NFC Playoff Picture: Tampa Bay Buccaneers move up during bye week
With two NFC frontrunners on the bye this week, the games on Sunday afternoon still packed a ton of playoff intrigue. With the Seattle Seahawks still to play on Sunday night, it could change a whole lot still before the end of Week 9.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles were on a bye, but they moved into a tie for the top spot when the Green Bay Packers lost. Philly gets the nod due to their win over Tampa earlier this season. The Seahawks are third — but they play Sunday night — and the Packers fall all the way to fourth.
In the Wild Card, the San Francisco 49ers won easily over the New York Giants. The Los Angeles Rams play in the second window this afternoon. The Detroit Lions hold the final playoff spot despite their loss, but several teams are nipping at their heels.
NFC standings during Week 9
1. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2, win over TB)
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2, loss to PHI)
3. Seattle Seahawks (5-2, 1-1 NFCW)
4. Green Bay Packers (5-2-1)
5. Los Angeles Rams (5-2, 0-1 NFCW
6. San Francisco 49ers (6-3)
7. Detroit Lions (5-3)
8. Chicago Bears (4-3)
9. Carolina Panthers (5-4)
10. Minnesota Vikings (4-4)
11. Dallas Cowboys (3-4-1)
13. Atlanta Falcons (3-5, win over WAS)
12. Washington Commanders (3-5, loss to ATL)
14. Arizona Cardinals (2-5)
15. New York Giants (2-7)
16. New Orleans Saints (1-7)
16. New Orleans Saints (1-7)
NFC South standings during Week 9
The Carolina Panthers picked up a huge win knocking off the Green Bay Packers who previously were the top team in the NFC. Atlanta continued their streaky play with a loss. The New Orleans Saints play in the late afternoon.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2)
2. Carolina Panthers (5-4)
3. Atlanta Falcons (3-5)
4. New Orleans Saints (1-7)
Broncos QB Bo Nix Offers Telling Response After Beating Texans
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Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos does an interview postgame after defeating the Houston Texans.
Bo Nix can relay an entire sequence of plays from memory long after they have passed by. The Denver Broncos’ second-year QB still has a short memory, and it served him well in Week 9 against the
Nix and the Broncos’ offense grinded their way to an 18-15 victory against the NFL’s No. 1 defense in scoring and overall.
It took all four quarters, but Nix led the Broncos into position to win the game, which they did.
Bo Nix Gets Honest About Short Memory After Broncos’ Win
GettyBo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos signals to a teammate during a play against the New York Giants.
Nix completed 18 of 37 passes for 173 yards, with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception in the Broncos’ win over the Texans.
Nix was 9-for-16 for 76 yards and threw his touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. The Broncos scored 11 points in the fourth quarter. Nix guided them into position for teammate
But he had to shake off the slow start and his turnover.
“I‘ve learned a different kind of patience as I’ve grown. In high school, I was not very patient. It was like an every drive thing. And if I did have to get off the field, and we had to punt, it was the world. And in college, it was learning how to win certain battles, and field position, and just getting completions, and checking it down, and moving to the next play,”
“You just have to eventually learn, as a quarterback, how important that next play really is. And if you can just get into a better situation than you were the play prior, then you did your job.”
Nix certainly did that, scrambling for 34 yards on the Broncos’ final drive of the game, including a 9-yarder to set up Lutz’s field goal. Nix and Broncos head coach
Still, Nix, the No. 12 overall pick in 2024, knows this is still just the beginning for him.
Bo Nix Looking to ‘Maximize Potential
GettyBo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos looks on after a win against the Dallas Cowboys.
Nix reiterated that he has simply “learned how to get to the next play better” and has “a little bit more patience.” It helps that Nix entered the league as the
He has already seen the growth in himself from last season, but he is not satisfied.
“Each level, I just feel like I’ve been able to learn a lot and grow a lot. And I’m definitely not the same as I was this time last year, much less than when I was in high school,” Nix said.
“I’ve come a long way. Still got so much to learn, which is the fun part. But I’m going to continue to work, not stop, until I maximize my potential. Don’t know when that would be, but I’m excited because there’s a lot to learn a lot to grow from. Gives us another opportunity next week to go out there and change it up. But I’m sure we’ll learn from the mistakes we make next week as well. So, I just learned learn how to be a little bit more patient and go into the next play.”
Up next, Nix and the Boroncos will face their AFC West rivals, the Las Vegas Raiders, at home on “Thursday Night Football.”
