C.J. Stroud threw five touchdown passes on Sunday. Five weeks after opening 0-4, the Thugs are giving the AFC a reason to look over its shoulder.
Stroud's 384 passing yards and 34 YFFL points led a 67-35 victory over the Orangutangs, the Thugs' third straight win and fourth in five games since opening 0-4. Rome Odunze and KC Concepcion scored eight apiece and Brandon Aubrey added nine. It was the Thugs' first game since trading Justin Jefferson.
Stroud finished one point short of the Orangutangs by himself. Dak Prescott supplied 16 and Jahmyr Gibbs added eight, but the loss snapped a four-game winning streak and left the Orangutangs at 6-3, a game behind the Refugees in the AFC East.
Love Keeps Pace
Jordan Love threw for 372 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another and added a two-point conversion. His 30 points led the Eaters to a 77-44 victory over the Llamas and the highest score of Week 9. Bucky Irving supplied 16 points, Cam Little added 15 and Puka Nacua chipped in 12 behind 150 receiving yards. Four starters accounted for 73 of the 77.
The Eaters needed the win to keep up with the Merry Men, who beat the Poop 68-35 behind Brock Purdy's 18 points and CeeDee Lamb's 195 receiving yards. The defending champions are 7-2. The Eaters are 6-2-1, still half a game back in the AFC West, with a visit to the Orangutangs next.
The Refugees reached 7-2 by beating the Buddies 38-2. Evan McPherson scored 10, while Travis Kelce and Luther Burden III supplied eight apiece. Derrick Henry had the Buddies' two. The Refugees host the Merry Men in Week 10, when 38 points may have to do a little more work.
Plenty to Go Around
Jefferson caught passes for 58 yards and two points in his Dragons debut. Kenneth Walker III did the heavy lifting, scoring 22 behind 143 yards from scrimmage in a 58-34 victory over the Huskers. Ja'Marr Chase added 12 with 155 receiving yards, and Chase McLaughlin kicked in 10. The Dragons have won four straight, lead the league with 555 points and sit four games clear of the White Guys in the NFC East.
The NFC West has considerably less room. The Brothers took sole possession of first place with a 35-35 tie against the Boys. Christian McCaffrey and Javonte Williams combined for 24 points, while Jake Bates led the Boys with 13. The Brothers are 5-3-1, half a game ahead of both the Beans and Chickens, with the Dragons coming to town next.
Joe Burrow scored 24 and Matthew Golden added 12 behind 164 receiving yards, but the Beans fell 59-50 to the White Guys. Drake Maye led the winners with 18, Tyler Bass chipped in 11 and James Cook III supplied 10. The Chickens took advantage, joining the Beans at 5-4 with a 31-26 victory over the Mallards behind Kirk Cousins' 12 points. The Huskers are a game behind both at 4-5.
Five games remain. The Eaters and Orangutangs meet with both trying to catch a division leader, and the Merry Men and Refugees meet with both trying to stay one. The Thugs get the 1-8 Poop. A month ago, that looked like a game between two teams waiting for next year. Stroud has given the Thugs a reason to check the standings first.