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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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DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 4: Defensive end J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans celebrates with teammates after a missed field goal by the Denver Broncos led to a 19-17 win at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 4, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 4: Defensive end J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans celebrates with teammates after a missed field goal by the Denver Broncos led to a 19-17 win at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 4, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Winner: Houston Texans

The Houston Texans making a blockbuster move at the NFL Trade Deadline felt necessary. With Will Fuller out for the season, they needed another weapon in the passing game, so they went out and got Demaryius Thomas from the Denver Broncos, who they, coincidentally, played in Week 9. The impact of Thomas obviously would be felt by adding a talented veteran, but Sunday showed why it was even bigger.

Landing Thomas allows DeAndre Hopkins to continue being a star, which he was in the Texans’ Week 9 win over Denver. Thomas’ presence doesn’t allow defenses to sell out covering Hopkins, which allows Houston’s offense to function, despite their horrid deficiencies on the offensive line. And, as such, the Texans are now sitting at 6-3 on the season and seem like they could run away with the AFC South as every other team is under .500 at this point.

Winner: New England Patriots AFC East stranglehold

With both Sony Michel and Rob Gronkowski out for a Sunday Night Football matchup with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, the New England Patriots appeared to be up against it in Week 9. So, naturally, Tom Brady and Co. went out and put forth an impressive and largely dominant effort in primetime, moving to 7-2 on the season with a 31-17 triumph over the Pack.

There is plenty to glean from the Patriots victory regarding Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, Josh Gordon, Cordarrelle Patterson and plenty of others. However, what’s more shocking is just how easily the Patriots can take the AFC East once again. They have been in complete control of the division for almost the whole of two decades at this point. With where their record is now and the rest of the division mired in incompetence or rebuilding, their hold on the division isn’t going anywhere and they can run away from the pack once again.

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