Another week of the 2024 NFL season has come and gone, and it was a pretty outstanding week of football overall. Especially for those of us who were able to tune in to the early window of games on the NFL Red Zone channel, where there was absolute mayhem during the “Witching Hour”, it was a glorious week of football.
Not to mention, the Hail Mary that shocked the NFL world as the Washington Commanders walked it off against the Chicago Bears in a battle of this year’s top two NFL Draft picks.
The NFL is the best, and it always will be. Even with the best possible World Series going on. As we approach the Sports Equinox with all of the NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA now going on, Week 9 of the NFL season seems to have the theme of “desperation”. There are a lot of teams who desperately need to get wins this week, or their seasons could be over, starting with the first game on the slate.
Let’s dive right in and take a look at every game in Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season, and make our weekly winner picks and score predictions.
Teams on a bye: Steelers, 49ers
2024 NFL Picks and Score Predictions for Week 9 games
Houston Texans (6-2) @ New York Jets (2-6)
Thursday, October 31, 8:15 PM ET
We open up Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season on absolute disaster watch for the New York Jets, who are absolutely reeling at 2-6. The Jets are running out of people to blame for their current issues. Robert Saleh has already been fired. Nathaniel Hackett has already been demoted.
Not even acquiring Davante Adams has been able to solve the issues for this Jets team, which is going to extend its current streak of seasons missing the playoffs (more than any other team in the NFL right now) barring some type of miraculous turnaround.
If there’s a week to “get right”, it’s potentially catching the Houston Texans sleepwalking on a short week. The Jets have desperation on their side while Houston has been skating by to a 6-2 record and has needed a bunch of turnovers the last three weeks to win or keep games close. I am going to start off this week’s NFL picks and score predictions with a scorching hot take: The New York Jets are going to be desperate enough to win this game.
The fact that the Jets are playing at home is helpful, and a win on Thursday night football will at least keep people talking about this team for one more week. The Jets are 1.5-point home underdogs but this game feels like way more of a toss-up than most matchups between 6-2 and 2-6 teams would
Prediction: Jets win 24-20
Dallas Cowboys (3-4) @ Atlanta Falcons (5-3)
Sunday, November 3, 1:00 PM ET
The Dallas Cowboys desperately need a “get right” type of game. Obviously, everyone in the NFL is paid to play, but the Cowboys probably wish they were playing the Panthers this week or something just to get back on the board and keep pace with everyone else in the NFC East right now.
Because they are not only falling behind, but they are trending toward being irrelevant by Thanksgiving.
The Cowboys have simply invested way too much in Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb to just roll over and give up this season, but going into Atlanta right now is not exactly a recipe for success. The Cowboys are going to be banking on winning a shootout here because we know the Falcons are going to be able to score at will against this Cowboys defense in its current state.
Somewhat shockingly, the Falcons are only 2.5-point favorites on the opening line for this game with an over/under of 48.5 points. Kirk Cousins is coming off of a four-touchdown performance and a late rally by the Buccaneers was thwarted by the Atlanta defense just in time.
The Falcons already have three losses this season, so they’re obviously not unbeatable. The Cowboys could absolutely go into Atlanta and steal a win, but it’s going to be very difficult with the way Kirk Cousins has been playing.
The Falcons simply have too many playmakers offensively for the Cowboys to keep pace right now, especially with the way Dak Prescott has been turning the ball over and giving teams extra possessions this season. If Prescott plays a clean game, I think the Cowboys have a shot, but otherwise, I’d be taking the Falcons to cover.
Prediction: Falcons win 27-23
Miami Dolphins (2-5) @ Buffalo Bills (6-2)
Sunday, November 3, 1:00 PM ET
Well, the Miami Dolphins finally got Tua Tagovailoa back in the lineup but it didn’t end up mattering with the overall result of the game. Although the Dolphins’ offense moved the ball much better than we have seen with the replacements at the quarterback position, the Dolphins dropped their matchup against the Arizona Cardinals in very disappointing fashion.
Earlier this season, the Buffalo Bills absolutely stomped on the Miami Dolphins in a Thursday night matchup, and now these two teams are set to complete their season series in Buffalo. This is just not a good matchup right now for the Miami Dolphins who – like many other teams this week – are going to have to rely on desperation to work in their favor.
