In Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season, a surge of ankle, Achilles tendon, and hamstring injuries struck top NFL players. This trend shaped the week. Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Michael Hoecht’s Achilles injury stood out, as did Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s return. Teams managed these health challenges with varying success. Some won with decisive plays, while others faltered due to mistakes. Injuries are one of many issues teams face each week. Building on this, each team had a performance focus in Week 9 including offensive efficiency, defensive resilience, or special teams execution. These team-specific crucial statistics show the fine line between winning and losing in the NFL each week, and areas where teams need to grow.
Arizona Cardinals – 5 Game Losing Streak
The Arizona Cardinals entered their Week 9 Monday Night Football matchup with the Dallas Cowboys on a five-game losing streak. Jacoby Brissett started at quarterback and managed the game well, effectively distributing the ball to wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and tight end Trey McBride. Their efforts led to a 10-point road win, snapping the Cardinals’ losing skid.
Atlanta Falcons – 10% 3rd Down Success Rate
The Atlanta Falcons entered Week 9 aiming to break a two-game skid. However, the Falcons came up one point short of picking up a crucial victory in Foxboro. A significant factor in their losing effort was their poor performance in 3rd-down situations; in fact, Atlanta only converted a 3rd-down play into a 1st down once out of 10 opportunities. This lack of execution on these key plays put a spotlight on the importance of the Falcons’ running game.
Baltimore Ravens – 4 Touchdown Passes
The Baltimore Ravens entered their Thursday night game against the Miami Dolphins with the aim of getting their season back on track. The Ravens depended on the return of quarterback Lamar Jackson to help them rejoin the race for the top of the AFC North division. Jackson took the field for the Ravens offense, determined to prove he still plays at an elite level despite injuries. Jackson threw four touchdown passes and powered the Ravens to a critical win against the Miami Dolphins.
Buffalo Bills – 88.5% Completion Rate
Another quarterback that was in need of redemption this week is Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Allen has struggled to live up to his reputation as an elite quarterback during the Bills last three games. Fortunately for Buffalo, Allen returned to playing at a level that resembled his performance that earned him the NFL MVP award during the 2024 season. Against Bills rival, the Kansas City Chiefs, Allen completed 23 out of 26 pass attempts for 273 yards and a touchdown.
Carolina Panthers – 130 rushing yards
The Carolina Panthers were able to bounce back in Green Bay after getting drilled by the Buffalo Bills in Week 8. A big part of the Panthers’ winning effort against the Packers was the outstanding performance of Panthers running back Rico Dowdle. Dowdle ran the ball 25 times for 130 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Carolina is a tough team to beat when Dowdle can run for 5.2 yards per carry.
Chicago Bears – 3 TD Passes and 1 TD Catch
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams demonstrated just how dangerous he can make the Bears’ offense in their thrilling victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Williams was able to lead his offense to two scoring drives in the waning minutes of the 4th quarter. The impact that Williams made on his team’s performance was apparent while Chicago put together multiple clutch drives to pick up a key road win in Cincinnati. The results of those clutch drives were 3 touchdown passes for Williams and a touchdown reception when Williams caught a pass thrown by Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore.
Cincinnati Bengals – 3 Turnovers
In addition to Caleb Williams’ outstanding performance in Cincinnati, the Bengals helped the Bears overcome a sloppy effort. Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco reportedly played through an injury but still led the Bengals’ offense, throwing for 470 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. However, Flacco turned the ball over three times with two interceptions and a fumble. Those miscues gave the Bears just enough time to capitalize on an opportunity to move closer to the top of the AFC North standings.
Cleveland Browns – 263.5 Yards per Game
The Cleveland Browns had a bye week during Week 9 of the NFL season. This break allowed the Browns to reflect on their offensive performance so far. At times, Cleveland has looked like a functional unit on offense, but averaging only 263.5 yards per game reveals their inconsistency. Looking ahead, the Browns need to use this week to evaluate the plays that have impacted their season.
