Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season kicked off Thursday with the Ravens defeating the Dolphins. Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson delivered four touchdown passes in his return from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for three games.
In the early window Sunday, the Patriots squeaked by the Falcons after kicker Parker Romo missed a potential tying extra point in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Panthers kicker Ryan Fitzgerald and Broncos kicker Wil Lutz hit time-expiring field goals to defeat the Packers and Texans, respectively. The Steelers also stalled the Colts’ offense with six takeaways, while the Bears won a shootout over the Bengals.
In the afternoon window, the Rams dominated against the Saints in rookie quarterback Tyler Shough’s debut. Bills quarterback Josh Allen won his fifth straight regular-season matchup against Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. And the Raiders lost by one point to the Jaguars after failing to score on a 2-point conversion in the final seconds of overtime.
And in the evening, Sam Darnold threw four first-half touchdowns in a dominating Seahawks win that saw Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels leave the game because of a left elbow injury.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let’s get to it.
Jump to:SEA-WSH | JAX-LV | KC-BUF | NO-LARCHI-CIN | HOU-DEN | CAR-GBMIN-DET | IND-PIT | LAC-TENATL-NE | SF-NYG | BAL-MIA
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Seahawks
Sam Darnold is playing lights out. Will the Seahawks get him more help at the trade deadline? Darnold threw four first-half touchdown passes against Washington, tied the franchise record with 17 straight completions to begin the game and finished with 330 yards passing before being pulled midway through the fourth quarter. Neither he nor the Seahawks’ offense appeared to be missing much in Seattle’s blowout win. But there are some spots where the offense could use upgrades, most notably at either right guard or center. Despite Tory Horton continuing his strong rookie season with two more touchdown catches against Washington, receiver is another position to watch, given Cooper Kupp’s injury history (he didn’t play Sunday night).
Trend to watch: Injuries continue to keep Riq Woolen in a starting role at cornerback. He was surpassed early in the season as the No. 2 corner by Josh Jobe, but Woolen remained a starter as Devon Witherspoon missed five games because of a knee injury. Witherspoon’s return Sunday had begun to relegate Woolen to the role of sixth defensive back in dime packages, but Jobe left in the first half because of a concussion. Though Woolen has been an obvious trade candidate amid inconsistent performances as he plays out the last year of his deal, the Seahawks keep getting reminders about the need for quality cornerback depth.
Best quote out of the locker room: If the Seahawks don’t make any trades before the Tuesday deadline, it won’t be for lack of interest. “We went to the Maryland-Indiana game yesterday, talking to a bunch of teams,” general manager John Schneider said in his pregame radio interview on Seattle Sports 710-AM. “We’ll continue to have conversations through the next two days. So, we’re in, in, and we’ll see what’s shaking out there.” — Brady Henderson
Next game: vs. Cardinals (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)
Commanders
What happens now without Jayden Daniels? The Commanders were reeling even with Daniels at quarterback. Now that he injured his left elbow — his third injury this season — and will miss time, it can only get worse. There will be questions about his recovery. Receiver Terry McLaurin will likely miss another game — or two — because of a thigh injury. They’ll struggle to move the ball, and their defense remains undisciplined and does nothing well, allowing 103 points over the past three games. A season that began with heightened expectations is on pace for a top-10 draft slot — and many questions about the Commanders’ future.
Biggest hole in the game plan: Washington’s man coverage struggled mightily vs. the Seattle receivers. Other than Jaxon Smith-Njigba, there was no proven Seahawks wideout. It didn’t matter. Their lack of discipline hurt on two touchdown passes; other times, they were just beaten. Seattle threw for 282 yards in the first half — 217 against man coverage — averaging 17.6 yards per pass attempt en route to a 31-7 lead. — John Keim
Next game: vs. Lions (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Jaguars
Should the Jaguars turn the offense over to running back Travis Etienne Jr.? Four of the Jaguars’ top five receivers are banged up (including Travis Hunter on injured reserve), there were three more drops against the Raiders (including a potential touchdown by tight end Hunter Long), and tight end Brenton Strange won’t be back for at least another week. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence also had an inexcusable end zone interception. Etienne, on the other hand, had 115 yards of total offense on 27 touches and was critical in the fourth quarter and overtime. He’s the Jaguars’ best and most dependable player, so it wouldn’t be shocking if he became the priority on offense.
