NFL Week 9: Big takeaways, questions and fantasy spin from Sunday's games

The Sunday slate for Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season kicked off in Madrid with the Bengals' offense erupting in a win over theFalcons. Cincinnati wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase finished with a season-high 155 yards and a touchdown on 10 receptions.

Back in the United States, Rams edge rusher Myles Garrettreturned from injury, finishing with three sacks in a win over the Commanders. Browns quarterbackShedeur Sandersfell to the Saints in his first start of the 2026 season. And quarterbackBo Nixled the Broncos to their fifth fourth-quarter comeback this year -- tied for the most through nine games in NFL history, per the Elias Sports Bureau.

In the late window Sunday, the 49ers forced five turnovers in a dominant win over the Raiders. Quarterback Kirk Cousins contributed to three of those turnovers, throwing three interceptions in the second half.

Our NFL Nation reporters react to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game -- including how teams will approach Tuesday's trade deadline. Fantasy football analysts Matt Bowen and Tristan Cockcroft also have fantasy takeaways from each matchup.

Let's get to it with the biggest lessons from Sunday.

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LV-SF |DAL-IND | CLE-NO

NYG-PHI|NYJ-KC |DEN-CAR

LAR-WSH|DET-MIA |CIN-ATL

Catch up on Thursday's game:

JAX-BAL

San Francisco 38, Las Vegas 17

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49ers

What do 7-1 49ers need to do by Tuesday's trade deadline? The Niners welcomed key players back from injury Sunday, including DE Nick Bosa and WR Demarcus Robinson. But with the NFC's top seed within reach, they should be aggressive in bolstering a roster that has already had its depth tested this season. After adding DT DeForest Buckner via trade, San Francisco is still thin at receiver and cornerback and can't afford to operate as if they will stay healthy once their currently injured players return. Cornerback, in particular, is a sneaky need, especially after Renardo Green left Sunday's game with a back issue.

Trend to watch: Aside from the punt unit, the 49ers' special teams have been an adventure for most of the season. The kick coverage group has been a significant issue of late. The Raiders averaged 31.7 yards per return despite the 49ers giving up a league-worst 30.3 yards per kick return since Week 5. It didn't hurt them much Sunday, but it bears watching in the second half of the season. -- Nick Wagoner

Next game: at Cowboys (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Raiders

The Raiders are unlikely to make a trade deadline deal, but should they? The best path forward for the 4-5 Raiders is likely to stand pat and evaluate their fairly young roster. At the same time, they are still in the hunt, and the talent deficiency at interior defensive line will make it hard to be competitive. Las Vegas was outclassed in the trenches Sunday. It allowed 190 rushing yards, marking the fifth time it has allowed 150-plus rushing yards in six games. The team also couldn't generate consistent pressure on Purdy, who played in clean pockets for the majority of the afternoon. The Raiders should at least explore adding help in the trenches that could benefit the team past 2026.

What to make of the QB performance:Kirk Cousins put together his worst performance as a Raider. He completed 22 of 32 passes for 216 yards, two total touchdowns and three interceptions -- all of them coming in the second half. Cousins did everything he could to give Las Vegas hope and was responsible for sucking the momentum away. His performance will restart the conversations about when the Raiders should turn to Mendoza after silencing those discussions last week against the Jets. -- Ryan McFadden

Next game: vs. Seahawks (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway: 49ers QB Brock Purdy scored 25.28 fantasy points, his first game of 20 or more points since Week 3. He threw for 232 yards and two scores, plus he rushed for 40 yards and a touchdown. With a very favorable matchup versus the Dallas defense up next, Purdy should be viewed as a top-three play at the position. -- Bowen

Dallas 27, Indianapolis 23

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Cowboys

Should the Cowboys make a trade at the deadline? At 4-5, the Cowboys have one fewer win than the NFC East-leadingGiants (5-2-1), so they are still in the division race ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. As tempting as it might be, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said on the 105.3 The Fan pregame show Sunday, "At this point, I don't see it." The Cowboys made their big trade already for CB Joey Porter Jr. and don't have a ton of assets to make a substantive move. Would it really make a difference? If they want to replicate 2018, when they started 3-5 and made the playoffs after trading for WR Amari Cooper, it will likely be with the current roster.

Trend to watch: The Cowboys' defense looked competent in the first half for the second straight game. Against Arizona, they allowed 129 yards and no TDs. Against the Colts, they allowed a touchdown but only 79 yards -- the fewest by Dallas in a first half since Week 18 of 2024 against the Commanders. -- Todd Archer

Next game: vs. 49ers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Colts

Will Sunday's loss impact trade deadline decisions? The Colts have been heavily involved in trade discussions since GM Chris Ballard was fired last month; they've already traded away guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. But the word around the team Sunday was that the Colts were less likely to make a splashy deal than to do one. Still, falling to 2-7 and suffering a fifth straight loss could impact principal owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon's thinking. Running back Jonathan Taylor and wide receiver Josh Downs are among the most discussed trade possibilities, and quarterback Daniel Jones is a more remote possibility.

Trend to watch: Is it any coincidence that two of Taylor's worst rushing performances this season have come after the Nelson trade? Taylor produced 23 rushing yards a week ago at Jacksonville on 2.9 yards per rush. On Sunday, he finished with 46 yards on 3.5 yards per attempt. He has had fewer explosive runs and is dealing with contact at the line of scrimmage. He has also lost two fumbles. -- Stephen Holder

Next game: vs. Dolphins (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway: When wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is the top option in the Cowboys' offense, he can produce. The star wideout had 16 targets, caught 10 and scored 33.5 fantasy points. Let's not forget the position-leading 403.2 fantasy points he had three years ago in a similar spotlight. Tuck that away as we track George Pickens' (hamstring, shoulder) availability in upcoming weeks. -- Cockcroft

New Orleans 23, Cleveland 22 (OT)

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Saints

Can the Saints' offense and special teams ever put all the pieces together? The Saints made a lot of moves during the bye week -- moving on from run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti, promoting kicker Charlie Smyth and claiming running back Audric Estime (while releasing Kendre Miller). But the issues persisted: Smyth missed a kick and the Saints couldn't score a touchdown until the last minute of regulation. Estime's 72 rushing yards and go-ahead TD with one minute left in regulation was a step forward, and having LT Kelvin Banks Jr. back will be a big boost. However, Shough was still sacked five times, and they'll need to score TDs early and often if they want to win.

Trend to watch: The Saints keep turning the ball over. Rookie wide receivers Barion Brown and Jordyn Tyson both coughed up the ball, and the team's nine fumbles are the most in the NFL. Their 15 turnovers are tied for the third most in the league (with the Colts and Patriots). -- Katherine Terrell

Best quote from the locker room: Edge rusher Carl Granderson mentioned earlier in the week that the defense had seen comments from Browns QBShedeur Sanders that appeared critical of their defense. "We seen a lot on film, so," Granderson said before pausing. "I don't think we was motivated though. I mean, we seen him chirping. So we just came into this game ready to play, won the game on defense. I think it's disrespectful for somebody to laugh at our defense, took us as a joke. So we went out there and balled out."The Saints had five sacks, with Granderson andChase Youngcombining for three.

Next game: vs. Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Browns

Did Shedeur Sanders do enough to make the Browns rethink their QB situation? With Deshaun Watson (concussion) sidelined, Sanders made his first start of the season. Sanders got off to a slow start -- not unlike most of Watson's first eight games -- before heating up late with a pair of 60-yard completions in the second half and a two-minute drill to send the game to overtime. Sanders brings an element of deep-ball passing that can help Cleveland's offense. But with his play-to-play inconsistency -- his 31% success rate on dropbacks was the second-lowest mark of the season for Cleveland -- and some notable operational issues, Sanders continued to show his inexperience.

Key stat to know: Sanders had two completions of 60-plus yards against the Saints, bringing his total on such throws to three since the beginning of last season. That's tied with Aaron Rodgers and Sam Darnold for the most in the NFL over that span. Watson had one such completion this season. -- Daniel Oyefusi

Best quote from the locker room:"He's a game changer. He's always confident. He makes everyone want to play up his level of competition,"KC Concepcion saidon Shedeur Sanders.

Next game: vs. Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway: Browns rookie WR KC Concepcion, who returned from an in-game leg injury versus the Saints, caught 4 of 6 targets for 85 yards and a touchdown (his first as a pro). And he added three rushing yards to finish with 18.8 fantasy points. With 18 or more points in two of his past three games, and dynamic ability after the catch, managers can play Concepcion as an upside WR3 in Week 10 vs. Houston. -- Bowen

N.Y. Giants 19, Philadelphia 11

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Giants

What does ending a 13-game skid in Philadelphia mean for the Giants? The Giants need to be taken seriously. It doesn't matter that the Eagles are in shambles and on their third quarterback. The Giants are 5-2-1 and have a commanding lead in an NFC East they haven't won since 2011. Even though it wasn't pretty most of the afternoon in Philadelphia, they are now in position to be aggressive at the trade deadline. The Giants have the division (and playoffs) in sight. While Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has been on the radar, a starting-caliber defensive lineman might be the more likely move before Tuesday's trade deadline.

