NFL Week 9 kickoff times, TV info, betting lines
Detroit Lions (4-4) at Minnesota Vikings (5-2)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m ET, Fox (Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Laura Okmin)
Line: Falcons by 3
Injuries of note: Vikings RB Jerick McKinnon returned to practice after missing last week with an ankle injury and expects to play. But Minnesota will not have G Alex Boone (concussion, shoulder, knee), DT Sharrif Floyd (knee) or LB Eric Kendricks (concussion).
Key to the game: When the season began, few expected Lions DE Kerry Hyder (five sacks) to be rushing the passer better than Ezekiel Ansah and Devin Taylor. They’ll all need to get after Vikings QB Sam Bradford, who’s vulnerable behind a struggling offensive line.
Matchup to watch: Lions wideouts vs. Vikings cornerbacks. Lions WR Marvin Jones is second in the NFC in receiving yards, but Golden Tate has been more effective of late. They’ll face arguably the NFL’s best group of corners. For much of the season, Minnesota has benefited from rotating Terence Newman and Trae Waynes outside opposite Xavier Rhodes. Nickel back Captain Munnerlyn will draw crafty and competitive Anquan Boldin in the slot.
By the numbers: 27. Detroit’s offense struggled to sustain drives a week ago, managing a season-low 27% (three of 11) on third downs, one week after converting three of nine (33.3%).
Philadelphia Eagles (4-3) at New York Giants (4-3)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews)
Line: Giants by 3
Injuries of note: Even coming out of the bye week, Giants WR Odell Beckham continues to nurse a hip injury, but it won't keep him out of the lineup.
Key to the game: The Eagles are sorely lacking in offensive playmakers, especially at wide receiver. No. 1 receiver Jordan Matthews is not a home run hitter, 6-5 Dorial Green-Beckham has intriguing potential but has yet to break out, and 2015 top draft choice Nelson Agholor has been a bust. The lack of a big-play threat has severely hampered Eagles QB Carson Wentz’s development. Philadelphia’s wideouts also have been plagued by drops all season.
Player to watch: The Giants have plenty of questions, none bigger than their quarterback. Eli Manning is a two-time Super Bowl MVP, but he’s 36 and has struggled at times. After back-to-back seasons of 30 or more touchdown passes, he is on pace for 18 this season. His protection has held up well, but he has looked uncomfortable and at times skittish in the pocket.
New York Jets (3-5) at Miami Dolphins (3-4)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS (Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Jamie Erdahl)
Line: Dolphins by 3½
Injuries of note: The Jets offensive line remains banged up, and C Nick Mangold (ankle) may miss another game. LT Ryan Clady (shoulder) is questionable. However RT Breno Giacomini (shoulder) could make his 2016 debut.
Key to the game: The Jets would do well to establish their ground game as they did against Cleveland. Hard-charging Matt Forte and flashy Bilal Powell complement each other and take pressure off Ryan Fitzpatrick, who can be erratic when the onus is mostly on him.
Player to watch: Dolphins RB Jay Ajayi vs. Jets defense. Ajayi is the fourth running back in NFL history with consecutive 200-yard games and figures to be well-rested after getting 53 combined carries against the Steelers and Bills. The Jets are among the stingiest run defenses, yielding 74 yards per game this season. So something has to give.
By the numbers: 7-11. That’s Fitzpatrick’s TD pass-to-interception ratio this season.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS (Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots)
Line: Chiefs by 8
Injuries of note: Though the Chiefs say QB Alex Smith didn’t suffer a concussion Sunday, he will sit this week in favor of Nick Foles. RB Spencer Ware is concussed, and Charcandrick West should carry the load with Jamaal Charles (knee) going on injured reserve.
Key to the game: Foles did well in relief against the Colts, but it can be different as the starter. However, Andy Reid seems to give him confidence, so the Chiefs probably won’t be affected.
