Welcome to the “Watchability stakes” – a ranking of the weekly matchups ahead in the NFL. Games are tiered based on three factors: narrative, implications, and general intrigue. You will be seeing The Lead’s NFL game watchability rankings at the start of the week to get you ready for football action.
Halloween is nearly here, which means the season finally approached its halfway mark at a pretty fascinating time. Only a handful of teams still remain clearly “out” of the playoff picture and plenty more still believe they have a shot.
For the fans, Week 9 of the NFL season feels like a trick-or-treat haul with the slate, which kicks off on Halloween night. Only three games have an AFC team having an NFC opponent. That means the rest of the games are either inter-divisional or inter-conference. This will easily be one of the most consequential weeks of the 2024 season by the time the postseason bracket is finalized.
Once again, it’s another perfect time to bring you your “Watchability stakes” to help you determine which games will have the most significance now and by the season’s end.
Here are your Watchability stakes for Week 9:
Tier 1: Absolutely can’t miss
Detroit Lions (6-1) versus Green Bay Packers (6-2) – Sunday @ 4:25 pm EST
- Easily ranks as the best must-watch game all week. Battle between two of the few 6+ win teams. Bonus points for having significant tiebreakers, division standings, and playoff-seeding implications down the road. The only real question: is the Packers star QB going to be healthy and ready to go?
Dallas Cowboys (3-4) versus Atlanta Falcons (5-3) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST
- Neither team has amazed, but for Dallas, this is do or die for its season. Meanwhile, the Falcons aim to build some consistency after a slow start out of the gate but a much better performance since. Each team needs this win in a crowded NFC playoff bubble field.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) versus Kansas City Chiefs (7-0) – Monday @ 8:15 pm EST
- One of our better Monday Night Football games on the calendar, even with both teams dealing with significant injuries and inconsistent play. Even then, that hasn’t stopped Kansas City as the Chiefs remain the lone team in the league without a loss. Can the Bucs play spoiler on the road in primetime?
Denver Broncos (5-3) versus Baltimore Ravens (5-3) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST
- As promised, Denver’s strong play catapults them into one of the better tiers this week. In fact, this game just bumped up to Tier 1 after mistakes cost Baltimore a road win over Cleveland. Now, the Ravens are looking to get back on track while Denver eyes another surprising performance, this time on the road.
Tier 2: This could be fun
Los Angeles Rams (3-4) versus Seattle Seahawks (4-4) – Sunday @ 4:25 pm EST
- Tier 2 features two games between NFC teams sitting right next to each other in the standings. Considering Seattle’s recent rough stretch plus the Rams’ stronger performance as of late, this is arguably the second-best game in the late-afternoon window. In a still-crowded NFC West, every game counts.
Chicago Bears (4-3) versus Arizona Cardinals (4-4) – Sunday @ 4:05 pm EST
- Another NFC West team faces an important matchup as the Cardinals try to stay in the thick of the playoff hunt. Chicago’s disastrous loss on a Hail Mary puts the Bears in a comfortable spot trying to win against its non-divisional opponents.
Indianapolis Colts (4-4) versus Minnesota Vikings (5-2) – Sunday @ 8:20 pm EST
- Joe Flacco getting the start officially means Indianapolis should have some stability now with its offense. Minnesota comes off the bye looking to stay hot behind Sam Darnold. Not the most premier matchup, but still one that deserves to be in Tier 2.
Tier 3: Decent floor, high upside
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) versus Philadelphia Eagles (5-2) – Sunday @ 4:05 pm EST
- All three games in this tier feature a team several games below-.500. This game is the best of the trio due to Philadelphia’s struggles at times and Jacksonville playing better as of late. Bonus for coach Doug Peterson’s return to Philly.
Houston Texans (6-2) versus New York Jets (2-6) – Thursday @ 8:15 pm EST
- New York gets yet another crack at beating a good team in a nighttime game. Houston possesses a strong record but is down several top receivers and has played closer contests as of late. Not the worst Thursday night game of the year.
Los Angeles Chargers (4-3) versus Cleveland Browns (2-6) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST
- Can Cleveland pull off another upset? The Chargers are the next team up facing one of the toughest road environments in the league.
Tier 4: It could always be worse
Las Vegas Raiders (2-6) versus Cincinnati Bengals (3-5) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST
- While both teams sit several games below .500, this is the one game left where there are possible playoff implications for each.
Washington Commanders (6-2) versus New York Giants (2-6) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST
- New York hung around at least in the first half versus Pittsburgh. Unless that happens again, Washington should be a heavy favorite versus this division opponent.
Miami Dolphins (2-5) versus Buffalo Bills (6-2) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST
- Miami has its QB back but unfortunately faces its worst road environment of the season. Buffalo should be a clear favorite.
Tier 5: Snooze Fest
New England Patriots (2-6) versus Tennessee Titans (1-6) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST
- Flip a coin between these two games. At least there is some optimism in New England after beating the Jets in late-game fashion.
New Orleans Saints (2-6) versus Carolina Panthers (1-7) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST
- Both teams, ironically in the same division, have plummeted to the bottom of the standings with little morale left on either side.
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