Week 9 of the NFL created another exciting witching hour for viewers, having multiple 2 minute comebacks and a game-winning 61 yard FG. In the afternoon window, the Jaguars almost caused a riot against Nick Sirianni at the Linc and the Lions smashed the Packers at Lambeau.
MY RECORD (WEEK 9)
STRAIGHT UP: 8-6
ATS: 8-5-1
SUNDAY EARLY SLATE
COWBOYS vs. FALCONS – FALCONS WIN 27-21
The Cowboys are playing bad football, and might be without Dak Prescott for a few weeks because of a hamstring injury. Hopefully nothing long-term for Dak, but the Cowboys are on the struggle bus. The Falcons are a good football team and are continuing to get better and better each. If they can get a consistent pash rush, they should run away with NFC South this year. Drake London left early in the 1st Quarter, allowing Darnell Mooney’s career-best season to continue.
DOLPHINS vs. BILLS – BILLS WIN 30-27
What a game we saw in Buffalo yesterday! Stop me if you have heard this before, but the Bills beat the Dolphins on a game-winning 61 yard FG by Tyler Bass after missing an XP earlier in the game. Way to redeem the miss Tyler Bass!
On the other sideline, the Dolphins lost again on a last-second FG to fall to 2-6 on the season. The Dolphins played like a desperate football team yesterday, fighting all the way to the end of the game. A late offsides and personal foul penalty sunk the Dolphins’ on defense during the final drive. Achane scored 2 TDs and might be RB1 in fantasy football moving forward.
RAIDERS vs. BENGALS – BENGALS WIN 41-24
I thought Jermaine Burton would have a big game after positive comments from Joe Burrow and Zac Taylor, but it appears he was a healthy scratch for failing to be a professional leading up to the game. It’s a real shame because he had an opportunity without Tee Higgins. Joe Burrow, Jamarr Chase, Chase Brown, and Mike Gesicki had great days for the Bengals against the Raiders. The Raiders just fired OC Luke Getsy, and might let Desmond Ridder take over the offense moving forward. It would be shocking if the Raiders did not draft a QB in Round 1 in the 2025 Draft.
CHARGERS vs. BROWNS – CHARGERS WIN 27-10
We saw bad Jameis yesterday, and it was ugly offensively for the Browns. Safe to say the Jameis honeymoon is over in the Dawg Pound. The Chargers looked really good in the 1st half, and had another big game from Quentin Johnston. Harbaugh has Herbert playing aggressive, throwing down the field to Josh Palmer, Ladd McConkey, and QJ. JK Dobbins had another big game, cementing his status as RB1 for the Chargers.
PATRIOTS vs. TITANS – TITANS WIN 20-17 IN OT
The Titans finally defeated the streak of opponents losing the week following a game against the Lions. Tony Pollard had a great game and is showing how much of a mistake the Cowboys made by letting him leave in the off-season. The Titans might have a QB controversy, as Mason Rudolph won another start. Drake Maye looks to be the part of a starting QB in the NFL. He made an incredible play on the last play in regulation, forcing OT.
I have to wonder why the Patriots didn’t for two and win the game. Regardless, they should have a very high pick in the 2025 Draft, and get either an offensive weapon or protection for Drake Maye.
COMMANDERS vs. GIANTS – COMMANDERS WIN 27-22
Daniel Jones had more TD passes than yards in the 1st Half, but recovered and had a much better second half for the Giants. The Giants still lost, and take their losing streak into Germany to face the Panthers next Sunday. Jayden Daniels connected with Scary Terry for 2 TDs, improving their record to 7-2 and finishing the first half of the NFL season as the biggest surprise team of 2024.
SAINTS vs. PANTHERS – PANTHERS WIN 23-22
The Panthers pulled off the biggest upset of Week 9, defeating the Saints after Derek Carr failed to convert on 4th down in the final minutes of the game. The Saints are in complete disarray, as Cam Jordan and Khalen Saunders were openly making fun of the Saints on X after the game. The Saints fired HC Dennis Allen this morning after the loss. Bryce Young smiled and showed signs of the quality play that led him to being the 1st Overall Pick in 2023. The Panthers travel to Germany with a division win and momentum.
BRONCOS vs. RAVENS – RAVENS WIN 41-10
Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson, Zay Flowers, and the Ravens offense destroyed killed the Broncos. The Ravens looked like the team we saw in Weeks 3-7, responding after the loss in Cleveland last week. For the Broncos, this was an expected loss, but still head to the midway point 5-4.
SUNDAY LATE SLATE
JAGUARS vs. EAGLES – EAGLES 28-23
The Eagles won at the Linc in spite of Nick Sirianni coaching like I play in Madden. I don’t know why Trevor Lawrence threw up a 50-50 ball to his RB on 1st down in the Red Zone, but that was a great INT by Nakobe Dean. Saquon is playing the best ball of his career, making crazy plays like the backwards hurdle. Jalen Hurts is running with confidence, making the Eagles quite dangerous once again.
BEARS vs. CARDINALS – CARDINALS 29-9
I thought the Bears would have a ton of scar tissue from the defeat last weekend, and that seemed true based on the product on the field. The Bears struggled to move the ball offensively and failed to stop James Conner on the ground. The game flipped when Bears gave up a long rushing TD right before the half to go down 21-9. The Cardinals look quite formidable and won convincingly, even though Kyler and the passing attack failed to register much of an impact.
LIONS vs. PACKERS – LIONS 24-14
The Lions once again mauled the Packers at Lambeau. As one of my Packers fan buddies said, “[This] was Detroit’s first game outdoors this year and they look like the team that plays outside in inclement weather, not the Packers. Lambeau isn’t a home-field advantage anymore. Hasn’t been for years. Sad.” The Lions are the best team in the NFL, and they are pummeling the opposition each week.
RAMS vs. SEAHAWKS – RAMS 26-20 IN OT
The Rams tried their hardest to let the Seahawks back into the game after Geno’s two 4th Quarter Red-Zone INTs. Gotta give credit where credit is due because Geno drove them down the field in the 2 min drill and tied it up thanks to a JSN TD. In OT, the Seahawks went for it on 4th down instead of kicking the FG, and failed to convert. Matt Stafford responded by doing what Matt Stafford does, and called game by throwing a deep TD to Demarcus Robinson.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
COLTS vs. VIKINGS – VIKINGS 21-13
The Vikings defeated the Colts in a sloppy game. The Colts struggled to protect Joe Flacco throughout the night, while Sam Darnold was turnover-prone, turning it over three times to match his 3 2nd Half TD Passes. The Vikings’ offensive weapons are fully healthy, and should continue to get better as the season progresses. When do the Vikings pull a Minnesota and lose in heartbreak?
