NFL Predictions: 20 Burning Questions Heading into Week 9

As always, Week 8 in the NFL left us scratching our head with some of the things we saw.

I wonder what Week 9 has in store for us?

Upsets, shocking results, and of course "Tebowing".

I agree with one of the sports writers here in town that I should have gotten into the "Tebow" craze and cashed in on some of this exposure.

Now that the half-way point of the season has come and gone, we have some truer sense of what will happen with teams, division and the upcoming playoffs.

And of course, these questions that have been left unanswered.

20. Have the Chiefs Completely Turned Their Season Around?

Maybe.

It appears all this team needed was an argument between quarterback and coach to make things all better.

Seriously, the Chiefs are red hot and they could challenge for the division title.

Having Jonathon Baldwin back in the passing attack helps and Jackie Battle looks like a good fit in the running game.

Weren't we calling for Todd Haley's head a month ago?

19. What Does John Fox's Decision to Play Tim Tebow Really Mean?

It could mean several things.

It could mean this team has no confidence in Kyle Orton.

It could mean Brady Quinn is not ready to take the helm.

It could mean John Elway has mandated that Elway will play the rest of the season?

Who knows. What we do know, if that after last week's performance, Tebow needs to really work on his game.

18. Any Word on Tony Sparano This Week?

No, but that does not mean it could not happen any minute.

Tony Sparano's future is almost as important right now as Kim Kardashian divorcing Kris Humphries.

Seriously, though, I think he will survive the year since Cam Cameron did before him. I also think that since Bill Cowher made the statement he has no "plans" to coach next season means he could be enticed to come out of retirement.

Stay tuned.

17. Is It Safe to Assume the Colts Will Keep Jim Caldwell All Season?

Maybe.

Colts' executives said there are many things that have contributed to the lack of success of the team this season and things like "injuries" could be not be foreseen.

Sounds like they will reassess the team at the end of the season and see what Mr. Manning has to say about the team's overall performance.

16. Can the 49ers Make the Super Bowl?

Probably not this year. The Saints, the Packers and maybe the Lions and Eagles will have something to say about that.

But they are a team on the rise with the best young coach in the NFL and a team of good, young players.

I like them as a threat in the years to come.

15. Are the Eagles the Best Team in the NFC East?

I think the Giants will have something to say about that.

The Eagles looked impressive in their Sunday night win over the Cowboys.

A comment was made on television that made a lot of sense. This team paid a bunch of free agents to come in and change the landscape of the team. There was a lockout, a short offseason and then preseason.

This team needed time to gel. That is what is happening now. If it continues and the team moves forward, then they can fulfill the promise they had shown on paper before the season.

14. Did the Steelers Cement Themselves as the Best Team in the AFC?

Not yet, but their win over the Patriots was impressive.

A few things happened in that game. Ben Roethlisberger took more steps toward being an elite quarterback. Tom Brady proved to be ordinary. The Patriots defense showed it needs help.

The Steelers may be getting older, but they still have plenty of fight in them. And with the Ravens and Steelers playing this coming week, watch out.

The Patriots need to improve their defense if they are to get to the Super Bowl again.

13. Christian Ponder or Andy Dalton?

What a great question.

Dalton has the Bengals moving in the right direction and his Bengals seem "real" this season.

He has a decent supporting cast with AJ Green and a good ground attack.

Ponder has played in only two games, but appears to be the real deal. He has average weapons to throw to and the best running back in the game.

Right now, it is Dalton. But the future I think is Ponder.

12. Is Buffalo Still a Sleeper?

Not anymore.

The team looked real good in dismantling the Redskins on Sunday.

The management realized Ryan Fitzpatrick was their future and signed him to a contract extension.

Fred Jackson is a great runner.

The defense is stellar.

This team can get to the Super Bowl.

11. What Team Benefitted from Having a Bye Last Week the Most?

Probably the Oakland Raiders.

All of the sudden this is a three-team race in the AFC West.

The Raiders needed Darren McFadden to get well and to give Carson Palmer another week to learn the offense.

The Raiders still can win this division, but it just became a little harder with the Chiefs rising up and the Chargers falling down.

10. Can You Explain What Happened to New Orleans?

No, but I can explain what happened to the Rams.

The NFL is not an exact science. We see this all the time. Some teams play up to their level of competition. Some play down.

After scoring 62 points, this became a trap game and the Rams capitalized on it.

9. Will the Ravens Make the Playoffs?

Not if they keep playing the way they have lately.

They came back to beat the Cardinals, but they still have issues in the passing game.

Ray Rice helped the team win.

Joe Flacco needs to be the consistent quarterback he can and manage a game right now instead of trying to win it.

8. Should the Titans Bench Chris Johnson?

He is a prime example of how a team gives in to a player's demands and the player does not deliver.

Johnson needed preseason to prepare and did not get that.

The Titans are suffering because of it and Javon Ringer could be used to supplant the Pro Bowl player.

7. Does Terrell Owens Sign an NFL Contract Before the End of the Season?

Only if it is in New England or Chicago.

Next question.

6. Who Should Be the Starting Quarterback in Seattle?

Does Dave Krieg or Jim Zorn count?

Bet the Seahawks want Matt Hasselbeck back right now.

The quarterback situation in Seattle is bad.

Hopefully they get lucky in the draft or in free agency next season.

5. Why Is Philip Rivers Regressing?

He will go down as the best passer to never get to the Super Bowl.

The plays Rivers made over four quarters against the Chiefs baffle me and then to blow the game at the end and send the game to overtime.

He is a great arm with a scrambled head right now.

4. Is Green Bay Still the Best Team in the NFL?

Yes by virtue of record and play.

Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback.

The offense is great and reminds me of the St. Louis Rams teams.

The defense is getting better.

And is Mike McCarthy the most unrecognizable coach in the NFL, or what?

3. Did the Detroit Lions Get Well Against the Broncos?

It sure looked that way.

After two-straight loses the team may have gone back into the tank like it had in years past.

Denver proved to be the best elixir it could have received.

Now, let's see if the team can keep itself on the right track.

2. Will Mike Shanahan Be in Washington Next Season?

No.

Daniel Snyder will pull the plug. You can see it happening. There is no quarterback strength on the team. The injuries are mounting and the team that looked great at the beginning of the season is not a shadow of itself.

This team will have a new coach in 2012.

1. Do You Have a Midseason MVP?

Yes, Peyton Manning.

Stop laughing and realize he is the centerpiece of the NFL. Everything revolves around him.

He is the reason for the Colts' success. He is the reason the Patriots are a Super Bowl favorite. He is the reason Andrew Luck in a Colts uniform makes sense.

While there are so many other great things that are going on in the NFL, Peyton Manning's absence is one of the reasons the NFL is also turn on its ear.