WEEK 9 MATCHUPS
L.A. RAMS (5-2) AT N.Y. GIANTS (1-6)
Both teams are coming off their open dates. While the Giants desperately needed time off to figure out why they have been the NFL’s biggest disappointment, the Rams probably could have skipped the hiatus after becoming the league’s most pleasant surprise of the first half. Second-year QB Jared Goff has taken nicely to first-year coach Sean McVay’s schemes, RB Todd Gurley is having a strong rebound season and Greg Zuerlein leads the NFL with 84 points — he’s 21-for-22 on field goals. The Rams have averaged more than 30 points per game and they’re 3-0 on the road, which doesn’t bode well for the Giants.
KANSAS CITY (6-2) AT DALLAS (4-3)
The Chiefs have plenty of weapons on offense, and LB Justin Houston is beginning to resemble the dynamic game-changer he was before injuries slowed him. Dallas also has a sackmaster in DE DeMarcus Lawrence, the league leader with 10.5. If he adds to his tally today, he will join Minnesota’s Everson Griffen with at least one sack in each of the first eight games this season.
TAMPA BAY (2-5) AT NEW ORLEANS (5-2)
The Saints have won five straight and are showing a staunch defense that was totally unexpected. Rookie CB Marshon Lattimore has been particularly stout, along with DE Cameron Jordan. They also have lots of balance on offense with Drew Brees throwing to Ted Ginn Jr. and Michael Thomas, as well as RBs Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara, who have provided a strong ground game, too. Tampa Bay has dropped four straight this season and has come back a loser on five of its past six trips to New Orleans.
CINCINNATI (3-4) AT JACKSONVILLE (4-3) Bengals QB Andy Dalton is 3-0 against Jacksonville, completing 65 percent of his passes in those games. With A.J. Green, he has one of the top targets in football, and Green likes facing Jacksonville — he has 14 catches for 251 yards and three TDs against the Jaguars. Playing at Everbank Field is no comfort to Jacksonville, which is an NFL-worst 9-29 in true home games since 2011.
INDIANAPOLIS (2-6) AT HOUSTON (3-4) Because of injuries, these AFC South teams won’t have their preferred QBs in the lineup today or the rest of the season. The Colts’ Andrew Luck (shoulder) and the Texans’ Deshaun Watson (knee) both went on injured reserve this past week. Luck had hoped to return from offseason surgery in 2017; Jacoby Brissett will continue to take the snaps instead. The Texans turn back to Tom Savage, who was benched after starting the season opener.
DENVER (3-4) AT PHILADELPHIA (7-1) Denver has QB problems, too, with Brock Osweiler stepping in for struggling Trevor Siemian. Not so for the Eagles, with second-year pro Carson Wentz developing into a premier passer and leader. He will face a fierce defense, but the way Philadelphia is rolling and the Broncos are reeling, that might not matter.
OAKLAND (3-5) AT MIAMI (4-3)
Miami has the NFL’s worst offense this year, but it has won five consecutive meetings with Oakland, which has dropped five of its past six games this season. This year’s Raiders are also the first NFL team not to intercept a pass in the first eight games of a season.
WASHINGTON (3-4) AT SEATTLE (5-2)
The Seahawks hope acquiring LT Duane Brown from Houston after he was superb in the Texans’ loss to Seattle last week will help their struggling O-line. The Redskins have won their past two games in Seattle, a tough place to play.
ARIZONA (3-4) AT SAN FRANCISCO (0-8)
A dubious NFL record for the 49ers: No team that has played eight games has scored fewer than San Francisco’s 133 points. But Arizona has been ravaged by injuries, with QB Carson Palmer’s broken arm the latest malady.
DETROIT (3-4) AT GREEN BAY (4-3) Coming back from their open date with veteran QB Aaron Rodgers (collarbone) sidelined for the long term, the Packers hope Brett Hundley has mastered enough of the playbook to keep their season afloat, starting with this NFC North clash on Monday night. Detroit does have its franchise QB, and Matthew Stafford will be leaned on heavily as always.