Stat to know: Kicker Cam Little’s 68-yard field goal as time expired in the first half broke Justin Tucker’s previous record of 66 (set in 2021) by 2 yards. Little had missed three kicks in the Jaguars’ past two games — two 50-plus-yard field goal attempts and a PAT — but his record-setting kick easily cleared the crossbar. Little’s previous record was a 59-yarder against Detroit last season. — Mike DiRocco
Next game: at Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
0:25
Raiders fall short in OT after failing on 2-point conversion
Geno Smith’s pass is knocked away as the Raiders fail to make a 2-point conversion to beat the Jaguars in overtime.
Raiders
How should the Raiders approach the trade deadline after another loss? There weren’t many bright spots Sunday outside of tight end Brock Bowers. As Tuesday’s trade deadline approaches, the Raiders should be realistic about their current roster. Unless they can get substantial draft capital by trading wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, they are better off standing pat. Even if the Raiders decide to part ways with Meyers, rookie wide receivers Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton Jr. haven’t shown they are ready to take on significant roles. Las Vegas is projected to have the second-most cap space in the offseason, so the best path forward is to push through the season with the players they have and work on fixing the roster in the spring.
Stat to know: In Bowers’ return from a knee injury that sidelined him for three weeks, he showed he’s one of the best tight ends in the league. He became the first tight end with at least 125 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a game since Rob Gronkowski in 2014, per ESPN Research. Bowers also brought his career receiving yards up to 1,546 in just 22 games. That’s the fewest games needed by a tight end to pass 1,500 receiving yards since 1970, per ESPN Research. — Ryan McFadden
Next game: at Broncos (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Bills
Is this the best version of the Bills’ offense? Through eight games, it sure is close to it. The Bills have been striving for balance, and Sunday’s win was pretty darn close. Quarterback Josh Allen had arguably his best game of the season with one second-half incompletion, tight end Dalton Kincaid became the first player with 100 receiving yards against the Chiefs this season, and James Cook III had his fifth game with 100-plus rushing yards (marking a career high). As Tuesday’s trade deadline closes in, wide receiver help would still boost this offense, but with or without other players, these types of performances make the current roster of Bills hard to beat.
Most surprising performance: Buffalo’s third-down defense. The banged-up Bills defense got off the field time and time again, allowing the Chiefs to convert 3-for-13 on third downs and 2-for-3 on fourth downs. The Chiefs entered Week 9 converting 44% of their third downs (sixth in the league), while the Bills had allowed conversions on 40.2% of tries (23rd). Safety Cole Bishop was a key contributor on those stops, as three of his four passes defended came on third and fourth downs. Rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston also recorded his first interception on a key third down with 4:27 left in the game.
Best quote out of the locker room: Allen, who finished with the best completion percentage in a game in Bills history with a minimum of 15 attempts (88.5%) was asked whether he can feel it early in a game when he’s clicking. “Yeah. You know, to be candid, it’s, yeah, you feel it in your mechanics sometimes. At least I do. I can’t speak for every other quarterback. But early on in the game, you know when you’re, I call it, slotted or the ball’s coming out of your hand is as good as you really want it,” Allen said. “I’ve been working really hard over the last couple weeks trying to get back into that feeling and felt like I had a good feeling early on in this game.” — Alaina Getzenberg
Next game: at Dolphins (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
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Chiefs
Did the Bills expose flaws in the Chiefs’ defense? Entering Sunday’s game, the Chiefs were allowing 16.4 points per game. The Bills surpassed that in the first half, reaching a comfortable 21-13 lead by halftime. Allen beat the Chiefs’ secondary by targeting his tight ends, as Kincaid and Dawson Knox combined for seven receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown. Kansas City also couldn’t make the Bills one-dimensional. The speed of Cook, who finished with 125 total yards, and the mobility of Allen showcased that the Chiefs’ pass rush still needs help. That should make for a prime opportunity for general manager Brett Veach to look into acquiring another veteran rusher ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline.
