Week 9

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:

BALTIMORE RAVENS (2-5) vs. MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-6)

Thursday Oct. 30 at 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime

Okay, now this should be the week that Lamar Jackson returns from his hamstring injury. We were all misled that he would come back Sunday afternoon against the Bears, but barring any unforeseen circumstances, the two-time MVP will take the field on Thursday night. 

Ironically, the Ravens did not even need Jackson to end their four game losing streak. Tyler Huntley did a serviceable job filling in, the running game was tremendous and the defense forced a crucial interception in the fourth quarter that gave the team all the momentum. On the surface, Baltimore should crush the Dolphins by 20 points, but they are coming off a stunning road victory against the Falcons. You could say that Kirk Cousins was the starting quarterback, but to completely shut down Bijan Robinson and torch the Atlanta defense with four touchdown passes is extremely impressive. However, with Lamar hopefully back in the lineup, the Ravens will have a more dynamic rushing attack that can open up a more consistent passing game. The best thing they did on Sunday against Chicago was that they did not turn the ball over against a ball hawking defense. If they can continue to win the turnover battle, then they will play from ahead the entire night.

For Tua Tagovailoa, the goal is simple: pick up where you left off last week. Sunday’s game against Atlanta was easily the best one he had all year and the Dolphins are going to need more from him if they want to keep their season alive. It would be amazing if the defense continued to play aggressive the way they did a few days ago, but knowing that they will most likely struggle against Baltimore, this offense needs to match fire with fire.

FINAL LOCK: There is no excuse why this should not be a close game. This will be in Miami, both defenses have not been strong all season long and each offense has plenty of speed. Having said that, I think the Ravens have the better quarterback and I believe that will be the biggest factor in this particular matchup.

FINAL SCORE: BAL 34-20

THE 1:00 SLATE:

ATLANTA FALCONS (3-4) vs. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (6-2)

I have weirdly been looking forward to this matchup all season long because I believe that this is going to be a really close game. There are a lot of things that each of these teams do particularly well. Atlanta has one of the best running backs in football and when he is hot, he is impossible to stop. The Patriots have a superstar quarterback and a football team that is officially back in the playoff picture after a miserable two-year stretch. This game is not going to be decided simply on strategy, but rather who wants it more.

The starting quarterback for the Falcons is going to tell us everything we need to know about how their offense will look on Sunday afternoon. If Michael Penix Jr. is healthy enough to return from a bone bruise, then they can keep things competitive. If we get a second straight week of Kirk Cousins, I am scared that they will look one dimensional. If they could not run for more than 50 yards against the worst rushing defense in the league, then how easy does Atlanta think it will be against the second best? That loss was more than just Penix and Drake London not playing. Over the last two weeks, this team has proven that if it cannot run the ball, their offense goes nowhere. Whoever starts on Sunday has to be the best player on the field, or else they will give New England another impressive victory.

Just because the Patriots play a better brand of football than the Falcons, it does not mean this will be a walk in the park. In almost every game this year, they have gotten off to slow starts, but have managed to figure things out and dominate the rest of the way. However, they are not going up against the Saints or Titans this time. Atlanta might be going through a rough patch right now, but it will be a matter of time before they remind us that they can be a Wild Card contender. New England cannot afford to stumble early on again. I understand that they were able to recover against Buffalo on Sunday Night Football a few weeks ago, but the Falcons have enough tape to know that they have the pieces to make things interesting, so more of the attention is going to be focused on how the Patriots respond.

FINAL LOCK: There are multiple reasons why I believe New England will win. The first is that they are home and the Falcons have not had a good track record on the road. Their one victory was in week two against JJ McCarthy and a reeling Vikings team, while the two losses were a 30 point shutout to the Panthers, along with a 10 point showing against an injured 49ers defense. Even if Penix is healthy to play again, Atlanta will need to re-establish their identity on both sides of the ball for them to have a chance.

FINAL SCORE: NE 23-20

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (5-3) vs. TENNESSEE TITANS (1-7)

Let’s not waste too much time talking about this game because I think we all know how this one is going to play out.

The Chargers had their most complete performance of their season Thursday night as they trampled the Vikings 37-10. We finally saw the team that we watched in the first three weeks of the season. Justin Herbert returned to MVP form, they ran the ball exceptionally well, their offense did not punt the ball one single time and the defense was vicious. 

LA could not have asked for a better opponent to face on the road than the Titans, who predictably got crushed by the Colts on the road 38-14. At this point, there is just no hope with this football team. Not only do the losses keep piling up, but the front office is once again giving up on the roster they built. Cornerback Roger McCreary was the first one to get traded away and more are probably to come. I would not even be mad if they demoted Mike McCoy back to his senior analyst job and have someone else be the interim head coach. That would be expected, honestly.

FINAL LOCK: This was not too hard of a prediction but I think the Chargers should win this game convincingly. I always hope that Cam Ward has the breakout game that reminds us why he was taken with the first overall pick, but then I look at the pieces around him and I lose all optimism immediately.

FINAL SCORE: LA 37-13

CHICAGO BEARS (4-3) vs. CINCINNATI BENGALS (3-5)

I should be excited for this matchup but I know that I am going to be frustrated one way or the other. The Bengals, even without Joe Burrow, have an efficient offense but one of the worst defenses in the National Football League. The Bears should be one of the most improved teams this season, but if their defense is not forcing multiple takeaways or D’Andre Swift is not taking the game over, then Caleb Williams looks like a mediocre quarterback at best.

Cincinnati’s defense is absolutely atrocious. They only have one strong player Trey Hendrickson and whenever he is not on the field, this group just has no depth whatsoever. It was the biggest reason why they handed the Jets their first win of the season. Breece Hall was absolutely unstoppable with over 140 yards from scrimmage and not only did he score two touchdowns of his own, he threw the go-ahead touchdown pass to Mason Taylor. New York totaled 254 yards on the ground, which plummeted the Bengals run defense to dead last in the National Football League. If Caleb Williams cannot play well against this team, then that is a serious problem.

For the Bears to truly bounce back, however, their defense will have to set the tone. They lead the league in takeaways, but we saw firsthand against the Ravens what they are like if they cannot force the opponent to make mistakes. Joe Flacco is currently day-to-day with an AC joint sprain and if he tries to fight through the pain, then Chicago’s defense needs to squeeze in on the passing attack. If Zac Taylor decides to roll with Jake Browning, then one or two takeaways will give the Bears the momentum they need. 

FINAL LOCK: Even if Flacco was healthy enough to play, I would still pick the Bears to win. Although their offense still has holes, their defense can keep their foot on the gas from start to finish and it would not require Caleb Williams to do too much damage control. At some point in time, I just don’t know how many chances Cincinnati is going to give Zac Taylor to stay as the head coach. If they get blown out, then the discussions are going to pick up incredibly fast.

FINAL SCORE: CHI 34-17

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-1) vs. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-3)

Normally, I would say this would be a huge test for the Indianapolis Colts since they are on the road against the Steelers. However, I can make the argument that Pittsburgh is in more desperate need of a victory because their defense has been awful the last two weeks.

Getting torched by Joe Flacco and Ja’Marr Chase on Thursday Night Football a couple weeks ago was one thing. However, letting Jordan Love throw for 360 yards and three touchdowns in your house is unacceptable. This Steelers defense is now dead last in passing, which is stunning considering that their top three corners are Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay and Joey Porter Jr. Now they are going up against the number one offense in the NFL. Their quarterback is having the best season of his career and Jonathan Taylor is leading the league in rushing. If Pittsburgh cannot get it together defensively, they are going to fall to 500 and their playoff chances will sink in a huge hole.

