Key events
Preamble 2.0
While the first set of games are approaching the end up next we have:
(2-5) Las Vegas Raiders v Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3)
(5-2) Los Angeles Rams v New Orleans Saints (1-7)
(5-2) Buffalo Bills v Kansas City Chiefs (5-3)
What a game we have in store: Josh Allen v Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes leads the head-to-head 5-4 but Allen has a 4-1 regular season record. We are in for a belter!
Final score: Lions 24-27 Vikings
Massive, massive win for the underdog Vikings in enemy territory. Huge day for Minnesota’s defense to limit Detroit’s formidable rushing attack to just 65 yards.
Texans 15-15 Broncos 1:21, 4th quarter
And they get the stop! Broncos punt after Bo Nix runs for his life from a marauding defender on 3rd down and has to throw it away.
Can Davis Mills lead the Texans to victory?
Texans 15-15 Broncos 2:00, 4th quarter
OK so we have not talked much about this one today but Houston QB CJ Stroud exited in the first quarter and the Texans have been surviving in this one with Davis Mills under center. Doing an admirable job in the face of Denver’s vicious defense.
Moving into the 2-minute drill and the Broncos are at midfield. Very well placed to get the walk-off field goal. Houston gunning for a big play here.
Final scores: Packers 13-16 Panthers, Patriots 24-23 Falcons
Another upset in week nine as Ryan Fitzgerald (Fitzmagic 2.0?) kicks the walkoff field goal from 49 yards while Atlanta suffer another stomach-churning defeat as the missed extra point costs them dearly. Ouch.
INTERCEPTION! Steelers 27-17 Colts 2:51, 4th quarter
Joey Porter Jr picks off Jones for Indi’s six turnover of the game that pretty much ties a big, beautiful ribbon on a big upset for Pittsburgh. Before that the Colts had their tails up after Pittsburgh had turned it over themselves with a very avoidable fumble. They get away with it … and how!
Final scores: Giants 24-34 49ers, Titans 20-27 Chargers
Great effort from the Titans to make it close but the Chargers’ superior offensive might keeps them in front for the win while McCaffrey dominates the Giants as he does most teams.
TOUCHDOWN! Bengals 27-41 Bears 4:57, 4th quarter
Cincinatti’s tiring defense continue to be shredded by Chicago. DJ Moore scores a very weird touchdown as the Bengals challenge a touchback the call is reversed and it blows up in there face! Chicago get the touchdown thanks to the challenge from the other team. Truly bizarre.
The Bears have over 500 yards of offense. 500! With 262 on the ground, backup rookie running back Kyle Monangai has 175 on 25 bruising carries.
TOUCHDOWN! Steelers 27-17 Colts 4:30, 4th quarter
Jalen Ramey delivers a brutal, if not horrifying hit on Michael Pittman. Essentially delivers a diving head butt on the receiver. Ther personal foul penalty moves the Colts to just four yards out from scoring. Jones bounces back from a poor first three quarters and change with an easy lobbed toss out right to Josh Downs. The four-yard floater keeps the Colts in the fight.
TOUCHDOWN! Giants 24-34 49ers 1:21, 4th quarter
I would have waived the fight off but Jaxson Dart keeps fighting. The rookie hits a player I have to google owing to a complicated name for the 24-yard touchdown. Gunner Olszewski makes the grab.
TOUCHDOWN! Packers 13-13 Panthers 2:01, 4th quarter
We now have two games levell as Josh Jacobs fires Green Bay’s equaliser in from one yard out. Game on. Can Bryce Young pull off a mighty win on the two-minute drill?
TOUCHDOWN! Patriots 24-23 Falcons 4:40, 4th quarter
Is another upset on the cards? Well not missing the extra point would have helped. However … Michael Penix and Drake London complete a hat-trick of QB/WR touchdowns with an eight-yard grab. John Parker Romo misses wide right. Falcons are back in it after trailing by 14.
TOUCHDOWN! Giants 17-34 49ers 4:13, 4th quarter
Christian McCaffrey slices through the heart of New York’s defense for a three-yard rushing touchdown. Curtains for the G-men.
Steelers 24-10 Colts 8:51, 4th quarter
Alex Highsmith take a bow, son! The Colts came into this with only four giveaways all season. The Steelers earn a fifth turnover of this game thanks to a Highsmith strip sack that is recovered by Pittsburgh. This is genuinely a stupendous effort from a talent-rich but completely out of form unit. Spectacular.