What to make of the QB performance: For the first time this season, Mahomes wasn’t given his usual pass protection from his offensive line, and many of the Chiefs’ receivers struggled to get open. Such factors led the quarterback to complete 7 of 15 passing attempts in the first half, the first time since 2020 that he completed less than 50% of his passes before halftime. Mahomes offered a few standout plays in the fourth quarter — including a fourth-and-17 strike to receiver Rashee Rice — to pull the Chiefs within one score. But too often, the Chiefs’ lack of pass blocking was too much, leading to Mahomes’ final pass being a desperation heave that was intercepted by Hairston.
Best quote out of the locker room: Mahomes addressed the Chiefs entering their bye in Week 10 with a 5-4 record. “We’ve had great moments and we’ve had bad moments. We’ve got to be more consistent as a team, I’ve got to be more consistent, and we’ve been in a lot of these tight, close games in our history, but they’re not going our way,” Mahomes said. “How can we deal with that adversity? You can only learn from so many losses. You’ve got to learn from it fast.” — Nate Taylor
Next game: at Broncos (Nov. 16, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Rams
Will the Rams make any changes on special teams? Their special teams woes continued Sunday, as kicker Joshua Karty missed an extra point and a 39-yard field goal. According to ESPN Research, the Rams missed two kicks in the first half of a game for the first time since Week 7 of the 2023 season. After Karty missed a field goal in Week 6, coach Sean McVay said, “Karty is a guy that I’m ready to stick with.” While the kicking issues have not all been on him, there’s no doubt McVay and the Rams will evaluate the group before it costs them another game this season.
Stat to know: The Rams had four different tight ends (Tyler Higbee, Terrance Ferguson, Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen) catch multiple passes. According to ESPN Research, they are only the fourth team to do that in a game this century. The Rams, who have typically used high rates of 11 personnel (three receivers) under McVay, played 35 of 77 offensive snaps (45.5%) in 13 personnel (three tight ends).
Best quote from the locker room: After those two missed kicks, McVay said the Rams’ kicking issues “can’t continue like this.” He added, “It’s going to cost us. It’s cost us already, and it’s been a momentum killer. It does take the air out of our sails. Our guys have shown that they can respond and overcome it, but … the truth of it is this is not sustainable to continuously go where we want to go.” — Sarah Barshop
Next game: at 49ers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
0:23
Matthew Stafford finds Davante Adams for 2nd TD
Davante Adams receives his second touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to give the Rams a 27-10 lead over the Saints.
Saints
Can the Saints’ run game be fixed? The big story going into this game was rookie quarterback Tyler Shough’s debut — but a lesser known angle was how much the Saints’ run game has struggled. It hurt the offense to lose center Erik McCoy for the season, but that’s just one part of the problem. The Saints haven’t hit 100 rushing yards since playing the Bills in Week 4, and Alvin Kamara hasn’t had 40 rushing yards in a game since that week. The Saints have played from behind a significant portion of the season, but their overall run game has struggled even when they weren’t in a significant hole.
What to make of the QB performance: It’s hard to get a true evaluation of Shough’s first game after the Rams controlled the time of possession. A Kamara fumble quickly ended one drive, a fourth-down interception another, and he wasn’t on the field near the goal line when Taysom Hill couldn’t convert a fourth down. Shough did some good things, such as lead a two-minute scoring drive at the end of the first half, but he didn’t have the ball enough in the second half to see whether he gained any momentum from that. He finished 14-of-24 for 176 yards with a TD and an interception. — Katherine Terrell
Next game: at Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Bears
Just how good is the Bears’ run game? Sure, their wild win came down to a 58-yard pass from quarterback Caleb Williams to rookie tight end Colston Loveland, but the Bears’ run game looked more powerful and potent (283 yards, 7.5 yards per carry) than it had all season. It was their most rushing yards in a game since gaining 283 versus Dallas in 1984. The formula Chicago used to control the clock and set up six red zone opportunities (scoring touchdowns on four of them) is one they should stick with. Rookie Kyle Monangai was terrific in his first start with D’Andre Swift sidelined with a groin injury, rushing 26 times for 176 yards. Williams showed how dangerous he is with his legs, rushing for 53 yards, and Brittain Brown’s first NFL rushing attempts resulted in his first touchdown.
