Eagles off to best start in franchise history. Plus, expert NFL Week 9 predictions, fantasy advice.
Welcome to Week 9 of the 2022 NFL season, and the Philadelphia Eagles are 8-0 for the first time in their 90-season history.
About last night: Philadelphia Eagles 29, Houston Texans 17 -- It wasn't the most impressive display of the season for the undefeated Eagles, who were challenged by the pesky Texans. Silver lining for the 1-6-1 Texans? Rookie running back Dameon Pierce looks legit.
Game of the week: Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs -- The Titans and Chiefs sport identical 5-2 records and have assumed their familiar positions atop their respective divisions. Given Chiefs head coach Andy Reid's history in the week following a bye week (20-3 in such games since 1999), this is a tough assignment for the Titans in a game that could have major playoff implications.
Sneaky-good game of the week: Los Angeles Chargers at Atlanta Falcons -- After a bonkers win last week, the Falcons (4-4) are in first place in the NFC South. That's a massive surprise. Also a surprise, but not a good one ... the AFC West - outside of Kansas City - has been a disappointment. The Chargers (4-3) are coming off their bye week and will aim to remain in the thick of the AFC playoff chase. They'll need this one with the 49ers and Chiefs coming up on the schedule.
NFL Week 9: Predictions and odds
- Week 9 picks: Paste BN Sports' expert panel has predictions for every game this weekend.
- Lorenzo's Locks for Week 9: The Seahawks continue to be undervalued. The Packers are a good buy low candidate against the Lions.
- NFL Week 9 odds: Which teams, according to Tipico Sportsbook, are favored to win this weekend?
- Power rankings: See how all 32 teams stack up entering Week 9.
NFL news, notes and analysis
- 32 things we learned – one per team – from first half of season: After an odd first half, Nate Davis takes a look at the lessons gleaned from all 32 teams.
- Midseason grades: Tyler Dragon handed out marks to each team for the season's first half. While five teams aced the opening eight weeks, three others failed. Think you can guess those teams before checking out the piece?
- NFL's biggest midseason disappointments: While Tuesday’s trade deadline likely surpassed NFL fans’ wildest expectations, the first half of season has clearly fallen short in many other respects, Steve Gardner writes.
- Trade deadline winners and losers: While the Bills and Packers missed out on roster upgrades, the Dolphins loaded up before Tuesday's deadline.
- Sean McDermott is personally invested in MLS Cup: The Bills head coach will be actively rooting for the Philadelphia Union when they take on LAFC in Saturday's MLS Cup, his brother is the Union team president.
- Dan Snyder's Commanders announcement probably not what it seems: In addition to being the worst owner in all of sports, Daniel Snyder is one hell of a buzzkill, Nancy Armour writes. Per reports, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos might be interested in buying the woebegone Washington NFL team.
- Dan Snyder should take the money and run: If Dan Snyder is indeed intent on cashing in his chips, a sale of the Commanders could shatter the record established in August by the Broncos, Jarrett Bell writes.
- This week on "As the Cheesehead Turns": The Packers might as well have put up a big "Gone fishing" sign at team HQ on Tuesday, because the team failed to do anything to improve the roster on trade deadline day. Head coach Matt LaFleur was unperturbed, channeling Bill Belichick when saying, "our focus was on Detroit." Stay tuned for next week, as the Packers attempt to start an amazing second-half run.
- Are Lions in a rebuild again? All NFL teams are in different windows of opportunity. The Lions are stuck at the drive thru ordering kids meals, writes Jeff Seidel.
Fantasy football advice: Get your lineup right
Our fantasy football experts are here for your Week 9 lineup needs.
- Fantasy rankings for Week 9: Take a look to see where your players stand in these updated ratings 📈 for this week's games.
- Studs, duds and sleepers: While Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is poised for a big week coming off the bye, the struggles of Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence are a real bummer.
- Fantasy stock watch: Panthers WR DJ Moore has thrived with P.J. Walker under center 👍. Jets WR Elijah Moore has been a complete non-factor this season 👎.
Week 9 NFL schedule
(All times Eastern)
Bye week: Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers
Thursday
Sunday
Los Angeles Chargers at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Miami Dolphins at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Carolina Panthers at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Las Vegas Raiders at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Minnesota Vikings at Washington Commanders, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Monday
Baltimore Ravens at New Orleans Saints, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN2)
Let's talk some football
- It's a Football Podcast! This week, Safid Deen and Tyler Dragon tackle hot-button NFL topics🗣 such as the aftermath of a rare action-packed trade deadline day, the latest with the Washington Commanders, while also looking ahead to Week 9🎧.
- NFL Facebook group: Run a post route to The Ruling Off the Field 📲 to engage in friendly debate and conversation with football fans 🏟. Not a member yet? Sign up today!✍
If you enjoy reading 4th & Monday 📰, tell your football fan friends to subscribe. Follow the wonderfully waggish writer of this newsletter on Twitter @jimreineking 📱.