So we’re in the fourth quarters now, and how are those upsets looking. The Steelers have just punted with a 24-10 lead after Indi nabbed a field goal, Carolina are shutting down Jordan Love with a 13-6 lead, the Vikings are sitting pretty 24-17 ahead of the Lions and plucky Houston were just on top of Denver who score the game tieing …
TOUCHDOWN! Texans 14-15 Broncos 8:51, 4th quarter
And go for two and GET IT! Big momentum shift in Houston as Bo Nix keeps his relationship with RJ Harvey rolling from last week with a 27-yard touchdown then hits Troy Franklin for the pair of points.
TOUCHDOWN! Giants 17-27 49ers 7:52, 4th quarter
Rookie QB Jaxson Dart gambols out to the right and makes it home to give the Giants some hope.
TOUCHDOWN! Bengals 27-31 Bears 1:57, 3rd quarter
Seriously!? The Bengals’ shocking defense now hands Brittain Brown a 22-yard rushing touchdown on his first carry as a Bear and of his career looking at ESPN. He suited up six times for the Raiders in 2022 but saw no action. Brown elevated off the practice squad owing to D’Andre Swift being out injured.
TOUCHDOWN! Bengals 27-24 Bears 5:19, 3rd quarter
Cincinatti retake the lead in their weekly shootout with old-timer Joe Flacco at the controls of this offense. The AFC North legend hits Higgins again for their second score for two yards.
TOUCHDOWN! Lions 14-24 Vikings 6:04, 3rd quarter
JJ McCarthy puts the game on his back on 3rd down and rips off a nine-yard scramble to give Minnesota a commanding lead. The Vikings will be thrilled by their young QB is playing on the road here.
TOUCHDOWN! Giants 10-27 49ers 11:35, 4th quarter
Brian Robinson Jr deuptises for McCaffrey in style with an 18-yard rush for the score. Big lead now for San Fran again working well with Mac Jones under center.
TOUCHDOWN! Steelers 24-7 Colts 14:16, 4th quarter
The Colts just cannot slow down this varied Pittsburgh attack after forcing them to punt on their opening three drives. Rodgers moves the Steelers to the goal line and inches from taking out a big lead after a lovely 18-yard sideline scamper by Austin and a pass to his favourite target of the day the 6ft 6in Washington for 13 yards. Running back Jaylen Warren finishes it off. Pittsburgh playing excellent complimentary football to score of the interception.
TOUCHDOWN! Packers 6-13 Panthers 2:12, 3rd quarter
Running back Rico Dowdle extends Carolina’s lead with a one-yard rumble.
TOUCHDOWN! Bengals 20-24 Bears 8:11, 3rd quarter
Rookie Colston Loveland puts the Bears back on top with a five-yard touchdown grab.
INTERCEPTION! Steelers 17-7 Colts 3:09, 3rd quarter
It just gets better and better for Pittsburgh!! The Colts go for it on 4th down again and our commentator handily points out they are the best in the NFL in this situation. Daniel Jones drops back and finds Michael Pittman in acres of space for a 16-yard gain and a fresh set of downs. Taylor then knifes ahead for nine. Indi appear to be building a head of steam until Jack Sawyer picks off Jones after Payton Wilson blocks the pass and it plops in Sawyers hands.
Four turnovers now for Pittsburgh!
Steelers 17-7 Colts 6:09, 3rd quarter
If the plan was to stop Jonathan Taylor and put the ball in Daniel Jones’ hands then it is working. The star running back has only 24 yards so far on 10 carries.
Steelers 17-7 Colts 7:03, 3rd quarter
Mountainous tight end Darnell Washington starts this drive with a wonderful catch reaching back behind him for a 12-yard gain then gathers another for seven. Two iffy running plays later we are on 4th down, Tomlin punts. Typical from the sage playcaller to stay conservative but could rue kicking it away there.
Steelers 17-7 Colts 13:38, 3rd quarter
Defense stays on top for the Steelers. Pittsburgh stuff Jonathan Taylor on 3rd down. The Colts go for it on 4th & 1 and Jones bundles it over for a fresh set. On the next play Jones is blown up in the backfield by Alex Highsmith. The home team force a 3 & 20 and Indi cannot find it. Punt! What a start for Pittsburgh, over to you Aaron.
Half-time
Well quite the departure from last week thus far. We have six one-score games at present. We wanted drama, we got drama!
Cincinnati Bengals 20-17 Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions 14-17 Minnesota Vikings
Green Bay Packers 6-7 Carolina Panthers
Houston Texans 12-7 Denver Broncos
New England Patriots 21-14 Atlanta Falcons
New York Giants 7-17 San Francisco 49ers
Pittsburgh Steelers 17-7 Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee Titans 17-20 Los Angeles Chargers
TOUCHDOWN & It’s NO good! Bengals 20-17 Bears, half-time
The Bengals take a shock lead thanks to a show-stopping catch from Tee Higgins. The receiver goes deep into the left side of the field and finishes it off for a 44-yard touchdown. Caleb Williams puts on his passing boots to find DJ Moore up the right sideline with a beautiful touch pass. The Bengals then come up with a HUGE block on the 47-yard try from Cairo Santos.
It’s good! Steelers 17-7 Colts, half-time
Aaron Rodgers has only 12 yards to give the Steelers a commanding lead but he holds on to the ball, as he often does at this stage of his career. The end result, as it often is, sack. Only 10 seconds left in the half and a false start then moves them further out of range. 2 and 20 they earn a huge chunk of that back but Austin can’t quite reach the down marker. Pittsburgh finish it off with a chip shot from Chris Boswell. A very acceptable outcome. Is an upset in the making? If the defense can keep making plays then Pittsburgh could just pull it off.
TOUCHDOWN! Patriots 21-14 Falcons 0:12, 2nd quarter
Michael Penix and Michael London hook up again for a two-yard score. Excellent timing for Atlanta who make an interception from Drake Maye count. MO-mentum.
It’s good! Packers 6-7 Panthers, half-time
What are we making of Green Bay’s helmets? If I have this right this is a metal helmet painted to look as if it is a leather one as part of their throwback uniforms. Very meta. Not playing like the mighty Packers of old though. Panthers defense holds firm to give a narrow lead. Green Bay’s Brandon McManus bangs in the 27-yarder after a fine stand from Carolina in the red zone.
Steelers 14-7 Colts 3:33, 2nd quarter
Pittsburgh force the mighty Colts offense to punt after Alex Highsmith makes a brilliant breakup on third down. The Steelers are flying on defense, Mike Tomlin will be hoping Aaron Rodgers’s unit can make it pay and work this one methodically downfield for a two-score lead going into the half.
TOUCHDOWN! Texans 7-6 Broncos 4:52, 2nd quarter
Denver take the lead with a brilliant throw from Bo Nix to the left corner of the end zone finding Courtland Sutton. They go deep and Sutton fights for the contested ball, wins, and as such earns six points on the 30-yard grab. One of the best to do it with a defender in his face. Safe hands.
TOUCHDOWN! Steelers 14-7 Colts 4:34, 2nd quarter
Narrative developing alarm! The Steelers defense is good, today at least. Linebacker Payton Wilson picks off Daniel Jones for Pittsburgh’s third turnover of the day. The Steelers are knocking on the door with only 14 yards to go. Aaron Jones has the lead in the palm of his hand. He slings it to this tight end Pat Freiermuth who falls down and just breaks the plain of the goal for a 12-yard score. What a turnaround for Pittsburgh, they are on top but can they stay there?
TOUCHDOWN! Titans 14-17 Chargers 8:37, 2nd quarter
LA take a lead on the road with a 19-yard pass from Justin Herbert to Quentin Johnston.
TOUCHDOWN! Packers 3-7 Panthers 2:22, 2nd quarter
All the twos 2:22. Running back Rico Dowdle bursts up the middle for a five-yarder and the lead.
TOUCHDOWN! Patriots 21-7 Falcons 5:11, 2nd quarter
Drake Maye bags his second passing touchdown of the day with an 11-yard strike to veteran Stefon Diggs. The QB has 157 yards at an average of 12.1 per pass, tasty
TOUCHDOWN! Steelers 7-7 Colts 6:09, 2nd quarter
The drive is sparked by a massive play on 3rd and 10. A fingertip cartch from Calvin Austin with a diving finish just puts him over the line to gain. Or did he?! The Colts aren’t so sure and challenge. Pittsburgh wait nervously. Challenge … ACCEPTED and the Steelers have a no-brainer on 4th and 1. They smash it forward to lineman Cam Heward who rumbles for four.
Next Rodgers hits Austin again for 11 yards and then, unbelievably almost finds the touchdown with a rush on 1st and goal but is just stopped short. That looked painful as he is bent violently down to the turf. Second try is an unsuccessful slant on the outside to DK Metcalf. The third try is the charm as Jaylen Warren bundles it over from a yard out. The old ways are the best. Great second effort from the running back to power it home.
TOUCHDOWN! Lions 14-14 Vikings 9:39, 2nd quarter
Human wrecking ball David Montgomery puts the Lions level with a bruising two-yard run after some stiff defense from Minnesota. End to end stuff in Detroit.
TOUCHDOWN! Patriots 14-7 Falcons 8:51, 2nd quarter
Backup running back Terrell Jennings smashes in a three-yard score for his first in the NFL. Fantasy football gurus pleased with themselves if they started Jennings. Genius!
Steelers 0-7 Colts 11:27, 2nd quarter
HUGE play from TJ Watt. The edge battles through the offensive line and sneaks around the corner behind Daniel Jones and swats the ball out of the oblivious QB’s hand. Pittsburgh with another big leg up. They need to make it count. 62 yards to pay dirt.
TOUCHDOWN! Bengals 10-14 Bears 14:54, 2nd quarter
Cincinatti’s defensive struggles continue as they allow Olamide Zaccheaus to sprint out to the right and dive into the end zone. One of a few players had a shot at stopping the receiver but he leaps home for a 15-yard touchdown.
TOUCHDOWN! Giants 7-14 49ers 13:08, 2nd quarter
Jauan Jennings puts San Francisco ahead with an 11-yard touchdown from Mac Jones. The back-ups solid play for the 49ers continues with his second of the day.
TOUCHDOWN! Titans 14-7 Chargers 1:55, 1st quarter
Tennessee have come to play. And it is the special teams who come up huge for the Titans. Rookie Chimere Dike races the punt return back 67 yards to give the home team something to shout about. This is not going as expected thus far for LA. They need to … ahem … titan up.
Packers o-0 Panthers 12:15, 2nd quarter
Interception master Xavier McKinney picks off Bryce Young to give the Packers the turnover. A floated ball is just too easy for the corner back to cruise over and take way in the end zone way before it would have arrived at the receiver. Can Green Bay capitalise?
TOUCHDOWN! Lions 7-14 Vikings 4:08, 1st quarter
JJ McCarthy is cooking. A seven-yard pass to tight end TJ Hockenson gives the away side the lead and the young quarterback his second touchdown pass of the day.
TOUCHDOWN! Patriots 7-7 Falcons 0:24, 1st quarter
Michael Penix Jr gets it out quickly to Drake London on the goal line for a one-yard score. All square.
It’s good! Texans 3-0 Broncos 15:00, 2nd quarter
As expected in this battle of powerhouse defenses the scores are low. Houston take the lead but it is Denver who will be the happier coming out on offense. The Broncos stuff the Texans on the goalline then force a fourth down but when they go for the touchdown again they get caught offside and have to settle for 23-yard chip shot from Kai Faibairn.
Steelers 0-7 Colts 4:17, 1st quarter
The Steelers go out with a whimper again and again. Pittsburgh’s second punt goes deep, Josh Downs is there but spills it and the Steelers recover. Instant red zone for Pittsburgh. They edge closer but Indi’s defense forces a fourth down, they go for it and Rodgers fires a fastball at his tight end Darnell Washington. He would have had a walk-in touchdown if he had caught it. Colts take over with 95 yards to travel.
TOUCHDOWN! Titans 7-7 Chargers 7:24, 1st quarter
TOUCHDOWN! Giants 7-7 49ers 6:34, 1st quarter
It is officially raining touchdowns and all of these are equalisers. Christian McAffrey does some Christian McAffrey things and catches the dump off pass and runs it in for a five-yarder for the 49ers. Justin Herbert then redeems himself quickly with a nifty two-yard strike to the fullback Scott Matlock. The big man’s only made two receptions in his career and this one puts the Chargers back on track.
TOUCHDOWN! Bengals 7-7 Bears 8:44, 1st quarter
They just keep on coming as Caleb Williams marches the Bears downfield and pops it to DJ Moore for a two-yard score.
TOUCHDOWN! Lions 7-7 Vikings 10:17, 1st quarter
TOUCHDOWN! Steelers 0-7 Colts 8:05, 1st quarter
Minnesota hit back immediately with a 10-yard touchdown from JJ McCarthy to Justin Jefferson while the Colts make a fast start against the Steelers. Pittsburgh’s defense come up huge on the goalline to force a fourth down but no matter for Indianapolis. They go for the QB sneak and Jones dives over. Cheeky!
PICK SIX! Titans 7-0 Chargers 11:19, 1st quarter
Oh no. Justin Herbert looks for Keenan Allen but can only find linebacker Cody Barton who returns the interception for a 24-yard touchdown.
TOUCHDOWN! Giants 7-0 49ers 10:50, 1st quarter
TOUCHDOWN! Patriots 7-0 Falcons 5:53, 1st quarter
Jaxson Dart hits Theo Johnson for a 15-yard touchdown for the Giants while Drake Maye finds Pop Douglas with a 16-yard pass and a score. Cracking start for both.
TOUCHDOWN! Lions 7-0 Vikings 12:37, 1st quarter
Detriot dig into their bag of tricks with a 40-yard touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta on fourth down. With four yards to go they risk it all for the score and the Jared Goff finds his man but the tight end has to battle tooth and nail through three defenders and only just falls into the endzone.
Steelers 0-0 Colts 12:43, 1st quarter
Disappointing start for Pittsburgh with a punt highlighted by a shocking drop from tight end Jonnu Smith.
The Colts come out on offense and Jonathan Taylor is stuffed on their first play behind the line of scrimmage. They’ll need a few more of them.
TOUCHDOWN! Bengals 7-0 Bears 14:49, 1st quarter
Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained?!
Cincinnati’s Charlie Jones rips off a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown! Only the second return for a score this season. Wow.
Preamble
Hello football fans, welcome to week nine of NFL action. After thrashageddon seven days ago the playoff contenders are emerging, however there is still enough rope left on the spool for the underdogs to plot a postseason course. So how about it Houston? What have you got Atlanta? The Ravens are flying, Pittsburgh, so can you take down the mighty Colts?
With a stup(id)endous eight games to track we want drama, nay, we DEMAND drama. So let’s, as they say, ‘ave it.
Your octet starting at 12pm CST/1pm EST/6pm (home teams listed first):
(3-5) Cincinnati Bengals v Chicago Bears (4-3)
(5-2) Detroit Lions v Minnesota Vikings (3-4)
(5-1-1) Green Bay Packers v Carolina Panthers (4-4)
(3-4) Houston Texans v Denver Broncos (6-2)
(6-2) New England Patriots v Atlanta Falcons (3-4)
(2-6) New York Giants v San Francisco 49ers (5-3)
(4-3) Pittsburgh Steelers v Indianapolis Colts (7-1)
(1-7) Tennessee Titans v Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)
There are a number of potential upsets in the offing here but Pittsburgh seeing off Indianapolis would be the most spectacular. The game plan will likely revolve around stopping Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor. The back is enjoying a breathtaking year so far as he sits first in total rushing yards by almost 100 with 850, second (by a whole tenth of a yard) per carry at 5.9, and first in rushing touchdowns with 12. Slow him down and you have a foothold from which to build success, as the Rams found when they slapped the brakes on Taylor to the tune of 76 yards at 4.5 per carry and zero touchdowns during their 27-20 victory in September.
Pittsburgh’s defense has been solid enough against the run. Only five touchdowns conceded shows some promise with a middle of the road EPA per rush of -0.02 meaning that on average they perform, well, very averagely. So crucially not disastrous like their passing defense. What they haven’t yet faced is an offense as abundantly brilliant as the Colts that puts quarterback Daniel Jones and his receivers are firmly in the conversation for being one of the best passing attacks. They might even be on top if Taylor wasn’t hogging so much of the limelight.
The Steelers are in a bind. Head coach Mike Tomlin has to pick his poison, Jones is the likely choice so Pittsburgh may throw bodies into the box to force the Colts to pass. It is a gamble, but the risk could be worth the reward of a vital win in the race for the AFC North.