Most surprising performance: Loveland’s breakout performance (six receptions, 118 yards, two touchdowns) came at a critical time. After tight end Cole Kmet exited with a concussion in the second quarter, Loveland became a primary target for Williams, including in the most pivotal moment of the game, when he caught a 58-yard touchdown pass to take back the lead with 25 seconds to play. — Courtney Cronin
Next game: vs. Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
0:43
Colston Loveland’s 58-yard TD gives Bears late lead
Caleb Williams links up with Colston Loveland, who works his way in for a 58-yard touchdown to put the Bears up late over the Bengals.
Bengals
With the Bengals’ struggling defense, will their fate really be decided by the starting quarterback? No. Cincinnati acquired Joe Flacco via trade to win games like Sunday’s. Flacco, 40, toughed it out with a sprained throwing shoulder. But for the second straight week, Cincinnati couldn’t contain an opposing rushing attack. And the fact that the Bears were depleted at running back didn’t matter. Even if Joe Burrow was out there and not injured, it probably wouldn’t have made much of a difference given the state of the Bengals’ defense.
What to make of the QB performance: Flacco put up an all-time gutsy outing. Despite just one practice this week because of his shoulder injury, he threw for 470 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions to keep Cincinnati in striking distance for most of the game. — Ben Baby
Next game: at Steelers (Nov. 16, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Broncos
How did the Broncos hold the Texans to zero touchdowns without cornerback Pat Surtain II? Coordinator Vance Joseph was matter-of-fact about Surtain’s pectoral injury and what it will mean for cornerbacks Jahdae Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine. He said the Broncos won’t be “as good without your best player … but we expect these young guys to play and play well. That’s why they’re here.” With the pass rush (four sacks) and a mix-and-match day at cornerback, the Broncos limited the red zone damage and gave up one pass play over 26 yards. The Broncos were helped that Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud left the game in the first half with a concussion, but Abrams-Draine and Barron helped give the offense time to close the deal — a formula they may need as long as Surtain is out.
Trend to watch: Aside from the game-winning field goal from Wil Lutz as time expired, the Broncos have had their share of special teams wobbles this season, and the list got much longer Sunday. A blocked field goal by the Texans, a muffed punt by Michael Bandy, a misplayed kickoff that resulted in a touchback and a 45-yard punt return allowed all had a significant impact in a game that was tight the whole way — even though the Broncos’ defense did not surrender a touchdown.
Best quote from the locker room: The Broncos have moved to 7-2 on the season, but defensive end Zach Allen said there’s more to come. “We’re happy with where we are, but we still haven’t played our best ball yet … That’s what good teams do and you definitely want that on your side compared to last year when we were trying to find ways to lose close games.” — Jeff Legwold
Next game: vs. Raiders (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
0:19
Wil Lutz nails 34-yard FG to seal a Broncos’ victory
Wil Lutz hits a 34-yard field goal as time expires to give the Broncos a 18-15 win.
Texans
How will this offense look if Houston is without Stroud? Houston’s offense scored 12 points (nine in the first half) after quarterback Davis Mills stepped in for Stroud early in the second quarter. In the second half, the Texans’ offense had only 87 yards. That’s a big reason why Houston lost, as the defense held the Broncos’ offense to only 19 points and 271 yards. If Stroud misses a game or two, the coaching staff will need an elaborate game plan to elevate Mills.