The Buffalo Bills have looked like a well-oiled machine all year and Josh Allen is simply not making mistakes. Not only that, but the Bills have a dynamic ground game with James Cook playing out of his mind and the overall offense firing on all cylinders. Keon Coleman has been getting better each week and the addition of Amari Cooper into the Buffalo offense has just elevated everyone.
The Bills are correctly being favored by 6.5 points in this game at home and I wouldn’t be surprised if they find a way to cover. You would have to be taking a shot in the dark to go for the Dolphins in this one and just holding out hope that they could put up a bunch of points.
This is an opportunity for the Bills to bury a division rival early in the season. Buffalo has already taken control of the AFC East but they could put away the one team that might strike a little fear if they could start a run in Week 9.
Prediction: Bills win 31-24
Las Vegas Raiders (2-6) @ Cincinnati Bengals (3-5)
Sunday, November 3, 1:00 PM ET
There’s one thing that seems relatively certain this season, and it’s that the Cincinnati Bengals have been able to (mostly) take care of the bad teams on their schedule and they’ve struggled with the good ones.
Luckily for the 3-5 and slightly reeling Bengals, a matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders – in Cincinnati – is on deck for Week 9. After what felt like somewhat of a fluke in Week 1, losing to the Patriots, let’s take a look at the teams the Bengals have lost to and the teams they’ve beaten:
Lost to: Chiefs, Commanders, Ravens, Eagles
Beaten: Panthers, Giants, Browns
So this week’s formula seems rather simple. The Bengals are playing a bad team, and therefore, they are in line to win. It’s science.
The Las Vegas Raiders are obviously going to still compete and might even make life tough on Joe Burrow and the Bengals, if only for a few quarters. We saw them make life a little bit tough on Patrick Mahomes but it didn’t prevent the Chiefs from staying undefeated.
The Bengals – like so many teams this week – are desperate for a win. They got some help this past week in their own division with the Ravens losing to the Cleveland Browns (and we’ll see what happens with the Steelers on Monday, they have not played at the time of this post being written).
The Bengals are 8-point favorites at home in this one and I don’t foresee them having trouble covering that in the end.
Prediction: Bengals win 28-16
Los Angeles Chargers (4-3) @ Cleveland Browns (2-6)
Sunday, November 3, 1:00 PM ET
Alright folks, how are we going to approach the Cleveland Browns now? The Browns had one of the worst offenses in the NFL before Jameis Winston took over at the quarterback position, and then they had not only an explosion of offense but they beat one of the hottest teams in the NFL – the Baltimore Ravens.
It’s difficult to know exactly how to approach a team like this because the Browns do have a lot of pieces to be successful. We saw this team win 11 games last season.
If Jameis Winston can continue to play well, there’s no reason why they can’t keep things going at home in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers haven’t been the league’s most exciting team this season, but at 4-3, they’ve proven that they are a pretty quality team and they have played pretty great defensively.
Maybe it’s just being a prisoner of the moment, but I actually like the Browns in this game and I can’t help but wonder if they could go on a little bit of a run with Jameis Winston under center. The Cleveland offense was just so putrid and non-dimensional with Deshaun Watson out there that we haven’t really gotten a fair evaluation of this team when things are clicking on that side of the ball.
The Chargers are going to try to play a classic AFC North style game here because that is just Jim Harbaugh’s brand of football. But I think the Browns start a little streak after that win against Baltimore. The Chargers are two-point road favorites on the opening line.
Prediction: Browns win 23-19
New England Patriots (2-6) @ Tennessee Titans (1-6)
Sunday, November 3, 1:00 PM ET
Here’s the early favorite for the absolute dud of the week, although there will be other contenders. Don’t you worry about that.
You’ve got two teams here in the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots who are already beginning to sell off parts this season, both of them actually gift-wrapping a couple of players for the reigning back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
So not only does no one really care about this game from a national perspective, but these two teams get a, “You’re dead to me,” from a lot of NFL fan bases right now.
The Titans just sent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Chiefs while the Patriots sent pass rusher Josh Uche to Kansas City. Thanks for nothing, pals.
Oh, right – there’s a game to be played here.
Well, the Titans are three-point favorites at home and the over-under is set at a very generous 37.5 points. I don’t know that either of these teams will be able to move the needle on that one. The Patriots seemingly have the better of the playmakers between these two teams as we’ve seen Hunter Henry making plays along with running back Rhamondre Stevenson. Tony Pollard has been a solid addition for the Titans as well in the running game.
I think you could really just flip a coin for this game as far as picking the winner and I wouldn’t be staking any serious money here at all.
Prediction: Patriots win 18-15
Washington Commanders (6-2) @ New York Giants (2-6)
Sunday, November 3, 1:00 PM ET
The Washington Commanders have obviously been one of the NFL’s most exciting teams so far this season, but the way they were able to win at home against the Chicago Bears is the type of stuff that you talk about “before and after” as far as how memorable it was. You can’t say the walk-off Hail Mary win against the Bears was a turning point, because the Commanders are leading the NFC East at this point, but it was a sign from the football gods that the ball is literally bouncing the Commanders’ way at this point.
Jayden Daniels has been such a fantastic addition to that Washington team, and the organization as a whole if we can be a bit hyperbolic. He’s completely shifted the culture of that team.
Lucky wins don’t show up as anything but wins on the overall standings, and the Commanders are in good shape to get another one. But the Giants are going to be coming after Jayden Daniels and already trying to play a little bit of spoiler.
If the New York Giants are going to go as far as Daniel Jones will take them, then I guess we can book this team for a spot in the top five of next year’s draft. At least in that case, they’ll be able to build on the seemingly awesome class they’ve got here in 2024.
Jones’s decent season a couple of years ago was fool’s gold and the Giants doubled down on their investment in him. And you hate to be too harsh because Jones is a human being and he’s doing what he can out there, but it’s just not good enough for a team that has some nice pieces on both sides of the ball.
The QB is holding the Giants back, and they’re going to start feeling the heat soon at the top starting with GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.
Prediction: Commanders win 24-21
New Orleans Saints (2-6) @ Carolina Panthers (1-7)
Sunday, November 3, 1:00 PM ET
We told you earlier that there would be other contenders along with the Titans-Patriots game for the absolute dud of the week, and this is one of the top overall contenders right here.
The New Orleans Saints have been free-falling since starting 0-2 and looking like one of the most explosive overall offenses in the entire NFL. The Carolina Panthers were hopeful that former #1 overall pick Bryce Young could get things going under Dave Canales this season and maybe be a sleeper team in the NFC South.
These two teams are already headed toward being completely irrelevant, barring a miraculous run at some point.
I guess that would start this week, wouldn’t it?
The Panthers just lost to the Denver Broncos in Week 8 but there were some good signs of life from Bryce Young in that game, certainly some stuff he could build on. Even with the Panthers playing at home and showing some signs of life, however, the Saints are favored by 6.5 points on the road in this game.
Why?
Well, as the Saints continue to get healthy, we all kind of expect them to figure it out at least a little bit, right? It seems like even the Saints are expecting that given they just handed a new contract to running back Alvin Kamara. If and when Derek Carr is back, the floor is raised for this Saints team again.
And I have a feeling as we see this team continue to get healthy, the pendulum will start swinging back their direction again.
Prediction: Saints win 27-17
Denver Broncos (5-3) @ Baltimore Ravens (5-3)
Sunday, November 3, 1:00 PM ET
Who would have thought that nearly midway through the 2024 season, the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos would have the same record?
Wild times, right?
The Denver Broncos have been one of the league’s best stories this season as head coach Sean Payton and his team have already matched their preseason projected win total. Sports books had the Broncos at an over/under of 5.5 wins this season and the Broncos notched their 5th win in their last six games against the Carolina Panthers this past weekend.
The Broncos have had a top three defense pretty much all season long, and they’ll need that side of the ball to step up in a big way going up against the Baltimore Ravens, who have been bordering on an unstoppable force on the offensive side of the ball this season.
The Ravens are coming off of a tough loss on the road against the Cleveland Browns, but they’ve had a number of close, tough losses so far this season already. As well as Baltimore has played overall this season, it’s been odd to see them drop close games to teams like Cleveland and Las Vegas.
This is going to be such a great test on the road for the Denver Broncos and rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who played absolutely awesome throughout the month of October. The Broncos just saw Nix play his best game as a pro with four total touchdowns and no turnovers against the Panthers. He had a number of other touchdowns wiped off the board because of drops from his receivers.