By the numbers: 177. Head coaching victories by Reid (regular season plus postseason), tied for 13th all-time with Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher. Within range are Mike Shanahan at 178, Tom Coughlin at 182 and Bill Parcells at 183.
Dallas Cowboys (6-1) at Cleveland Browns (0-8)
TV: Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox (Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Chris Spielman, Peter Schrager)
Line: Cowboys by 7½
Injuries of note: The Dallas secondary appears vulnerable after significant injuries to S Barry Church (broken arm) and CB Morris Claiborne (groin). WR Dez Bryant (knee, back) is questionable. Browns WRs Terrelle Pryor (hamstring) and Corey Coleman (hand) will be available.
Key to the game: The Cowboys come in with a plus-four turnover margin, and they have a blueprint that includes playing smart football, taking care of the ball, winning time of possession and letting the defense play with the lead. For the Browns to pull off an upset, they’ll need to force Dallas QB Dak Prescott into mistakes.
Matchup to watch: Cowboys WR Dez Bryant vs. Browns CB Joe Haden. Bryant caught a pivotal touchdown pass as the Cowboys came back to win. Bryant has a rare combination of size and speed, and his ability to make plays down the field makes the Cowboys even more dangerous. Haden has made some plays when healthy but also has been beaten on vertical routes, and he’ll see plenty of those from Bryant.
Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3) at Baltimore Ravens (3-4)
TV: Sunday 1 p.m. ET, (Ian Eagle, Rich Gannon, Evan Washburn)
Line: Steelers by 2
Injuries of note: All signs point to Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who is officially questionable, returning less than three after knee surgery. Ravens WR Steve Smith is still dealing with a bum ankle. LB Elvis Dumervil (foot) is still on the shelf.
Key to the game: Ravens QB Joe Flacco has said he needs to play better, and with an extra week to get comfortable with his new offensive coordinator and his receivers, there are no excuses this week against a struggling Steelers defense.
By the numbers: 3. Seven of the last 10 Steelers-Ravens games have been decided by three points or fewer, including both games last season. This one shapes up as a familiar four-quarter battle that could again be decided in the final seconds.
New Orleans Saints (3-4) at San Francisco 49ers (1-6)
TV: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox (Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, Jennifer Hale)
Line: Saints by 3
Injuries of note: Saints DT Sheldon Rankins (broken fibula) is ready to make his debut. 49ers RB Carlos Hyde’s shoulder is still giving him problems, and he's questionable.
Key to the game: This game promises to be a shootout, because both teams are yielding points and yards in alarming fashion. The most glaring deficiency involves the 49ers’ run defense, which is yielding a league-high 185.1 yards a game. Thus, a slight edge goes to the Saints’ defense because a sluggish 49ers offense likely will have trouble keeping pace with the Saints and QB Drew Brees.
By the numbers: 1,296/10. Rushing yards and rushing touchdowns allowed by the 49ers through their first seven games (most in the NFL), including six consecutive games in which an opposing running back eclipsed 100 yards rushing.
Carolina Panthers (2-5) at Los Angeles Rams (3-4)
TV: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox (Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, Pam Oliver)
Line: Panthers by 3
Injuries of note: Keep an eye on Carolina’s O-line with C Ryan Kalil’s shoulder costing him practice time while a concussion continues to sideline LT Michael Oher. MLB Luke Kuechly (groin) missed practice Thursday but should play. However LB Shaq Thompson (knee) won't. Rams DT Michael Brockers (groin) and CB Trumaine Johnson (ankle) are officially questionable.
Key to the game: QB pressure. The Rams pass defense hasn’t been the same with Robert Quinn battling a shoulder injury, but if he’s healthier, he could spell trouble for Panthers QB Cam Newton. The Panthers’ lack of sack production has been one their most glaring drop-offs from last season, but they sacked Carson Palmer eight times Sunday.
Matchup to watch: Kuechly vs. Rams RB Todd Gurley. The only thing more perplexing than Carolina’s fall from grace this season has been the lack of production from Gurley, who’s averaging 3.0 yards per carry and has yet to go over the 100-yard mark in a game this season. Kuechly, one of the best linebackers in football, will make it his mission to make sure Gurley has another frustrating game.
Indianapolis Colts (3-5) at Green Bay Packers (4-3)
TV: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS (Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson)
Line: Packers by 7
Injuries of note: Colts WR T.Y. Hilton doesn’t seem like he’ll be slowed by a balky hamstring and will play. WR Randall Cobb (hamstring) is now part of the Packers’ walking wounded, though RB Ty Montgomery (illness) is ready to return to an injury-riddled backfield. LB Clay Matthews is dealing with a bum hamstring.
Key to the game: The Packers have won three games in a row at Lambeau Field, outscoring foes 83-53. The Colts won their last road game 34-26 against the Titans in Week 7 to end a three-game road slide. Indianapolis needs to spur an upset heading into the bye. Can its defense respond against a Packers offense that appears more comfortable at home? Can Andrew Luck win a track meet in his first visit to Lambeau?
By the numbers: 60. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and Luck each tallied a career-high 60 rushing yards Sunday, an illustration of their athleticism and tough days for their offensive lines.
Tennessee Titans (4-4) at San Diego Chargers (3-5)
TV: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS (Kevin Harlan, Dan Fouts, Scott Kaplan)
Line: Chargers by 5
Injuries of note: Titans RB DeMarco Murray’s toe injury doesn’t appear serious, and he's not listed on the injury report. TE Delanie Walker (groin) is questionable, though. Chargers WRs Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin will likely play through knee injuries, but LB Denzel Perryman's hamstring has him doubtful.
Key to the game: Tennessee started the season 1-3 in large part because it committed eight turnovers in those games. Since then, they’ve cleaned it up and have committed two. Similarly, the Chargers started 1-4 because they committed 11 turnovers. The team that wins the turnover margin will win this game.
By the numbers: 5. Only five other players in NFL history have totaled 750 rushing yards and eight total touchdowns in their first eight games with a team the way Murray has in an exceptional first half in Tennessee.
Denver Broncos (6-2) at Oakland Raiders (6-2)
TV: Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya)
Line: Raiders by 1
Injuries of note: Broncos CB Aqib Talib is still coping with a bad back that will keep him out for the second week in a row. Raiders WR Amari Cooper also has a back issue that has limited him in practice.
Key to the game: The most points the Broncos have allowed in a game is 23, and they have allowed fewer than 10 twice. The Raiders have scored at least 28 in six games and 30 or more in four, although it took overtime Sunday to reach 30.
Matchup to watch: Raiders WRs Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper vs. Broncos CBs Chris Harris Jr. and Bradley Roby. Cooper and Crabtree combined for 20 receptions and 281 yards and a touchdown against Tampa Bay. Roby started for Talib on Sunday and scored on an interception.
Buffalo Bills (4-4) at Seattle Seahawks (4-2-1)
TV: Monday, 8:30 p.m. (Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters)
Line: Seahawks by 7
Injuries of note: RB LeSean McCoy is feeling better after a hamstring injury limited him in Week 7 and sidelined him last Sunday. Seahawks DE Michael Bennett underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this week. Seattle SS Kam Chancellor (groin) may play after missing three games.
Key to the game: Bills QB Tyrod Taylor’s 319 rushing yards are the most among NFL quarterbacks. There was a time when Seattle’s Russell Wilson was one of the best running quarterbacks in the league as well, but nagging injuries have forced him to stay in the pocket, limiting Seattle’s offense.
By the numbers: 69. Points allowed by the Bills during their two-game skid, 16 more than they allowed over the previous four games. Buffalo has given up 405.5 per game during losses to Miami and New England after allowing 317.0 yards per game during the winning streak.
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