Turning point: Stroud’s concussion in the second quarter changed the tone of the game. From that moment on, Houston never scored a touchdown and only scored three points once Denver adjusted in the second half. — DJ Bien-Aime
Next game: vs. Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Panthers
Do the Panthers have a shot at the playoffs? Carolina has a four-game winning streak with Bryce Young (who missed last week’s loss with an ankle injury) as the starting quarterback. The 5-4 Panthers are two games behind the NFC South-leading Buccaneers (who are on their bye) and have back-to-back division games coming up against the Saints (1-7) and Falcons (3-5). With two games against the Bucs in the final three weeks, the Panthers will have a chance to win the division title if they can stay within reach.
Stat to know: For the third time in his past five games, running back Rico Dowdle topped 100 rushing yards (130). He also had two rushing touchdowns for the first time in his career. That gives him four rushing TDs on the season, matching his total in four seasons before joining the Panthers. — ESPN staff
Next game: vs. Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
0:16
Panthers top Packers on FG as time expires
Ryan Fitzgerald’s 49-yard field goal gives the Panthers a 16-13 victory over the Packers.
Packers
How much trouble are the Packers in? It could depend on how long they’re without standout tight end Tucker Kraft, who left in the third quarter with a knee injury and is their leader in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns. But even before Kraft departed, the Packers’ offense was going nowhere. At 5-2-1, their record still looks sporty, yet their performance on the field does not. Losing as a 13.5-point favorite over the Panthers won’t help morale. This comes directly after they had to come from behind to beat the Steelers following another slow start. They’ve managed 19 total points in the first half of their past three games.
What to make of the QB performance: Yes, Jordan Love engineered a game-tying drive, but his third interception of the season was costly. It came on an inexplicable deep shot in the third quarter from his own 24-yard line. It was a curious decision since wide receiver Christian Watson was in triple coverage and it was first down. Speaking of curious decisions, coach Matt LaFleur went for it on fourth-and-8 from the Panthers’ 13-yard line with 11 minutes left. After taking a timeout, Love scrambled and threw a desperation pass incomplete in the end zone. — Rob Demovsky
Next game: vs. Eagles (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Vikings
What should be said about J.J. McCarthy’s return? Fans got the full McCarthy experience in his return from a high right ankle sprain he suffered in Week 2. He started hot, throwing two touchdown passes in the first quarter, but got bogged down in the passing game as the Lions sacked him five times and hit him on three other occasions. The inconsistent accuracy McCarthy displayed early this season returned, and he also made a big mistake by running out of bounds late in the fourth quarter, stopping the clock. But he found other ways to make plays, including a 9-yard scoring run on third down. As he so often has done in his career, McCarthy found a way to win, with a perfect back-shoulder pass to Jalen Nailor on third down. His career record is now 65-4 going back to his high school days.
Most surprising performance: For the first time since Brian Flores joined the team as defensive coordinator, the Vikings held the Lions to fewer than 30 points. They were especially effective against the run, and they used constant stunts and blitzes to sack quarterback Jared Goff five times. — Kevin Seifert
Next game: vs. Ravens (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
0:36
J.J. McCarthy keeps it for a 9-yard rushing TD
J.J. McCarthy rolls to his right and turns up field for a 9-yard rushing touchdown.
Lions
Is this the Lions offense we should come to expect this season? The offense had failed to record 300 yards of offense or 30 points in each of its previous two games before the bye. Although the offense put up 305 yards against Minnesota, it again failed to break the 30-point barrier in a game marked by miscues and penalties. Goff was sacked a season-high five times, the offense finished 5-for-17 on third down and ran the ball for just 65 yards. Maybe Sunday was just rust, but the Lions’ 52-point outburst against Chicago in Week 2 seems further and further away.
