Lions beat Packers, Saquon Barkley leaves teammates ‘speechless’ and historic Ravens performances: NFL Week 9 Sunday review

Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season delivered an action-packed Sunday as the league hit its midway point. Fans were treated to thrilling finishes, overtime victories, and standout individual performances, with several teams delivering historic moments. A total of seven games were decided by seven points or fewer, marking the highest number of such close contests in NFL history by Week 9. Here’s a rundown of the key takeaways from Sunday’s action.

Lions Dominate Packers in NFC North Showdown

The marquee matchup of the week was at Lambeau Field, where the Detroit Lions faced the Green Bay Packers in a battle of two NFC North heavyweights. However, what was expected to be a tightly contested game turned into a one-sided affair as the Lions dominated from the start, securing a 24-14 victory.

Detroit came out with energy and confidence, and the drama began even before kickoff. Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown arrived at the stadium wearing a shirt that read, “Green Bay Sucks,” setting the tone for the game. St. Brown then made an impact on the field, catching a touchdown on Detroit’s opening drive. Defensive back Kerby Joseph made his mark shortly after, intercepting Packers quarterback Jordan Love and returning it for a touchdown to give the Lions a commanding lead.

By the time Jahmyr Gibbs scored on a rushing touchdown in the third quarter, the Lions were up by 21, effectively putting the game out of reach. Green Bay made a late push with a field goal and a touchdown, but it was too little, too late. The Lions extended their winning streak to six games, improving to 7-1—marking their best start in the Super Bowl era.

Lions quarterback Jared Goff continued his stellar play, completing 82.8% of his passes during this stretch, with 13 touchdowns and just one interception. Goff’s 140.1 passer rating during this span set a new record for the best six-game performance since 1970, surpassing previous marks held by Peyton Manning and Brock Purdy. Goff’s performance, paired with Detroit’s tough, all-weather mentality, is setting the Lions up as one of the NFL’s top teams.

The Packers fell to 6-3 and will head into their bye week with some soul-searching to do. Their loss came despite outgaining the Lions by 150 yards, with penalties and miscues derailing key drives at critical moments.

Saquon Barkley Leaves Eagles Speechless

In a thrilling matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars, Saquon Barkley produced one of the most jaw-dropping plays of the season. Trailing by 10 points in the second quarter, Barkley caught a short pass on third down, needing to elude two defenders to secure the first down. After sidestepping one tackler, Barkley spun away from another, then, facing the wrong direction and without looking, hurdled over an incoming defender.

The play left Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni “speechless,” as he called it the best individual play he’d ever seen. “There’s going to be kids all over the country trying to make that play,” Sirianni said. “But I think he’s the only one in the world who can do it.”

Barkley finished the game with 199 total yards, including 159 rushing and 40 receiving, while adding a rushing touchdown and a receiving score. The Eagles won 28-23 to improve to 6-2. Quarterback Jalen Hurts also contributed with three touchdowns—two passing and one rushing.

Historic Performances Power Ravens to Victory

The Baltimore Ravens cruised to a dominant 41-10 win over the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium, fueled by historic performances from two key players. Quarterback Lamar Jackson had a flawless game, completing 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions, achieving a perfect 158.3 passer rating. This was the fourth time in Jackson’s career he has posted a perfect passer rating, setting an NFL record for the most such games, surpassing Hall of Famers Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and others.

Meanwhile, newly acquired running back Derrick Henry continued his torrid pace, rushing for 126 yards and two touchdowns. The two scores brought Henry’s career total to 101 rushing touchdowns, making him the fastest to reach that mark in NFL history. Henry’s performance tied him with Emmitt Smith for the third-most games in NFL history with at least 100 yards and two touchdowns.

The Ravens improved to 6-3, with both Jackson and Henry continuing to form one of the most dynamic offensive duos in the league. Jackson praised his running back, noting his versatility, while Henry called Jackson the “engine” of the Ravens’ offense.

Full Week 9 Sunday Scores

Here’s a quick look at all the scores from Week 9:

• Dallas Cowboys 21-27 Atlanta Falcons
• Denver Broncos 10-41 Baltimore Ravens
• Miami Dolphins 27-30 Buffalo Bills
• New Orleans Saints 22-23 Carolina Panthers
• Las Vegas Raiders 24-41 Cincinnati Bengals
• Los Angeles Chargers 27-10 Cleveland Browns
• Washington Commanders 27-22 New York Giants
• New England Patriots 17-20 OT Tennessee Titans
• Chicago Bears 9-29 Arizona Cardinals
• Jacksonville Jaguars 23-28 Philadelphia Eagles
• Detroit Lions 24-14 Green Bay Packers
• Los Angeles Rams 26-20 OT Seattle Seahawks
• Indianapolis Colts 13-21 Minnesota Vikings

Conclusion

Week 9 saw a mix of historic individual performances, close finishes, and surprising results. The Lions continue their hot streak, the Eagles benefit from Saquon Barkley’s brilliance, and the Ravens flex their offensive muscle behind Jackson and Henry. As the season enters its second half, these teams, among others, will look to build on their momentum and keep climbing toward the playoffs.