The NFL season has been characterised by tight games, nip-and-tuck affairs that are decided in the dying embers. While there were a number of such games again in Week 9, the league’s best are starting to pull away from the competition.

All but one of this Sunday’s games were won by the bookies’ favourites. While the Ravens and Lions solidified their credentials as the league’s premier outfits, teams such as the Eagles, Bills and Commanders strengthened their records in less dominant fashion.

Week 9 of the NFL season saw overtime battles, last second kicks, dominant performances on the ground, and one of the most athletic feats you’ll ever see on the gridiron. Check out our summary of the action below. 

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NFL Week 9 scores

Thursday:
Houston Texans (6-3) 13 @ New York Jets (3-6) 21

Sunday:
Dallas Cowboys (3-5) 21 @ Atlanta Falcons (6-3) 27
Denver Broncos (5-4) 10 @ Baltimore Ravens (6-3) 41
Miami Dolphins (2-6) 27 @ Buffalo Bills (7-2) 30
New Orleans Saints (2-7) 22 @ Carolina Panthers (2-7) 23
Las Vegas Raiders (2-7) 24 @ Cincinatti Bengals (4-5) 41
Los Angeles Chargers (5-3) 27 @ Cleveland Browns (2-7) 10
Washington Commanders (7-2) 27 @ New York Giants (2-7) 22
New England Patriots (2-7) 17 @ Tennessee Titans (2-6) 20
Chicago Bears (4-4) 9 @ Arizona Cardinals (5-4) 29
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7) 23 @ Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) 28
Detroit Lions (7-1) 24 @ Green Bay Packers (6-3) 14
Los Angeles Rams (4-4) 26 @ Las Vegas Raiders (2-6) 20

Indianapolis Colts (4-5) 13 @ Minnesota Vikings (6-2) 21

Monday

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) 24 @ Kansas City Chiefs (8-0) 30

 

Game of the Week — Miami Dolphins 27 – Buffalo Bills 30

It all came down to the swing of Tyler Bass’ right leg.

With just ten seconds left in Orchard Park, the much maligned Bass took to the field. All tied at 27 apiece, the kicker would have to shut out the noise of past failures to nail a franchise-record 61 yard field goal for the win.

Bass has had a rough few months. In a season where field goal kickers have excelled, Buffalo’s incumbent has struggled, making just two-from-five of his attempts between 40 and 49 yards. In today’s game these are gimmes.

Then, there’s last season’s miss in the divisional game against the Chiefs. Again, well within Bass’ range at 44 yards, that nudge to the right invoked memories all Bills fans would much rather forget.

This kick came at the end of a frenetic second half which went back and forth between these AFC East foes. Josh Allen threw three touchdowns after halftime, while the Dolphins offense looked revitalised under the stewardship of Tua Tagovailoa. The lead would change hands four times off the back of seven consecutive scoring drives between the two sides.

The first half was a much tighter affair however. The Bills were able to move the ball effectively in spurts, but were unable to punch the ball into the endzone. A promising drive in the first stanza ended when Keon Coleman couldn’t corral an Allen dart, the ensuing deflection eventually landing in the watchful arms of Jalen Ramsey. Miami were also unable to convert, both teams settling for a field goal in the opening fifteen.

Eventually, the Dolphins found their rhythm. The explosive plays that disappeared following Tua’s injury returning on strike plays to Tyreek Hill and long runs from the electric Devon Achane. The diminutive running back scampered into the endzone from 14 yards with three minutes remaining in the half. It seemed it would be one of those days for Allen and the Bills, as the MVP candidate would have a long touchdown run chalked off for a questionable holding call as the half expired. Bass was able to convert a field goal though, making the score 10-6 Miami at the half.

It seemed it wouldn’t be Bass’ day again. After the Bills marched down the field on their opening possession in the third, and took the lead through a Mack Hollins receiving touchdown from a yard out, Bass would miss the PAT. That kickstarted the action, as Buffalo and Miami went blow for blow until the final whistle. A Sander field goal restored Miami’s lead, which was quickly lost thanks to a 63-yard catch and run by Ray Davis.

In the fourth, both teams would hit chunk play after chunk play. Another Achane score, followed by an Allen pass to Quintin Morris, and finally a Jalen Waddle touchdown kept the scoreboard ticking over in an offensive slobberknocker of the highest order. With the scores now tied at 27, the Bills made the most of a couple of pass interference penalties to engineer Bass’ winning moment. Whether he was able to block out the demons, or used them to spurr him on, Bass was more than able to meet the moment. His kick sailed through the uprights, easily making the required yardage. Before long, he was enveloped by jubilant teammates, many of whom seemed genuinely moved by their friends’ success.

“So proud of him. So happy for him. I got emotional in my little postgame speech out there, just the trials and tribulations that he’s been in throughout this year,” said a visibly emotional Allen. “It’s what stories are made of. And I love him.”

MVP of the Week — Lamar Jackson

MVP of the week? Or MVP of the 2024 season so far?

Lamar Jackson continues to put together a miraculous season, as he torched a formidable Denever Broncos defense for 280 yards, three touchdowns and no picks en route to a perfect passer rating. He is the first player to log four ‘perfect’ games in league history. The Louisville alum underlined his mastery of the game by only tallying four rushing yards, instead dissecting the Broncos secondary with pre-snap clarity and unerring downfield accuracy.

This Ravens offense is a behemoth. For all of the plaudits that will go to Jackson’s backfield mate (more on him later), this quarterback is the real reason for Baltimore’s stunning success through nine weeks. It was truly staggering to watch the Ravens scythe through their toughest defensive foe since their Week 1 matchup against Kansas City, without even really catching a stray. At the halfway point, they look destined for an AFC Championship Game at the very least.