Trend to watch: Injuries. Detroit was supposed to be rested and healthier following the bye week, but saw guard Christian Mahogany (knee), guard Tate Ratledge (shoulder), cornerback Terrion Arnold (back), offensive tackle Taylor Decker (knee) and linebacker Ty Summers (thumb) all leave at some point during the second half with injuries. All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph (knee) was also ruled out ahead of the contest. They’ll need backups to step up, just like last season. — Eric Woodyard
Next game: at Commanders (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Steelers
Is this version of the Steelers’ defense here to stay? Fans held a funeral for the Steelers defense outside Acrisure Stadium before kickoff. Inside the stadium, there was a resurrection as the defense got five sacks, forced a season-high six takeaways and held the league’s best offense to just 20 points. With a number of defensive players missing (including four safeties), Pittsburgh entered Sunday’s game outmanned on paper. Yet it got big contributions from linebacker Payton Wilson (1 INT, 2 PBUs), rookie Jack Sawyer (1 INT) and pass rusher Alex Highsmith (2 sacks, 3 TFLs, 1 FF) for a well-rounded performance. Can the Steelers use the same recipe in Week 10?
Trend to watch: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers spread the ball around Sunday, completing passes to nine different players after targeting nine pass catchers against the Packers in Week 8. Much has been made about the Steelers potentially seeking a strong No. 2 wide receiver before Tuesday’s trade deadline, but the offense got it done on Sunday, with big contributions from the tight ends (10 catches, 95 yards, 1 TD) and running backs (7 catches, 33 yards). Only two wide receivers had catches: Calvin Austin III (5 for 56 yards) and DK Metcalf (2 for 6 yards).
Best quote from the locker room: The Steelers defense came up big Sunday, led in part by cornerback Joey Porter Jr. “This was a statement game for us. As a defense, we didn’t like what we put out on film the last two weeks,” Porter said. Underscoring what this win meant to a maligned defense, he continued, “We had to come out and make a point, and I think we did today.” — Brooke Pryor
Next game: at Chargers (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)
0:21
Jaylen Warren grabs his second TD vs. the Colts
Jaylen Warren takes the toss from Aaron Rodgers to the end zone for a 2-yard rushing touchdown.
Colts
What did this game tell us about the Colts’ NFL-leading offense? This one wasn’t complicated: The Colts’ success in previous weeks was linked to the performance of their dominant offensive line. That is what made the beating they took on Sunday so surprising. Quarterback Daniel Jones was consistently under duress. Left tackle Bernhard Raimann (two sacks allowed) and right tackle Braden Smith (sack/fumble versus T.J. Watt) struggled throughout. Consequently, so did running back Jonathan Taylor, who rushed for a season-low 45 yards and was hit at or before the line of scrimmage on six of his 14 rushing attempts.
What to make of the QB performance: Jones, who was responsible for five total turnovers, had his worst day as a Colt. While two were sack/fumbles that were the result of protection breakdowns, and another was a fluky interception off a batted pass, he also threw interceptions that were the result of poor decisions or badly thrown balls. He finished 31-of-50 for 342 yards and three interceptions. Finding a way to bounce back from this game may be his biggest test this season.
Best quote from the locker room: Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner defended Jones after his rough outing. “We’re not all going to have a perfect game. I don’t have perfect games all the time,” Buckner said. “It’s the NFL. This game doesn’t define him as a quarterback.” — Stephen Holder
Next game: vs. Falcons in Berlin (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Chargers
If offensive tackle Joe Alt misses time after exiting the game with an ankle injury, how much does that change expectations? The Chargers are 4-0 this season when Alt plays the entire game, and 2-3 when he doesn’t. Quarterback Justin Herbert has a QBR of 80 with Alt on the field, and 56 without him. So the simple answer is it changes expectations substantially. Alt is perhaps this team’s most important player not named Herbert. If Alt does miss significant time with his ankle injury, the ceiling of this team lowers significantly.
What to make of the QB performance: Herbert’s interceptions are becoming a concern. He threw his eighth interception of the season on the Chargers’ first drive, which was returned for a touchdown by Titans linebacker Cody Barton. Herbert’s eight interceptions are the most since 2022 (when he had 10). Sunday’s interception marked his fourth against the blitz this season — a new career high in just nine games. — Kris Rhim
Next game: vs. Steelers (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)
0:21
Cody Barton snags a pass from Justin Herbert for a pick-six
Cody Barton takes an interception to the house to put the Titans ahead 7-0.