Going into Baltimore is a brutal environment for anyone, much less a rookie quarterback. But Sean Payton is going to have his guys ready for the task. The Ravens are going to be playing ticked off after losing to their division rivals last week. They are favored by a whopping 8.5 points in this game, which seems like a lot.
Maybe we see a little upset and some Mile High Magic in Baltimore this week. You’ve got to take risks on your picks somewhere, right?
Prediction: Broncos win 27-26
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) @ Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)
Sunday, November 3, 4:05 PM ET
The one thing that gives me the slightest bit of pause about this Jaguars-Eagles matchup is the return of Doug Pederson to the city of Philadelphia.
I was about to get on here and write about how this might be the easiest layup pick of the week when it comes to the overall slate of matchups, but the Jaguars showed some fight against the Green Bay Packers this past weekend and they could be charged up for Pederson’s return to Philly.
Even with all that in mind, I’m still rolling with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Something seems to be clicking for Philly lately after they kind of had another ugly start to the season with a couple of dud performances both offensively and defensively. The Eagles have won three straight games and it’s no coincidence that Jalen Hurts has been much, much better about protecting the football. He has not fumbled or thrown an interception since the last weekend of September, and he racked up 9 total touchdowns and no turnovers in the month of October.
Pretty impressive.
With AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith both healthy and making plays in the passing game along with the ability to lean on Saquon Barkley, Hurts doesn’t have to do as much as he put on himself. He has found a groove in the month of October and it’s been exciting for Eagles fans to see.
As for the Jaguars, we’re all just waiting to find out what this team’s next move will be as the trade deadline looms. Maybe they’ll give it this one more game, but don’t be surprised to see this team moving pieces in the next week.
Prediction: Eagles win 33-21
Chicago Bears (4-3) @ Arizona Cardinals (4-4)
Sunday, November 3, 4:05 PM ET
I talked about it in last week’s NFL Power Rankings, but the Cardinals are just a team that I simply cannot “quit” right now.
And clearly, the Cardinals aren’t quitting, either.
When Kyler Murray is dialed in, this team is going to be a tough out for just about anyone. Arizona pulled off another last-second win this week thanks to the leg of Chad Ryland, but mostly due to the play of Kyler Murray and an offense in Arizona that is really coming together.
The Cardinals have playmakers at every position group. They have guys stepping up in big moments. They have a quarterback who is a dynamic threat every time the ball is in his hands. And now, they are 4-4. They’re not only 4-4, but they have a bit of a chance to kick the Chicago Bears while they are down.
The Bears have played really well at times this season, but points were at a premium against Dan Quinn’s Washington Commanders and a potential game-winning drive by Caleb Williams and the offense is now an afterthought because of a completed Hail Mary by the Commanders. The Bears are going to have to prove their mental fortitude after a loss like that and the Cardinals are going to want to keep them dejected.
It’s going to be crucial for Arizona to get off to a hot start in this one offensively and force the Bears to play from behind. Arizona is just a one-point favorite in this one but getting above .500 is at stake, and I think they are going to make it happen.
Prediction: Cardinals win, 24-21
Detroit Lions (6-1) @ Green Bay Packers (6-2)
Sunday, November 3, 4:25 PM ET
There might be some rough games on the schedule for Week 9 of the 2024 season, but not this one. In fact, this is probably (by far) the best game of the week on paper between two NFC North rivals who are jockeying for the top position in the division as we enter the month of November.
Football is the best.
The Detroit Lions are playing as well if not better than anyone else in the NFL right now. Even without Aidan Hutchinson out there, this team has not skipped a beat in any phase of the game and they are clearly primed for a deep playoff run. They just dropped 52 points on the Tennessee Titans this past week and it only required 85 passing yards from Jared Goff.
That’s when you know that a team is just dialed in, and the Lions absolutely are.
Detroit can beat you by forcing turnovers, they can run the ball well, they can be explosive in the passing game, they protect the ball well…they just do it all.
The Green Bay Packers are going to have their hands full. Jordan Love has been so outstanding since taking over the starting job last season but he’s been turning the ball over at a pretty high rate this year. And the Packers very nearly blew their big lead against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, but found a way to seal the deal on a Brandon McManus kick as the game ended.