 

Loser — Jerry Jones

I could use this space to talk about the Cowboys dismal offensive display against the Falcons. Instead, let’s talk a little bit about the man Jerry Jones said wouldn’t be a ‘fit’ for the Dallas roster.

Through nine games, Derrick Henry leads the league in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, yards per carry and rushing attempts. If Henry can keep this pace up until season’s end, he will be the first player to achieve this feat since Jim Brown in 1963. His current rushing yards per game (117) extrapolated over a 17-game season would leave him just 11 yards short of another 2,000 yard season. If he was to make up that difference, he could be the first running back to eclipse that mark twice in their career. The King is on course for a truly historic season, one that would cement his legacy as a first ballot Hall of Famer.

While he’s never publicly confirmed it, reporters believe Henry was strongly interested in joining the Cowboys. He never heard from Jerry, and now he’s tearing up trees in a stacked Ravens offense that suits him perfectly.

To not pursue Henry is one thing. To instead resign Ezekiel Elliott, spout off nonsense about ‘fit’ and continue to routinely embarrass yourself in public is another. As rumours swirled about Elliott’s suspension, Henry was again mauling an opposing defense en route to two touchdowns and a dominant Ravens win. It couldn’t have provided a neater narrative to demonstrate the problems in Big D.

Loser — Nick Sirianni

With a certain election a few days away, let’s talk about approval ratings. There’s a well worn arc in the careers of politicians. There’s the come-up, where you can largely do no wrong. You take office, and the line starts to level out around 0%. You’ve pissed a few people off, but for the most part you’re fine. After a few terms, the line really starts to fall, you’ve made enemies inside and outside your team. The world just ain’t buying it anymore.

I would love to see a popularity chart for Nick Sirianni in Philadelphia. Two years ago, his chippiness, aggressiveness and ability to pick coordinators made him the most popular man in the City of Brotherly Love. When Sirianni was crying during the National Anthem before Super Bowl 52, I would have run through a brick wall for a man I’ve never met before.

Now? I spend Sunday evenings screaming at my television. Why aren’t we kicking the extra point? Why are we going for two here? Why is this man shouting at his own fans?

To be clear, in case you didn’t know. The Eagles won on Sunday. They are 6-2. If not for a Saquon Barkley drop against the Falcons in Week 2, Philadelphia would have a share of first place in the NFC.

That doesn’t change the mood around the place. Sirianni’s decision to go for three failed two point conversions left the door open for a Jacksonville comeback, the latest in a line of questionable game management decisions that has the fanbase on his back. The taste of last season’s losing streak hasn’t left the mouth of Eagles fans yet. Sirianni needs to string some comfortable wins together to truly get everyone back on side.

Winner — Running Backs

If last week was for the tight ends, this Sunday was all about the ball carriers. Alvin Kamara put together a vintage performance, tallying 215 yards from scrimmage. Chase Brown announced himself as a bona fide weapon in Cincinnati’s offense as he found paydirt on a beautiful toe drag catch along the backline of the end zone. David Montgomery and Jamhyr Gibbs continued to assert their dominance as the NFL’s best tandem, toting the rock 28 times in treacherous conditions in Green Bay.

As great as these players were, the clear winner of the day was Saquon Barkley. There was an acrobatic catch to open the scoring. There was the patented burst of speed on a 19-yard touchdown run. There was the same power, grit and consistency on all 199 yards gained from scrimmage. Then, there was the ridiculous. In a play that needs to be seen to be believed, Barkley hurdled a Jags defender, backwards. I’m saying that as plainly as I can, as it doesn’t need embellishment. The man jumps over people, backwards.

Barkley and Henry’s success is a thumb in the eye to those football dorks that think a running back can’t be a difference maker in this league. With these two stars, two leading outstanding rushing offenses have gone stratospheric. Answer this question. Who provides more value? Saquon Barkley at a cap hit of $3.8m, or Michael Pittman at $18m?

Loser — Shane Steichen

A week after dropping your second-year quarterback, these are the questions you want to avoid as an offensive-minded head coach.

‘Will you continue to call plays?’

‘Did you think about making a change at quarterback?’

‘Who’s starting next week?’

Shane Steichen looked uncomfortable in the aftermath of the Colts 21-13 loss to the Vikings. Benching Anthony Richardson was supposed to give Indianapolis’ offense a much needed shot in the arm ahead of a tricky matchup against the Vikings. Even with the added experience of Joe Flacco, the Colts couldn’t move the ball consistently. Minnesota doubled their offensive yardage, and looked comfortable winners despite three turnovers from Sam Darnold.

A tricky schedule, including a game against the 7-2 Bills in Week 10, could expose Steichen further. While benching Richardson was probably the right call following his spiralling performance, and decision to remove himself from the game, more abject displays from his offense will likely increase scrutiny of the second-year coach’s performance.

Winner — New England Patriot fans

Stay with me.

This team is putrid. Truly terrible. Through Week 8 the Pats were 31st in defensive DVOA, 31st in offensive DVOA, and — funnily enough — 31st in overall DVOA. They have no offensive line, they’ve traded away or lost their defensive difference makers to injury, their own coach thinks they’re too soft.

There’s one shining light. Drake Maye. The North Carolina alum was up and down on Sunday, after all, he’s making just his NFL third start, but there were flashes of brilliance that will leave New England fans dreaming of another long-term relationship at quarterback.

Maye threw for 205 yards and ran for another 95. He was able to prolong plays with his legs, and make plays out of structure. On a game tying touchdown lob to Rhamondre Stevenson, Maye managed to evade the Titans rush for over 12 seconds, matching the feat of fellow rookie Jayden Daniels on last week’s Hail Mary. Yes in OT, there was a game-ending pick, but these things happen. Based on this evidence, Maye has all the tools to make it as an NFL quarterback.