NFL Week 9 weekend preview
Game capsules and staff predictions
Jets (3-5)
at Dolphins (4-4) Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Pregame.com line: Dolphins by 3 Jets’ keys: They need to run against Miami, which is 30th in rushing defense. Running consistently well would take pressure off QB Sam Darnold.
Dolphins’ keys: RBs Frank Gore, who is averaging 4.6 yards per carry, and Kenyan Drake, who has three rushing touchdowns and dynamic speed, have been solid when they get enough opportunities to carry the ball.
Who wins? While the Dolphins are an average team, they’re in a better place than the Jets. Dolphins, 24-20
Buccaneers (3-4)
at Panthers (5-2)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox Line: Panthers by 7
Buccaneers’ keys: They will start QB Ryan Fitzpatrick over Jameis Winston after sloppy, turnover-plagued performances. WR Mike Evans has a
48% career catch rate facing Carolina. Panthers’ keys: Second-year RT Taylor Moton will need to stop DE Jason-Pierre Paul, who leads Tampa Bay in sacks with eight. QB Cam Newton should look more often for rookie WR DJ Moore, who had a breakout game running and receiving against Baltimore. Who wins? Carolina has won eight of the teams’ last 10 meetings and has a nine-game home winning streak overall. Panthers, 30-20
Bears (4-3) at Bills (2-6) Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Line: Bears by 10
Bears’ keys: The offense has leaned on QB Mitchell Trubisky, but Chicago will beat the Bills on the ground with RBs Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen.
Bills’ keys: If they stall Chicago’s momentum with sacks and take the ball away, it’ll give their lackluster offense extra chances to score.
Who wins? At the start of 2018, this was one of the only games where Vegas had Buffalo favored. Things have changed, though. Bears, 31-10
Steelers (4-2-1)
at Ravens (4-4) Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Line: Ravens by 3 Steelers’ keys: Converting on third downs would help wear out an older Baltimore defense. WR Antonio Brown caught five passes for 62 yards and a TD in the Week 4 matchup, but Ravens CB Jimmy Smith missed the game while serving his four-game suspension. Getting to Ravens QB Joe Flacco is a must.
Ravens’ keys: Baltimore has to get its ground game going and added versatile RB Ty Montgomery in a deadline-day trade with the Packers. Jamming Pittsburgh’s wide receivers at the line of scrimmage will be important as well.
Who wins? The Ravens are at home, where they’re a significantly better team. They beat the Steelers at Pittsburgh and need a win to go into their bye strong. Ravens, 24-21
Falcons (3-4)
at Redskins (5-2) Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox Line: Redskins by 11⁄ 2
Falcons’ keys: QB Matt Ryan needs to test the secondary by finding star WRs Calvin Ridley and Julio Jones down the field. Defensively, the Falcons must stop Washington’s run game and force Redskins QB Alex Smith to try to make longer, more difficult throws.
Redskins’ keys: They have to rely on their defense — which adds S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix after a trade-deadline deal with the Packers — especially since Atlanta’s offense can easily put up points. Offensively, the Redskins have to quickly establish a running game with RBs Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson.
Who wins? The Redskins have played fairly well over the last couple of weeks. Overall, Atlanta’s offense will be too much. Falcons, 31-13
Chiefs (7-1)
at Browns (2-5-1) Ttime, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Line: Chiefs by 9
Chiefs’ keys: The biggest challenge is to not get lulled into a false sense of security. Their high-powered offense, led by QB Patrick Mahomes and RB Kareem Hunt, can win on the ground or through the air.
Browns’ keys: Getting RB Duke Johnson more involved could help spark QB Baker Mayfield, who will need time to find TE David Njoku down the field. Who wins? Kansas City has too many
ways. Chiefs, 37-21
Lions (3-4)
at Vikings (4-3-1)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox Line: Vikings by 5
Lions’ keys: They’ll try to get some semblance of a running game going, likely with rookie Kerryon Johnson, who has two 100-yard games.
Vikings’ keys: If the pass rush, led by Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter, can force QB Matthew Stafford into bad throws, CB Xavier Rhodes and S Harrison Smith should be able to thrive.
Who wins? The Vikings are the more talented team, but it’s been that way in the past, and the Lions have upset Minnesota. What changes? QB Kirk Cousins will have a big game. Vikings, 23-17
Texans (5-3)
at Broncos (3-5)
Time, TV: 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Line: Broncos by 1
Texans’ keys: Houston needs to shut down Denver’s rushing attack. The Broncos offense has been inefficient through the air, but RBs Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay have combined for
918 yards on the ground.
Broncos’ keys: OLB Von Miller has eight sacks, and Texans QB Deshaun Watson has been sacked 26 times, the most among AFC quarterbacks. This looks like a dream scenario for Miller, but he has struggled to bring down mobile quarterbacks in the past.
Who wins? In a defensive struggle, the Broncos offense will come up short. Texans, 20-17
Chargers (5-2)
at Seahawks (4-3) Time, TV: 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Line: Seahawks by 11⁄ 2
Chargers’ keys: QB Philip Rivers will look to WR Keenan Allen, whose consistency could frustrate Seattle’s defenders and set the tone quickly. Seahawks’ keys: They’ve returned to a run-first offense with the 1-2 punch of RBs Chris Carson and Mike Davis handling the bulk of the carries.
Who wins? After just two games at home this season, the Seahawks return to CenturyLink Field healthy and hungry. Seahawks, 27-24
Rams (8-0) at Saints (6-1) Time, TV: 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox Line: Saints by 11⁄ 2 Take advantage of a slow Rams’ keys: Todd Gurley Saints defense. RB could have trouble against a solid Saints run defense. Rams coach Sean McVay is the best in the game right now when scheming guys into easy yards gained after the catch, so it’ll be tough for Saints defenders LB Demario Davis and SS Vonn Bell in coverage.
Saints’ keys: Not letting up on offense. The Saints have an offense that can threaten the Rams in a couple of ways: through two key pass-catchers, RB
Alvin Kamara and TE Ben Watson.
Who wins? The Saints are one of the only teams that can match the Rams offense, but their defense will come up just short. Rams, 35-33
Packers (3-3-1)
at Patriots (6-2)
Time, TV: 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday, NBC Line: Patriots by 6
Packers’ keys: QB Aaron Rodgers should be able to throw against anyone, and this Patriots secondary looks particularly vulnerable, particularly with tight ends. If Rodgers can make good use of TE Jimmy Graham, then the Packers should click offensively.
Patriots’ keys: If RB Sony Michel returns from injury, he could be a weapon that keeps the ball away from the Packers. If Michel isn’t healthy, New England could turn to RB James White, who has emerged as an unlikely offensive centerpiece (aside from QB Tom Brady, of course) running and catching the ball.
Who wins? Green Bay seemed to pick up momentum at times in Week 8 against the Rams, but New England is a well-oiled machine. Patriots, 34-31
Titans (3-4)
at Cowboys (3-4) Time, TV: 8:15 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN Line: Cowboys by 61⁄ 2
Cowboys’ keys: They will unveil WR Amari Cooper after acquiring the former Raider. QB Dak Prescott’s accuracy has been a big issue, and Cooper’s arrival should give him a target who can separate from defenders. Titans’ keys: Marcus Mariota must get going; the fourth-year quarterback hasn’t been doing a good job convincing the Titans he’s a long-term solution.
Who wins? Dallas’ home winning streak hits four games. Cowboys, 28-17