Dallas Cowboys – 5 Turnovers
The Dallas Cowboys are clinging to early 2025 playoff hopes. Sometimes they look like NFC title contenders. At other times, such as their Week 9 Monday Night Football game against the Arizona Cardinals, they do not. A contender cannot fumble four times to end drives. Dak Prescott also threw an interception. If Dallas wants to make a run in the NFC, they must stop turning the ball over.
Denver Broncos – 6 Game Winning Streak
The Denver Broncos had to grind out a hard-fought victory against the Houston Texans in Week 9. Both teams brought two of the NFL’s top defensive units in 2025. The reward for the Broncos’ performance on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball allowed them to add another win to their current six-game winning streak. Balance has been a key factor in the Broncos’ success during this extended winning streak.
Detroit Lions – 65 Rushing Yards
The Dan Campbell era of the Detroit Lions has been built upon a foundation of being a gritty team capable of grinding out tough wins. Detroit’s running game, led by running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, was expected to be a strength. However, in Week 9, the Minnesota Vikings came into Detroit looking to expose the weaknesses of the Lions. The Vikings attacked the Lions offensive line with an array of stunts and blitzes, and with the chaos they created Minnesota was able to hold the Lions to just 65 rushing yards. When the Lions are forced to be a pass-heavy offense, they tend to struggle to find consistency.
Green Bay Packers – 20% Red Zone Scoring
Every time it looks like the Green Bay Packers are ready to make a run and knock the Philadelphia Eagles off the top of the NFC standings, they run into a wall. This week, that wall took the form of the Carolina Panthers defense. The Packers’ offense did a great job of moving the ball up and down the open field, but once they reached the red zone, they suddenly became ineffective. Green Bay had five opportunities to score in the red zone against Carolina, and if they finished those drives with points then defeating the Panthers would have been inevitable. However, the Packers only scored one touchdown on those five trips to the red zone. On two other drives, they were held to kicking field goals, and the Packers also wasted a red-zone opportunity by fumbling the ball.
Houston Texans – 5 Field Goals
The Houston Texans feel incomplete, and in Week 9, they continued to show a team unprepared for a second-half playoff push. Defensively, the Texans are among the NFL’s top units and maintained their strong play against Denver. Offensively, the Texans were without their primary running backs and quarterback, CJ Stroud, due to injuries. As a result, backup quarterback Davis Mills led Houston’s offense. Mills managed the game well and engineered several productive drives, but he struggled to finish drives with touchdowns, forcing the Texans to settle for field goals. Still, kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn converted all five of Houston’s attempts against the Broncos.
Indianapolis Colts – 7 Turnovers
The Indianapolis Colts were commonly viewed as one of the hottest teams in the NFL heading into Week 9. Unfortunately for the Colts, the Pittsburgh Steelers cooled Indianapolis down, forcing seven turnovers against the Colts. Colts quarterback Daniel Jones threw three interceptions against the Pittsburgh defense, and Indianapolis also lost four fumbles to the Steelers defense. This was the first game of 2025 where the Colts’ lack of execution resulted in Indianapolis taking a loss that they likely should have won had they not turned the ball over repeatedly.
Jacksonville Jaguars – 100% 4th Down Success
Week 9 proved to be an exciting challenge for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who traveled to face the Las Vegas Raiders. When Jaguars kicker Cam Little broke an NFL record by making a 68-yard field goal, surpassing the previous 67-yard mark, and it electrified the game. Offensively, the Jaguars performed solidly but required overtime to defeat the Raiders. Their ability to control ball possession and manage the game’s tempo played a significant role in their success, as evidenced by Jacksonville’s 42:57 time of possession, including overtime.
