It was a slate that includes two battles between division leaders, a 2022 AFC Divisional Playoffs rematch and a renewal of a long time NFC East rivalry. Not bad considering the formidable Lions, Jaguars and 49ers were among the four teams (along with the Broncos) off in Week 9.
The Philadelphia Eagles survived the visiting Dallas Cowboys and have managed to hang on to the No. 1 spot in the NFL Power Rankings once again. However, there’s a team located a bit south of the City of Brotherly Love that is on a serious four-game roll.
Obviously, Josh Dobbs (dealt to the Vikings) would not be the starter for Jonathan Gannon’s team as the Cardinals were in Cleveland. Rookie Clayton Tune got the nod vs. the fearsome Browns’ defense. Arizona ran 48 offensive plays and gained 58 yards. The Cards rushed for 41 yards. Tune was sacked seven times for 41 yards in losses.
Those 58 total yards was one yard less than an Amari Cooper reception (59) given up by Gannon’s defense late in the third quarter. The Cardinals host the Falcons this Sunday. Is it time for Kyler Murray to make his return?
It was a horrible day in Las Vegas for a team in the midst of a forgettable season. The Giants were humbled by the Raiders on Sunday. Daniel Jones returned to the starting lineup and hit on just 4-of-9 passes for 25 yards. He was sacked twice before leaving in the second quarter. Jones may have suffered a torn ACL (via Ian Rapoport).
Enter rookie Tommy DeVito, who threw for 175 yards and the Giants’ only touchdown. He also served up a pair of interceptions and was sacked six times. Brian Daboll’s team has been outscored a combined 217-101 this season.
Frank Reich got his first win last week as the Panthers said coach and now faced his former team as the Colts were in Charlotte. Carolina was unable to build on the momentum of last Sunday’s last-second victory over the Texans. Rookie quarterback Bryce Young wound up throwing two scoring passes to Colts’ cornerback Kenny Moore II.
The Panthers managed only 275 total yards but actually outgained Indianapolis. Carolina’s defense gave up only 198 yards, including just 78 yards rushing. It was the one encouraging thing about the Panthers’ performance.
It was arguably the most disappointing loss of 2023, and that’s saying something. New England brought a Top-10 defense into Sunday’s clash with the Commanders. However, they let Washington move the football up and down the field. The Patriots allowed 432 total yards and Ron Rivera’s team converted 9-of-17 third down attempts.
Bill Belichick’s team managed a pair of second-quarter touchdowns and never saw the end zone again. Entering Monday night, New England is dead last in the AFC East and has yet to beat a team outside of the division (0-5).
Off a lopsided loss at Dallas, Sean McVay’s team was on the road once again and looked to take advantage of a struggling Packers team at Lambeau Field. Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford was sidelined with a thumb injury so Brett Rypien would get the start. A lifeless Rams’ offense managed just 187 yards and zero touchdowns.
Make it three straight losses for a team less than two years removed from winning Super Bowl LVI. The Rams are a combined 8-18 in their last 26 games dating back to 2022. Rookie wideout Puka Nacua has been a rare bright spot.
After a surprising 2-0 start, the Buccaneers found themselves one game under 500 when they battled the Texans in Houston. Todd Bowles’ scored a season-high 37 points on Sunday afternoon. Quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 70.0 percent of his passes for 265 yards and two scores, both to tight end Cade Otton. It wasn’t enough.
The Bucs’ 28th-ranked pass defense had no answers for Texans’ rookie C.J. Stroud. He rolled up 470 yards through the air and five TDs. Up 37-33 with 46 seconds to play, Tampa’s defense gave up a 75-yards TD drive in 40 seconds.
Last Sunday night, the Bears melted in the prime time spotlight at SoFi Stadium. They were back on the road at New Orleans and put up a big effort against the Saints. Coordinator Luke Getsy’s offense kept Dennis Allen’s defense off-balance, running just as many running plays (32) as passing plays. The Bears gained 368 yards.
Unfortunately, Chicago self-destructed often. Tyson Bagent threw for 220 yards and two TDs to tight end Cole Kmet. He also finished with four of the Bears’ five turnovers. It was a step backwards for Matt Eberflus’ club.
