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Welcome to Week 9, RotoBallers! We kicked things off with a Thursday night matchup between two teams that appeared to be headed in opposite directions with the 2-6 New York Jets hosting the 6-2 Houston Texans. Of course, because we live in the upside world known as the NFL, the Jets won. Go figure.
In addition to the week's opener, there are a number of intriguing matchups on tap for Sunday. Notably, we have meaningful divisional clashes between Detroit and Green Bay, Seattle and L.A., as well as Buffalo and Miami.
Good, bad, and ugly...we'll go through every Week 9 game in this article, offering picks, predictions, and analysis on each and every one. Thanks for joining us here at RotoBaller; let's dive into the slate!
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Baltimore Ravens 24, Denver Broncos 20
Weird things can happen in divisional rivalries, as we were reminded of with Baltimore's shocking Week 8 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Lamar Jackson and company will need to quickly put that set back behind them, as they face a trending Broncos squad this week.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has been named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for October. 🎱🔥
Much deserved. pic.twitter.com/RUFJAav7rS
— Ravens Nation 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀 (@LIVERavenNation) October 31, 2024
Denver has won five out of their last six, though it's fair to mention that their last three wins have come against the Panthers, Saints, and Raiders. This will be a stiffer challenge, however, and I expect the Ravens to bounce back at home.
Cincinnati Bengals 31, Las Vegas Raiders 21
The Bengals are a team with flaws, many of which were exposed last week by the Philadelphia Eagles. However, this is unquestionably a talented offense that's capable of scoring points in bunches, especially when Tee Higgins is on the field. I look for Higgins to be back for this matchup against the Raiders and a Las Vegas defense that's allowing the NFL's fifth-most points per game (26.3).
New England Patriots 17, Tennessee Titans 13
Somebody's gotta win this one! The Patriots come in off their second win of the year - a 25-22 shocker over the Jets - while the Titans enter Week 9 fresh off being embarrassed by the Detroit Lions last week. It's a reasonable spot for Tennessee to pick up their second victory of the season but a nagging feeling tells me that Brian Callahan's squad will continue to find ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
New Orleans Saints 27, Carolina Panthers 13
As of this writing, Saints quarterback Derek Carr is expected to be back in the New Orleans lineup for a Week 9 divisional tilt with the abysmal Panthers. Carr's presence alone might be enough to carry the sinking-themselves Saints to a much-needed win here. Carolina is fielding a college-level defense that ranks dead last in the NFL in points allowed (33.9), and with Bryce Young under center, the offense isn't much better.
Atlanta Falcons 35, Dallas Cowboys 28
Two of the NFL's most unpredictable teams clash in this one. As Kirk Cousins has gotten healthy he's proving himself to be worth every penny Atlanta paid him during the offseason. His presence has unlocked Drake London and Kyle Pitts en route to leading the Falcons to wins in four of their last five.
Dallas Week pic.twitter.com/a2Zi3qRabu
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 31, 2024
Conversely, Dallas has lost two of three while struggling to reach the heights they occupied routinely during the 2023 regular season. Expect a wild one, but give the edge to Atlanta at home.
Buffalo Bills 24, Miami Dolphins 20
It was great to see Tua Tagovailoa healthy and back on the field in Week 8. The difference his presence makes on the Miami offense is undeniable and gargantuan.
However, the 'Fins signal-caller has historically struggled against the Bills, as he's thrown 10 interceptions to just seven TDs - while also taking 13 sacks - in eight career meetings against Sean McDermott's defenses. Buffalo has won five straight over Miami and should continue to roll in this divisional matchup.
Cleveland Browns 17, Los Angeles Chargers 14
Well, well, well...the Cleveland Browns looked like a totally different football team with Jameis Winston under center last week. Sound familiar? With Deshaun Watson lost for the season, Kevin Stefanski's bunch resembled the squad that made an unlikely playoff run with Joe Flacco a year ago en route to shocking the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8.
They get a chance to upset another Harbough in Week 9, as Jim and the Chargers come to town. While the Bolts are the better team on paper, I like the rejuvenated Browns to keep the positive momentum going at home.
