2024 NFL Week 9: The best of Sunday’s games and the standout storylines

Week 9 of the NFL season serves as a pivotal moment for many teams, acting as a potential “fork in the road.” Winning teams can maintain their playoff aspirations, while losing squads might need to start planning for the future as significant changes loom.

The action kicked off on Thursday with the New York Jets pulling off a surprising 21-13 victory over the Houston Texans, highlighted by a stunning catch from Jets receiver Garrett Wilson that is already being touted as a contender for catch of the year.

As we dive into the weekend’s matchups, two teams— the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Francisco 49ers—are on bye, with fans eager to see if star running back Christian McCaffrey will return after missing part of the season due to injury.

Here are three must-watch games for Week 9:

Denver Broncos (5-3) vs. Baltimore Ravens (5-3) – 1 p.m. ET

A battle between two 5-3 teams, the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens, showcases a striking contrast in preseason expectations. The Ravens entered the season as serious Super Bowl contenders, while the Broncos were perceived as a rebuilding team, especially after trading away Russell Wilson and starting rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

Despite rocky starts for both, they find themselves with identical records entering their matchup at M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore struggled initially, losing its first two games before rebounding with five consecutive wins, only to fall to the Cleveland Browns last week. Meanwhile, the Broncos are riding a two-game winning streak following victories over the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers.

Bo Nix, the 24-year-old rookie, has shown marked improvement throughout the season. In his last five games, he has thrown for eight touchdowns and just one interception, alongside rushing for two scores. This is a significant turnaround from his early struggles, where he had no touchdown passes and four interceptions in his first three games.

“I’m excited for the challenge,” Nix said about facing the Ravens’ formidable defense. “These are the types of games that test you as a player and help you grow.”

Lamar Jackson, the Ravens’ star quarterback, received a boost this week with the acquisition of Pro Bowl receiver Diontae Johnson from the Panthers. With Johnson joining forces with Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews, Baltimore’s offense is looking dangerous. However, offensive coordinator Todd Monken emphasized the need for improvement, noting that the team scored only four times in eight trips into the opponent’s territory against the Browns.

Detroit Lions (6-1) vs. Green Bay Packers (6-2) – 4:25 p.m. ET

Arguably the most anticipated game of the week features an NFC North showdown between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers. The Lions enter this contest riding a five-game winning streak and are being heralded as one of the top teams in the league, recently dominating the Tennessee Titans 52-14.

On the other hand, the Packers have also found their stride, winning four consecutive games thanks to innovative offensive schemes from head coach Matt LaFleur and an improved defense under first-year coordinator Jeff Hafley.

However, the Packers face uncertainty surrounding starting quarterback Jordan Love, who suffered a groin injury during their victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Love has expressed optimism about playing, but if he can’t go, Malik Willis will step in. Willis has previously led the team to two victories in Love’s absence, which adds an intriguing element to this high-stakes matchup.

This game carries significant implications for playoff positioning, making it a must-watch for fans.

Indianapolis Colts (4-4) vs. Minnesota Vikings (5-2) – 8:20 p.m. ET

Sunday Night Football features a clash between the Indianapolis Colts and the Minnesota Vikings, but the focus will be on the Colts’ decision to bench quarterback Anthony Richardson. After struggling significantly in his second season, Richardson, the fourth overall pick in last year’s draft, completed just 44.4% of his passes, leading to his demotion in favor of veteran Joe Flacco.

Richardson has acknowledged the emotional toll of being benched but is viewing it as an opportunity for growth. “Of course, it hurts,” he said. “It’s all good. I’m using the moment as a chance to learn from my mistakes.”

Flacco, 39, has performed well in relief, completing nearly 66% of his passes with seven touchdowns in limited action this season. He’ll face a tough test against a Vikings defense that has been among the league’s best, leading in interceptions and allowing the third-fewest rushing yards.

Minnesota, which started the season strong with five wins, has stumbled recently with two consecutive losses and will be looking to regain its momentum against a revamped Colts team.

Full Week 9 Sunday Schedule

• Dallas Cowboys (3-4) vs. Atlanta Falcons (5-3) – 1 p.m. ET
• Denver Broncos (5-3) vs. Baltimore Ravens (5-3) – 1 p.m. ET
• Miami Dolphins (2-5) vs. Buffalo Bills (6-2) – 1 p.m. ET
• New Orleans Saints (2-6) vs. Carolina Panthers (1-7) – 1 p.m. ET
• Las Vegas Raiders (2-6) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (3-5) – 1 p.m. ET
• Los Angeles Chargers (4-3) vs. Cleveland Browns (2-6) – 1 p.m. ET
• Washington Commanders (6-2) vs. New York Giants (2-6) – 1 p.m. ET
• New England Patriots (2-6) vs. Tennessee Titans (1-6) – 1 p.m. ET
• Chicago Bears (4-3) vs. Arizona Cardinals (4-4) – 4:05 p.m. ET
• Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2) – 4:05 p.m. ET
• Detroit Lions (6-1) vs. Green Bay Packers (6-2) – 4:25 p.m. ET
• Los Angeles Rams (3-4) vs. Seattle Seahawks (4-4) – 4:25 p.m. ET
• Indianapolis Colts (4-4) vs. Minnesota Vikings (5-2) – 8:20 p.m. ET

Week 9 is shaping up to be a thrilling chapter in the NFL season, with crucial implications for teams fighting for playoff spots. Don’t miss the action!