Week 9 of the NFL is upon us, and it comes with great matchups. I have covered everything you need to know, including analysis and predictions for every game. There are 12 matchups left in Week 9, with six teams on a bye. There are multiple division matchups, including two teams who have to turn it around, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams. The Jets look to upset the Bills at home after falling to the Patriots last week and Kirk Cousins returns to DC. All of that and more in Week 9. Let’s ride.
Los Angels Chargers (4-3) vs. Atlanta Falcons (4-4)
WHERE: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
TIME: 1:00 p.m
NETWORK: FOX
SPREAD: Falcons +3
The halfway part of the 2022 NFL season kicks off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium when the NFC South leader, the Atlanta Falcons, takes on Justin Herbert and the Chargers. The Chargers are well-rested coming off their bye week, but they still have some critical injuries, including their top two wideouts, Kennan Allen and Mike Willams. The lack of strong receivers has contributed to recent offensive struggles. They lost to the rising Seattle Seahawks at home as 5-point favorites in their last game. The biggest problem was the run defense, which allowed a whopping 123 yards on the ground. The Chargers are 27th in the league, allowing 137.8 yards on the ground and 27 points a game (31st). With Justin Hebert, they scored 23.4 points a game (11th) and threw 280 yards in the air per game (4th).
Meanwhile, the Falcons are coming off a thrilling division game with the Panthers at home in which they outlasted Carolina 37-34. Marcus Mariota went 20-of-28 for 253 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions last week. The Falcons’ Cordarrelle Patterson is set to return. Unfortunately, Patterson suffered a knee injury and was placed on the IR. Rookie Tyler Allgeier has taken over the RB1 spot with Caleb Huntley behind him. The Falcons are the only team in the NFL that has had four different players run for at least 250 yards this season. Patterson, Allgeier, Huntley, and quarterback Marcus Mariota have all accomplished this feat.
Prediction: 24-23 Chargers
Miami Dolphins (5-3) vs. Chicago Bears (3-5)
WHERE: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
TIME: 1:00 p.m
NETWORK: CBS
SPREAD: Bears +5
The Dolphins head to the Windy City and take on the Chicago Bears, taking some new faces with them. Miami was one of the biggest winners at the trade deadline, trading for star pass rusher Bradley Chubb from the Broncos and upgrading their running back room by dealing Chase Edmonds and obtaining Jeff Wilson in return from San Francisco. Led by Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphin’s offense is third in passing, and they have the most dynamic receiver duo in the NFL in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. In the absence of Tua, the Dolphins lost three straight but have found their groove, winning back-to-back games, and with the recent additions, they should continue to rise.
On the flip side, Chicago also made some big moves at the trade deadline, dealing away linebacker Roquan Smith and defensive end Robert Quinn. In return, they received a load of draft picks to help them in the future. However, they did trade for Steelers receiver Chase Claypool, who should help a struggling receiving core for the Bears. Justin Fields has started to look more comfortable in the Bear’s offense. In the last two games, Chicago has scored 62 points. The Bears should have more designed runs for Fields, which he is excelling at, and with a poor Dolphins defense, the game should become closer than people expect.
Prediction: 27-17 Dolphins
Carolina Panthers (2-6) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (4-4)
WHERE: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
TIME: 1:00 p.m.
NETWORK: FOX
SPREAD: Bengals +7
The Cincinnati Bengals face off with the questionable Carolina Panthers. The Panthers were riding on a five-game losing streak before upsetting the Buccaneers and taking the Falcons to overtime. The Panthers, who are winless on the road this season, are still rolling with PJ Walker. Last week Walker threw for 317 yards and had one touchdown and one interception. Chubba Hubbard will be inactive for the second straight week, and D’Onta Foreman will be the lead running back again. Forman had 118 yards in Atlanta, logging 26 carries and finding the endzone three times. The Panthers are 20th in defending the pass allowing 224.5 yards per game, and 23rd against the run, giving up 126.5 yards a game.
On to the Bengals, who will be without Pro Bowl receiver Jamar Chase and are beaten up on defense. Chidobe Awuzie is out for the season with a knee injury he suffered against the Browns last week, and cornerbacks Eli Apple and Tre Flowers are both dealing with injuries of their own. After an ugly loss to the Browns on Monday Night, quarterback Joe Burrow will look to rebound and prevent the Bengals from falling below .500 for the first time this season. Head Coach Zac Taylor is asking a lot out of the third-year quarterback, who has thrown 2,329 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and six interceptions. The Bengals rank at the bottom of the league in running the ball. They rank 29th with a measly 80 yards on the ground. Believe it or not, both of these teams are fighting for first place in their respective divisions, and this will be a crucial must-win matchup for both squads.
Prediction: 31-13
Green Bay Packers (3-5) vs. Detriot Lions (1-6)
WHERE: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
TIME: 1:00 p.m.
NETWORK: FOX
SPREAD: Lions +3.5
The Packers collide with the Lions in a divisional matchup in Detriot. The Packers have lost four straight and haven’t lost five straight in over 14 years. Not so dissimilarly, the Lions could lose five in a row as they are headed toward another disappointing season. Although the Packers didn’t acquire any players during the NFL trade deadline, the Lions dealt away star tight end T.J. Hockenson to a division foe, the Minnesota Vikings. This season the reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers has tossed for 1,800 yards, 13 touchdowns, and four interceptions, completing 66.4% of his passes. The Packers are coming into Detroit ranked 17th, averaging 340 yards per game.
Meanwhile, the Lions’ defense has been the root of their struggles, and they have recently fired defensive coach Aubrey Pleasant. Detroit allowed at least 24 points in every matchup this season and 421.4 yards per game, last in the league. However, the Lions’ offense isn’t terrible, led by Jared Goff, who has thrown for 1,904 yards and 12 touchdowns, completing 63.9% of his passes. The Vikings have a lead of 2 games and are first in the NFC North, but don’t count out the Packers yet.
Prediction: 24-21Packers
Las Vegas Raiders (2-5) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)
WHERE: TIAA Field, Jacksonville, FL
TIME: 1:00 p.m.
NETWORK: CBS
SPREAD: Jaguars +1.5
As they square off in Florida, with only two wins each, the Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars will look to get back on track this week. The Raiders have been nothing short of disappointing thus far. New coach Josh McDaniels has had a rough time winning games. Even with the addition of Davante Adams and Chandler Jones, the Raiders are the only two-win team in the AFC West. Their struggles were evident last week when they got shut out by the then two-win Saints. Veteran quarterback Derek Carr was benched during the game, and backup Jarett Stidham took over. Before their awful performance with the Saints, the Raiders won three straight and averaged 33 points in those games. However, Derek Carr is 0-7 against the spread in his last seven games. On the defensive side, they have allowed 24.9 points per game, which ranks 25th in the league.
The Jaguars are a very beatable 2-6 team. They have lost they’re fifth straight and are now 0-6 in one-score games. Both teams can run the ball efficiently on the ground with the Raiders’ Josh Jacobs and Jaguars’ Travis Etienne Jr. Jacobs has rushed for 676 yards (4th), and Etienne has 571 yards (6th). Jacobs averages 5.6 yards per carry, while Etienne averages 6.2 yards per carry. Both teams will lean on their run games and try to move to a three-win team.
Prediction: 33-27 Raiders
Indianapolis Colts (3-4-1) vs. New England Patriots (4-4)
WHERE: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
TIME: 1:00 p.m.
NETWORK: CBS
SPREAD: Patriots -5.5
Rookie quarterback Sam Ehlinger and company will head to New England and try to upset the Patriots at Gillette. The two teams faced off last season when the 9-4 Patriots snapped their seven-game win streak in a brutal 27-17 loss, led by Jonathan Taylor, who rushed for 170 yards. After losing to Green Bay in overtime, the Patriots have won three of the past four, including wins against the Lions, Browns, and Jets. New England has 16 giveaways this season, tied with the Colts and Saints for most in the NFL. Last week was Mac Jones’s first complete game since the injury he suffered in Week 3; the sophomore threw for 24-of-35 for 194 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. The Patriots’ issues arise in the red zone, where they rank 29th in the league in touchdown efficiency. They have only scored two touchdowns in the past two games and relied on veteran kicker Nick Folk. Led by second-year back Rhamondre Stevenson, the Patriots are 13th on the ground averaging 123.3 yards a game. Last week Stevenson was the leading rusher and receiver for the Patriots, and his role continues to grow in the offense. The Patriots find a way to get it done defensively, with ten total interceptions (3rd), and are 12th in scoring defense. However, they allow 120 rushing yards per game (22nd) and allow 224.5 pass yards (19th).
The Colts have a tough challenge, as Belichick has done notoriously well against inexperienced quarterbacks. Colts coach Frank Reich benched Matt Ryan “for the remainder” of the season and fired offensive coordinator Marcus Ryan. Additionally, the Colts are banged up offensively with running back Jonathan Taylor injured, and the Colts will be rolling with Philip Lindsay and Deon Jackson against the Patriots. Nevertheless, New England should be able to rise above .500 heading into their bye before another critical division game against the Jets.
Prediction: 28-9 Patriots
Buffalo Bills (6-1) vs. New York Jets (5-3)
WHERE: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
TIME: 1:00 p.m.
NETWORK: CBS
SPREAD: Jets +12.5
The Bills will travel to MetLife to take on the surprising five-win Jets. Zach Wilson and the Jets are coming off a bitter loss to the Patriots at home in Week 9 and will look to bounce back in an upset win. However, the Bills will make that hard as they are seen as the number-one team in the NFL. The Buffalo Bills are coming into this game after defeating the Green Bay Packers 27-17. In a very close game, the lone Buffalo loss was surrendered in Week 3 in Miami, as the Dolphins beat the Bills 21-19. Josh Allen is first in the NFL, averaging 307.7 yards a game, and has thrown for 19 touchdowns against six interceptions. The Bills scored 29 points per game and averaged 430 yards of offense per contest. Stefon Diggs is the leading receiver for the Bills, as he has tallied up 55 catches for 764 yards and seven scores. Additionally, the Bills traded for the Colts running back Nyheim Hines, who will help a rushing offense that ranks 14th in the league (122.9 yards per game). On the flip side of the ball, the Bills have only allowed 14 points a game (1st) and 289.1 yards of total offense (3rd).
Jets quarterback Zach Wilson will try and rebound after his first season loss against the Patriots. He threw three interceptions last week and constantly put the football in harm’s way.
Prediction: 30-16 Bills
Minnesota Vikings (6-1) vs. Washington Commanders (4-4)
WHERE: FedEX Field, Landover, Maryland
TIME: 1:00 p.m.
NETWORK: FOX
SPREAD: Commanders -3.5
It’s reunion time in DC as Kirk Cousins and the six-win Vikings will visit the four-win Commanders. With a home win, the Commanders can rise above .500 for the first time since Ron Rivera took over the team in 2020. Meanwhile, the Vikings are off to a great start as they sit on top of the NFC North. The Vikings are on a winning streak, but every game this season has been won by single digits. The Commanders can also pull away from tight games as they are 4-1 in one-score affairs. The Vikings’ top receiver Justin Jefferson leads the team with 52 receptions for 752 yards averaging 14.5 yards a catch. The rushing attack is decisive for the Vikings, with a Pro Bowl back, Dalvin Cook, leading the way with 561 yards. Minnesota has scored ten rushing touchdowns thus far and seven in the last three games (3rd).
Terry McLaurin leads the receivers with 33 catches for 553 yards for Washington. Washington’s run defense is iffy, allowing 334.3 yards per game. This game should be the closest on the afternoon slate, but the Vikings have the edge in the end.
Prediction: 27-19 Vikings
Seattle Seahawks (5-3) vs. Arizona Cardinals (3-5)
WHERE: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
TIME: 4:05 p.m.
NETWORK: FOX
SPREAD: Cardinals -2
The Cardinals will host their division rival, the Seattle Seahawks, who are coming off a big 27-13 victory against the New York Giants. Geno Smith has taken huge strides as the Seahawks quarterback, throwing for 1,924 and completing 72.7% of his passes. The Seahawks are also getting a boost from rookie running back Kenneth Walker, who leads all rookie running backs with five touchdowns. He has 461 yards on the season, but 400 have come in the last three games. The Michigan State product takes the pressure off of Smith and has helped Seattle become one of the most balanced offenses in the NFL.
Regarding the Cardinals, Kyler Murray and team have been disappointing so far. Last week they lost 34-26 against the Vikings, racking up 97 penalty yards in the beating. However, Arizona regained star receiver DeAndre Hopkins in Week 8, and since, he has tallied up 22 catches for 262 yards. If they want any chance at the playoffs, Murray and the Cardinals desperately need a win against the Seahawks.
Prediction: 19-16 Seahawks
Los Angeles Rams (3-4) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5)
WHERE: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL
TIME: 4:25 p.m.
NETWORK: CBS
SPREAD: Bucs -3
Two former NFC playoff teams will clash when Tom Brady and the Buccaneers host Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams. After a 2-0 start to the season, the Buccaneers have lost five of their last six games, including the Panthers and Steelers games. Brady has nine touchdowns and one interception on the season but has a 49.1 QBR (17th). The Bucs’ offensive struggles are primarily due to the run game, as they have the worst rushing attack in the NFL, averaging 61.9 yards per game. On defense, Tampa Bay has allowed 326.4 offensive yards (11th) and is sixth, allowing 194 yards per game.
The Rams rank at the bottom of the league in total yards per game (297.4) and have trouble moving the ball down the field. Similar to Tampa Bay, the Rams also have an inefficient running game. Last week Los Angeles ran the ball 21 times but only picked up 56 yards. In addition, Stafford is turning the ball over at an alarming rate, throwing for seven interceptions against eight touchdowns. Both teams will have to take care of the ball better to win their fourth game.
Prediction: 27-25 Rams
Tennessee Titans (5-2) vs. Kansas City Chiefs
WHERE: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
TIME: 8:20 p.m.
NETWORK: NBC
SPREAD: Chiefs -12.5
It’s time for Sunday night football as the Kansas City Chiefs host Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans. The Titans are on a roll, winning their last five games with the help of all-pro Derrick Henry. Last week in their 17-10 win against the Houston Texans, Derrick Henry had 32 carries for 219 yards and two touchdowns. Henry has rushed for 755 yards and scored seven times on the season. Malik Willis got the Titans start last week in Ryan Tannehill’s absence, battling an injury. Willis was 6 of 10 for 55 yards with an interception last week against the Texans. Meanwhile, defensively the Titans have allowed just 19.7 points per game, contributing to their recent success.
The Chiefs are trying to win their second straight, but this time they have the addition of former Giants wideout Kadarius Toney. The Chiefs traded for Toney over the deadline, and Patrick Mahomes now has another receiver to work with. Speaking of Mahomes, he’s thrown for 20 touchdowns, tallying up 2,159 yards in the process. He is leading the Chiefs’ passing attack throwing for 296 yards a game while averaging 31.9 points per affair. This Sunday night game should be one of the more exciting primetime games and should see plenty of views.
Prediction: 33-24 Chiefs
Baltimore Ravens (5-3) vs. New Orleans Saints (3-5)
WHERE: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
TIME: 8:15 p.m.
NETWORK: Saints -2.5
The last game of Week 9 consists of the Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints. The Ravens improved to 5-3 and moved to first place in the AFC North with a win over the Buccaneers on Primetime. That can’t be said about New Orleans, who lost the last five of six but had their best performance last week when they beat the Raiders 24-0 at home. Somehow the Saints are just one game out of first place, behind the Falcons.
Thus far, the Saints are averaging 253.1 yards per game through the air (8th) and 141.3 yards on the ground (8th). They are also 8th in scoring offense averaging 24.9 points per contest. The quarterback position is tough in New Orleans. It started with Jameis Winston, who threw for 858 yards completing 73 of 115 passes and throwing for four touchdowns against five interceptions. However, he suffered an injury earlier in the season, and since, Andy Dalton has completed 105 of 161 passes for 1,165 yards with nine touchdowns and four interceptions. The Saints have two valuable rushers in Taysom Hill and Alvin Kamara. The quarterback/running back Taysom Hill has thrown for 88 yards and has 39 carries for 337 yards and five touchdowns. In addition, he has three receptions for 16 yards and a touchdown. Kamara leads the team in 413 yards on 95 carries and has a touchdown. Rookie Chris Olave leads the team to the receiving game with 37 receptions for 547 yards and two scores. However, the Ravens have the 26th passing offense with 193.8 yards through the air, and they are second in their rushing offense, running for 165.6 yards per game. Baltimore is fifth in scoring, with 26 points per affair. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is 138 of 234 passing, throwing for 1,635 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s also Baltimore’s leading rusher with 553 yards on 75 carries and two touchdowns. This should be an exciting primetime matchup with the Ravens wanting to stay in the first place and the Saints looking to turn their season around.
Prediction: 31-20 Ravens
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My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 17-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Thepatriotsbeat@gmail.com with any inquires.