Washington Commanders 21, New York Giants 17
The Commanders absolutely stole one last week with a last-second Hail Mary to beat the Chicago Bears. Things probably won't be as dramatic this week against the struggling Giants. New York fell to 2-6 after a loss to the Steelers on Monday night, which means they'll face Washington's dynamic Jayden Daniels-led offense and a trending Commanders defense on a short week.
The Washington Commanders Hail Mary set to Father Stretch My Hands pic.twitter.com/zXg1UZnrcK
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) October 27, 2024
Philadelphia Eagles 31, Jacksonville Jaguars 20
The Eagles put together their most impressive outing of the season in last week's 37-17 road win over the Bengals. Jalen Hurts accounted for four TDs and Saquon Barkley rushed for over 100 yards, as the Philly offense finally flashed the firepower we expected to see coming into 2024.
Jacksonville took another tough loss to drop to 2-6, but most notably exited Week 8 with a decimated receiving corps, as Christian Kirk was lost for the year and Brian Thomas Jr. received a chest injury. Philly has pulled the rug out from under us before, but if the Week 8 version of this offense shows up, they will steamroll a Jaguars defense that's allowing 28 points per game.
Chicago Bears 17, Arizona Cardinals 16
Anybody got a coin we can flip? It's tough to predict what we'll get out of either of these teams, as the only consistent thing about both Arizona and Chicago this season has been their unpredictability.
The Bears dropped a heartbreaker to Washington on a last-second Hail Mary in Week 8, while the Cardinals traveled cross country to edge the Miami Dolphins. This one should be razor close, but Chicago's excellent defense will be the tiebreaker.
Los Angeles Rams 24, Seattle Seahawks 23
The resurgent Rams travel to Lumen Field to a sliding Seattle squad that's lost four of five following a 3-0 start to the season. L.A.'s 3-4 record doesn't reflect just how tough Sean McVay's bunch is, though a 30-20 win over the Vikings when at close to full strength last week gives us some idea.
The Seahawks have been banged up themselves with DK Metcalf questionable for this divisional meeting, as Mike Macdonald is also navigating a slew of defensive injuries. With Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp back at his disposal, Matthew Stafford should pick the undermanned Seattle defense apart.
Detroit Lions 27, Green Bay Packers 24
It's tough to argue that any team in the NFL is playing at a higher level than the Detroit Lions at the moment. The winners of five straight, Dan Campbell's offense is averaging a league-high 33.4 points per game with a defense that's held opponents to 14 or fewer points in three of their last five.
Jordan Love said his groin is definitely feeling better.
How realistic is it to play Sunday against the Lions?
“I think it’s realistic.” pic.twitter.com/Ro2OQu9OpU
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) October 30, 2024
Despite being in high-powered form, Detroit faces a stiff challenge in the form of the Packers in Week 9. A trip to Lambeau is never easy, though Jordan Love's status with a groin injury will certainly impact the degree of difficulty. Even assuming Love does play, I'm still gonna lean towards the Lions in a close one.
Minnesota Vikings 28, Indianapolis Colts 21
The Vikings will look to avoid their third straight loss against the Colts in this Sunday night primetime matchup. Indianapolis' decision to bench Anthony Richardson in favor of Joe Flacco will probably make that a bit more difficult for Minnesota, yet it's hard not to like this explosive team at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores will throw everything but the kitchen sink at Flacco, while Justin Jefferson should feast on a leaky Colts secondary that's 30th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game.
Kansas City Chiefs 27, Tampa Bay Bucs 21
We keep saying it every week...the Chiefs aren't playing their best football. However, Kansas City enters this Monday night date with the Bucs sporting a spotless 7-0 record.
While we know that Patrick Mahomes is the greatest QB on planet Earth, this year's version of the Chiefs is winning behind a defense that's arguably the league's best. Kansas City ranks top-five in the NFL in total yards, rushing yards, and points allowed per game.
This series of stops was a Spags masterclass 😤 pic.twitter.com/eTzQJRJaN9
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 30, 2024
Baker Mayfield will try to put them to the test, though his arsenal of offensive weapons is severely depleted with Chris Godwin lost for the season and Mike Evans out multiple weeks. Unfortunately, Tampa's defense doesn't look capable of helping out Mayfield and the banged-up offense. This could be a breakout spot for Mahomes and a KC offense that's been quiet to this point.
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