Not to diminish what we’ve seen from Green Bay at all this season, but it shouldn’t come as a complete shock that the Lions are 3.5-point favorites on the road in this one. The elements won’t likely be a factor and while anything can happen, especially with Green Bay playing at home, I like the Lions in a potential shootout here.
Prediction: Lions win 35-32
Los Angeles Rams (3-4) @ Seattle Seahawks (4-4)
Sunday, November 3, 4:25 PM ET
Just like I can’t “quit” the Arizona Cardinals, I also can’t “quit” the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams played a really good game on Thursday night against the Minnesota Vikings, handing Kevin O’Connell and his crew just their second loss of the season so far. Even though the Rams are 3-4, the context behind that is important.
Not only has this team been dealing with the retirement of Aaron Donald all season, but they have dealt with so many other injuries all year long and they have weathered the storm. We saw the return of wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua on Thursday and we saw just how dangerous this Rams offense is capable of being with a full complement of playmakers.
Going up against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9, the Rams have a chance to go on a little bit of a run here.
The Seahawks were bodied in Week 8 by the Buffalo Bills and after starting 3-0 this season, Mike Macdonald and company have only been able to win one of their last four games. They are reeling a little bit and the Rams have extra time to prepare for this game. We could be looking at the Seahawks having a losing record for the first time this season at the hands of a division rival.
For the time being, the NFC West is still very much up for grabs. Make no mistake about it – even with these two teams at 3-4 and 4-4 respectively, this is a game with huge implications in that division long-term. I like the Rams, who are 1.5-point road underdogs.
Prediction: Rams win 26-22
Indianapolis Colts (4-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (5-2)
Sunday, November 3, 8:20 PM ET
At the time of this post being written, we don’t know if we’re going to see Anthony Richardson on the field for the Indianapolis Colts or if we’ll see Joe Flacco. Colts head coach Shane Steichen was pretty non-committal on Monday about the quarterback situation moving forward, and although you definitely want to let your former top-five overall pick go through growing pains, the Colts are probably too good right now to let Richardson continue playing the way he has been.
Sitting for a time could be good for Richardson, who was previously able to compensate for his passing struggles with running the ball.
Richardson will still make throws that will keep you coming back, but the overall offensive output of the Colts could be much better, and they feel like they can compete with the Texans in the AFC South right now. And I’m not sure they’re wrong.
Going up against the Minnesota Vikings right now is very interesting. The Vikings have shown at times this season that they might have one of the most well-rounded and explosive offenses in the league, but the Minnesota defense has struggled in the last two weeks.
They’ve allowed 30-plus points in consecutive games, and while Sam Darnold has been jockeying for NFL Comeback Player of the Year, he’s not going to be able to put up 30-plus points every single week.
I think I like the Vikings at home in this game regardless of who plays QB for the Colts, but it’s not by a very wide margin. They are favored by 6.5 points at home and I don’t think the Colts are going to get blown out, especially if Flacco plays. Boy, that is weird to say.
Prediction: Vikings win 27-24
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) @ Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)
Monday, November 4, 8:15 PM ET
Sigh…
The Chiefs won again last week. Who could have predicted it?
The reigning back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are somehow the least intriguing 7-0 team in NFL history. Someone change my mind. Yes, the Chiefs are good. Great, even. The Chiefs are so good that they appear to be winning games on auto-pilot this season.
Kansas City just shows up and wins the game, is what it feels like. Is anyone else watching this and feeling the same way? Maybe it’s just me.
Still, somehow, the Chiefs have the 9th-best scoring offense in the league and the 5th-best scoring defense in the league. They convert third downs at an exceptionally high rate and they prevent teams from getting touchdowns when they get to the red zone. The Chiefs might not be the Bronx Bombers of the NFL this year but they get guys on base and they drive runs in. And their pitching is great.
I feel like I’m just saying words, now. The Chiefs are inevitable. And they are catching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the right time. The Bucs are reeling a little bit after the loss of both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Do they have the weapons needed to go on the road and beat a team like Kansas City? This will be the best test yet for someone like Baker Mayfield, who has been in the MVP conversation at times this season.
We’ll see what Baker is really made of and whether or not the Bucs can actually capitalize if they can force the Chiefs to make any mistakes.
Prediction: