Looking Ahead: Week Nine

'Feelin' Fine in Week Nine' isn't the motto for all of our Tecmo participants, in fact it's probably better that way, but we are finally seeing some teams break free and ready to take the second half by storm. A few divisional gaps are widening, but that doesn't mean we're ready to gloss over the races and half-ass it here, folks. It may be the mid-season doldrums, but we're going to make it as exciting as it possibly can be before the era of Two Point Tupa.

The week begins with New England hoping to gain a half game in the divisional race with the rest of their division idle. They may only have one win, and they may be playing a hungry Denver team, but don't count out Hart Lee Dykes' desire to win his first Super Bowl ring for as long as he's able to avoid bars and Irving Fryar. The exciting NFC East is back in the ring, with the Cowboys riding into Detroit and the division-leading Redskins heading into a suddenly hostile New York environment. To prove how far this season has gone maverick, the Giants have railed off 4 straight after losing their first 3 in a row, and could potentially wind up in a first place tie should they win. Phil Simms is so excited, his stare has gone from blank to creepy and confrontational.

In case you're nostalgic for early-90s era
print layout

It's also a big week for the AFC West, with four teams doing battle before they sail into the sunset of their pre-bye week schedule. First, Kansas City will try to shake things up and rain dance their way back into the race, while the Raiders try to keep Bo Jackson awake long enough to bust out of their .500 limbo. Meanwhile, in perhaps the game of the day, the two AFC West powerhouses in San Diego and Seattle do battle. B.J. Tolliver may have ten more passing touchdowns than Dave Krieg, but the Chargers only have one more win and a couple injuries to their special teams corps. That, and Burt Grossman will probably sleep through his alarm again unless he gets that toilet paper out of his ears.

The early games end with a rare Phoenix vs. Minnesota match-up mopping up the floor, and a Rams vs. Falcons divisional show-down to turn out the lights.

Never fear, however, as the afternoon games begin shortly afterwards with a tough challenge for Tampa Bay at home. They have a chance to make their case in the competitive NFC Central if they can catch up to the Packers, although we're thinking Green Bay and their potent offense will pose more of a challenge to the Bucs than having to match up against plays called by the future coach of the Cardinal Newman Crusaders. Meanwhile, the AFC Central sees some action late in the day with the fading Browns doing battle with the flickering-to-life Steelers. More importantly, the Bengals try to shake off a hard-luck loss against the Bills last week with an opportunity to tie the Oilers atop the division. They'll have to beat Warren Moon in Houston, but may not get that chance if his wife gets to him first.

Golden locks blowing in the breeze of his
1652 passing yards

Don't forget about our big Monday Night contest, starring the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers. The Eagles have lost their way as of late, and are now met with more bad news when they have to hop a plane to San Francisco for a melee with the 49ers in a game with big playoff implications. The Eagles won a big game against the Packers in their first featured game this year, but facing an early-season Majkowski versus a mid-season Montana is like jumping a second-grader walking home from school and jumping a well-coiffed, poised quarterback in the prime of his career with a left hand weighed down by four Super Bowl rings.



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AFC

NFC

Byes: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets