NFL Week 9 Performance Recap

Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens (Thursday Night) 

Jacksonville covered as a 9.5-point road favorite (some books had it at 10) and the game cleared the 40.5 total in a 33-10 win that was never in doubt. The Jaguars won their fourth game of the season by double digits and improved to 6-2. Justice Hill's 65-yard touchdown run was one of the few bright spots for Baltimore. Derrick Henry was held to 57 rushing yards, and rookie Joe Fagnano threw for just 60 yards and two interceptions in his first start. The Ravens are down to Jacoby Brissett at quarterback with Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley both hurt, and Kyle Hamilton left with a hip injury. Jacksonville did lose nose tackle DaVon Hamilton to a torn quad. Baltimore falls to 4-5 and has now been outscored 69-20 in its last two games.

Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons (Madrid) 

Cincinnati covered as a 3-point favorite and the game stayed just under the 52 total in a 34-17 win in Madrid. Joe Burrow threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns, and the Bengals improved to 6-2. Atlanta did most of its own damage, committing 12 penalties for 88 yards, and Nick Folk missed a 38-yard field goal. The Falcons fall to 3-6 and host Kansas City next before their bye week.

Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers 

Denver covered as a 3-point road favorite and the game cleared the 44 total in a 26-21 win that was closer than the final suggests. Nik Bonitto sealed it with a strip-sack, and the Broncos also benefited when a Devon Key interception was overturned on challenge, though that did not change the outcome. Denver has now won 16 straight one-score games, and it did so without Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones, while Jaylen Waddle and Riley Moss exited with concussions. Bryce Young was sacked three times, Ikem Ekwonu is out and Taylor Moton is done for the season, and Carolina has fired its defensive coordinator. The Broncos move to 7-2, and the Panthers fall to 3-5.

Dallas Cowboys at Indianapolis Colts 

Indianapolis covered as a 6-point home underdog (4.5 at some books) and the game stayed just under the 51.5 total in a 27-23 Cowboys win. CeeDee Lamb had 10 catches for 195 yards and a touchdown on 16 targets, and Ryan Flournoy's 46-yard catch set up the winning score, even with George Pickens out with a hamstring injury. Dallas committed 14 penalties for 153 yards and still survived, while Hunter Wohler led all defenders with 16 tackles. Jonathan Taylor ran 13 times and lost a fumble, and Seth McGowan scored for Indianapolis. The Cowboys improve to 4-5, and the Colts fall to 2-7.

New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs 

Kansas City covered as a 9.5-point home favorite (the line ranged from 8.5 to 10) and the 47 points landed in the middle of the 46.5 to 47.5 totals on the board in a 35-12 win. Kenneth Walker III ran 18 times for 102 yards and a touchdown and added four catches for 41 yards and two more scores. David Bailey had two sacks and two forced fumbles for the Jets, and Patrick Mahomes hurt his elbow on a hit from Bailey but finished the game. New York has lost four straight. The Chiefs improve to 6-2, and the Jets fall to 2-7.

Detroit Lions at Miami Dolphins 

Detroit covered as a 7-point road favorite (6.5 at some books) and the game stayed far under the 50.5 total in a 19-9 win. Derrick Moore had two sacks even with DJ Wonnum hurt, and Detroit held Greg Dulcich to two catches for 14 yards. Caleb Douglas set career highs with six catches on eight targets for Miami, but the offense has little talent around him, and Malik Willis has been under 200 passing yards in half his games. The Lions improve to 6-2, while the Dolphins fall to 1-7.

Cleveland Browns at New Orleans Saints 

Cleveland covered as a 2.5-point underdog (4.5 at some books) and the game flew over the 43.5 total in a 23-22 Saints overtime win. Andre Szmyt's 51-yard field goal forced overtime for the Browns, and Cleveland went for two in overtime and failed, the decision that decided it. Audric Estime, a former Saint, ran for 72 yards and a touchdown for the Browns, who also committed 10 penalties for 58 yards. Chase Young recorded sacks for New Orleans, which was without Travis Etienne Jr. The Saints improve to 3-5, and Cleveland falls to 5-4 with its second loss in a row.

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles 

New York covered as a 3.5-point road favorite (3 at some books) and the game stayed well under the 39.5 total in a 19-11 win that extended Philadelphia's losing streak to seven. Joe Milton made his first start for the Eagles with Jalen Hurts out for the season with blood clots, going 18 of 34 for 169 yards and adding 64 rushing yards. J.J. McCarthy was hit on a designed run by Zack Baun, left the game and returned, while Devin Singletary carried 21 times for 31 yards with Cam Skattebo (hamstring) and Tyrone Tracy Jr. (injured reserve) out. The Giants improve to 5-2-1, and the Eagles fall to 2-7.

Los Angeles Rams at Washington Commanders 

Los Angeles covered as a 5.5-point road favorite (4.5 at some books) and the game stayed well under the 47.5 total in a 20-13 win. Myles Garrett had three sacks in his return from knee surgery for the Rams, who lost Davante Adams to a hamstring tear, and Puka Nacua, who has 33 catches for 298 yards and three touchdowns since Week 6, will have an MRI on a knee injury. Washington lost Treylon Burks to a foot injury and got a team-high 58 receiving yards from Van Jefferson. The Rams improve to 5-4, and the Commanders fall to 2-6-1.

Houston Texans at Los Angeles Chargers 

Houston covered as a 4.5-point road favorite (5.5 at some books) and the game soared over the 40.5 total in a 44-22 rout. C.J. Stroud went 21 of 35 for 384 yards, five touchdowns and an interception and added 20 rushing yards. Justin Herbert hurt a finger on his non-throwing hand, Tre' Harris left with a leg injury, and Ladd McConkey missed the game, with Rashawn Slater on injured reserve. The Texans improve to 3-5, and the Chargers fall to 0-8.

Las Vegas Raiders at San Francisco 49ers 

San Francisco covered as a 9.5-point home favorite (some books had it at 10) and the game cleared the 51.5 total in a 38-17 win. The Raiders turned the ball over five times, including three interceptions by Kirk Cousins, and Jordan Watkins caught four passes for 86 yards and a touchdown for San Francisco. The win came with Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel and De'Zhaun Stribling all hurt. The 49ers improve to 7-1, and Las Vegas falls to 4-5.

Green Bay Packers at New England Patriots 

Green Bay won outright as a 2.5-point road underdog and the game soared over the 44.5 total in a 45-27 blowout. Jordan Love went 23 of 29 for 372 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a 13-yard score, and the Packers' defense had four sacks and four takeaways. Drake Maye threw three interceptions, and New England played without A.J. Brown, TreVeyon Henderson, Romeo Doubs and Alijah Vera-Tucker, then lost Rhamondre Stevenson and Will Campbell to knee injuries. The Packers improve to 6-3, and the Patriots fall to 5-4.

Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks 

Seattle covered as an 11-point home favorite (9.5 at some books) and the game stayed far under the 42 total in a 17-3 win. Zach Charbonnet ran for 77 yards at 4.8 yards a carry, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba had seven catches for 51 yards, but Seattle did it with Sam Darnold sidelined with quad and rib injuries and Drew Lock dealing with an oblique problem. Gardner Minshew II completed 21 of 30 for 166 yards for Arizona, which was missing Michael Wilson (broken ribs) and Jeremiyah Love (injured reserve). Seattle bounces back from last week's loss in Chicago to improve to 5-4.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears 

Tampa Bay covered as a 6-point road underdog and the game flew over the 46.5 total in a 27-24 Bears win. Caleb Williams threw a career-high four interceptions, and Chicago needed a late rally to survive, with Devin Bush Jr. leading the defense with nine tackles and two passes defended and Jeffery Simmons recording a sack in his first game as a Bear. Baker Mayfield started for Tampa Bay. The Bears improve to 7-2, while the Buccaneers fall to 3-6 and head into their bye.

Monday Night Preview: Buffalo Bills at Minnesota Vikings 

Buffalo is a 3-point road favorite (3.5 at some books) with the total near 44 and the moneyline around Bills -180 and Vikings +150 in a battle of 6-1 teams, with the line moving after Minnesota ruled Kyler Murray out with a hamstring strain. Carson Wentz will make his second start of the season, having gone 23 of 39 for 276 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. That test is steep, because Buffalo leads the NFL in scoring at 33.3 points per game behind Josh Allen and comes off a 36-10 win over Baltimore. Minnesota allows the fewest points in the league at 13.3 per game but ranks 29th in yards and 30th in offensive EPA per play, and it is coming off its first loss of the season to Detroit. Buffalo is 5-2 against the spread with the over hitting in five of seven games, while Minnesota is 4-3 against the spread with the under hitting in six of seven. The Bills list D.J. Moore, Joshua Palmer, Spencer Brown, Greg Gaines and Dee Alford as questionable, while Minnesota has Christian Darrisaw and Theo Jackson questionable. Buffalo's defense ranks 27th in opponent EPA per play, which gives Minnesota's defense a path to keep things close, so this looks like a game where the Bills win a low-scoring contest, with the Vikings getting the points and the under both worth a look.