NFL Week 9 Performance Recap

Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins

Lamar Jackson returned from a hamstring injury in vintage form, throwing for 204 yards and four touchdowns as the Ravens cruised past the Dolphins 28–6, easily covering as 2.5-point road underdogs and keeping the under intact. Jackson completed 18 of 23 passes and showed no rust in his first game since Week 4, connecting twice with Mark Andrews and adding scores to Charlie Kolar and Rashod Bateman. Derrick Henry powered the ground game with 119 rushing yards on 19 carries as Baltimore (3–5) notched its second straight win in five days to climb back into the AFC North race. Miami (2–7) moved the ball well early but couldn’t finish drives — highlighted by a red-zone fumble from Malik Washington and two missed scoring chances from De’Von Achane. Tua Tagovailoa threw for 261 yards but failed to find the end zone as Baltimore’s defense tightened late. Bettors backing the Ravens and the under cashed comfortably as Jackson’s MVP chants echoed through Hard Rock Stadium.

San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants

The 49ers got back on track with a dominant ground performance, rolling past the Giants 34–24 and easily covering the 6.5-point spread while the over hit late. Christian McCaffrey led the charge with 173 total yards and two touchdowns — one rushing and one receiving — breaking Marshall Faulk’s record for the most games with both in NFL history. Brian Robinson Jr. provided the perfect complement, averaging 10.6 yards per carry and sealing the win with an 18-yard touchdown run that emptied MetLife Stadium. Quarterback Daniel Jones was efficient in Brock Purdy’s continued absence, completing 19 of 24 passes for 235 yards and two scores, including a 35-yard strike to Jauan Jennings. San Francisco (6–3) dominated the trenches, running the ball 39 times and controlling possession, while its defense limited New York’s offense to garbage-time points. Jaxson Dart threw for 191 yards and two late touchdowns for the 2–7 Giants, who dropped their third straight and failed to cover for the fourth time in five weeks.

Tennessee Titans at Los Angeles Chargers

Despite an early pick-six and a battered offensive line, Justin Herbert carried the Chargers to a gritty 27–20 win over the Titans, covering the 4.5-point spread and pushing the over across late. Herbert shook off six sacks and the loss of both starting tackles to throw for 250 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score on a 99-yard, nine-minute drive that sealed the victory. Los Angeles (6–3) has now won three of its last four, fueled by a defense that made key stops at the goal line and held Tennessee to just 206 total yards. The Titans (1–8) got early fireworks from linebacker Cody Barton’s 24-yard pick-six and rookie Chimere Dike’s 67-yard punt-return touchdown, but their offense sputtered under Cam Ward, who managed just 145 yards. With Tony Pollard stuffed twice at the 1-yard line and penalties piling up, Tennessee dropped its fourth straight. Bettors backing the Chargers and the over were rewarded as Herbert once again proved his value as one of the league’s top competitors.

Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings

J.J. McCarthy delivered the breakout performance Minnesota had been waiting for, guiding the Vikings to a 27–24 upset win over the Lions as 3-point home underdogs and cashing the over late. The second-year quarterback accounted for all three of the Vikings’ touchdowns — two through the air and one on the ground — in his first game back from a high-ankle sprain. McCarthy threw for 143 yards and two first-quarter scores to Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson, then iced the game with a clutch 16-yard completion to Jalen Nailor to run out the clock. Minnesota’s defense added five sacks and a key blocked field goal that set up a late Will Reichard kick, stretching the lead before Detroit’s final push. Jared Goff threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns, but the Lions were undone by 10 penalties, a blocked kick, and a season-high five sacks allowed. The win moved the Vikings to 4–4 and rewarded bettors who trusted McCarthy and the home dog, while the Lions fell to 5–3 ATS after another costly post-bye stumble.

Atlanta Falcons at New England Patriots

The Patriots survived a late scare to edge the Falcons 24–23, extending their win streak to six straight and narrowly covering as 1.5-point home favorites while the over cashed in the final minutes. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye delivered an up-and-down outing, throwing for 259 yards and two touchdowns but also committing two turnovers, including a costly strip-sack before halftime. Still, Maye came through when it mattered most, converting a key third-and-long to Hunter Henry that allowed New England (7–2) to run out the clock after Parker Romo missed a game-tying extra point for Atlanta. DeMario Douglas posted his first career 100-yard game, and Terrell Jennings added his first rushing touchdown as the Patriots’ defense once again stifled the run, holding Bijan Robinson to just 46 yards. Michael Penix Jr. threw for 222 yards and three touchdowns — all to Drake London — but six sacks and a late grounding penalty doomed the Falcons (3–5), who have now dropped eight straight meetings with New England and remain winless in Foxborough since 1998.

Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers rediscovered their defensive identity, forcing six turnovers to stun the AFC-leading Colts 27–20 and cash as 3-point home underdogs while the under narrowly held. T.J. Watt led the charge with two sacks, two forced fumbles, and a momentum-swinging strip-sack in the second quarter that flipped the game. Pittsburgh (5–3) turned three Indianapolis giveaways into touchdowns, including a pick by rookie linebacker Payton Wilson that set up Aaron Rodgers’ 12-yard scoring strike to Pat Freiermuth. Rodgers finished a steady 25-of-35 for 203 yards, while Jaylen Warren ran for two scores as the Steelers ripped off 24 straight points after trailing early. Daniel Jones threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns but also tossed three interceptions and lost two fumbles behind a collapsing pocket, while Jonathan Taylor was bottled up for just 45 yards on 14 carries. The victory snapped Pittsburgh’s two-game skid and reminded bettors why the Steelers remain one of the league’s most profitable home underdogs — especially when Watt and company are wreaking havoc.

Houston Texans at Denver Broncos

The Broncos continued their late-game magic, rallying past the Texans 18–15 on a last-second Wil Lutz field goal to notch their sixth straight win and cover as 2.5-point favorites, while the under cashed easily. Bo Nix struggled for much of the afternoon against Houston’s top-ranked defense, throwing for just 173 yards with a touchdown and an interception, but delivered when it mattered — scrambling for 25 yards on the final drive to set up the game-winner. Rookie RJ Harvey scored for the third straight week, and Troy Franklin’s two-point grab tied the game early in the fourth. Denver (7–2) is now 4–0 in games it’s trailed entering the fourth quarter during this win streak. Houston (3–5) lost quarterback C.J. Stroud to a concussion in the first quarter and couldn’t recover, as backup Davis Mills mustered only 137 yards while Ka’imi Fairbairn accounted for all of Houston’s points with five field goals. Bettors backing Denver and the under extended their own streaks, as Sean Payton’s squad continues to grind out ugly — but profitable — wins.

Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals

In one of the wildest games of the season, Caleb Williams and the Bears (+4.5) pulled off a 47–42 thriller over the Bengals, cashing the over midway through the fourth in a game that saw three touchdowns in the final two minutes. Williams threw for 280 yards and three touchdowns — including a 58-yard strike to rookie tight end Colston Loveland with 17 seconds left — and also caught a touchdown pass in a career-defining performance. Chicago (5–3) racked up 576 yards of offense, led by rookie Kyle Monangai’s 176 rushing yards and a season-high 283 yards on the ground. Joe Flacco countered with a career-best 470 yards and four touchdowns, rallying Cincinnati (3–6) from a 14-point deficit in the final five minutes before the defense collapsed late. Tee Higgins (121 yards, 2 TDs) and Ja’Marr Chase (111 yards) each topped 100 receiving yards, but it wasn’t enough as the Bengals’ late-game heartbreak continued — now 0–6 since last season when scoring 30 or more. The Bears moved into the NFC playoff picture with their fifth win in six games, proving they can win a shootout as well as they can grind one out.

Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers

The Panthers pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season, stunning the Packers 16–13 as two-touchdown underdogs and rewarding bettors who grabbed the +14 and under. Rico Dowdle powered Carolina (5–4) with 130 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a 19-yard burst in the final minute that set up rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald’s game-winning 49-yard field goal as time expired. Fitzgerald redeemed himself after missing a long extra point earlier, while Dowdle made up for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that nearly cost his team. Carolina’s defense bent but didn’t break, holding Green Bay (5–2–1) to just 13 points despite five trips inside the 35. Jordan Love threw for 273 yards but couldn’t cash in on key drives, including a failed fourth-down attempt in the red zone. The Packers also lost tight end Tucker Kraft to a potentially serious knee injury. Coach Dave Canales’ decision to take the ball first — giving his team the wind at its back for the final drive — proved decisive, as Carolina snapped Green Bay’s three-game winning streak in a grind-it-out victory that cashed for anyone brave enough to back the big dog.

New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles RamsThe Rams made it three straight wins in dominant fashion, cruising past the Saints 34–10 and covering as 7-point favorites while the under hit comfortably. Matthew Stafford was sharp once again, completing 24 of 32 for 281 yards and four touchdowns — two to Davante Adams, who tied Tony Gonzalez for eighth all-time with 111 career TD grabs. Puka Nacua returned from injury with 95 yards and a score, and Kyren Williams added 114 rushing yards and a touchdown as the Rams (6–2) racked up 438 yards of offense. Los Angeles’ defense stayed stingy, holding its third straight opponent under 10 points and allowing just 224 total yards. Rookie Tyler Shough threw for 176 yards and a late touchdown in his first NFL start for the Saints (1–8), but New Orleans’ offense was again overmatched, running just 51 plays to L.A.’s 75. Sean McVay’s squad has quietly become one of the NFC’s hottest teams, while the Saints sank to their second four-game skid of the year — and bettors backing the Rams’ recent surge keep cashing with ease.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Las Vegas Raiders