Could this Steelers offense play a little better? Absolutely. However, they have not been the biggest issue with this football team. Aaron Rodgers has thrown 16 touchdown passes with only five interceptions and he is eighth in passer rating. They are one of the least penalized teams in the NFL. There is no question that Pittsburgh can move the ball down the field against an “up and down” Colts defense. However, their ability to finish drives is going to be the biggest factor in this matchup. If they cannot score in the red zone, Indianapolis will have the momentum they need to find a way to win down the stretch.

FINAL LOCK: Aaron Rodgers is 1-4 against the Indianapolis Colts in his career. However, the Steelers have not lost to the Colts at home since 2008. For that streak to continue, their defense needs to play determined and aggressive from the jump. The minute they force one mistake, their offense can flip the script. Until then, I am picking Indianapolis to continue to run the table.

FINAL SCORE: IND 26-17

SAN FRANCISCO 49ers (5-3) vs. NEW YORK GIANTS (2-6)

If there is any chance for the 49ers to bounce back this week, it should be against a Giants team that has fallen back down to Earth after having so much false optimism the last few weeks. 

According to Kyle Shanahan, it is not a long shot for Brock Purdy to return from a toe injury. Personally, I think it is right for him to come back. Mac Jones looked impressive in the games he played, but after last week against the Texans, I am scared it might be a matter of time before he reverts to his Patriot days with Matt Patricia as his offensive coordinator. The 49ers offense got shut down on Sunday afternoon and the reason why was very simple: Christian McCaffrey had no running room whatsoever. The minute you take him out of the game plan, the rest of the team goes nowhere, especially with the injuries they are still dealing with right now. Fortunately for them, this Giants defense gives up the third most rushing yards in the league, meaning that San Francisco is positioned to have a bounce back performance. As long as they can keep Purdy or Jones clean in the pocket, then they will have at least a couple successful scoring drives. 

However, what will truly win the game for the 49ers is their defense, especially since New York rookie Cam Skattebo is out for the season. Jaxson Dart took a beating on Sunday against the Eagles with five sacks taken. Now that he will be without his best running back and top receiver, the Giants offense is going to struggle mightily against a Robert Saleh coached defense. Although they do not have Nick Bosa and Fred Warner in the lineup, it is still a gritty bunch that can step up at the best possible time. They might allow a lot of yards, but they give up the eighth fewest points in the league. Dart is going to need to have as spectacular of a performance as he did against Philadelphia on Thursday Night Football a few weeks back for New York to pull off an upset. If he makes one slip-up, then there is no chance that he wins this Sunday.

FINAL LOCK: Both teams are dealing with key absences, but this game is going to come down to coaching. As it stands right now, I have more faith in Shanahan to get his guys prepared for what should be a business trip on the road than I do in Brian Daboll.

FINAL SCORE: SF 28-13

DENVER BRONCOS (6-2) vs. HOUSTON TEXANS (3-4)

This will most likely be the lowest scoring game of the entire week because both teams have incredible defenses. Each of them are coming off impressive victories against legitimate offenses, so only one of them is going to be able to pick up where they left off on Sunday.

Bo Nix is going to face a huge test on Sunday afternoon as he has to take on the best scoring defense on the road. He is coming off a four-touchdown performance against the Cowboys last week, but their defense is atrocious. The Texans are not exactly the type of team you want to completely underestimate. They just neutralized Christian McCaffrey and kept the 49ers offense off the field, so this team is entering this game hungry and determined to make another statement. As long as Nix does not play the way he did against the Jets in London, then there is a strong chance that Denver can hang on for the win. Even then, their defense has challenges to go through themselves.

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II will officially miss the next few weeks due to a pec injury, meaning that there will be plenty of pieces in the secondary that have to step up big time. This includes their first round pick Jahdae Barron, who will more than likely make his second start of the season, although he has performed strongly in the reps he has taken. Last Sunday, CJ Stroud completed 30 passes and threw for well over 300 yards without his top two receivers Nico Collins and Christian Kirk. If both of them come back, then the Broncos better hope that their pass rush comes alive. Otherwise, this secondary is prone to get picked apart if Collins and Kirk do end up making their returns.

FINAL LOCK: Surprisingly enough, I like the Texans in this matchup. I don’t know how their offense is going to fare against a defense that leads the league in sacks, but I have a little more faith in CJ Stroud to have a better game than Bo Nix. Whichever of the two can keep the ball out of harm’s way the least will do enough to get the win.

FINAL SCORE: HOU 23-17

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-4) vs. DETROIT LIONS (5-2)

It appears that JJ McCarthy will make his return to the football field from a high ankle sprain he suffered in the second week of the season against the Falcons. Moving forward, the Vikings need to ensure that he stays healthy the rest of the year, especially because their backup Carson Wentz will be placed on season-ending injured reserve due to his non-throwing shoulder. 

Unfortunately, this is not a great matchup for Minnesota. In their last two games, their defense has been torched by the likes of Jalen Hurts and Justin Herbert. On Thursday night against the Chargers, their defense could not force a punt. Now they get the Detroit Lions on the road, who are coming off a bye week. They still have one of the best offenses in football and their defense coached by Kelvin Sheppard has slowly improved over the course of the season. What also makes this a mismatch is the fact that the Vikings have not won a game in Ford Field since 2020, which makes Dan Campbell undefeated against this division rival at home. 

For Minnesota to stay in the race for as long as possible, they need more consistency from their offense. In the loss to Philadelphia, they had multiple chances to reach the end zone, but instead settled for field goals. Against LA, the only time they did score a touchdown was because of a turnover. The Vikings have way too much talent on their offense to only average 22 points and just over 200 passing yards a game. Not only do the players have to step it up, but Kevin O’Connell needs to get his team prepared in the best way possible. The Lions are clearly the class in the division, but Minnesota has the pieces to make this a tough fight.

FINAL LOCK: Having said all of this, I still have the Lions winning this game. Hopefully, Jared Goff can withstand the pressure that Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is going to dial up on Sunday. Yet in the two games JJ McCarthy has played this year, he has one good quarter but seven ones that are incredibly alarming. As I said, the minute Minnesota shows some consistency, then I will be impressed.

FINAL SCORE: DET 27-17

CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-4) vs. GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-1-1)

In the list of many players that will be coming back from injury, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is another addition. However, he is not going to face an easy test in his return as he has to play the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau Field with Micah Parsons on the other side of the line.

Carolina is not a team to completely trust on the road. They did get a win against the Jets, but they are one of the worst in the league. The Packers, on the other hand, are leading the NFC North as we speak. This past Sunday night, they did something that I thought would be impossible for them: they beat Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh! That was a victory Green Bay needed to have to reassert their spot in the playoff picture and more importantly, Jordan Love was the biggest reason why they won! The key to getting the win at home is very simple: do not get in your own way. While the Panthers defense has improved since last year, the Packers have a better offense that should do more than enough to ensure they do not play from behind.

The biggest reason why I have more faith in Green Bay is because of their defense, especially since they are home. Lambeau Field is not exactly the most comfortable place to play in November so if there comes a time where Young has one of the best games of his career, then no excuses can be made. The last time he took on the Packers was in his rookie year, when he threw for over 300 yards and scored twice in a 33-30 defeat. Obviously, both teams are in different states now than they were two years ago, but I bring this up to remind everybody that another prolific performance is not out of the realm of possibility.

FINAL LOCK: I think if this game was played at Bank of America Stadium, then I believe the score would be a lot closer. However, I expect the Packers to start off strong and not take their foot off the gas. I do not believe it will be a complete blowout, but all Green Bay has to do is the bare minimum and that will be enough for the win.

FINAL SCORE: GB 27-16

THE 4:05/4:25 WINDOW:

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-3) vs. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-5)

Both teams are coming off a bye week, yet they are not exactly in the same boat as they were last year when they played each other at Allegiant Stadium. This time, instead of Mac Jones and Aidan O’Connell, the two starting quarterbacks will be Trevor Lawrence and Geno Smith. Both of them will be the biggest X factors for their teams to win on Sunday.

The Jaguars will be two weeks removed from a deflating 35-7 loss to the Rams in London, just a week after falling to the Seahawks at home 20-12. Lawrence was sacked 14 times in that span, their offense had no success running the football whatsoever, and the defense could not force a takeaway to swing the momentum. If Jacksonville cannot have any sort of rhythm against a lackluster Raiders team, then the panic button needs to be pressed immediately. There have been rumors that second year wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. could be moved before the trade deadline, but Liam Coen shut those down in a heartbeat. Moving the ball is not going to be the biggest task to accomplish; scoring will. 

From the Raiders perspective, this has to be a solid game for Geno Smith. The Jaguars have done a good job slowing down the run, but with Brock Bowers back in the lineup, there is no excuse for this passing game to sink into quicksand again. The biggest way to avoid that is to not turn the ball over! Smith is still leading the league in interceptions, so hopefully the week off has given him enough time to realize what he needs to correct and ensure that this does not become a lingering issue throughout the rest of the year. Otherwise, it would not be impossible to see Pete Carroll make a quarterback change. After all, Aidan O’Connell is coming back from injured reserve. If the offense can live up to the hype, then their defense will have one of its better showings at home.

FINAL LOCK: Right now, the Jaguars are just a better football team right now. While it might not be by an incredibly wide margin, their offense is more consistent and the defense has a few playmakers that can swing the tide around at any point in the game. The only way the Raiders can flip the script is if they pull off their most complete performance of the season.

FINAL SCORE: JAX 24-10

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-7) vs. LOS ANGELES RAMS (5-2)

Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough will officially be making the first start of his NFL career for the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, he is going to be thrown into the fire right away as they have to travel to So-Fi Stadium and take on the Los Angeles Rams.

If the Saints thought playing the Buccaneers at home was one of their worst games of the year, then I don’t see how things will be different on the road against a rested Rams team hoping to take the lead in the NFC West. To everybody’s disappointment, this is just a bad mismatch. Matthew Stafford has already thrown 17 touchdown passes and only two interceptions, Puka Nacua is set to make his return from an ankle sprain, and the defense has given up the third fewest points in the National Football League. The only way I can see an upset is if Shough plays out of his mind or the defense completely neutralizes Sean McVay’s offense, both of which are nearly impossible.

FINAL LOCK: With the Rams back on a bye week, this should be just a simple business meeting for this football team. As long as they stick to the plan and not get too greedy on either side of the ball, then they should win this game convincingly. I don’t want to completely ridicule Tyler Shough since this is his first start, so all I have to say is we will see what he can do on Sunday.

FINAL SCORE: LA 34-7

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-3) vs. BUFFALO BILLS (5-2)

Behold, the most overrated quarterback rivalry ever to be hyped up by the national media! I understand that almost every game between Patrick Mahomes and Josh comes down to the wire and that they are the two best quarterbacks in football. However, this is as laughable of a rivalry as there could ever be, probably more so than the one between Mahomes and Lamar Jackson.

The dubious fact about this particular matchup is that Josh Allen is 4-1 against the Chiefs in the regular season, yet 0-4 in the playoffs. In these games, it is not about the X’s or O’s. It is about who wants the win more and what each team is willing to do to make sure they do not lose. Kansas City might have a better constructed roster, yet the Bills always have that one guy that will do everything in his power to make sure he is the last one standing. This is going to be a litanus test for both sides here, so whatever I say about one of them is going to be the same I say for the other.

FINAL LOCK: Because Allen has the regular season advantage, I am going to predict that he will throw the first punch. However, nobody is going to care if he does because we have seen this script too many times before. The minute that the Bills beat the Chiefs in the playoffs, then I will have a new sense of respect for this football team.