Kansas City Chiefs – 57.2 QB Rating
The most anticipated matchup during Week 9 involved the Kansas City Chiefs traveling to Buffalo to face the Bills. While this game was a rematch between the two teams from the AFC Championship game next year, the outcome was much different than last year’s postseason meeting. The Buffalo Bills’ defense employed heavy pressure to disrupt Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, which kept the Chiefs’ offense contained for most of the game. Mahomes only completed 15 out of 34 passes for 280 yards, one interception, and no touchdowns. The error-filled performance by Mahomes resulted in the Chiefs’ undisputed offensive leader having a 57.2 quarterback rating.
Las Vegas Raiders – 127 Yards and 3 TDs
During the last several weeks of the 2025 season, the Las Vegas Raiders have struggled to produce points on the offensive side of the ball. However, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Raiders hit their stride early and kept rolling. The Raiders battled the Jaguars into overtime, and although they lost the game to Jacksonville, there were some significant bright spots. Raiders tight end Brock Bowers shone the brightest for Las Vegas, catching 12 passes for 127 yards and three touchdowns.
Los Angeles Chargers – 52.3 Yards per Punt
The Los Angeles Chargers struggled to pull away from the Tennessee Titans in Week 9. That led to a hard-fought game between the Chargers and Titans. Neither team stood out on the offensive or defensive side of the ball, but the Chargers won the battle for field position due to an outstanding performance by punter J.K. Scott. Scott punted the ball 4 times for the Titans, averaging 52.3 yards per punt.
Los Angeles Rams – 30 First Downs
Coming into Week 9, the Los Angeles Rams were expected to beat the New Orleans Saints. The Rams ultimately delivered a performance that lived up to expectations, showcasing a dominant effort on the offensive side of the ball. Los Angeles did an excellent job of grinding out first down after first down against the Saints’ defense. Offensively, the Rams executed their game plan effectively against the Saints, accumulating 30 first downs along the way. Those 30 first downs helped the Rams keep the Saints’ defense on the field and limited New Orleans’ opportunities to put together their own scoring drives.
Miami Dolphins – 3 Turnovers
The Thursday Night Football in Week 9 featured two teams that were in desperate need of a win to maintain hope of being able to work their way back into playoff contention. The combination of the Ravens’ offensive explosion, led by quarterback Lamar Jackson, and mistakes on the offensive side of the ball ultimately led to an underwhelming performance against the Ravens, featuring three turnovers that helped put the nail in the Dolphins’ coffin. Those turnovers included an interception thrown by Tua Tagovailoa and a pair of fumbles by wide receivers Tajh Washington and Malik Washington.
Minnesota Vikings – 2 Passing and 1 Rushing TD
The Minnesota Vikings have been the epitome of inconsistency to start the 2025 NFL season. In Week 9, the Vikings hit a high point in their season with the return of quarterback J.J. McCarthy to lead the Minnesota offense. Minnesota and McCarthy came into Ford Field ready to upset the Detroit Lions. McCarthy stepped into the role of starting quarterback for Minnesota with a three-touchdown performance, which included two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.
New England Patriots – 6 Sacks Allowed
The New England Patriots had to scratch and claw to defeat the Atlanta Falcons in Gillette Stadium. New England’s winning performance was led by quarterback Drake Maye. Maye completed 19 out of 29 pass attempts for 289 yards, two touchdowns, and only one interception. However, Maye’s success did not come without its challenges. Those challenges included being sacked six times against an outstanding Atlanta Falcons defense. It is rare for a quarterback to play at a high level despite being disrupted by the Falcons’ dominant pass rush.
New Orleans Saints – 16:07 Time of Possesion
The crucial statistic for the New Orleans Saints in Week 9 is the other side of the coin to the Los Angeles Rams’ impressive time of possession. Because the Rams were able to grind out first downs after first downs, the Saints ended up spending a damaging 16:07 minutes of possession. New Orleans’ inability to pick up first downs and put together drives allowed the Rams to dominate the game. This put more pressure on the shoulders of Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.
