32 Thoughts Ahead of NFL Week 9

Brad Gagnon@@Brad_GagnonFeatured Columnist IVNovember 1, 202432 Thoughts Ahead of NFL Week 90 of 8

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Each Friday throughout the 2024 NFL season, we’re performing a leaguewide check-in with quick-hit takes about all 32 squads based on news, fodder, trends and results.

On the brink of the trade deadline, the buzz has hit a crescendo.

Let’s jump into what’s dominating the national football conversation this week.

AFC East1 of 8

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Buffalo Bills: They’ve won every game they’ve absolutely supposed to have won, repositioning themselves as the team to beat in the AFC. Again, though, none of it means much until they host the Chiefs in Week 11.

Miami Dolphins: As I’ve been saying for a while, this team looks broken with or without Tua Tagovailoa. Watch for the Bills to confirm that Sunday in Orchard Park.

New England Patriots: In a rebuilding season, don’t get cute with Drake Maye coming off a concussion. It just isn’t worth it.

New York Jets: Regardless of Thursday’s result, the season can’t realistically be saved, and it’s just a matter of time before the Aaron Rodgers era becomes the answer to a trivia question.

AFC North2 of 8

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Baltimore Ravens: Yeesh. Take the over the rest of the year. Is the pass defense so bad that they peaked in the first third of the season?

Cincinnati Bengals: Take care of the Raiders and then make a move to bolster your liability of a defense before a pivotal road game in Baltimore next Thursday night. That’s gotta be the approach now. We’ll know by Nov. 8 if this team is a contender.

Cleveland Browns: It’s apparent now that there’s at least not much point in carrying a 32-year-old Za’Darius Smith on the roster ahead of an expensive 2025 and a potential rebuild. He should be on plenty of trade radars, especially if the Browns lose to the Chargers this weekend.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Post-Week 9 bye it’s all six divisional games plus Washington, Philadelphia and Kansas City. That stretch will make or break the rest of Russell Wilson’s career, and maybe even Mike Tomlin’s job.

AFC South3 of 8

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Houston Texans: The true test comes next Sunday night against the Lions at home. Injuries at wide receiver could factor in significantly, unless they pull the trigger on a deadline deal.

Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson looks and feels so much like a bust, but I’m refusing to declare that considering he’s a 22-year-old who was always likely to be a project. The man has thrown 217 career passes, but a 2024 completion percentage of 44.4 is ridiculous.

Jacksonville Jaguars: They aren’t giving up despite the Cam Robinson trade. Walker Little is there. They can’t afford to throw in the towel, but the schedule is absolute hell between now and their Week 12 bye. They’re not in a good place.

Tennessee Titans: If/when he’s healthy, there’s no reason not to ride out Will Levis, but this team is loaded with veterans who make a lot of sense for trades in the coming days. They should be ready to tear it down, as the DeAndre Hopkins trade potentially indicates.

AFC West4 of 8

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Denver Broncos: They’ve hung around by virtue of a lot of wins over bad teams, which likely means they won’t sell off too many parts at the deadline. However, the next two games in Baltimore and Kansas City will determine if they’re a legit quasi-contender or not.

Kansas City Chiefs: I love that they aren’t satisfied despite a perfect record. They know they’re actually quite flawed. DeAndre Hopkins and Josh Uche should help with that. The path will become more rocky. I guarantee it.

Las Vegas Raiders: At the very least, I do expect them to play spoiler at least once or twice between now and Week 18. I also think it’s clear Antonio Pierce isn’t the problem. He deserves a shot to get this thing on track with a better quarterback and hopefully a healthier and stronger roster in 2025.

Los Angeles Chargers: This team isn’t ready to go on any sort of deep playoff run, but it is solid enough to play important games in January. The Chargers have to take care of Cleveland and Tennessee the next two weeks before the schedule stiffens up.

NFC East5 of 8

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Dallas Cowboys: Can the Joneses accept a lost season? Considering the pressure as well as their offseason investments, probably not. Their next four games (Atlanta, Philly, Houston, Washington) are tough, but they should get healthier on defense. Watch for them to make another addition at the deadline, especially if they beat the Falcons on Sunday. Not sure it’ll make a difference, though. This team just doesn’t have it.

New York Giants: It’s time to tank for a quarterback, period. That won’t fix everything overnight, but it’s how you start.

Philadelphia Eagles: They’ve responded well to a crossroads situation. Now, there isn’t much standing in their way. I expect an experienced team with a new sense of life to easily take the NFC East.

Washington Commanders: There’s something special happening for sure, but obviously they needed some major breaks against Chicago. I don’t expect the path to January to be obstacle-free for a young team that is giving its upcoming opponents more tape to work with every week.

NFC North6 of 8

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Chicago Bears: That last week was the mark of a team not prepared to be a true contender. By no means does that mean they can’t become that, but it’s the definition of a growing pain. How they bounce back in Arizona on Sunday will be telling.

Detroit Lions: I keep looking at this absolute Super Bowl-caliber squad and thinking, “Imagine if they still had Aidan Hutchinson?” I have to stop doing that, because they’re good enough to overcome that loss and injuries have rocked most of the NFC. Plus, they could still pull off a move by Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

Green Bay Packers: Hate to see Jordan Love down again—and they’ll need to keep him on the field to make this work broadly—but I’m actually looking forward to another dose of Malik Willis 2.0 if Love can’t go Sunday against Detroit. It’s even possible that scenario beats one with a less-than-healthy Love under center for Green Bay.

Minnesota Vikings: The flaws are coming to the surface and the division is so strong. As I’ve been saying for a while, I’m not sure they’re a playoff team. At least they have a good chance at winning their next three games against Indy, Jacksonville and Tennessee.

NFC South7 of 8

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Atlanta Falcons: They really have little choice but to be all-in in 2024. Gotta beat the dysfunctional Cowboys in Week 9 and then go get pass-rushing help to gear up for a second-half run against a soft schedule.

Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young hasn’t suddenly turned it all around, but I see no reason why the Panthers wouldn’t at least give him an extended run during the second half of this season. That is unless they want to bail and have no faith that he won’t destroy his own trade value under those circumstances. Quite sad if so.

New Orleans Saints: They’re not good, but I guess we have to accept the fact they’re never going to be willing to tear it down. The Alvin Kamara extension likely confirms that. See you in 2025, everlasting Saints core. The schedule eases up more now, but that doesn’t matter.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The trajectory ain’t good for a team that was likely a mirage to start the season and just doesn’t have the talent to keep up anymore. They’d be smart to shop veterans in the coming days, but I’m afraid they’ll wait for a likely loss to Kansas City on Monday night and have little time left after that.

NFC West8 of 8

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Arizona Cardinals: First place is first place, even with a negative-27 scoring margin. The division is soft and if Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. can find a groove down the stretch, the Cards could be playing meaningful football in January. Beating the Bears at home and then landing pass-rush help ahead of the deadline would cement a potential run.

Los Angeles Rams: The wide-open nature of this division might be delaying the inevitable in terms of another Rams fire sale and even a possible rebuild, but they really do have to strongly consider moving on from a 31-year-old Cooper Kupp if the right offer comes their way. A loss Sunday in Seattle would make it easier to justify such a move.

San Francisco 49ers: For the second time in three years they’re hitting a Week 9 bye with a 4-4 record. When it happened in 2022, they ended up in the NFC Championship Game. This year, the circumstances and the competition will make that a lot more difficult.

Seattle Seahawks: This is clearly an evaluation year for a team that has been wildly inconsistent with a new head coach and has now suffered three consecutive multi-score losses at home. I have no idea what to expect Sunday against the Rams. Bettors should stay away.