Matt LaFleur’s club hoped to end a four-game winning streak when it hosted the Rams. It’s been a rough stretch for quarrerback Jordan Love. He overcame four sacks on Sunday, but responded with 228 yards through the air and a TD pass to rookie tight end Luke Musgrave. For the first time since Week 2, Love did not throw an interception.
Running back Aaron Jones carried 20 times for 73 yards and one score. He led a Packers’ ground attack that gained a season-high 184 yards. The Pack stopped the bleeding for now but hasn’t won two games in a row this season.
Sean Payton’s team entered its off week with consecutive home wins over the Packers and Chiefs, the latter snapping a 16-game losing streak to their AFC West rival. The 24-9 victory over the defending Super Bowl champions marked the third straight game that the Broncos limited an opponent to fewer than 20 points.
Denver’s ground attack should continue to make life easier for the entire offense. Limited to fewer than 100 yards rushing in three of their first four games, the Broncos averaged 138.0 yards per game in their last four outings.
Five days before the Raiders hosted the Giants, head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler were fired. Enter interim sideline leader Antonio Pierce, the team’s linebackers coach since 2022 and a one-time member of the Giants. Aidan O’Connell got the start at quarterback and the team responded in a big way.
The Raiders totaled 21 points or less in each of its first eight games. On Sunday, Pierce’s club owned a 24-0 lead at halftime. Josh Jacobs ran for a season-high 98 yards and two scores. An aroused defense finished with eight sacks.
Titans’ rookie quarterback Will Levis got the start for the second straight game as the team battled the Steelers at Pittsburgh. He was sacked four times and Tennessee’s offense backed itself into a few corners during the evening. Levis impressed and responded with numerous big plays. Seven of his 22 completions covered 21 or more yards.
Tennessee’s run defense allowed 166 yards. The Steelers’ offensive balance made life difficult for Mike Vrabel’s team. The Titans did not come up with a takeaway and have forced only six turnovers in eight games this season.
The Colts’ defense had struggled mightily in its previous three games heading into Sunday’s clash with the Panthers at Charlotte. Shane Steichen’s slumping club had allowed a combined 114 points and a dozen offensive touchdowns in three straight losses. Against Carolina, Gus Bradley’s defensive unit made amends in a very big way.
Cornerback Kenny Moore II finished the game with eight tackles and returned interceptions 49 and 66 yards for touchdowns. The Colts needed those 115 yards and two scores as Steichen’s offense finished with only 198 yards.
Ron Rivera’s team had dropped two straight games entering Sunday’s clash with the Patriots in Foxborough. Inexplicably, the Commanders dealt defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat to the 49ers and Bears, respectively, earlier in the week. Washington’s was 29th in the league in total defense entering Week 9
Rivera’s club had allowed 30 or more points in five of their previous games. The Commanders did not sack Patriots’ quarterback Mac Jones, but they did own the ball for 37:10 and gained 432 total yards despite a pair of turnovers.
It has been an up-and-down year for a team that many feel is one of the most talented in the league, and certainly the most loaded in the NFC South. The Saints did have their hands full with the visiting Bears on Sunday. This time around, the New Orleans defense gave up 368 total yards, but came up with timely takeaways in a narrow win.
After giving up the ball 10 times during a 4-4 start, the Saints played turnover-free ball. Derek Carr threw for two scores while Taysom Hill had a TD toss and a touchdown grab. The Saints reclaimed the top spot in the division.
Taylor Heinicke came off the bench last week in the second half and now was the starter for Arthur Smith’s team as they faced the visiting Vikings. The Falcons came up short last week at Nashville and even though Atlanta scored a season-high 28 points on Sunday vs. Minnesota, the defense was not up to the task in the closing moments.
The Falcons allowed 230 yards and 21 points in the second half. Josh Dobbs and company drove 75 yards in 1:46 and scored the winning TD with 22 seconds to play. Hence, Smith’s team fell out of first place in the NFC South.
If the team’s early-season pattern hold, the Chargers should come away with a win over the Jets at MetLife Stadium on Monday night. The Bolts lost their first two games, won their next two games, then dropped two in a row. Last Sunday night at SoFi Stadium, Brandon Staley’s club got off to a fast start in a 30-13 win over the Bears.
Inconsistency has been a big part of the Staley Era with the club. A talented team has found too many ways to lose games. The Chargers’ defense entered Week 9 giving up the most passing yards per game in the league.
The Steelers hosted the Titans on Thursday night. Things started out well for the home team, driving 83 yards for a touchdown on the opening possession of the game. Mike Tomlin’s team would need a 92-yard TD drive in the fourth quarter and an end zone interception by linebacker Kwon Alexander with six seconds to play to get the win.
There were positives. Pittsburgh ran for a season-high 166 yards, committed zero turnovers and allowed no sacks. Kenny Pickett saved his best for the fourth quarter. However, yet another slow start remains an area of concern.
It was one of the more resilient efforts of the season and Kevin O’Connell’s team ran its current winning streak to four games after rallying in the fourth quarter to win at Atlanta. With Kirk Cousins (Achilles) out for the rest of the year, rookie Jaren Hall got the start but would succumb to a concussion. Enter recently-acquired Josh Dobbs.
The Cardinals’ starting quarterback for eight games took his lumps on Sunday. He drove the team 75 yards in 1:46 and his six-yard TD pass to Brandon Powell with 22 seconds to play was the difference in a thrilling comeback win.
It hasn’t been pretty and it doesn’t have to be. The Jets find themselves right in the AFC East title chase thanks to three straight wins. The team has struggled early in games (outscore a combined 47-12 in the first quarter) but a talented defense has kept the club in contests. Quarterback Zach Wilson has done just enough the last few weeks.
Robert Saleh’s team has a great opportunity on Monday night against the 3-4 Chargers to tighten things up in the division. The first-place Miami Dolphins, as well as the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots lost on Sunday.
Last week, the Texans lost on the final play of the game and became the Carolina Panthers first victim of 2023. They would face another NFC South club on Sunday as they welcomed the Buccaneers to Houston. It was arguably the most thrilling game of the season to date. Texans’ rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud put on quite the show.
The second overall pick in April’s draft hit on 30-of-42 throws for an NFL rookie record 470 yards and five scores. He drove the team 75 yards in 40 seconds to deliver a win. Houston’s four victories tops last year’s total of three.
The Seahawks were in Baltimore on Sunday looking to remain in first place in the NFC West. When it was all said and done, Pete Carroll’s team was humbled on both sides of the ball. A defensive unit that ranked eighth in the NFL vs. the run entering Week 9 was gashed for 298 yards. Seattle defenders allowed a disturbing 515 total yards.
Meanwhile, it was another shaky outing for quarterback Geno Smith, who has struggled with ball security as of late. Sunday was the fourth straight game with two turnovers. He gave up the ball once in his first four outings.
Kyle Shanahan’s club began the season 5-0, scoring exactly 30 points in their first three games. The 49ers have now dropped three in a row, scoring exactly 17 points in each setback. The defense has been an issue during the skid, just one reason general manager John Lynch traded for Commanders defensive end Chase Young last Tuesday.
Admittedly, quarterback Brock Purdy has had his recent issues. He has turned over the ball six times during the current three-game losing streak. The good news? The Niners are back in first place after this week’s action.
It was a playoff rematch in the Queen City as the Bills took on the Bengals on Sunday night. The teams traded touchdowns in the first quarter but once again, turnovers played a big part in Buffalo’s demise. Sean McDermott’s defense had no answers for Joe Burrow, which was the case in last year’s divisional playoff loss at Orchard Park.
Quarterback Josh Allen did throw for one score and ran for another. He also had one of the club’s two turnovers while the Bills finished with zero takeaways and allowed Burrow to throw for 348 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Winners of three consecutive games, Zac Taylor’s team was looking for its first victory over an AFC club in 2023. The Bengals got off to a fast start, scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions. Red-hot quarterback Joe Burrow finished the night with 348 yards passing and scoring tosses to tight ends Drew Sample and Irv Smith Jr.
