The hierarchy across the NFL is certainly beginning to take some shape, as the best teams in the league and some of the worst are pretty well known at this point. Furthermore, the NFL playoff picture is also taking shape.
Week 9 is the final week before the NFL trade deadline as well, as the deadline is on November 4th, the Tuesday following this week's action. Not only could there be some blowouts and very predictable finishes, but there could also be an influx of trades before the deadline.
Let's get into our latest installment of teams guaranteed to win.
These teams have wins coming their way in Week 9
Detroit Lions (vs. Minnesota Vikings)
The Detroit Lions are now 5-2 on the season and fresh off of their bye in Week 8, so this team is well-rested and have a divisional home game against the Minnesota Vikings. Even if the roles were reversed and the Vikings were coming off of their bye, the result would be the same.
This could end up being the biggest blowout of the weekend. Not only are the Lions significantly better than the Vikings, but second-year QB JJ McCarthy makes his return to the lineup after an absence with an ankle injury.
McCarthy has simply not been able to stay healthy for virtually all of his NFL career thus far, as he missed his entire rookie season, and we are beginning to see things break down for the Vikings - the defense hasn't played all that well recently, and the offense is simply a massive unknown with McCarthy under center.
The Lions are a wagon and one of the best teams in the NFL. This is going to be a massive win, sending the Vikings further down the drain as the Lions keep up the strong play in the Dan Campbell era.
I'm not even sure this is a possible trap game for the Lions.
Prediction: Lions win 38-13
Indianapolis Colts (@ Pittsburgh Steelers)
The Indianapolis Colts are 7-1 on the season and are flat-out amazing on both sides of the ball. Jonathan Taylor might be the MVP of the league right now, and Daniel Jones has been able to spread the ball around at a high level.
The defense is also sound under Lou Anarumo, a well-respected coordinator who had a successful tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals. Indy is a well-oiled machine overall and are heading to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers, now losers of two games in a row.
Pittsburgh simply does not have the defensive talent to keep Taylor at bay or to run with the weapons that Indy has. The Colts will run circles around this outdated defensive scheme in a multi-score win for the visiting team. Indy improves to 8-1 with a win over Pittsburgh.
Prediction: Colts win 31-20
Los Angeles Rams (vs. New Orleans Saints)
You almost have to feel bad for the New Orleans Saints. Rookie QB Tyler Shough is making his first NFL start, and it's going to be against a pretty deep, young, and explosive LA Rams' defense. The offense is also among the best in the NFL - QB Matthew Stafford tossed five touchdowns in their Week 7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
I could see this game being a total shutout for the Rams, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt here and predict that they score 17 points. The Rams will get into the endzone five games in another blowout victory.
Prediction: Rams win 35-17
Seattle Seahawks (@ Washington Commanders)
The Seattle Seahawks are another well-rounded team in the NFL, and they face off against the injured Washington Commanders in Week 9. This is clearly a bit of a regression for Washington in 2025, but it's been the total opposite for the Seahawks. Sam Darnold is playing is tail off, and Mike Macdonald's defense is explosive and talented as any in the league.
While the Commanders surely want to snap their losing streak, Seattle is fresh off of their bye and will get a solid touchdown victory in Week 9.