NFL Week 9 will once again take place on multiple continents and the stakes are rising as the 2026 regular season nears its midpoint. Betting experts haven't reached a consensus on how it will all play out, despite the presence of several large spreads for gamblers to sift through.
The schedule begins with a primetime opportunity for the Jacksonville Jaguars to assert themselves as the team to beat in the AFC with a "Thursday Night Football" matchup against the Lamar Jackson-less Baltimore Ravens. Sunday's action then begins with the latest international game, when the Cincinnati Bengals face the Atlanta Falcons with Madrid, Spain serving as a host for the second year in a row.
The early Sunday afternoon window features the Cowboys, Chiefs and
Browns trying to bounce back from losses, a crucial NFC East rivalry game (New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles) and a matchup between the Commanders and Rams that neither team can afford to lose and still remain in the postseason conversation.
The Green Bay Packers visit the New England Patriots in the featured game of the late Sunday afternoon window, while the most anticipated matchup of Week 9 will kick off last: the Minnesota Vikings hosting Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on "Monday Night Football" coming off their first loss of the season.
Here's a look at expert picks, predictions and odds for every game on the NFL's Week 8 schedule.
NFL Week 9 game predictions and expert picks
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 11:40 a.m. ET.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Baltimore Ravens
- Date: Thursday, Nov. 5
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Location: M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore)
- TV: None
- Streaming: Prime Video, NFL+
- Spread: Jaguars (-9.5)
CBS Sports: Jaguars 30, Ravens 13
"The Ravens don't even know who their starting QB will be this week, and to make matters worse, they have to face what might be the best team in the AFC. If Week 8 was any indication, the Jaguars have finally figured out how to run the ball again and when they run the ball, they're virtually unbeatable. Since Liam Coen took over as head coach, the Jags are 10-1 when they rush for at least 110 yards."
Sports Illustrated: Jaguars cover big spread
"Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley are likely out for the game, and their third-string quarterback, Joe Fagnano, is also questionable due to an injury. ... That leaves the Ravens' only plan of attack being running the football. Unfortunately, they now have to face a Jaguars defense that ranks second in opponent rush EPA and seventh in opponent rush success rate."
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Cincinnati Bengals vs. Atlanta Falcons
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 8
- Time: 9:30 a.m. ET
- Location: Bernabéu (Madrid, Spain)
- TV: NFL Network
- Streaming: ESPN Unlimited, Fubo, NFL+
- Spread: Bengals (-3)
Arizona Republic: Bengals 30, Falcons 20
"The Bengals have won three in a row. Joe Burrow accounted for six touchdowns in NFL Week 8. He won't have six in this game, but he'll have enough to push Cincinnati past Atlanta."
ESPN: Bengals win again and cover
"The Bengals and their pass-heavy offense match up here against Atlanta in what is effectively a road game for both teams. Joe Burrow has thrown at least four touchdowns in three straight games, and both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins can be schemed versus a Falcons defense that plays the second-highest rate of man-free coverage in the league."
Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 8
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- TV: CBS
- Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube), Fubo
- Spread: Broncos (-3)
Sportsbook Review: Panthers get surprising cover
"Denver leads the AFC West by a half-game after a humongous win over Kansas City, and faces a Carolina team that is the only division leader with a negative point differential (-15). Whether it’s because the Broncos are coming east to play an early 1 p.m. ET game or because the Panthers have a little extra rest after playing Thursday night in Week 8, this short line feels odd. Denver is fortunate to be sitting at 6-2, as it has been outgained by (more than 220 yards) twice (and is 1-1 in those games), while going 2-0 in games it has also been outgained by 105 and 187 yards. This comes with risk, as the Broncos have tied an NFL record with 15 straight regular-season wins decided by one score."
New York Post: Broncos cover
"The Denver Broncos appeared to unlock their offense a bit last week when Jonah Coleman was unleashed against the Chiefs. Meanwhile, the Panthers look broken, and don’t see Bryce Young pulling this offense together against an elite Denver defense. The Broncos are rated No. 8 in defensive DVOA."
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New York Jets vs. Kansas City Chiefs
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 8
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri)
- TV: CBS
- Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube), Fubo
- Spread: Chiefs (-9.5)
Sporting News: Chiefs 24, Jets 13
"The Jets are 1-0 against the spread with a push in two games where they are more than a touchdown underdog on the road. New York has five one-score losses this season. The Chiefs lost back-to-back road games – so this is a get-right spot for Patrick Mahomes, who has a 99.8 passer rating at home. Kansas City has committed just five turnovers this season. Without those turnovers, the Jets are in trouble."
Sports Illustrated: Jets can cover
"Geno Smith hasn't exactly lit up the box score so far this season, but he ranks fifth in the NFL in completion percentage over expected. He has been effective and has thrown only three interceptions. Not turning the ball over is a big step in covering a big spread as an underdog. The Chiefs may not be as good as we thought. They had an extremely easy start to their schedule with four straight games against the Colts, Dolphins, Raiders, and Chargers, winning two of those games by just a field goal."
Detroit Lions vs. Miami Dolphins
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 8
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
- TV: CBS
- Streaming: Paramount+, Fubo, NFL+
- Spread: Lions (-7)
Arizona Republic: Lions 27, Dolphins 20
"The Lions appear to be a contender in the NFC with Jahmyr Gibbs, who continues to impress. He'll impress in a big way against the Dolphins defense."
VegasOdds.com: Lions win and cover
"The Lions have the 3rd-best offense in the NFL with 29 points per game, while the Fins sit second-to-last in that category with only 16.7 ppg. Also, the Lions have 24 sacks so far, third-best, ride a three-game winning streak, so yes, we’ll take the Lions covering the spread. Some oddsmakers put the spread at -6.5, and some at -7, and that can make a huge difference."
Los Angeles Rams vs. Washington Commanders
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 8
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Northwest Stadium
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube), Fubo
- Spread: Rams (-6)
BetMGM: Rams win on the road
"It’s time to wholeheartedly sell the Washington defense. The unit, off a Week 8 bye, only looked good on SNF because it played a battered-and-bruised Eagles offense. The test gets significantly harder in Week 9 as home dogs to the Rams. Dan Quinn’s defense goes from facing an offense ranked 31st in offensive DVOA to one ranked sixth. It’s also the second time all season the Commanders play a top-five rush DVOA offense."
Sporting News: Rams 27, Commanders 25
"Washington is 1-1-1 straight up at home, and they have momentum with Jayden Daniels, who has yet to throw an interception this season. Myles Garrett (knee) could return to practice this week for the Rams, who are 2-1 on the road and coming off a pair of two-score victories. The secret? Running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum have combined for 331 rushing yards on 5.5 yards per carry with two rushing TDs each the last two weeks. Washington will need to slow that down."
Dallas Cowboys vs. Indianapolis Colts
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 8
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: FOX One, Fubo, NFL+
- Spread: Cowboys (-6)
New York Post: Bet on the Cowboys
"The Colts were just 10-point underdogs to the Jaguars, and they look ripe to sell Jonathan Taylor now, too. With Indianapolis in a fire sale and the Cowboys desperate for a win ... buy the Cowboys in this spot against the Colts, as they’re allowing 7.4 yards per pass attempt, the fifth-worst in the league."
Yahoo! Sports: Cowboys are the pick
"The Cowboys average the seventh-most points in the NFL (27.4 points per game) and should easily be able to move the ball against a porous Indianapolis defense that allows the third-most points (27.8 PPG). The passing game is the main point of vulnerability for the Colts defense, and Dak Prescott will exploit that with high volume to his star WR duo in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens."
Cleveland Browns vs. New Orleans Saints
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 8
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
- TV: CBS
- Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube), Fubo
- Spread: Saints (-2.5)
Arizona Republic: Saints 24, Browns 21
"The Saints are 0-4 at home this season, but are rested after coming off a bye. It will show with New Orleans edging Cleveland at Caesars Superdome."
Sportsbook Review: Saints win
"Cleveland had a lot of worrisome things happen last week that don’t inspire confidence playing a team off a bye. The Browns finished the first quarter with more lost fumbles (two) than total yards (minus-1), and have now allowed six rushing touchdowns over the last two weeks. That should help New Orleans get a running game going that totaled just 18 rushing yards in its last game, its fewest since 1999."
New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 8
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube), Fubo
- Spread: Giants (-3.5)
VegasOdds.com: Giants win
"The Eagles are without Hurts, and Saquon Barkley is slow and sluggish. The Giants were on a bye and had two weeks to prepare for their shorthanded division rivals. Their rushers were superb in Houston, recording 188 yards, and now face a 28th-ranked run defense that allows almost 132 ypg."
Sports Illustrated: Giants cover spread
"The Eagles are 31st in net yards per play (-1.2), 29th in both EPA and opponent EPA, 30th in success rate, and 23rd in opponent success rate. They should be far bigger underdogs against a scrappy Giants team that has posted some solid metrics this season."
Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Chargers
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 8
- Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
- Location: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
- TV: CBS
- Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube), Fubo
- Spread: Texans (-5)
Sporting News: Chargers 21, Texans 20
"When does the season-long nightmare end for the Chargers? Los Angeles also is 0-7 against the spread, which makes this look like a layup for the Texans on the road. Quarterback Justin Herbert has 12 turnovers this season. Houston has created just six turnovers, and the Texans average just 84.7 rushing yards per game. This is the week."
BetMGM: Texans cover and win
"Houston’s defense struggled to put forth good performances this season. A year after ranking inside the top-five in defensive DVOA, the unit ranks 16th through seven games. But the Chargers qualify as the easiest test for Houston all season. ... For the Chargers defense, it’s a massive step forward for a Derwin James-less secondary. Houston ranks fifth in pass offense DVOA. It qualifies as only the second time this year the Chargers played a top-six unit in that category. Earlier this year, the team traveled to Kansas City and lost rather easily."
Las Vegas Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 8
- Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
- Location: Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube), Fubo
- Spread: 49ers (-10)
Arizona Republic: 49ers 31, Raiders 20
"The 49ers are 4-0 at home and are coming off a bye. That's bad news for Kirk Cousins and the Raiders. San Francisco's defense will shine in this game."
ClutchPoints: 49ers 42, Raiders 28
"Brock Purdy repeatedly punishes defensive breakdowns, while Kirk Cousins and Brock Bowers generate enough offense to prevent an early rout. Ultimately, the difference will be possession-to-possession consistency. Las Vegas will manufacture explosive moments, but San Francisco will sustain more scoring drives and turn one late Raiders mistake into the decisive touchdown."
Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 8
- Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
- Location: Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts)
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: FOX One, Fubo, NFL+
- Spread: Patriots (-3)
CBS Sports: Packers 23, Patriots 20
"New England has played five teams this year that currently have a winning record: They've gone 2-3 in those games with Maye throwing six touchdown passes compared to eight interceptions. ... The Packers defense has been surprisingly good – even without Micah Parsons – and Green Bay somehow manages to find a way to spoil Gronk's Hall of Fame weekend and (Tom) Brady's return to Gillette (with FOX)."
Sports Illustrated: Packers cover spread
These two teams are much too similar not to take the side that's getting a field goal's worth of points. They are both teams that are led by efficient quarterbacks who have bad offensive lines and no run game. They are also two teams with defenses that have been better than people expected this season. ... It's a coin-flip game, which leads to the question of how much you value the Patriots' home-field advantage."
Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 8
- Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
- Location: Lumen Field (Seattle)
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube), Fubo
- Spread: Seahawks (-11)
Arizona Republic: Seahawks 24, Cardinals 20
"The Cardinals just don't get any respect, do they? They opened as an 11-point underdog after pulling off their upset of the Cowboys. Can Arizona pull off another upset against the Seahawks? They will at least make this one close."
BetMGM: Seahawks cover big spread
"Bettors saw a somewhat similar spot for Arizona last season. The Cardinals beat Dallas as road underdogs only to travel to Seattle and lose by 22 points. ... Excluding Week 8, Seattle paces the NFL in defensive DVOA. Only turnovers from Sam Darnold allowed opponents to keep games within striking distance. Earlier this season, Seattle traveled to Arizona and dominated the game."
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Chicago Bears
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 8
- Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
- Location: Soldier Field (Chicago)
- TV: NBC
- Streaming: Peacock, Fubo, NFL+
- Spread: Bears (-6)
CBS Sports: Bears 23, Buccaneers 20
"The Bears will be coming into this game on a short week after winning a huge game in Seattle on Monday night, so we certainly could see a small letdown. And it certainly doesn't help that the Bears are about to face a team that wants to punch them in the mouth and run the ball down their throat. ... This game will actually feature the two best rushing attacks in the NFL. The Bucs are ranked at the top at 168.6 yards per game and the Bears are right behind them at 150.8. As good as Tampa Bay has been at running the ball, don't think they're going to beat the Bears at their own game. ... Tampa Bay keeps this close, but the Bears come out on top in a wild one."
Sporting News: Bears 30, Buccaneers 18
"Tampa Bay has reinvented its season with three straight victories. The defense has allowed 13.8 points per game in that four-game stretch. Chicago is 3-1 at home, Caleb Williams continues to be efficient and this will be the home debut for newly-acquired defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. The Bears are 4-2 in prime-time games under coach Ben Johnson, with two victories this season."
Buffalo Bills vs. Minnesota Vikings
- Date: Monday, Nov. 9
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Location: U.S. Bank Stadium
- TV: ESPN, ABC
- Streaming: ESPN Unlimited, Fubo, NFL+
- Spread: Bills (-3.5)
BetMGM: Pick the Bills
"Buffalo’s defense remains a potential liability and is nowhere near as good as Sunday’s performance against Baltimore’s third-string quarterback. But the case for optimism is that Buffalo’s poor performances this season have come against good offenses. Meanwhile, the Vikings defense has largely achieved its rating against bad units. Still, previous games showed offenses can run the ball on Minnesota. ... Now (defensive coordinator Brian) Flores is charged with limiting an explosive Bills rushing attack."
Sportsbook Review: Pick the Vikings
"Minnesota is an eerily similar opponent to Houston, which Buffalo lost to in a primetime road game last year. The Texans got home for eight sacks and forced Josh Allen into two interceptions. The Vikings blitzed Jared Goff on all but three of his dropbacks last week (the highest blitz rate by any team since at least 2018). Minnesota’s offense generated just 266 yards and 15 first downs against a Lions defense that entered the week with the worst pass defense and total defense. But the offense should be more comfortable playing at home and faces a Bills defense that entered last week ranked last in opponents’ points per drive."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL Week 9 game picks: Expert predictions, odds for every matchup
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