If you boldly predicted the Miami Dolphins would blow out the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8, then allow me to applaud you for having conviction in Tua Tagovailoa bouncing back from throwing six interceptions in the previous two games to deliver a big bounce-back performance.
Here is a closer look at some bold predictions for Week 9 of NFL action.
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Giants Upset the San Francisco 49ers
Jaxson Dart
Denver, Colorado, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) looks on during warmups against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The New York Giants have been hit with the injury bug on the offensive side of the football this year, with both Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo suffering season-ending injuries — but the 49ers are one of the few teams that have lost multiple All-Pro caliber players on the defensive side of the ball.
If the 49ers offense struggles for a second straight week, then the Giants could manage to pull off the upset against San Francisco.
Max Brosmer Sees Time Under Center for a Second Straight Game
J.J. McCarthy’s return to the starting lineup has him facing one of the best teams in the NFL, which could prove to be a blowout if the McCarthy we’ve seen for seven of his first quarters this year picks up where he left off.
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Don’t be surprised if Brosmer sees some action late in this contest if it turns into a blowout.
Falcons Snap the Patriots Five-Game Winning Streak
The New England Patriots have been one of the hottest teams in the NFL, but are coming off a performance where Drake Maye was sacked five times by Myles Garrett in a single game.
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The Atlanta Falcons were just embarrassed against the Miami Dolphins. A bounce-back game for RB Bijan Robinson is certainly possible, which could give the Falcons a path to pulling off the upset against a red-hot team.
Aaron Rodgers Throws Four Touchdown Passes in a Loss
Sep 21, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense has been wildly disappointing over the last two games and is tasked with trying to slow down the league’s most potent offense.
If those defensive woes continue, then Aaron Rodgers could be forced to try to keep up with Daniel Jones through the air. I could see Rodgers having a vintage four-touchdown performance and still coming up short against the Colts.
Cowboys Defense Holds Arizona to Under 17 Points
Holding an opponent to 17 points in an NFL game doesn’t sound like a Herculean effort, but it would be a huge step for a Cowboys defense that hasn’t held an opponent under 20 points all season.
The return of Kyler Murray may not necessarily be a definitive upgrade after a couple of solid performances from Jacoby Brissett, which makes it difficult to project exactly what the Cardinals’ offense is going to give us in a favorable matchup.
Tua Tagovailoa Gets Benched Again
Oct 19, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) throws a pass against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
The four-touchdown performance from Tua Tagovailoa was a nice feel-good story from a Dolphins team that is inevitably going to come unraveled.
The Baltimore Ravens find themselves with an opportunity to potentially get back to within one game of the lead for the AFC North division with a win against Miami and a Steelers loss against the Colts. I expect the Ravens defense to make life miserable for Tua while they take care of business against a bad team.
Seahawks Rush for 200 Yards Against Commanders
Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks’ passing offense may be ahead of schedule, but their rushing attack hasn’t exactly found its footing quite yet.
Jayden Daniels’ status is worth monitoring, but if Marcus Mariota is forced to lead this offense against a stingy Seattle defense, then the struggle for points could lead to a heavy amount of work for Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet in this contest.
Dalton Kincaid Redeems His AFC Championship Game Mistake with 100+ Yards Against the Kansas City Chiefs
Oct 5, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) makes a catch against the New England Patriots during the first half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
If the Buffalo Bills never win a Super Bowl in the Josh Allen era, then most fans could point to Dalton Kincaid’s drop on 4th down to essentially end the game as the ‘what if’ moment that could’ve altered this team’s destiny.
Expect Kincaid to show up in this contest in an attempt to redeem himself for that missed opportunity.
Travis Hunter Has a Second Consecutive 100-Yard Game
The Travis Hunter experiment finally saw real results on the offensive side of the ball, with the rookie finishing with 101 receiving yards and a score on eight receptions against the Los Angeles Rams.
Since trade rumors started circling around WR Brian Thomas Jr. over the bye, one has to wonder if Hunter could be thrust into a bit more permanent role on the offensive side of the ball after his breakout performance.
Packers Score 50+ Against Carolina Panthers
T8. Jordan Love
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
The Carolina Panthers ran into a real contender last week and quickly got put in their place by the Buffalo Bills. The Green Bay Packers offense is starting to click and could be even more explosive with Christian Watson now back in the fold.
The Panthers offense looked rough with Andy Dalton under center and could continue to struggle against Micah Parsons and company this week.
If the Panthers offense can’t get right quickly, then giving extra possessions to an ascending offense could be a recipe for a second consecutive blowout for Carolina.
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