming an Atlanta Falcons team to FedEx Field on Sunday that has been ravaged by injuries throughout the season. Thus, it seemed an opportunity to really start running away with the division.

Instead, the only ones doing the running were the Falcons, and they were running over the Redskins. Washington was dominated for all four quarters on Sunday, and took the loss while incurring a number of injuries, most notably seeing their offensive line get torn apart by a number of ailments. Just one week after seemingly being in complete control, the Redskins’ grasp on their division appears to be all but gone given their state and the potential for an upswing from the likes of Philadelphia and Dallas.

Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers

Early in the 2018 season, people were ready to bury the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the reasoning behind doing so wasn’t difficult to discern. They tied with the rebuilding Cleveland Browns in Week 1, lost in an ugly defensive performance against the Chiefs in Week 2, and then fell to the rival Baltimore Ravens in Week 4. That seemed like enough, especially with the Le’Veon Bell dysfunction lingering, to start writing the Steelers off.

Since then, however, the Steelers have been doing their job and winning football games. In Week 9, they avenged their earlier loss to the Ravens in a 23-16 win that was less close than the score might indicate. This Pittsburgh team, despite missing Bell and despite questions on the defense, is still the class of the AFC North as of right now and they’re hitting their stride. Just when we think things are about to change, they remain the same.

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