NFL Week 9 storylines: Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes, Part 10; red-hot Colts get tested
Two of this generation's premier quarterbacks square off again with Allen looking to improve on his 4-1 regular-season mark vs. Mahomes.
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Josh Allen is 4-1 against Patrick Mahomes in the regular season but 0-4 in the playoffs. Timothy T Ludwig / Getty Images
With eight weeks in the books, and the ninth on tap, the NFL has reached the midway point of the regular season.
Unlike some previous years, so much remains up in the air around the league. Some contenders still find themselves on shaky footing. Some surprise teams still have their toughest tests ahead of them. And the trade deadline looms on Tuesday, meaning teams could make last-ditch efforts to help their situations.
Thursday night’s action represented the continuation of what the Baltimore Ravens hope is a climb back to respectability and contention with a dominant 28-6 win over the Miami Dolphins, who responded on Friday by mutually parting ways with general manager Chris Grier (though coach Mike McDaniel is said to be safe, for now).
Sunday’s action features nine games in the early slot, three late-afternoon games and the Sunday night contest between the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, and the weekend wraps with Monday night’s game between the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys.
Here’s a look at some of the most compelling storylines to follow this week.
AFC powers face off
This game should have been the “Sunday Night Football” contest. Not only is it the premier game of the week, it also represents one of the heavyweight bouts of the entire season. In a game that most likely will serve as a playoff preview (Divisional round? Conference championship?) Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs will travel to Buffalo to take on Josh Allen and the Bills.This is the 10th meeting between this generation’s leading quarterbacks. Allen owns a 4-1 record against Mahomes and company in regular-season meetings. However, Mahomes has won all four playoff games against Allen and the Bills.
The Chiefs enter this game riding a three-game winning streak and appear to have regained contender form now that Mahomes’ arsenal has returned to full strength. Since getting wide receiver Rashee Rice back on the field along with Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, Travis Kelce and JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Chiefs have averaged 29.7 points per game while attacking with balance, having topped the 100-yard game in the rushing department in each of those outings. The improved effectiveness on offense has also helped a defense that delivered uneven performances to start the season. The Chiefs have surrendered just 24 points in the last three games combined and have three takeaways during that span as well.
Despite his superior regular-season record in this series, there will be plenty of pressure on Allen because the Bills lack similar well-rounded firepower on offense. After opening the season at an impressive clip while averaging 33.25 points during a 4-0 stretch, the Bills have experienced a dramatic dropoff. They managed only 17 points per game during a two-game losing streak (falling to the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons) and then returned from their bye with a 40-9 blowout against the struggling Carolina Panthers. Allen will have to put on the cape once again to both keep up with Mahomes and help the Bills avoid falling further behind the AFC East-leading Patriots. (Chiefs at Bills, 4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS).
True test for Indy?
The Indianapolis Colts remain the biggest surprise of the season. They roll into Week 9 with a 7-1 record (the best in the NFL) and a four-game winning streak (second-longest right now), and quarterback Daniel Jones is being mentioned in MVP discussions. It feels wise to avoid getting overly caught up in Indianapolis’ success, however. Although impressive, of their seven victories, only two have come against teams with winning records (Denver Broncos — 1-0 at the time and 6-2 now; Los Angeles Chargers — 4-2 at the time, 5-3 now). The Dolphins, Tennessee Titans (twice), Las Vegas Raiders and Cardinals have a combined 7-23 record. The Colts’ lone loss came against the Los Angeles Rams (5-2).Now, the Colts head to Pittsburgh, where they take on a squad that leads its division and looked like a playoff team until running into the Green Bay Packers last week. How will Shane Steichen’s team do against stronger competition? The Steelers enter this game eager to bounce back from an embarrassing loss to Green Bay. Mike Tomlin’s defense has key areas to shore up, but it has talent on every level. That unit will have its hands full with Jonathan Taylor, however, who leads the league with 850 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, and like Jones, is worthy of MVP consideration. Indianapolis’ defense has given up its fair share of yards (345.1 per game; sixth most). However, the unit has held opponents to just 19.3 points per game (sixth fewest). Last week, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers stalled repeatedly after they crossed midfield and had to settle for four Chris Boswell field goals. To get back on track, the Steelers will have to do better than 1-for-10 on third downs. (Colts at Steelers, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS)
Texans’ groove vs. Broncos’ streak
Another AFC matchup with intrigue takes place in Houston, where the Broncos lay their five-game winning streak on the line against the 3-4 Texans. It’s a clash between Bo Nix and C.J. Stroud, two of the brightest young quarterbacks in the league, and a pair of formidable defenses.The Broncos have won in just about every way imaginable: blowouts, squeakers, ugly slog-fests, dramatic comebacks. They have beaten some of the top teams (Colts and Philadelphia Eagles) while embarrassing playoff hopefuls like the Cincinnati Bengals (yeah, Joe Burrow was hurt) and the Cowboys. Nix has had some ups and downs this season. Can he deliver against a Texans defense that has held opponents to a league-low 14.7 points per game and only 178.4 passing yards and a 70.7 passer rating (also a league low)?
Which Texans offense will show up? The unit that has struggled out of the gates, or the group that last week torched the San Francisco 49ers for a season-high 475 yards (318 passing, 157 rushing) while helping Houston win its third game in the last four outings? First-year offensive coordinator Nick Caley appears to be finding his rhythm as a play caller, and Stroud has posted his three best completion percentages of the season while on this 4-1 stretch. The Texans also have averaged 151 rushing yards in their three victories.
The Texans haven’t faced a defense like Denver’s, however. Nobody gets after the quarterback like the Broncos, who boast 36 sacks. And Denver has held foes to just 18.9 points per game. If you’re expecting offensive fireworks, you may be disappointed. If you’re a fan of defensive struggles, get your popcorn. (Broncos at Texans, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox)
J.J. McCarthy will have plenty of pressure on him when he returns to the lineup against the Lions.Luke Hales / Getty Images
J.J. McCarthy’s return
The Minnesota Vikings rolled the dice this season as they allowed Sam Darnold to depart in free agency and pinned their hopes on second-year pro J.J. McCarthy. However, the young quarterback had an up-and-down first two outings as a starter and then missed the next five games because of a high ankle sprain. Carson Wentz posted a 2-3 record as Minnesota’s starter, and in addition to struggling mightily in last week’s outing, Wentz also suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Now, the Vikings turn back to McCarthy as they try to snap a two-game losing streak while facing the Detroit Lions.McCarthy will likely have some rust to knock off as he faces a Lions defense led by the newly extended Aiden Hutchinson (four-year, $180 million deal signed this week). It’s important for McCarthy to quickly work through his reads and get rid of the ball and settle into a rhythm. Decision-making ranked among his early struggles, so he must do a better job of taking care of the football.
As far as comeback games go, McCarthy couldn’t have asked for a more pressure-packed situation. He and the Vikings have little margin for error. The young quarterback and his teammates must keep pace with a Lions offense that averages 30.7 points and 357.1 yards per game and a Detroit team that boasts a 3-0 record at home. Kevin O’Connell and his assistants must do everything possible to support their young quarterback. However, the Vikings struggle in the rushing department, averaging just 93.9 yards per game (25th in the NFL) and Minnesota’s defense has gotten gashed by opposing running backs, yielding 130.4 ground yards per game. (Vikings at Lions, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox)
Tyler Shough’s debut
First-year head coach Kellen Moore decided to pull the plug on the Spencer Rattler experiment and now turns to second-round pick Tyler Shough as the Saints head to Los Angeles to face the Rams, who boast a 5-2 record and a tough defensive front. It’s not an ideal situation for Shough, but after going away from Rattler midway through last week’s game, Moore felt like giving Shough his first start was the best move.Under Rattler, the Saints managed just 16 points per game and ranked 26th in total offense. New Orleans also ranked second-worst in turnovers (12). Shough will try to do a better job of taking care of the ball, but he could also struggle while playing behind one of the worst lines in the league. The Rams entered the week ranked second in the NFL with 26 sacks through seven games, and opponents have converted only 34 percent of third downs for first downs (fourth-lowest in the league).
Shough looked like a rookie last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as he completed just 17 of 30 passes for 128 yards and failed to direct a single scoring drive. But the Saints are hoping that a full week of practice with the starters will help position their young QB to give them a spark. (Saints at Rams, 4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox)