play1:06Daniel Jones to McAfee: Jonathan Taylor is ‘playing unbelievable right now’Daniel Jones tells Pat McAfee how Jonathan Taylor’s dominant stretch has lifted the Colts’ offense.
play1:46McAfee: Hutchinson deserving of big extension with LionsPat McAfee evaluates what Aidan Hutchinson has meant to the Lions after signing a four-year, $180 million extension.
play2:10Are the Bears serious playoff contenders?Taylor Lewan, Dan Orlovsky, Andrew Hawkins and Will Compton debate if Caleb Williams and the Bears are frauds.
play1:03Woody: Drake Maye is the best QB in 2024 draft classDamien Woody says Drake Maye is playing like a top-5 quarterback and is the best QB from the 2024 draft class.
play1:17Is Alvin Kamara no longer a lineup lock?Mike Clay explains why Alvin Kamara’s decreased fantasy production this season barely makes him a top-20 running back in Week 9.
Dan Orlovsky calls Bills’ game vs. Chiefs a ‘must-win’ for Buffalo (0:36)Dan Orlovsky shares why Sunday’s game against the Chiefs is a must-win game for the Bills. (0:36)
Daniel Jones to McAfee: Jonathan Taylor is ‘playing unbelievable right now’Daniel Jones tells Pat McAfee how Jonathan Taylor’s dominant stretch has lifted the Colts’ offense.
McAfee: Hutchinson deserving of big extension with LionsPat McAfee evaluates what Aidan Hutchinson has meant to the Lions after signing a four-year, $180 million extension.
Pat McAfee evaluates what Aidan Hutchinson has meant to the Lions after signing a four-year, $180 million extension.
Are the Bears serious playoff contenders?Taylor Lewan, Dan Orlovsky, Andrew Hawkins and Will Compton debate if Caleb Williams and the Bears are frauds.
Taylor Lewan, Dan Orlovsky, Andrew Hawkins and Will Compton debate if Caleb Williams and the Bears are frauds.
Woody: Drake Maye is the best QB in 2024 draft classDamien Woody says Drake Maye is playing like a top-5 quarterback and is the best QB from the 2024 draft class.
Damien Woody says Drake Maye is playing like a top-5 quarterback and is the best QB from the 2024 draft class.
Is Alvin Kamara no longer a lineup lock?Mike Clay explains why Alvin Kamara’s decreased fantasy production this season barely makes him a top-20 running back in Week 9.
Mike Clay explains why Alvin Kamara’s decreased fantasy production this season barely makes him a top-20 running back in Week 9.
Let’s get into the full Week 9 slate, which culminates with the “Monday Night Football” matchup between the Cardinals and Cowboys on ESPN. (Game times are Sunday unless otherwise noted.)
Jump to a matchup: DEN-HOU | IND-PIT | MIN-DET CAR-GB | SF-NYG | CHI-CIN ATL-NE | LAC-TEN | NO-LAR JAX-LV | KC-BUF | SEA-WSH ARI-DAL
What we’re hearing on the Texans: The Broncos lead the NFL in sacks (36) while the Texans’ offensive line ranks 28th in pass block win rate (55.1%). One group is perceived as a strength, and the other group is slowly improving. Last week, Houston gave up zero sacks for the first time this season, so the hope is the line can carry that momentum against one of the NFL’s top defenses. — DJ Bien-Aime
Stat to know: The Texans have allowed 103 points through the first seven games of the season, the fewest in franchise history. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Broncos CB Riley Moss will record a 12% target rate or lower. Moss’ season average is 18%, but that number was inflated by playing opposite Surtain. Even when Surtain was opposite him, Moss allowed 1.1 yards per coverage snap this season, average for an outside CB. — Walder
Fantasy nugget: Some fantasy managers might be forced to rely on Broncos QB Bo Nix and WR Courtland Sutton this week with four teams on bye, but it’s important to set realistic expectations, given the matchup. The Texans’ defense has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to QBs and the fourth fewest to WRs. See Week 9 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: The Texans are 1-4 ATS (against the spread) against teams with winning records this season. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Texans 23, Broncos 20 Moody’s pick: Broncos 20, Texans 17 Walder’s pick: Broncos 23, Texans 17 FPI prediction: HOU, 50.1% (by an average of 0.3 points)
Matchup must-reads: Four ways Surtain’s absence affects the Broncos’ defense … Texans QB Stroud says he’s ‘a top guy’ when at his best … Why the Broncos can lean on the run with Dobbins, Harvey
Stat to know: Colts RB Jonathan Taylor has scored 14 touchdowns this season, which is equal to or more than five NFL teams (Browns, Saints, Falcons, Raiders and Titans) thus far. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Steelers RB Jaylen Warren will record fewer than 4.0 yards per carry for the first time in October. The Steelers run inside zone 30% of the time, third most in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Colts are allowing just 2.3 yards per inside zone run this season, which ranks first. — Walder
Daniel Jones to McAfee: Jonathan Taylor is ‘playing unbelievable right now’
Daniel Jones tells Pat McAfee how Jonathan Taylor’s dominant stretch has lifted the Colts’ offense.