New York Giants – 33+ Points Allowed
Earlier this season, the 2025 New York Giants appeared to be on the brink of overcoming their recent habits of poor execution on offense and defense. The Giants got a boost of excitement when head coach Brian Daboll named rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart as the starter for the Giants. However, that excitement did not carry over to the defensive side of the ball for the Giants. During the Giants’ last three games, they have allowed 33+ points each week.
New York Jets – 9 Turnovers
The New York Jets are showing signs of using the rest of the 2025 season to plan for the future. New York has struggled under the leadership of head coach Aaron Glenn. Turnovers have been a limiting factor for the Jets on a week-to-week basis. Nine of those turnovers have been the result of the Jets coughing the ball up, and the Jets’ defense has attempted to compensate for the team’s lack of offensive success. However, the New York defense has only forced 10 turnovers, which has made it difficult for the Jets to overcome their mistakes on the offensive side of the ball.
Philadelphia Eagles – 27 Total Touchdowns
In contrast with the futility of the New York Jets, the Philadelphia Eagles have continued to be a dominant force in the NFC. Offensively, the Eagles have established a solid foundation, built around running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts. That foundation has allowed the Eagles’ offense to produce an impressive 27 touchdowns so far this season. If Philadelphia is to put points on the scoreboard each week, it should once again be the favorite to win the NFC championship.
Pittsburgh Steelers – 7 Takeaways
The AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers picked up a crucial victory at home against the Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis has developed an explosive offense, a product of outstanding performances by quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Jonathan Taylor. This week, the Steelers’ defense neutralized the Colts’ offense by forcing Indianapolis to turn the ball over multiple times. By the end of the game, the Steelers had taken the ball away from the Colts seven times, including intercepting three passes and recovering four fumbles.
San Francisco 49ers – 135.2 QB Rating
The San Francisco 49ers have been hit hard by injuries to their top offensive playmakers all season. In their place, the 49ers continue to find players to step into key roles, helping San Francisco play well above expectations this week. A major impact player for the 49ers has been quarterback Mac Jones. Jones has stepped into the lead to lead the 49ers’ offense, as San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy continues to struggle with injuries. This week, Jones produced another great performance, completing 19 out of 24 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns.
Seattle Seahawks – 17 Straight Completions
The Seattle Seahawks have consistently proven themselves to be one of the best teams in the NFC. This week, the Seahawks traveled East to face the Washington Commanders. The Seahawks came into the game ready for business, and Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold demonstrated his ability to maximize the efficiency of the Seahawks’ offense. Darnold started the game against the Commanders, completing 17 consecutive passes to start the game during a primetime matchup.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 13 Passing TDs
For the fifth straight season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are dominating the NFC South. Beyond leading their division, they remain strong contenders in the NFC. Quarterback Baker Mayfield’s determined play fuels their offense. While not setting records, his 13 touchdown passes have secured several close wins.
Tennessee Titans – 11.1% Success on 3rd Down
The 2025 season has been a disaster for the Tennessee Titans during the first nine weeks. Tennessee continued to struggle on the offensive side of the ball, especially during third-down situations. This week, the Titans failed to consistently extend drives against a strong Chargers defense. Offensively, the Titans’ struggles can be encapsulated by one statistic this week: their 11.1% success rate on third down. Failing on 3rd down became a crucial aspect of the Titans’ matchup with the Chargers, as they came up seven points short in a 27-20 loss.
Washington Commanders –
The Washington Commanders came into Week 9 excited to welcome back starting quarterback Jaylen Daniels on Monday Night Football. Daniels had missed the last several games with a hamstring injury. However, the Commanders failed to protect their quarterback, allowing Daniels to get sacked four times. The pressure on Daniels led to an uninspiring 16 completions for 153 yards, one interception, and no touchdowns. In addition, the Commanders’ quarterback left the game with a dislocated elbow that will have Daniels sidelined indefinitely.
