Alex Smith and the 3 Biggest Hits of NFL Week 9

In recent years, it seems like the NFL has done everything it can to make the game less fun for fans. They've introduced incessant replays, outlawed creative touchdown celebrations, and made the rules about what is and isn't a legal tackle completely confusing.

But what keeps us coming back week after week is the pure athleticism of the players and the hard hitting. I'm not sure all of these hits are legal. In fact, one of them resulted in a player being taken to the hospital. Still, all of these plays made us jump up from our seats.

Let's take a look at the biggest hits from Week 9.

Dustin Keller Goes Head over Heels

In the second quarter of the Buffalo Bills-New York Jets game, Dustin Keller decided to leap over an oncoming Bills defender. The Bills defender didn't go to the ground—he stayed on his feet and sent Keller flying through the air.

After a few dazed moments, Keller returned to the game.

Tracy Porter Gets Worse Than He Gives

Early in the first quarter of the New Orleans Saints-Tampa Bay Buccaneers game, New Orleans cornerback Tracy Porter launched himself at Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Williams. At the end of the play, both men lay on the ground, but Williams eventually stood up.

To the horror of the New Orleans crowd, Tracy Porter stayed down and eventually had to leave the stadium in an ambulance. As he was being carted off the field, Porter did give the thumbs-up sign.

Hopefully he's okay.

Alex Smith Is the Meet in a Redskins Sandwiched

In the middle of the third quarter of the Washington Redskins-San Francisco 49ers game, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith found himself as the meat in a Washington Redskins sandwich. 

Somehow, Smith managed to hold onto the ball and stay in the game. He might have lost a little of his dignity, though.