NFL Week 9 Picks and Predictions
Lorenzo Reyes, an NFL expert with a decade of experience, is here to give you his best bets for Week 9. Discover which teams he believes will come out on top in this week’s games.
One of the most highly anticipated matchups of Week 9 is between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins. This game is not lacking in storylines, including the question of whether Taylor Swift will be in attendance to support Travis Kelce.
This game could also be a preview of the AFC Championship, as both teams currently hold impressive 6-2 records, tied with the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars for the best record in the conference.
Additionally, Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill will be facing the team that drafted him, the Chiefs. Hill played a crucial role in helping the Chiefs win Super Bowl 54, so this matchup holds special significance for him.
If you’re looking for Week 9 picks and predictions, you’ve come to the right place. We have you covered. And if you’re in need of the complete NFL Week 9 TV schedule, you can find that here.
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What NFL Games are Showing Today?
Here are the kickoff times and TV information for all of Sunday’s NFL action:
- Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Frankfurt), 9:30 a.m. (NFL Network)
- Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. (FOX)
- Seattle Seahawks at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. (CBS)
- Arizona Cardinals at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. (CBS)
- Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m. (FOX)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans, 1 p.m. (CBS)
- Washington Commanders at New England Patriots, 1 p.m. (FOX)
- Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. (CBS)
- Indianapolis Colts at Carolina Panthers, 4:05 p.m. (CBS)
- New York Giants at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
- Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
- Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Bye week: Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers
There has been speculation about the relationship between Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and pop star Taylor Swift. Kelce has been seen spending time with her recently, but has remained tight-lipped about any romantic involvement.
However, it is undeniable that the Chiefs perform better when Swift is present. This season, the Chiefs have a perfect 4-0 record when Swift is in attendance, compared to a 2-2 record when she is absent. In the games where she is present, Kelce has impressive stats, averaging 8.5 receptions for 108 yards and 0.5 touchdowns.
During halftime, Kelce had two receptions for 7 yards.
In a similar vein, punters hitting the scoreboard has become an issue in the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium has faced this problem with their massive replay system above the field. This issue also arose during a game in Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank Park, where Dolphins punter Jake Bailey hit the underside of the scoreboard with his punt.
In the first half, the Chiefs dominated while the Dolphins experienced a disastrous ending. Chiefs safety Bryan Cook recovered a fumble by Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill and returned it for a 59-yard touchdown, solidifying the Chiefs’ 21-0 lead at halftime.
Patrick Mahomes had an impressive performance in the first half, throwing touchdown passes to Rashee Rice and Jerick McKinnon. The Chiefs’ offense was firing on all cylinders, with Mahomes completing 14 of 19 passes for 147 yards. The Dolphins, on the other hand, struggled to establish a rhythm on offense and went 0 for 5 on third downs.
The battle between the Chiefs and Dolphins, two top AFC teams, has been completely one-sided so far.
In the final minutes of the first half, Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie stripped the ball from Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill, leading to a fumble recovery by safety Bryan Cook. Cook returned the fumble 59 yards for a touchdown, extending the Chiefs’ lead to 21-0 just before halftime.
In the second quarter, Patrick Mahomes connected with Jerick McKinnon for a 17-yard catch-and-run touchdown, further solidifying the Chiefs’ dominance in the game. The Dolphins’ offense has yet to answer, and their defense is struggling to contain the Chiefs’ explosive plays.
The Dolphins came into this game with a solid 6-2 record, positioning them well in the AFC East and the conference. However, there are doubts about the strength of their wins, as all six of their victories have come against teams with losing records. Their average margin of victory in those games is 18.2 points. They have yet to prove themselves against top contenders like the Chiefs, having been blown out by the Bills and Eagles by an average of 21 points.
This game is an important test for the Dolphins’ legitimacy as a playoff contender. After a Week 10 bye, they will face mostly subpar opponents, with the exception of the New York Jets twice, before Christmas Eve.
Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs down the field on their opening drive, resulting in a touchdown. However, the rest of the first quarter was relatively quiet in terms of offensive production from both teams. The Dolphins’ defense stepped up and forced the Chiefs to punt on their next two possessions, while the Dolphins’ offense struggled to find a rhythm.
Unfortunately, Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle was injured early in the game and is questionable to return. The Dolphins will need to find a way to generate offense without one of their key playmakers.
Rest assured, we’ll keep you updated on all the latest developments, so stay tuned for more NFL action.
