Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season is upon us. Each week, I’ll look at the AFC South matchups and give you a couple of bold predictions for those games. This week, the Houston Texans host the Denver Broncos. Tennessee is also at home against the Los Angeles Chargers. Indianapolis and Jacksonville both hit the road, with the Colts taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Jaguars heading to Las Vegas to face the Raiders.
Indianapolis Colts:
7. Jonathan Taylor
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Jonathan Taylor won’t have more than 1 TD
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It’s bold to predict a player won’t have multiple touchdowns, but Taylor is having an exceptional season. Taylor has scored three touchdowns in three of his last four games and four of his last six games. This week, not only will he not find the end zone three times, he’ll fail to reach it multiple times. Pittsburgh is average against the run but ranks 4th in the red zone and 12th in goal-to-go percentage. He’ll get his yardage, but Taylor will have to fight to score in the end zone.
Alec Pierce goes for 100+ yards with a TD
Josh Downs and Ashton Dulin didn’t participate in Wednesday’s practice. The last time Downs and Dulin missed a game (Week 7), Pierce had his best game of the season with five receptions on 10 targets for 98 yards. Downs has caught a touchdown in his last two games played; those could go in Pierce’s direction this week. If Downs misses again or isn’t 100%, Pierce will make the most of it by having his first 100+ yard receiving game of the season and catch his first TD of 2025 as he faces a Steelers defense that is giving up the most passing yards per game this year.
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Jacksonville Jaguars:
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. runs against the Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) rushes for yards during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars held off the Titans 20-13. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Jags defense records multiple sacks and turnovers
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Jacksonville’s 4-1 start this season was mainly due to their defense creating turnovers, with 14 in their first five games. The Jags haven’t forced a turnover in their last two games and have only sacked an opposing quarterback more than once in a game twice this season. The Raiders’ offense sets Jacksonville up perfectly to return to their early-season form. Las Vegas offensively ranks dead last in interception rate and 24th in sacks per pass attempt. The Raiders also rank last in the red zone. It’s a perfect matchup for the Jags coming off their bye, and Jacksonville will capitalize by recording at least 2 sacks and 2 turnovers.
Brian Thomas Jr. has his first 100+ yard game and finds the endzone
Thomas Jr.’s name came up during the bye week as one that Jacksonville will listen to trade rumors on. It could just be a ploy to leak that to the media in hopes of lighting a fire under their second-year receiver. In Jacksonville’s last game, Travis Hunter had his best receiving game, Parker Washington had double-digit targets for the second time this year, and Dyami Brown had his third game of the season with 50+ receiving yards. It could lead you to believe that Thomas Jr.’s role could diminish, but instead, he’ll come out with his first 100-yard game this year and find the end zone for the second time in 2025.
Houston Texans:
Nico Collins
Oct 6, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (12) makes a reception for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Texans Defense holds Bo Nix to 1 or less total TDs
Bo Nix has three rushing touchdowns this season, but all of them occurred in home games. In his four home games this year, he’s thrown multiple touchdowns in all but one. In his four road games, he’s only had one game with more than one passing touchdown. The Texans have a strong defense and are likely to limit Nix to one or fewer total touchdowns in this matchup.
Nico Collins has his best game of the season
The Broncos have one of the toughest defenses and an elite pass rush. C.J. Stroud had one of his best games last week, and Nico Collins didn’t play; neither did Christian Kirk. Stroud spread the ball around to all of his options. The expectation may be more of the same, but with Patrick Surtain II out for this game, Collins will be heavily involved. Houston is also thin at tight end, and their starter, Dalton Schultz, is banged up. This will lead to the receivers carrying even more of the load. Collins has only one game this season with more than four receptions. He also has only one game with 100+ receiving yards. Against the Broncos, he’ll go over four receptions, top his season-high of 104 yards, and have at least one touchdown reception.
Tennessee Titans:
Oct 26, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chimere Dike (17) makes a catch during the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Chimere Dike returns a kick for a TD
There has been only one kickoff returned for a touchdown this season, a 90-yarder by Antonio Gibson. That’s the only kickoff return longer than the 71-yarder Dike had this year. Dike leads the NFL by nearly 250 yards in kickoff return yards. This week, he’s facing a Chargers team that ranks last in kickoff return average on defense. Dike will break one for a touchdown in this matchup.
Tyjae Spears goes over 100 total yards
Spears has caught 3+ passes in three consecutive games, gaining around 20 yards receiving each time. Tony Pollard is injured, and the trade deadline is two days after this game. Pollard could be a trade target for a team in need of a running back. The Titans have started selling off players and may limit Pollard’s role or sit him out this game if they’re trying to move him before the deadline. Pollard’s status will likely give Spears a bigger share of the workload this week, and he’ll aim to surpass 100 yards combined rushing and receiving.
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