Key stat to know: LinebackerArvell Reeseneeded only 2.29 seconds to sack Philadelphia's Joe Miltonin the second quarter. It was the fastest time to a sack for a Giants player in the past 10 seasons when Reese got a free run at Milton and forced a fumble. It was part of a monster game for the impressive rookie, who had 12 tackles, three sacks, three quarterback hits, three tackles for loss and the forced fumble. -- Jordan Raanan

Next game: vs. Commanders (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Eagles

Does this loss have any impact on how the Eagles will approach the trade deadline? Whatever hopes the Eagles had of making a run at the division title should be largely extinguished after their loss to the Giants. Losers of seven straight, general manager Howie Roseman can feel emboldened to make deals that prioritize 2027 and beyond. Expect the core to stay intact, but a trade or two involving players on expiring contracts would be no surprise if the compensation is right. Players who could draw interest include tight end Dallas Goedert, cornerback Riq Woolen and defensive tackle Moro Ojomo.

What to make of the QB performance: Joe Milton got the start despite being with the team for only three weeks. Predictably, the operation was rough around the edges. Milton was able to push the ball downfield at times, and his mobility helped extend some plays. But second-half struggles continued despite the change from Tanner McKee to Milton -- as did the leaks along the offensive front. The fact that the story remains the same with a different signal-caller points in large part back to coaching. -- Tim McManus

Next game: vs. Steelers (Nov. 22, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway: Giants TE Isaiah Likely continued to demonstrate his top-five positional status, scoring 16.3 fantasy points despite a quarterback change during the game (note: J.J. McCarthywas able to return after leaving with an injury). Likely has four games of 15-plus points, and he's now second in the league among tight ends in target share (27%). -- Cockcroft

Kansas City 35, N.Y. Jets 12

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Chiefs

Should the Chiefs prioritize receiver or offensive line at the trade deadline?In a perfect scenario, the Chiefs would upgrade both positions. The more likely outcome is they acquire a receiver, as quarterback Patrick Mahomes hasn't completed a pass of 20-plus air yards since Week 4, when deep threat Tyquan Thornton suffered a dislocated ankle. Plus, it might be even more of a priority after Xavier Worthy's left hamstring injury in the fourth quarter Sunday. But Chiefs general manager Brett Veach should also be calling about an OT. Second-year left tackle Josh Simmonshasn't played this season because of a lower-back injury. Right tackle Jaylon Moore also left Sunday's game with a right ankle injury.

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Most surprising performance: Before this week, the Chiefs had only nine sacks, tied for the fewest in the league. But the Chiefs recorded more than half their previous season total on Sunday, sacking Jets quarterback Geno Smith five times. The last sack was significant one for defensive tackle Chris Jones, who now has the second-most sacks in franchise history (90.5). -- Nate Taylor

Next game: at Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Jets

Should the Jets bench QB Geno Smith now and start positioning themselves for 2027? At some point, the Jets need to take a look at rookie Cade Klubnik, but this doesn't feel like the right time. Smith didn't play well Sunday, but he had been performing above expectations before then. Coach Aaron Glenn is on the hot seat and desperately needs wins to save his job, which is why he probably will stick with Smith until mathematical elimination. But make no mistake, this was ugly. Smith was sacked five times, squandered chances in scoring territory, and had only 89 passing yards through three quarters. He was so frustrated that he spiked his helmet on the bench.

Key stat to know: After two sacks Sunday, rookie edge rusher David Bailey now has 7.5, the most by a first-round pick in his first eight games since Pro Football Hall of Famer Julius Peppers had nine in 2002. Bailey, drafted No. 2 overall, is New York's top foundational piece on defense. -- Rich Cimini

Next game: vs. Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway: Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker III scored a season-high 36.3 points, which was his third game of 30-plus points this season. Walker, who had 143 total yards and three touchdowns on 22 touches, had two subpar games this season (against Seattle and Denver), but he remains the most consistent part of the Chiefs' offense in fantasy scoring. -- Bowen

Denver 26, Carolina 21

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Broncos

Will injuries in the Broncos' secondary finally catch up to them? Backup safety Devon Key's game-changing interception was just inches off the ground when he secured the ball. And that might be the margin for error for the Broncos this season. On a day when the team's starting safeties were gameday inactives, cornerback Riley Moss left Sunday's game in the second quarter with a concussion. The Broncos have already played three games this season without Pat Surtain II and four games without Talanoa Hufanga. Panthers QB Bryce Young threw three touchdowns, consistently targeting backups. The Broncos hope to have both starting safeties back after the bye, but an extended absence from Moss could hurt their nickel and dime packages.

What to make of the QB performance:Bo Nix continues to use the fourth quarter as his own personal football affirmation. After his red zone interception midway through the second quarter gave the Panthers enough momentum to turn a 10-0 Broncos lead into a 14-13 Carolina lead in the third quarter, Nix again did fourth-quarter things. His 26-yard touchdown pass to Pat Bryant II came four minutes after he had closed out a 14-play, 81-yard touchdown drive. -- Jeff Legwold

Next game: vs. Raiders (Nov. 22, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Panthers

How did the Panthers' defense respond after the DC switch? The unit, inherited by interim defensive coordinator Todd Wash this week, got off to a rough start Sunday. While a red zone Corey Thornton interception and a Chau Smith-Wade pass breakup in the end zone mitigated some of the damage, the unit allowed a pair of big TD drives in the fourth quarter. Wash's debut saw Carolina surrender 312 net yards and three touchdowns (five scoring drives). The Panthers' makeshift starting cornerbacks, Thornton and Marco Wilson -- a pair of practice squad call-ups -- had five pass interference penalties (four accepted) that prolonged scoring drives.

Trend to watch: The Panthers haven't exceeded 21 points since their Week 6 win over the Eagles. Unsurprisingly, that's also the last time they won a game. The Panthers averaged 29.2 points per game in their first five games, starting 3-2. Since that early run, they've averaged 17.7 points per game and are now 3-5. -- Mike Kaye

Best quote from the locker room:"I'm going to be honest, I don't really care about the momentum shift deal, we've just got to do our job and do what we do," defensive tackle Derrick Brownsaid. "Adversity strikes, right? Play football this long, adversity is going to hit. It is what it is, but we've got to execute and do our job and stop the leakage that's happening."

Next game: at Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway: WR Pat Bryant II's return from IR was a fruitful one: five targets for 15.6 fantasy points, including a 26-yard score. Bryant's upside and modest usage in this game could prove useful in deeper fantasy leagues and dynasties. He's available in 98.8% of ESPN leagues and could be a worthy streamer for "bye-maggedon" Week 11 vs. Las Vegas. -- Cockcroft

L.A. Rams 20, Washington 13

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Rams

Will the Rams add a receiver before Tuesday's trade deadline? Not likely. Coach Sean McVay has said he doesn't expect to make a big move at the deadline, and the Rams don't have a lot of draft capital to work with. But until Davante Adams is back from his hamstring injury, the Rams are extremely thin at WR outside of Puka Nacua. On Sunday, Nacua had 14 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown on 19 targets. The other wide receivers combined for four catches for 36 yards. The Rams are above .500, but they've struggled to move the ball consistently this season. They were 3-for-14 on third-down against Washington.

Key stat to know: In his first game back from a knee injury, Rams edge rusher Myles Garrett had three sacks, his first three since being traded to Los Angeles in June. It was his first multisack game since Week 12 of last season, when he had three against the Raiders. -- Sarah Barshop

Next game: at Cardinals (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Commanders

How does this loss impact Washington's trade deadline strategy? Washington might be mathematically alive for the NFC East title at 2-5-1, but the season clearly continues to head in the wrong direction. So it's fair to wonder how Sunday's loss impacts whether or not they make deals. Among those players who could be attractive to other teams: pass-rushing linebackers K'Lavon Chaisson and Dorance Armstrong, who are both on expiring deals. However, Washington might want to re-sign one or both for 2027. Also, the Commanders could still add a player -- like a high-ceiling receiver with more years on his contract.

What to make of the QB performance:Jayden Daniels completed 24 of 35 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown, but Washington's lone scoring drive after the first two series was set up by an interception deep in Rams' territory. The game highlighted the need for Washington to find him more help -- from the line to the run game. Daniels' big mistake was running loose with the ball, which led to a fumble and a Rams' field goal drive. -- John Keim

Best quote from the locker room: "Today I felt like was a gut check," edge rusherK'Lavon Chaissonsaid. "They were running the same play all day, feeding the same person the ball all day. As a defense you've got to ... figure out how you're going to stop that and not let it happen anymore." Nacua had 14 catches on 19 targets for 150 yards.

Next game: at Giants (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway: Rams RB Blake Corum's recent surge in usage has created a true backfield rotation in Los Angeles. Corum scored 11.8 points Sunday, rushing for 58 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. He has now had 11 carries and a rushing score in three straight games, including double-digit points in five straight. Corum will move up into our RB2 rankings ahead of Week 10 at Arizona. -- Bowen

Detroit 19, Miami 9

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Lions

Has the Lions defense gone from a weakness to a strength? Sure, the past two offenses they've faced -- Minnesota and Miami -- were the 26th and 31st scoring offenses entering Week 9, respectively, but the unit has now stacked four solid performances in a row. Through the first four weeks, Detroit's defense was second-to-last in points allowed (31.8). Since then -- in wins against the Cardinals, Packers, Vikings and Dolphins -- they've allowed just 17.0 per game. Given the Lions' normally high-scoring offense had struggled to score in each of the past two contests, the defensive turnaround couldn't have come at a better time.

Trend to watch: Sunday marked the second straight game in which the Lions failed to score a touchdown in the first half -- their first time doing so in consecutive games since October 2022. Part of the reason for that was quarterback Jared Goff being pressured on 40% of his dropbacks in the opening two quarters.-- ESPN staff

Next game: vs. Patriots (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET in Munich)

Dolphins

What does this performance say about the Dolphins' defense? The Lions entered Sunday's matchup leading the NFL in yards per game with 395.4, but they were held to just 120 at halftime. Miami's pass rush, which had just nine sacks in its previous seven games, sacked Goff three times and forced him tothrow his second interception of the season. Ultimately, the Dolphins' defense kept them in this game while their offense floundered and has grown immensely over the course of the season -- specifically their young players. All five of Miami's interceptions in 2026 are by first- and second-year players.

Trend to watch: For the second straight week, the Dolphins averaged fewer than 4.0 yards per carry, as Detroit's ninth-ranked run defense lived up to its ranking. After five straight games of rushing for more than 100 yards, the Dolphins have now been held under 80 yards in consecutive games. Quarterback Malik Willis has also recorded single-digit rushing yards in back-to-back weeks. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: at Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway: Dolphins QB Malik Willis -- a popular streaming pick (season-high 15.1% start rate) -- scored an entirely forgettable 3.82 fantasy points. The groin issue that was brought to light during the game severely limited his mobility. Willis needs that facet of his game for him or his receivers to have any hope of streaming utility in future favorable matchups (Bills in Weeks 11 and 17; Bears in Week 14). -- Cockcroft

Cincinnati 34, Atlanta 17

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Bengals

Has QBJoe Burrow established himself as the MVP? It's hard to argue against it, especially with how he has looked recently. One week after Burrow had six total touchdowns in an overtime win over the Titans, he put on an even more impressive performance against the Falcons, going 24-of-29 for 271 yards and three TDs. Burrow completed 16 of his first 18 passes and notably threw the ball much better than he did after tallying three interceptions last week. He's enhancing his case to finally break through and win an MVP after being a two-time finalist. And WRJa'Marr Chase also played his part with a season-high 155 yards and a touchdown on 10 receptions.

Most surprising performance: Sunday was the day running back Chase Brown was looking for. He finally reeled off his first carry of 15 or more yards and put together a couple more big runs on Sunday. A dynamic rushing attack was the biggest thing the Bengals have been missing this season, and Brown's performance could be the catalyst to fixing that issue. He finished with 57 yards on nine carries for an average of 6.3 yards per carry.Samaje Perineadded 43 yards on 11 carries.-- Ben Baby

Next game: vs. Steelers (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Falcons

Will this loss change the Falcons' approach to the trade deadline? Probably not. There has been speculation the Falcons could move safety Jessie Bates III for draft picks. Bates will be a free agent after this season. The Falcons' 3-6 record does not look good, but the reality is they are still in the NFC South race and have the personnel to win the division if they can figure out a way to turn things around. Half of Atlanta's losses are with Cooper Rush starting at quarterback or in a driving rain. It doesn't seem like the Falcons are ready to pack it in for this season, especially since this franchise has not made the playoffs since 2017.

What to make of the QB performance: There was some good and mostly not good from Michael Penix Jr. The good? He showed the ability to make plays with his legs: a career-high 50 yards rushing. The bad? An inability to push the ball down the field with efficiency en route to just 5.2 yards per attempt. He finished 20-of-31 with a TD and a pick. -- Marc Raimondi

Next game: vs. Chiefs (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway:Falcons WR Drake London is no longer a surefire fantasy WR1. London faced a favorable matchup against the Bengals then saw only five targets and scored 11.8 fantasy points. Worse yet, his rest-of-November schedule is unfavorable: the Chiefs in Week 10, a bye week, at the Vikings in Week 11 and he also has matchups with the Browns (Week 14) and Buccaneers (Week 16). --Cockcroft

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