Titans
Is the Titans’ offense the worst in the NFL? Entering Week 9, the offense ranked last in points per game (13.8), yards per game (248.8) and rushing yards per game (80.4). The passing attack was also second to last at 168.4 yards per game. Sunday’s performance was even worse. Tennessee got 14 points from Barton’s interception and Chimere Dike’s punt return — the first punt returned for a touchdown for the Titans since 2012. Yet they only managed 20 points. Tennessee’s offense converted just 10 first downs and gained 206 yards of total offense.
Turning point: The Titans forced a three-and-out on the first series of the second half, followed by a 71-yard drive from the offense that stalled at the Chargers’ 1-yard line when running back Tony Pollard’s attempt to punch it in on fourth down and take a 24-20 lead fell short. Los Angeles then got the ball and drove 99 yards over nine minutes to take a 10-point lead. — Turron Davenport
Next game: vs. Texans (Nov. 16, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Patriots
How much of a concern is the growing number of hits on quarterback Drake Maye? Maye was sacked six times for 38 yards, one week after being sacked six times for 37 yards. Some of that is a result of blocking in front of him, but Maye has acknowledged that he can do more to protect himself at times (and also protect the ball by keeping two hands on it, which he didn’t do on a lost fumble late in the second quarter). Since 2000, Maye is the third Patriots quarterback to be sacked five or more times in back-to-back games, joining Jacoby Brissett (2024) and Drew Bledsoe (2000).
Stat to know: After holding Bijan Robinson to 45 rushing yards, the Patriots are now the only team since 1950 to hold opposing running backs to under 50 yards in the first nine games of the season, per ESPN Research. No other team had accomplished that feat in the first eight games of the season.
Best quote from the locker room: “I’ve got to play better for this team down the road,” Maye said after having two costly turnovers that the Falcons turned into 10 points. “It’s tough in a game where you win, and you can feel in that locker room that these guys know we can play better.” — Mike Reiss
Next game: at Buccaneers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
0:21
Michael Penix Jr., Drake London link up for 2nd TD connection of game
Michael Penix Jr. cuts into the Patriots’ lead with a touchdown pass to Drake London.
Falcons
What can the Falcons do to get Robinson going? The Falcons are 3-0 when their star running back gets 75 or more yards on the ground. When Robinson doesn’t hit that mark, they’re now 0-5, after he rushed for only 45 yards Sunday. Atlanta’s coaching staff would say it wants to be a run-first team, but the Falcons have a hard time committing to their ground game, especially when playing from behind. Robinson had only 12 carries Sunday. Atlanta needs to figure out a way to get him back into a rhythm, because he’s a game-changing player.
What to make of the QB performance: Michael Penix Jr. was inconsistent despite throwing three touchdown passes to wide receiver Drake London, going 22-of-37 for 222 yards. But he did lead the Falcons on what should have been a game-tying drive that was marred by kicker Parker Romo’s extra-point miss. On that drive, Penix had a 40-yard pass to London and two fourth-down conversions to the receiver, one of which was a one-handed catch for an 8-yard touchdown.
Best quote from the locker room: “Nobody wanted this win more than I did,” Romo, who was cut from the Patriots in the preseason, on missing the game-tying extra point late. — Marc Raimondi
Next game: vs. Colts in Berlin (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
49ers
The 49ers are in the thick of the race, but how aggressive should they be at Tuesday’s trade deadline? Sunday’s win probably shouldn’t change the 49ers’ prudence when it comes to the trade deadline, but that doesn’t mean they should sit it out. Even before significant injuries to linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) and defensive end Nick Bosa (ACL), they would gladly have taken a 6-3 start. So they owe it to themselves to make another move or two, especially after rookie defensive end Mykel Williams departed Sunday’s game with an apparent lower body injury. It probably won’t be splashy, but another quality player or two could help the defense stay afloat as the offense gets healthier.