FINAL SCORE: BUF 24-20

SNF AND MNF:

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (5-2) vs. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (3-5)

Sunday Nov. 2 @ 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC

It is honestly surprising to see the Seahawks have a better record than the Commanders but this is what happens when injuries can have an effect on your football team. Even then, Washington has fallen into the same trap that the Houston Texans fell into last year: have so much hope entering the year and then do not live up to expectations. With Jayden Daniels returning from a hamstring injury, now is the time for them to bounce back on track.

Unfortunately, the Commanders offense will be without Terry McLaurin after he re-aggravated his quad injury in the Monday night loss to Kansas City. Now they will have their hands full against the best rushing defense in the National Football League, along with a pass rush that is tied for fifth in sacks. If Seattle shuts down the run, which could likely happen, then somebody in the passing game has to step up in a big way. Deebo Samuel has been limited with injuries, but he can still be a dynamic receiver when he hits his peak. Zach Ertz is still a serviceable tight end, even at 34 years old, but the game plan cannot be Jayden Daniels or bust. If that is the case, then this offense is bound to be one-dimensional, which would set the stage for Sam Darnold to perform well on a prime time stage.

Darnold has proven that last year was not just a fluke. Since his renaissance year in Minnesota, he is playing exceptional football. He has thrown 12 touchdown passes with just four interceptions, he has only been sacked nine times, and he is eighth in passer rating! One huge reason why is because Jaxon Smith-Njigba is on pace to have 2,000 receiving yards this year. He only has two games without 100+ yards and he is positioned to have another promising performance against one of the worst passing defenses in the league. However, the Commanders are still a team that can swing the momentum with one big defensive play, so the last thing Seattle can do is cough the ball up at the worst possible time.

FINAL LOCK: I love Jayden Daniels, but I like the Seahawks more to win this game. They are healthier, their offense is more balanced and fluid, but more importantly their defense is stronger. Unless Daniels has a near-perfect performance, then I believe Seattle will have a better night on both sides of the ball.

FINAL SCORE: SEA 24-17

ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-5) vs. DALLAS COWBOYS (3-4-1)

Monday Nov. 3 @ 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN

Kyler Murray is still limited due to his lingering foot injury, but if he does get cleared to return for this Monday night matchup against the Cowboys, then I have faith that the Cardinals can pull off this upset. The biggest reason why, surprisingly enough, is because of him.

Murray is 9-0 at AT&T Stadium since he was in high school. He grew up in Allen, a suburb in Texas just 45 minutes outside of Dallas. Although he was not a Cowboys fan growing up, this will be a “homecoming game” for him if he can play. Even if he does not, I think Jacoby Brissett can put up strong numbers against a vulnerable Dallas defense. However, in their last two defeats, they came up just short because of their inability to finish in the fourth quarter. Anticipating that this is going to be a close game, Arizona has to close the deal in the biggest moments or else Dak Prescott is going to steal a win for himself.

This Cardinals defense under Jonathan Gannon has been really up-and-down this year. On paper, they are going to have a long night on the road against the best offense in the NFC. Dak Prescott, even after an abysmal showing at Denver last week, is still an MVP candidate that is having one of the best seasons of his career. Javonte Williams is a Comeback Player of the Year leader with a surprisingly powerful season, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are a lethal receiving duo, and it is only a matter of time before Jake Ferguson establishes himself as a top five tight end. Based on what I have seen so far from both sides, I believe the Cowboys offense is going to have another strong week, especially since they are at home. Arizona’s defense lacks the physicality that we expected them to have at the beginning of the year, so if they cannot generate pressure, then their secondary is going to have a brutal night ahead of them.

FINAL LOCK: If Kyler Murray is playing, then I like the Cardinals to pull off the upset. However, if it is Jacoby Brissett getting the nod for the third straight week, I will not be surprised if the Cowboys take care of business at home. As I said, this is going to come down to which offense can show up in the clutch in the final minutes. If Arizona can pull it off, then this would be the victory they need to get their season back on track.

FINAL SCORE: ARI 31-23