Week 9 of the NFL season is in the books, and the Detroit Lions have separated themselves from the rest of the NFC as the clear alpha dog in the conference. We have no new obituaries this week.
Graveyard
Hierarchy
13) Cowboys (3-5): The Cowboys have the fourth-worst record (3-5), the third-worst point differential (-54), and and the third-longest losing streak (3 games) in the NFC, and now they’ll be without their quarterback — the highest-paid player in the league, no less — reportedly for “multiple weeks.”
The last time a team repeated as NFC East division winners was when the Eagles did it in 2004. In each of the last 18 seasons, we’ve seen the previous year’s division champion dethroned.
| Year | NFC East champion |
| 2004 | Eagles |
| 2005 | Giants |
| 2006 | Eagles |
| 2007 | Cowboys |
| 2008 | Giants |
| 2009 | Cowboys |
| 2010 | Eagles |
| 2011 | Giants |
| 2012 | Commanders |
| 2013 | Eagles |
| 2014 | Cowboys |
| 2015 | Commanders |
| 2016 | Cowboys |
| 2017 | Eagles |
| 2018 | Cowboys |
| 2019 | Eagles |
| 2020 | Commanders |
| 2021 | Cowboys |
| 2022 | Eagles |
| 2023 | Cowboys |
| 2024 | Probably not the Cowboys |
The Cowboys are now 3.5 games behind the Commanders in the NFC East, and 3 games behind the Eagles. What do you think of your team this season, Dak?
Last week: 13
9) Buccaneers (4-5): If you have a chance to beat the Chiefs in regulation with a two-point conversion, it’s kind of a no-brainer to go for the two-point conversion instead of giving Patrick Mahomes a chance to beat you in overtime. Todd Bowles is an awesome defensive schemer, but holy hell does he make some bad in-game decisions.
Video: Andy Reid, asked if he was surprised that Todd Bowles didn’t go for two after their late touchdown. “No … But I’m glad he didn’t.” pic.twitter.com/gyThOf06q4
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) November 5, 2024
Last week: 4
1) Lions (7-1): Prior to their matchup against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, all eight of the Lions’ games this season had been played indoors. In 2023, they had a three-game losing streak outdoors, including their loss to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. As such, there were questions whether they could still play well in the elements, a fair question, given that Jared Goff isn’t known for having a strong arm relative to many of his peers.
Welp, they put that nonsense to bed in an emphatic win over the Packers on the road on Sunday.
I think that what makes this team scary is that they now know how good they are and they have swagger, as evidenced by Amon-Ra St. Brown showing up to Green Bay in a “GREENBAY SUCKS” hoodie.
It’s almost extra disrespectful that “GREENBAY” is all one word.