Stat to know: Running back Christian McCaffrey continues to do most of the heavy lifting and etch his name further in NFL record books. With 164 scrimmage yards, McCaffrey surpassed 500 rushing and 500 receiving yards through nine games. He’s the second player in the past decade to do that (Saquon Barkley, 2018), and the second Niner to achieve it (Roger Craig, 1985). McCaffrey also is up to 16 career games with at least one rushing and one receiving touchdown, passing Marshall Faulk for the most of all time.
Best quote from the locker room: Even nine games into this season, 49ers left tackle Trent Williams said he isn’t sure what type of ceiling the Niners have. “It’s still up in the air,” Williams said. “I don’t think that we are set in stone of who we are. I think there’s a lot of ways to improve. Still a really young football team and each week of experience is very vital to all the development. So although we had a good win and the record is not too bad, I don’t think we’re at what we could be right now.” — Nick Wagoner
Next game: vs. Rams (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
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Mac Jones finds a wide-open CMC for a TD
Christian McCaffrey gets free and hauls in a short touchdown pass from Mac Jones.
Giants
What is going on with the Giants defense? All those edge rushers and they can’t stop anyone. Sunday was the third straight game the Giants allowed at least 30 points. The defense can’t stop the run (especially to the edges) and barely provide any resistance with their injury-ravaged secondary. 49ers quarterback Mac Jones completed his first 14 passes. The pass rush isn’t effective enough when opponents can make easy completions and run at will. Christian McCaffrey had over 150 yards and two touchdowns, while San Francisco finished with almost 400 yards of total offense.
Trend to watch: Tight end Theo Johnson has dropped a pass in three straight games. Johnson now has five drops this season, which is among the top 10 leaguewide. To compound the problem, three of the five have been on third down. This week, Johnson’s drop came late in the second quarter and ruined a potential Giants drive when the ball clanked off his hands and shoulder pads. He caught a touchdown pass earlier in the game (his fifth of the season), but the drops are becoming a serious problem.
Best quote from the locker room: Quarterback Jaxson Dart was asked about how his play could affect coach Brian Daboll’s future. “I can only control what I can control,” Dart said. “I don’t want to look at things that way. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself in any regard. I want to just live in the moment that I have. I want to take advantage of the opportunities that I have. As a team, we should be thinking that same way.” — Jordan Raanan
Next game: at Bears (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Ravens
Has Lamar Jackson reentered the NFL MVP conversation? Definitely, because he underscored his value this past month. In his return from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for three games, Jackson immediately had Baltimore humming again, completing 78% of his attempts (18-of-23) and throwing four touchdown passes. He puts stress on a defense because of his playmaking ability. Teammates say Jackson also adds confidence because they know he will get them the ball when they’re open. Jackson is the ultimate difference-maker. In the three games that he missed, Baltimore averaged 14.3 points. With Jackson this season, the Ravens are averaging 31.8 points.
Trend to watch: The Ravens held a team to 17 points or fewer in three straight games, tying the longest streak by any team this season. This is quite a turnaround for a defense that had been heavily criticized after allowing an NFL-worst 35.4 points per game in the first five weeks. With two forced fumbles and an interception against the Dolphins, the Ravens recorded their most turnovers since three in their last meeting with the Dolphins in 2023. — Jamison Hensley
Next game: at Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Dolphins
At 2-7, will the Dolphins trade away players at the deadline? In the weeks leading up to Thursday’s loss, Dolphins team sources said there was no plan to make any sweeping roster changes — but there’s a feeling around the league that one or more of their players could be available with the season becoming insurmountable. Linebacker Jaelan Phillips said it’s his preference to stay in Miami, while linebacker Bradley Chubb said that decision is out of his hands. Coach Mike McDaniel told reporters after the game that it’d be “irresponsible” to comment on any potential trades and that the team is focused on “dictating the terms” ahead of the Bills matchup. The team will have to manage Tuesday’s trade deadline without general manager Chris Grier, who was let go on Friday.
Stat to know: On pass attempts within 2.5 seconds of snapping the ball, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 18 of 25 passes for 209 yards. On attempts that took longer than 2.5 seconds, he completed 7 of 14 passes for 52 yards and an interception with a minus-16.8 completion percentage over expectation. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next game: vs. Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
