Week 9 had a game in Madrid, a Sunday night thriller in Chicago and a trade deadline eve that reshaped Jacksonville’s defense. If you missed it, here is my Week 8 recap.
Monday Night: The Bills Smother the Vikings
Buffalo beat Minnesota 23-6 on Monday night, and the Bills controlled the ball for 42:32 of the 60 minutes. Josh Allen completed 21 of 31 passes for 234 yards, with a 25-yard touchdown pass just before halftime and one interception. James Cook added a 5-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, and Tyler Bass made all three of his field goals, including a 52-yarder.
Buffalo’s defense held the Vikings to 178 total yards, two interceptions and a lost fumble, and Minnesota’s only points came on two Will Reichard field goals. The Bills are 7-1. The Vikings, who started 6-0, have now lost two straight and are 6-2.
The Bears Survive Four Interceptions
Chicago beat Tampa Bay 27-24 on Sunday night despite four interceptions from Caleb Williams, a career high. Williams went 22-of-37 for 279 yards and two touchdowns. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson returned a Baker Mayfield pass 67 yards for a touchdown, and after Mayfield tied the game at 24 with a two-point scramble with 2:51 left, Cairo Santos won it with a 38-yard field goal as time expired.
The Bears (7-2) head into their bye week. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, it was the first time since 2010 that the Bears won a game in which their quarterback threw four interceptions.
The Packers Put Up 45 in New England
Green Bay won 45-27 at New England. Jordan Love completed 23 of 29 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns. Christian Watson caught seven passes for 171 yards, and Matthew Golden had 10 catches for 164 yards. According to the Packers, New England had never allowed more than 42 points at Gillette Stadium. Green Bay (6-3) also had four takeaways, including two interceptions by Xavier McKinney. Josh Jacobs left early with a fractured finger.
The Bengals Win in Madrid
Cincinnati beat Atlanta 34-17 at Santiago Bernabéu in front of 78,660 fans. Joe Burrow completed 24 of 29 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another. Ja’Marr Chase caught 10 passes for 155 yards and a score, and Tee Higgins caught two touchdowns. It was the Bengals’ fourth straight win and their first ever in an international game. They are 6-2.
Stroud Throws Five as the Chargers Fall to 0-8
C.J. Stroud threw for 384 yards and five touchdowns in Houston’s 44-22 win in Los Angeles. Kayshon Boutte caught four passes for 125 yards and two scores. The Chargers are 0-8, the worst start in franchise history.
The Trade Deadline Arrives
The deadline is Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT, and Jacksonville did not wait. The Jaguars, who crushed Baltimore 33-10 on Thursday night, made three trades on Monday:
- Jessie Bates III from Atlanta for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth.
- Davon Godchaux from New Orleans for a conditional sixth-round pick.
- Jordan Davis from Philadelphia for a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second.
Detroit also added safety Andre Cisco from the Jets, and the Ravens’ trade for Jacoby Brissett became official last Friday. Every deal is in my NFL trade deadline tracker.
The Rest of the Slate
- Jaguars 33, Ravens 10 (Thursday): Trevor Lawrence threw for 242 yards and a touchdown. Baltimore has lost four straight, and for the first time in franchise history it has lost three straight games by at least 20 points.
- Giants 19, Eagles 11: Philadelphia has lost seven straight.
- Cowboys 27, Colts 23
- Rams 20, Commanders 13
- Saints 23, Browns 22
- Chiefs 35, Jets 12
- Lions 19, Dolphins 9
- Broncos 26, Panthers 21: Denver is 7-2.
- 49ers 38, Raiders 17: San Francisco is 7-1.
- Seahawks 17, Cardinals 3
Week 9 Scoreboard
| Matchup | Final | Records after |
|---|---|---|
| Jaguars at Ravens (Thu) | JAX 33, BAL 10 | JAX 6-2, BAL 4-5 |
| Bengals vs. Falcons (Madrid) | CIN 34, ATL 17 | CIN 6-2, ATL 3-6 |
| Cowboys at Colts | DAL 27, IND 23 | DAL 4-5, IND 2-7 |
| Rams at Commanders | LA 20, WAS 13 | LA 5-4, WAS 2-5-1 |
| Browns at Saints | NO 23, CLE 22 | NO 3-5, CLE 5-4 |
| Jets at Chiefs | KC 35, NYJ 12 | KC 6-2, NYJ 2-7 |
| Lions at Dolphins | DET 19, MIA 9 | DET 6-2, MIA 1-7 |
| Broncos at Panthers | DEN 26, CAR 21 | DEN 7-2, CAR 3-5 |
| Giants at Eagles | NYG 19, PHI 11 | NYG 5-2-1, PHI 2-7 |
| Texans at Chargers | HOU 44, LAC 22 | HOU 3-5, LAC 0-8 |
| Raiders at 49ers | SF 38, LV 17 | SF 7-1, LV 4-5 |
| Packers at Patriots | GB 45, NE 27 | GB 6-3, NE 5-4 |
| Cardinals at Seahawks | SEA 17, ARI 3 | SEA 5-4, ARI 3-6 |
| Buccaneers at Bears (Sun) | CHI 27, TB 24 | CHI 7-2, TB 3-6 |
| Bills at Vikings (Mon) | BUF 23, MIN 6 | BUF 7-1, MIN 6-2 |
Byes: Steelers, Titans.
Looking Ahead to Week 10
- Commanders at Giants (Thursday): An NFC East game to open the week.
- Steelers at Bengals (Sunday night): Two 6-2 AFC North teams, with Cincinnati on a four-game winning streak.
- 49ers at Cowboys (Sunday): San Francisco brings a 7-1 record to Arlington.
- Vikings at Packers (Sunday): A big NFC North game.
- Chargers at Ravens (Monday night): Two struggling teams, and Brissett could make his first start for Baltimore.
The Jaguars also visit Tennessee, and we will see how the new pieces fit.
Featured photo: Santiago Bernabéu during Falcons vs. Bengals in Madrid, Nov. 8, 2026 by Badefa, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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