Week 9 marks the end of the first half the NFL season, and with the trade deadline in the books we’re about to see who the real contenders are.
This week sees just three divisional matchups, but still plenty of drama.
Can the Buccaneers right the ship? Are the Vikings for real? Will Green Bay’s frustrations follow them to Detroit?
Six teams are off this week: Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, New York Giants, Pittsburgh, San Francisco.
Here are the storylines we’re watching in each game this weekend.
Colts (3-4-1) @ Patriots (4-4) | Sunday 1 p.m.
They used to be two sides of one of the league’s best rivalry, with many storied matchups between them. Now, the Colts and Patriots are two teams in transition, a couple of strangers passing mid-season.
Indianapolis has been in a steep spiral, benching veteran quarterback Matt Ryan for Sam Ehlinger two weeks ago and firing offensive coordinator Marcus Brady on Tuesday. Where, exactly, is this team headed? With Jonathan Taylor ruled out for Sunday’s game, things are definitely getting worse before they get better.
Packers (3-5) @ Lions (1-6) | Sunday 1 p.m.
What do you do when you’ve got a generational talent at QB, a 3-5 record, and a string of four consecutive losses? Nothing, apparently. Green Bay’s inaction at this week’s trade deadline is as perplexing as the team is disappointing. A date with Detroit could see a rebound, or it could be salt in the wound…neither would feel all that surprising.
Chargers (4-3) @ Falcons (4-4) | Sunday 1 p.m.
Their alma mater is about the only thing former Ducks QBs Justin Herbert and Marcus Mariota have in common. You’d be hard-pressed to find two teams with such polar-opposite offensive strategies. Ahead of their Week 8 bye, Herbert’s Chargers led the league in pass attempts – but with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams ruled out Sunday, does that change?
Mariota’s Falcons, meanwhile, have climbed to the top of the NFC South the hard way: with run after run after run. They rank second in rush attempts while the air game is just a distant thought at this point (they sit 30th in pass attempts).
Bills (6-1) @ Jets (5-3) | Sunday 1 p.m.
Trading for Nyheim Hines fills a need in the run game, but the biggest news of the week was the activation of star defender Tre’Davious White from the PUP list.
Against the Jets, the Bills will look to get their first divisional win of the season.
Vikings (6-1) @ Commanders (4-4) | Sunday 1 p.m.
It might be possible that no one informed Minnesota and Washington that margins of victory of more than a single score are permitted. But where’s the fun in that? The Vikings are 5-0 in one-score games, while all four of the Commanders’ wins this season have come by less than six points.
Panthers (2-6) @ Bengals (4-4) | Sunday 1 p.m.
Last Monday’s forgettable performance against Cleveland painted a picture of life without Ja’Marr Chase, and it wasn’t pretty. With Chase still out, can the Bengals get their run game going?
Raiders (2-5) @ Jaguars (2-6) | Sunday 1 p.m.
In the wake of last Sunday’s shutout loss – and an underwhelming first half of the season – Vegas head coach Josh McDaniels got a vote of confidence from Raiders GM Dave Ziegler. That may cool his seat a little, but not the pressure that continues to mount.
Dolphins (5-3) @ Bears (3-5) | Sunday 1 p.m.
The Dolphins are undefeated this season when Tua’s at the helm… and he’s keeping receipts.
Seahawks (5-3) @ Cardinals (3-5) | Sunday 4:05 p.m.
The Cardinals, 0-2 in divisional matchups so far this season, play all three of their divisional foes in a three-week stretch starting with the Seahawks on Sunday, followed by a Week 10 date in L.A. before hosting the 49ers for the first time this year in Week 11. Seattle topped Arizona in Week 6, and another W would essentially rule out any Cardinals hopes for a shot at the crown.
Rams (3-4) @ Buccaneers (3-5) | Sunday 4:25 p.m.
We’ve got last season’s champions versus the team that won it all the year before… so, who’s going to start playing like it?
A win for the Rams, who are undefeated against Brady’s Bucs, would see Brady tie his longest-ever losing streak (four games), which he hasn’t done since 2002. A Tampa loss would also be the first time since 2009 a Brady-led team has suffered six losses in a season.
Titans (5-2) @ Chiefs (5-2) | Sunday 8:20 p.m.
Despite putting up league-worst passing numbers – yes, even fewer passing yards than Chicago! – Tennessee is sitting comfortably atop the AFC South and second in the conference thanks to the ground game of King Henry and a formidable defensive line.
Unfortunately for the Titans, winners of five in a row, their 24th-ranked pass defence is about to take centre stage against Patrick Mahomes’ deep crew of pass-catchers – one that now includes former Giant Kadarius Toney.
Ravens (5-3) @ Saints (3-5) | Monday 8:15 p.m.
Perhaps no deadline-day trade could have a bigger impact than the one that saw linebacker Roquan Smith join Baltimore. On paper, it’s a perfect fit. We’ll get our first glimpse against the Saints this Sunday.
