Joe Flacco proves to be a failure in the Colts' QB conversation

We’re already halfway through the NFL season.

And if there’s a takeaway Week 9A clear favorite emerged in the NFC.

The Detroit Lions rolled into a rainy Lambeau Field and maintained their (underdog) No. 1 seed in the conference by dismantling the Green Bay Packers. Detroit’s offense plays efficiently, its defense puts pressure on third downs and in the red zone, and the Lions play with intensity and physicality.

Elsewhere in the league Baltimore Ravens are backThe Los Angeles Rams are on the rise, the New Orleans Saints are in free fall, and Jim Harbaugh has built a winning culture with the Los Angeles Chargers — with one caveat.

Here are the winners and losers for Sunday, Week 9.

WINNERS

Lions establishing themselves as the team to beat in the NFC

Detroit left no room for doubt. As the San Francisco 49ers have stuttered at times this year, a complete upset (24-14 victory) of the Green Bay Packers (6-3) left the Lions the obvious team to beat in the NFC. Yes, Washington Commanders (7-2) was a revelation and a beautiful story. Yes, the Atlanta Falcons (6-3), Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) and Minnesota Vikings (6-2) are trailing. But no team has been more complete, more balanced, than the Lions (7-1), and that goes for the entire NFL, including the Kansas City Chiefs (7-0).

Over the last six games, Jared Goff has not only thrown 22 goals; that’s a staggering display of efficiency (he also kicked 106 goals and conceded 13 in that span). Detroit also runs the ball extremely well. Its defense limited the Packers to 3/12 (25%) conversions on third downs and 1/4 conversions in the red zone. A year removed from a trip to the NFC championship game, Detroit looks like a team aiming for the Super Bowl.

Rams look to climb play-off table

Four weeks ago, the Rams were 1-4, their top two receivers were banged up, and their season appeared to be on the brink. Health changes some things. Cooper Kupp and Puka Pacua restored offensive playmaking and the Rams (4-4) made it three straight wins after escaping the Seattle Seahawks with a 26-20 overtime victory.

Most importantly, Los Angeles sits 10th in the NFC playoff standings. After Week 5, the Rams were ranked 15th, above the Carolina Panthers. In their win against the Seahawks, the Rams outscored Seattle 23-7 in the second half and overtime. The defense forced Geno Smith into three interceptions. This also felt like a turning point for the underrated defensive front, which sacked Smith seven times. They may be a bit of an underdog, but Matthew Stafford, the ever-consistent Kyren Williams, Nacua (He was sent off for throwing a punch on Sunday), Kupp and a young defenseman the Rams could fly under the radar in the second half of the season.

Ravens recover and return to form

A disappointing loss to the Cleveland Browns last week did not create any negative momentum for Baltimore, and Baltimore returned to its identity: efficiency in the passing game and field dominance.

Against Cleveland, quarterback Lamar Jackson dropped back 43 times and Baltimore recorded just 21 carries. In Sunday’s 41-10 win over the Denver Broncos, Jackson made 22 return returns and the Ravens did it 34 times. Jackson had as many completions as he had passes (three) and had a perfect passing rating of 158.3. The Ravens (6-3) had their best defensive play since their Week 4 win against the Buffalo Bills, limiting the Broncos to a conversion on just one of four red zone trips. Perhaps most promising for Baltimore is that it closes out the game with authority, a problem the team has had in the past; The Ravens scored the last 24 points of the game.

Jim Harbaugh turns Chargers around

You would never have guessed that Jim Harbaugh was away from the NFL for nine seasons. After winning the national championship with the Michigan Wolverines, Harbaugh immediately established the physicality and toughness he is known to prioritize (especially on the offensive line).

It must have given Harbaugh unfiltered joy to see running back JK Dobbins lead a 27-10 lead on the second-to-last possession against the Browns with a 7-yard touchdown pass on four carries. Still, there are plenty of questions for Los Angeles (5-3). So, the quality of the wins casts doubt on whether LA can compete with the elite teams in the AFC; The combined record of teams the Chargers have beaten is 13-32 (.289), the sixth-worst mark in the NFL. In fact, four of the five wins have come against teams currently ranked 2-7.

losers

Stale Saints self-destruct

The Saints’ season started with great optimism. They destroyed a rebuilding Panthers team and then a Dallas Cowboys team that was considered an NFC contender.

New Orleans has lost seven straight games since then; The most recent was against the Panthers, who entered Sunday with just one win and came away with a 23-22 win. Quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) returned, but New Orleans struggled in situational football; The Saints (2-7) made just two of their four red zone trips despite entering the game fifth in efficiency. Both unsuccessful red zone attempts occurred on the first two possessions, negating New Orleans’ chances of a quick start. Ten penalties for 109 yards led to further self-destruction. Coach Dennis Allen is now 18-25 (.419) in three and a half seasons. This feels like a team that has gone stale.

As the season comes to a close, the Dolphins only have themselves to blame

In a tied game with 54 seconds left, the Miami Dolphins faced the Bills on third-and-nine from Buffalo’s 31-yard line. Josh Allen took a deep low-percentage shot from the left wing. It was thoroughly covered and torn apart. But as Miami has done all season, an epic mistake — in this case the most needless personal foul, helmet-to-helmet, by Dolphins safety Jordan Poyer — gave the opponent new life.

Seven plays later the Bills kicked a game-winning 61-yard field goal and the Dolphins fell to 2-6. You can also point to Raheem Mostert’s fumble in the third quarter; His sixth in the last 16 matches. This occurred as the Dolphins were up four points and the error led to a Bills touchdown. Dolphins are sloppy and undisciplined. They lack physicality and stamina. Coach Mike McDaniel’s vision of the game is often predictable, especially in short-yardage situations. This season is nothing but a waste of talent.

Jordan Love

He is still a young talent with great promise. It’s still his second season as Green Bay’s starter. But at this point, Jordan Love definitely needs to be better at protecting the ball and making decisions.

Love, 26, ties for the league lead with nine interceptions; The two quarterbacks who played Monday night, Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield, also have nine players. His one pick against the Lions was particularly devastating. Facing a seven-point lead deep in the Packers’ own territory with 41 seconds left in the first half, Love immediately flushed and attempted a soft throw on second-and-1; It was intercepted and returned for a touchdown, the ultimate gift. Detroit also kicked off the third quarter. This drive went for a touchdown. Green Bay (6-3) fell from 10-3 to 24-3. Love regularly plays magnificent games. He needs to eliminate the scary ones.

Colts screwed up quarterback situation

When a coach benches a young quarterback just starting his NFL career and says the veteran backup gives the team “the best chance to win,” games like Sunday night’s loss against the Minnesota Vikings erode trust and confidence in that coach. Frankly, Shane Steichen will have to take into account how bad Joe Flacco and the Indianapolis Colts’ offense look – albeit against a very good Vikings defense.

Flacco was at fault and passed checks in favor of lower percentage shots down the field. Lack of mobility handcuffed the Colts offense, while Anthony Richardson could escape and create outside the box. Flacco is 39 years old. The reality is that the Colts do not have a roster that can compete for a conference title, and that feels like a huge waste of time.