While A.J. Brown missed his sixth game of the season, and Romeo Doubs missed his third straight with a shoulder injury, two familiar faces made big plays Sunday in other NFL cities.
The first was Texans receiver Kayshon Boutte. You remember him — the productive deep threat the Patriots decided they didn’t need anymore, and traded at the end of training camp for a backup safety and seventh-round draft pick in 2028.
Anyway, Boutte got a game ball Sunday after the Texans’ 44-22 win over the Chargers. Boutte had four catches for a career-high 125 yards and two touchdowns, including a 35-yard catch and 63-yard TD.
Kayshon you fr right now!?
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/S971XX8NQE
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) November 8, 2026
“Just to see him ball today was great,” quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “He’s a great football player, and I’m really glad he’s on our team.”
The other one is Commanders receiver Stefon Diggs. You also remember him — the Patriots decided in March they didn’t need their leading receiver and emotional leader from last year’s Super Bowl run, releasing him and watching him eventually sign for just $8 million in Washington.
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Anyway, Diggs had only three catches for 51 yards Sunday in a 20-13 loss to the Rams, but when the Commanders needed to move the ball on the final drive, Diggs delivered a 42-yard catch.
In summation: Brown and Doubs this year — 23 catches, 362 yards, and 3 touchdowns, playing in 9 of 18 games. Combined salaries in 2026: $48.65 million.
Boutte and Diggs — 49 catches, 622 yards, and 7 touchdowns in 15 of 16 games. Combined salaries in 2026: $11.67 million.
Oh, and Kyle Williams can’t catch a deep ball and is trending toward a bust.
Just thought it was worth mentioning.
Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams (18) misjudged a deep ball, stopping his route before resuming it and not catching up to the pass during the first quarter Sunday.
Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams (18) misjudged a deep ball, stopping his route before resuming it and not catching up to the pass during the first quarter Sunday.
Other top stories from NFL Week 9:
⋅ The Bengals are 6-2 after lighting up Madrid with a 34-17 win over the Falcons, and are looking like a contender. The offense has scored 30-plus points in four straight wins for the first time in franchise history, while Joe Burrow leads the NFL in touchdown passes (23), completion percentage (74), passing yards per game (298.3), and passer rating (114.8).
The Bengals also have an accommodating schedule, with only three remaining games against teams currently in the playoff bracket (Steelers, Panthers, Chiefs).
“We have a chance to do everything that we set out to,” Burrow said.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow leads the NFL in touchdown passes (23), completion percentage (74), passing yards per game (298.3), and passer rating (114.8).
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow leads the NFL in touchdown passes (23), completion percentage (74), passing yards per game (298.3), and passer rating (114.8).
⋅ In their 27-24 win over the Buccaneers, the Bears became the only team in NFL history to win despite five-plus turnovers, nine-plus penalties, and squandering a 14-point lead.
Now 7-2, the Bears are so good that they can win even when Caleb Williams is off his game. Williams threw as many interceptions Sunday night (four) as he had in his last 15 regular-season games.
“Despite the displeasure I might be presenting right now, there’s a lot of good in terms of building this team that comes from a win like this,” coach Ben Johnson said.
⋅ The Rams improved to 5-4 with their third straight win, over the Commanders, and Myles Garrett had three sacks in his return from a knee injury. But all is still not well in Ram-land, as the passing game is one-dimensional without Davante Adams (hamstring).
Puka Nacua accounted for 19 of Matthew Stafford’s 43 targets, 14 of his 26 completions, and 150 of his 228 passing yards Sunday. Nacua is expected to miss at least a month after spraining knee ligaments on the Rams’ final offensive play of the game. They need to trade for a receiver by Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline.
Tracking former Patriots
Eagles QB Joe Milton: Threw for 169 yards, rushed for 64 yards, lost a fumble, scored a 2-point conversion, and took seven sacks in the Eagles’ 19-11 loss to the Giants. It’s not fair to judge Milton yet when he’s been an Eagle for just three weeks and was playing with backup receivers.
UNC coach Bill Belichick:Improved to 5-4 with a 38-21 victory at UConn, then hustled up to Patriot Place to celebrate with the 2016 Super Bowl team. Needs to win one more game (Louisville, Virginia, N.C. State) to become bowl eligible.
Quick hits
⋅ In 2025, the NFL had nine return touchdowns in the first nine weeks (seven punts, two kickoffs). In 2026, there have been two (one of each).
⋅ The Broncos’ win over the Panthers was their fifth this season when trailing in the fourth quarter. It’s a tough way to live.
⋅ Let’s not put the Chargers’ 0-8 start all on offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. The eight sacks Justin Herbert took Sunday were the most on the team in 50 years (Dan Fouts, 1976), and Herbert has thrown at least one interception in each game.
⋅ The Chiefs snapped their two-game losing streak, but still have no downfield passing attack. They also need a receiver.
⋅ The Texans are 3-5 but look like they’re about to go on a run. They play a lot of bad teams, starting with the Browns and Colts the next two weeks.
⋅ Commanders coach Dan Quinn blew it again, calling a lateral play from the Rams’ 30 instead of a throw to the end zone on the final snap of the game. Losses to the Giants and Bengals the next two weeks might be it for Quinn.
Commanders coach Dan Quinn is feeling the heat in Washington.
Commanders coach Dan Quinn is feeling the heat in Washington.Stephanie Scarbrough/AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough
⋅ Another ugly brawl in the parking lot after a 49ers-Raiders game, with video purporting to show multiple people knocked unconscious. The NFL may need to start playing this once-every-four-years game at a neutral site or overseas.
⋅ NFC North teams are 20-3 against non-NFC North teams. The Vikings started the season 6-0 and may be the worst team in the division.
⋅ The NFC South: Two teams at 3-5, two teams at 3-6.
⋅ Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty finished the game with five catches for minus-5 yards and six carries for 25 yards. It’s shocking how bad he has been since being drafted No. 6 last year.
⋅ The Jets have lost four in a row and players became unglued in Kansas City, with Geno Smith screaming on the sideline and Armand Membou slamming his helmet. Aaron Glenn is 5-21 as head coach and might not make it to the Week 13 bye.