Trevor Lawrence overcame illness and early mistakes to deliver a gutsy performance, rallying the Jaguars to a 30–29 overtime win over the Raiders and cashing as short road favorites while the over narrowly hit. Despite looking “pale as a ghost,” according to coach Liam Coen, Lawrence threw for 220 yards and ran for two touchdowns — including the game-winner on a QB sneak in OT — to snap Jacksonville’s two-game skid and move to 5–3. Rookie kicker Cam Little was the other hero, drilling a record-breaking 68-yard field goal before halftime and tying it with a 48-yarder in the final seconds of regulation. Las Vegas (2–6) dropped its sixth in seven despite a monster game from tight end Brock Bowers, who caught 12 passes for 127 yards and three touchdowns in his return from injury. Geno Smith threw for 284 yards and four scores but was denied on a potential game-winning 2-point conversion when 335-pound nose tackle DaVon Hamilton batted down his pass at the line. The Jaguars defense forced key stops late, and Josh Hines-Allen set a new franchise sack record (55.5) as Jacksonville stayed alive in the AFC playoff hunt — even on a day when their franchise QB played through sickness and a sluggish start.

Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen reminded everyone why he’s the reigning MVP, leading Buffalo to a statement 28–21 win over Kansas City and cashing for Bills -3 bettors while the under hit. Playing through illness and recent criticism, Allen turned in one of his most efficient games ever — completing 23 of 26 passes (an 88.5% franchise record) for 273 yards and a touchdown, while adding two QB sneaks for scores. His precision and poise helped Buffalo (6–2) snap a two-game skid and open a 2½-game lead over the Chiefs (5–4) in the AFC race. Patrick Mahomes, meanwhile, posted the worst completion rate (44.1%) of his career, going 15 of 34 with 250 yards and an interception as the Bills’ front harassed him all night with three sacks and 15 hits. Rookie corner Maxwell Hairston sealed the win by batting down Mahomes’ final heave to the end zone after earlier snagging a pick. Dalton Kincaid paced Buffalo’s air attack with 101 yards, and James Cook ran for 114. The Chiefs got rushing scores from Kareem Hunt and Rashee Rice but again settled for field goals at key moments, a frustration Andy Reid acknowledged postgame. With Allen breaking Cam Newton’s all-time QB rushing TD mark (78) and moving past Mahomes on the all-time TD list before age 30, the Bills’ franchise quarterback finally got the better of his rival — at least in the regular season — and handed Buffalo a long-awaited emotional win over its AFC nemesis.

Washington Commanders at Seattle Seahawks

Sam Darnold turned in a career night, torching Washington for four first-half touchdowns as the Seahawks cruised to a 38–14 primetime win, easily covering the 7.5-point spread while the over cashed before halftime. Darnold completed his first 17 passes — 16 of them in a flawless 282-yard, four-TD first half — before finally throwing an incompletion early in the third quarter. He finished 21 of 24 for 330 yards, becoming just the fourth QB since 1991 to throw four touchdowns before his first miss (joining Lamar Jackson, Ryan Tannehill, and Tom Brady). Rookie Tory Horton hauled in two early scores, Cody White added a 60-yard catch-and-run, and Seattle (6–2) remained tied atop the NFC West. Washington (3–6) dropped its fourth straight, losing quarterback Jayden Daniels to a gruesome arm injury late. Daniels managed 153 yards passing, 51 rushing, and a lone touchdown before exiting, as the Commanders’ defense surrendered 38 points and over 400 total yards despite Seattle missing Cooper Kupp. Jaxon Smith-Njigba led all receivers with 129 yards, tying a franchise record with his sixth 100-yard game of the season. The Seahawks never trailed, jumping out to a 31–7 halftime lead and coasting from there — a complete rout that showcased a suddenly surging Seattle offense hitting its stride behind Darnold’s near-perfect rhythm.

Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys — Monday Night Football Preview

The Cowboys return to prime time for the second straight week, hosting the slumping Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football in what could mark Kyler Murray’s return from a foot injury—though veteran Jacoby Brissett will start his third straight game. Murray, undefeated in nine career games at AT&T Stadium spanning high school, college, and the NFL, could be active in a limited role as Arizona (2–6) looks to snap a five-game skid decided by just 13 combined points. Dallas (3–4–1) is coming off a humbling 44–24 loss at Denver after its most dominant win of the season against Washington, and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer insists the team’s focus is on results, not stats, heading into the bye week. Meanwhile, veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell will make his 250th career start for Arizona in his return to the franchise that drafted him, hoping to help contain one of the league’s most explosive offenses in a prime-time matchup under the lights in Arlington.