We’ve made it to Week 9 of the NFL Season and November football in full. This is about the halfway point in the season and teams are digging in for the playoff push. Below is my take on the best games on the Sunday slate.

International Game:

Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) at Atlanta Falcons (3-5)
About: The Bengals have been going along strong, and, with a win, they can tie the Steelers for the best record in the AFC North. The Falcons, meanwhile, have been mercurial. The same is true of the offense, which has soared at times and been on a milk carton other week. Can the Falcons step up? Can the Bengals keep rolling? Welcome to our game in Spain.

Early Games:

Denver Broncos (6-2) at Carolina Panthers (3-4)
About: It’s a rough morning slate with a lot of matchups featuring good teams against teams not likely to compete. This is a rare exception, despite the Panthers’ record. The Panthers are still atop a weak NFC South, but can they step up at home against a Broncos’ team that’s won four straight and just took down the Chiefs? For the Broncos, it’s a last pit stop before a bye, and they’d like to head into a break on a high note.

Late Games:

Green Bay Packers (5-3) at New England Patriots (5-3)
About: This is probably the game of the day on the Sunday slate. The Packers are still competing for the playoffs and tied up in a competitive NFC North. The Patriots are still chasing the Bills in the AFC East and trying to establish some consistency. This should be an interesting matchup.

Arizona Cardinals (3-5) at Seattle Seahawks (4-4)
About: On paper, this shouldn’t be close. But the Cardinals beat the Rams and the Cowboys when they shouldn’t have. And the Seahawks have struggled a bit on offense and defense this season. They should win this at home, but it could get interesting.

Sunday Night Football:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5) at Chicago Bears (6-2)
About: The Buccaneers have won two straight, the last one without even completing a pass. But the Bears are rolling. The defense is stout and the offense is coming on as they make a push toward the Vikings and Lions in the jam-packed NFC North. This should be an interesting matchup.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.