Both the Bengals and Ravens are riding four-game winning streaks. Every team in the AFC North is at least two games above .500. Cincinnati’s recent resurgence is impressive, but that 0-2 divisional start still bears watching.
When this team last took the field, the Lions were at home and handling the Raiders on a Monday night in Week 8. Dan Campbell’s running game gained 222 yards, which was more than Las Vegas finished with in terms of total yards (157). Detroit overcame three turnovers and managed to run 81 offensive plays and total 486 yards.
It was a solid bounce back win following the lopsided loss at Baltimore. The Lions return to action next week and face the Chargers on the road. They still own the top spot in the NFC North, but here come the resurgent Vikings.
The Browns played tough last week at Seattle but came up a bit short. They were at home on Sunday against the one-win Cardinals. Kevin Stefanski’s club had quarterback Deshaun Watson back at the helm. He threw for 219 yards and two touchdowns, the offense gained 326 yards and the Browns played turnover-free football.
The Cleveland defense abused Cardinals’ rookie quarterback Clayton Tune, sacking him seven times and forcing him into three turnovers. Arizona gained 58 total yards. Can the Browns slow down the Ravens next Sunday?
With a few exceptions, Mike McDaniel’s club had racked up big numbers in its first eight games. However, those exceptions were in road losses to the Bills and Eagles, two of the NFL’s more talented teams. The Dolphins faced another huge test on Sunday afternoon in Germany as they took on the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
Miami trailed 21-0 at halftime, but was down by just seven late in the fourth quarter and deep in Chiefs’ territory. Tua Tagovailoa couldn’t handle a fourth-down shotgun snap. The Dolphins managed a season-low 14 points.
The reigning AFC South champions rallied to beat the Colts in Week 1, dropped two in a row and haven’t lost since. Doug Pederson’s team hasn’t been perfect but the Jaguars have come up with plenty of big plays at the right moment. The team has an impressive 18 takeaways in eight games. Josh Allen has nine of the club’s 16 sacks.
Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne have enjoyed solid years. At 6-2 and riding a five-game winning streak, this is the only team in the AFC South with a winning record. They host the 49ers this week in a battle of first-place clubs.
The Cowboys were in Philadelphia Sunday afternoon to take on the team with the best record in the NFL. Mike McCarthy’s team came up with a big effort and looked like it would pull out a late-game victory. However, Dallas’ squandered a couple of fourth-quarter drives by self-destructing in the shadow of the Philadelphia end zone.
Dak Prescott overcame five sacks to throw for 374 yards and three touchdowns. However, three of those sacks came in the final three minutes. Dallas has allowed 28 or more points in each of its three losses this season.
The Chiefs were the home team in Frankfurt, Germany as they took on the Dolphins in a battle of AFC division leaders. The defending Super Bowl champions looked the part in the first half, opening up a 21-0 lead. Steve Spagnuolo’s defense limited Miami to 110 yards and safety Bryan Cook returned a Tyreek Hill fumble for a score.
However, Andy Reid’s team was done scoring for the afternoon. The Chiefs totaled just 67 yards of offense after intermission. Reid’s club held on for a seven-point victory, but perhaps not all is quite right yet with this team.
The Ravens were facing their third consecutive NFC opponent. They welcomed the NFC West-leading Seahawks in a clash of first-place teams. Apparently only one team showed up on Sunday as John Harbaugh’s surging club surprisingly faced little opposition from a club that had won five of its previous six games and was 2-1 on the road.
Make it 2-2. For the second time in three games, Baltimore’s offense rolled up over 500 total yards. The Ravens owned a 17-3 lead after two quarters. In the first half, Harbaugh’s team has outscored foes a combined 135-45.
When push came to shove late in the fourth quarter, the Eagles’ pass rush proved to be the difference in the first showdown of the season with their longtime NFC East rival. The Cowboys challenged the Birds deep in their territory on twice in the fourth quarter and Philadelphia came up with three sacks in the final three minutes.
There haven’t been a lot of comfortable victories for the defending NFC champions. They still own the NFL’s best record and the top spot in the NFL Power Rankings. However, the Baltimore Ravens are right on their heels.