Fantasy nugget: Steelers WR DK Metcalf and Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. both have favorable matchups this week. Metcalf has scored 16 or more fantasy points in two of his past three games while averaging seven targets per contest. Pittman has gotten nine targets and topped 20 fantasy points in each of his past two outings. Both receivers face defenses that rank inside the top 5 of fantasy points allowed per game to wideouts. See Week 9 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: The Colts are 6-2 ATS, tied with the Patriots for the best record in the NFL. Indianapolis is 4-1 ATS as favorites and 6-0 ATS in conference play. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Colts 30, Steelers 27 Moody’s pick: Colts 35, Steelers 28 Walder’s pick: Colts 24, Steelers 20 FPI prediction: IND, 57.5% (by an average of 3.1 points)
Stat to know: The Vikings are the only NFL team with multiple sacks in every game this season. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Goff will record a QBR under 50. Minnesota’s defense hasn’t been the same this season as it was in the recent past. But it is a zone-heavy team, and the Lions have severe man-zone splits, averaging 0.44 EPA per dropback versus man and 0.09 versus zone. — Walder
McAfee: Hutchinson deserving of big extension with Lions
Betting nugget: The Vikings are 14-7 ATS on the road since 2023. All four Vikings road games this season have gone over the total. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Lions 30, Vikings 17 Moody’s pick: Lions 34, Vikings 17 Walder’s pick: Vikings 23, Lions 21 FPI prediction: DET, 74.9% (by an average of 10.3 points)
Matchup must-reads: How the NFL shut down a field goal controversy … What Hutchinson’s extension means, and which pass rusher is getting paid next … Lions OC Morton feels he ‘failed’ WR Williams, eyes fixes
Stat to know: The Packers have only four takeaways this season, which is tied with the Ravens for the second fewest in the NFL. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Packers WR Christian Watson will record another 85-plus-receiving-yard game. Watson, who returned last week from a torn ACL, managed 85 yards on just 23 routes. If he gets a target, there’s always a great chance it’ll be a big gain. Last week, 52% of his routes were verticals. — Walder
Fantasy nugget: Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan finished with a season-high seven receptions and tied his season high with 10 targets last week. He has averaged 12.5 fantasy points per game, but his ceiling could rise against a Packers defense that has struggled against outside receivers over the past month. See Week 9 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: The Panthers are 12-4 ATS in their past 16 games as underdogs. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Packers 27, Panthers 19 Moody’s pick: Packers 28, Panthers 17 Walder’s pick: Packers 30, Panthers 9 FPI prediction: GB, 77.1% (by an average of 11.5 points)
Matchup must-reads: Panthers DE Brown has a happy place: riding his tractor … Packers WR Watson comes up big in return from torn ACL
What we’re hearing on the Giants: The Giants have to move forward without rookie RB Cam Skattebo, who is out for the season because of a dislocated ankle and fractured tibia. “I mean, other guys just kind of have to pick it up,” QB Jaxson Dart said. That starts with second-year RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. and extends to veterans such as WR Darius Slayton. New York will need some playmakers to step up against San Francisco’s top-10 scoring defense. — Jordan Raanan
Stat to know: The 49ers are second in the NFL in passing yards per game this season (259.3), trailing only the Cowboys. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Giants WR Wan’dale Robinson will record seven or more receptions. San Francisco nickelback Upton Stout is allowing 1.5 yards per coverage snap, the most among all slot corners with at least 100 coverage snaps. Stout has a shoulder issue, and if he cannot go, then Robinson would face a fill-in. Either way, he’s got a good matchup. — Walder
Fantasy nugget: Tracy should inherit a large share of Skattebo’s workload. Injuries to Fred Warner (ankle) and Nick Bosa (knee) have gutted the 49ers’ defense, leaving the unit last in pressure rate and struggling with tackling, coverage and consistency. Tracy and the Giants’ offense should capitalize on that weakness. See Week 9 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: Since the start of last season, overs are 11-1 in 49ers games after a loss. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: 49ers 34, Giants 29 Moody’s pick: 49ers 23, Giants 21 Walder’s pick: Giants 31, 49ers 27 FPI prediction: NYG, 56.2% (by an average of 2.5 points)
Matchup must-reads: Are the 49ers looking to improve ahead of the trade deadline? … Skattebo’s injury: What it means for RB, Giants and their future … Patriots trade DE White to 49ers
What we’re hearing on the Bengals: If QB Joe Flacco (shoulder) can’t go Sunday, this could be the ultimate test for Jake Browning, who has eight interceptions this season. The Bears lead the league in interceptions (11) and turnover margin. Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said, “We’ve just got to play every down with a clear plan as to what you’re going to do with the football and know your keys and play with vision, don’t guess, and make responsible decisions.” — Ben Baby