🚨 The NFL trade deadline is today at 4:00 PM ET. We have you covered with a Week 9 recap, the latest injury news, and the trades that happened so far.
🏈 Week 9 recap
The Bills defense stepped up in a major way against the Chiefs, holding Patrick Mahomes (15/34, 250 yards, one INT) to the worst completion percentage of his career. Offensively, Buffalo rode a balanced attack with RB James Cook going over 100 yards (the first allowed by the Chiefs in 27 games) and Josh Allen playing a flawless game headlined by connecting with TE Dalton Kincaid six times for 101 yards and a TD. First-round rookie CB Maxwell Hairston recorded his first INT and looks like a perfect match for the battles with KC in the AFC.
Parity continues to reign in the NFL this season with the two remaining one-loss teams—the Colts and the Packers—losing on Sunday. Indy turned the ball over six times at Pittsburgh, with the Steelers defense simplifying things while playing fast—with All-Pro Jalen Ramsey lining up at S more than ever, and new acquisition Kyle Dugger helping make up for the loss of S DeShon Elliott (knee). Meanwhile, Carolina was paced by a defense that also stepped up—while RB Rico Dowdle was back to a workhorse role, handling 27 touches for 141 yards and two TDs and setting up a game-winning FG by Ryan Fitzgerald.
We’ll get to the injuries below, but one of the stories of Sunday Night Football was Sam Darnold and the Seahawks lighting up the Commanders. In the first half of the 38-14 victory, Darnold was 16/16 for 282 yards and four TDs—throwing absolute darts to all areas of the field. Seattle is 6-2 in the crowded NFC West, while Washington drops to 3-6 and has looked far from the team that was a game from the Super Bowl last season.
The Bears won a crazy shootout against the Bengals capped by a 58-yard TD strike to rookie TE Colston Loveland to go up, 47-42. Caleb Williams was outstanding all-around, with 280 passing yards and three passing TD, 53 rushing yards, and even a 2/22/1 line as a receiver while getting the Bears’ scoring started with a TD reception from DJ Moore. Plus, rookie RB Kyle Monangai (176 rushing yards) was awesome with RB D’Andre Swift (groin) out—making it another super frustrating day for the Bengals defense while Joe Flacco (470 yards, four TDs, two INTs) and company also lit it up.
Other Week 9 results:
Jaguars 30, Raiders 29 (OT): One of the headliners of Week 9 was Jaguars K Cam Little breaking the NFL record with a 68-yard FG. Despite heroics from Raiders TE Brock Bowers (12/127/3), Jacksonville held on with a two-point conversion stop in OT for another tight victory.
Cardinals 27, Cowboys 17 (MNF): Jacoby Brissett (three total TDs) was again steady for the Cardinals, with Arizona totally outplaying Dallas to conclude the week.
Vikings 27, Lions 24: Getting Andrew Van Ginkel back was huge, but the Minnesota defense totally flipped the script from recent weeks—putting a ton of pressure on Jared Goff—while considering all the negative energy, J.J. McCarthy (despite taking five sacks) looked about as good as the Vikings could hope for a tough matchup at Detroit in his first game since Week 2.
Broncos 18, Texans 15: Unfortunately QB C.J. Stroud left on the other side due to a concussion, but QB Bo Nix has quickly become one of the most clutch players in the NFL, leading the league with nine fourth quarter touchdowns after another comeback victory to get Denver to 7-2.
Ravens 28, Dolphins 9 (TNF): Lamar Jackson is back and the vibes feel much better for the Ravens, with the two-time MVP throwing four TDs at Miami—increasing his passer rating to 136.7 through five games in 2025.
Patriots 24, Falcons 23: Falcons WR Drake London’s three TD receptions in a game with plenty of acrobatic catches weren’t enough for Atlanta, though Patriots QB Drake Maye—after an INT and fumble that helped the Falcons get back into it—says he has to play better despite another game with a 100+ passer rating.
49ers 34, Giants 24: QB Mac Jones threw for 235 yards and two TDs and RBs Christian McCaffrey and Brian Robinson Jr. combined for 159 yards and two TDs on the ground—and TE George Kittle called Jones an “honorary tight end” after the win.
Chargers 27, Titans 20: Two non-offensive TDs kept it close for the Titans, but the Chargers defense made key stops including a goal-line stand to improve to 3-1 on the road.
Rams 34, Saints 10: Saints rookie QB Tyler Shough made his first career start, but New Orleans wasn’t going to keep up with a red-hot Rams offense that saw two more TDs for All-Pro WR Davante Adams.
🩼 Injury roundup
Unfortunately, Week 9 brought more bad injury news.
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow and will miss several games, if not the season; also, CB Marshon Lattimore suffered a torn ACL and WR Luke McCaffrey broke his collarbone.
Packers TE Tucker Kraft is done for the year with a torn ACL.
Chargers OT Joe Alt will undergo season-ending ankle surgery.
49ers first-round rookie Mykel Williams is out for the season with a torn ACL.
Bills DE Michael Hoecht is out for the year with a torn Achilles.
Before Week 9: The Jaguars placed WR/CB Travis Hunter (knee) on injured reserve (out at least three more games); Commanders WR Terry McLaurin re-aggravated his quad injury; Isiah Pacheco (knee) missed the matchup at Buffalo but is expected back after the Week 10 bye.
👀 The trade deadline
The Eagles have unsurprisingly been the most aggressive team ahead of the trade deadline, adding OLB Jaelan Phillips from the Dolphins, CB Jaire Alexander from the Ravens, and CB Michael Carter II from the Jets while trading WR John Metchie III to NY.
Other moves, with more likely to come ahead of today’s deadline.
As promised by Jerry Jones, the Cowboys added on defense with Bengals LB Logan Wilson.
The Steelers acquired S Kyle Dugger from the Patriots in a late-round pick swap.
The Patriots traded former second-round DL Keion White to the 49ers.
The Ravens acquired DL Dre’Mont Jones from the Titans for a conditional fifth-rounder that can become a fourth.
📰 Everything else NFL
The Dolphins and GM Chris Grier mutually parted ways following the TNF loss to the Ravens.
Superstar DE Aidan Hutchinson signed a four-year, $180 million extension with the Lions to keep him in Detroit through the 2030 season.
The Patriots signed CB/PR Marcus Jones to a three-year, $36 million contract extension.
Veteran signings: S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (Bears), S Marcus Williams (Chargers), NT Mike Pennell (Chiefs), TE Marcedes Lewis (Broncos)
Commanders LB Frankie Luvu was suspended one game for multiple hip-drop tackle violations.
Chiefs OT Josh Simmons (personal) returned to the team after missing the past four games and could play after the bye week.
Browns HC Kevin Stefanski announced that he’s giving up playcalling duties to OC Tommy Rees.
“Everything… Tall… White guy… Fast…” Titans NT T’Vondre Sweat hilariously explained what makes Justin Herbert a perfect QB.
The latest Consigliere Corner might be stating the obvious—but Panthers RB Rico Dowdle is someone we recommend targeting in fantasy football leagues if you can get him via a trade. In other words, if anyone thinks it’s a good idea to “sell high” on Dowdle, we’d try to add him. Of course, it took the Panthers a couple of weeks to finally fully commit, but we don’t expect they’ll turn back from what’s worked incredibly well for them this season: feeding Dowdle.
In three games as the starter, the former undrafted RB has half PPR fantasy point totals of 30.9, 31.9, and 27.1. There was talk about soft matchups in his previous two outings, but he undoubtedly passed the eye test—and he just followed it up by ripping a Packers defense that was among the best in football against the run.
Put simply, Dowdle is running exceptionally well in Dave Canales’ offense. And there’s no reason to believe he’ll slow down for a team that wants to run the ball and is doing so at a high level behind someone playing at an elite level.
Other Sports Updates
🏆 Back-to-back: The Dodgers came back to stun the Blue Jays in a classic Game 7 for their second consecutive World Series title.
🏈 College football news: No. 18 Oklahoma beating No. 14 Tennessee highlighted weekend action. Meanwhile, Auburn fired HC Hugh Freeze; and Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt and Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola are out for the year with injuries.
😳 LSU fired AD Scott Woodward after the Louisiana governor criticized him.
⚾️ 2025 MLB Gold Glove winners include three Chicago Cubs.
🏛️ Manager hirings: The Nationals hired 33-year-old Blake Butera, and the Braves hired Walt Weiss.
