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NFL Week 9 Chaos: Upsets, Breakouts, and MVP Surges Shake Up the League
Week 9 of the
NFL
season brought chaos, upsets, and breakout performances that flipped storylines across the league, just when things were starting to feel predictable. From a shocking loss at Lambeau to MVP surges and defensive collapses, here’s what went down.
The Green Bay Packers suffered another stunning upset, falling 16–13 at home to the Carolina Panthers after Ryan Fitzgerald nailed a 49-yard game-winning field goal as time expired. It’s the latest stumble in a strange season for Green Bay, which has now lost to both Cleveland and Carolina while tying Dallas. With a huge Monday night matchup against the Eagles next, the Packers will need to prove they can play up to elite competition again.
Over in Pittsburgh, the Indianapolis Colts’ red-hot start hit a wall. Daniel Jones imploded with five turnovers in a 27–20 loss to the Steelers, a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score suggests. The Colts entered Week 9 as the AFC’s top seed and most explosive offense, but if Jones struggles again next week in Berlin against the Falcons, real panic might set in.
The Cincinnati Bengals are back to their frustrating ways: Joe Flacco threw for 42 points, yet the defense surrendered 43 to the Chicago Bears, capped by a 58-yard game-winning catch-and-run from rookie tight end Colston Loveland. Cincinnati’s defense has now allowed 300 points through nine games, the most in franchise history, and has given up 27+ points in eight straight games.
Elsewhere, J.J. McCarthy returned from injury and led the Vikings to a gritty road win over the Lions, pulling Minnesota back to .500 and right into the NFC North race. Meanwhile, Drake London continued to establish himself as one of the NFL’s premier receivers with 118 yards and three touchdowns for the Falcons, while Christian McCaffrey strengthened his case for Offensive Player of the Year, posting 173 total yards and two scores in the 49ers’ win over the Giants.
In Buffalo, Josh Allen bested Patrick Mahomes in a 28–21 win, moving to 5–5 lifetime against the Chiefs’ QB, but he’s still 0–4 against him in the playoffs, so the rivalry edge remains with Mahomes for now. Matthew Stafford kept his MVP campaign alive, throwing four more touchdowns for the Rams and pushing his season total to 21 with zero interceptions over the last five games.
And don’t sleep on Seattle, after dismantling Washington, the Seahawks might be the most balanced team in football, ranking top 10 in both scoring offense and defense. The NFC crown still runs through Philadelphia, but Seattle’s making a strong case.
As football ramps up, college hoops officially tips off. Purdue opens the season ranked No. 1, with big names like Trey Kaufman-Renn, Milos Uzan, and Donovan Dent expected to shine. Gonzaga’s Graham Ike and Oregon’s Nate Bittle are also breakout candidates to watch as March Madness dreams begin to take shape.
Between NFL madness, MLB’s World Series race, and hoops season tipping off, it’s a jam-packed start to November, and we’re just getting warmed up.
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