With the trade deadline approaching, NFL Week 9 best bets offer a final chance to evaluate teams before rosters potentially shift. The slate is full of intriguing matchups, from a potential Super Bowl preview in Chicago to an upset special in New England. Here are the picks for the week, with projected scores and lines from DraftKings.
Buccaneers at Bears (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)
The Bears have won three straight and are 3-1 against the spread at home. They return to Soldier Field after a dominant win in Seattle, where new defensive addition Jeffery Simmons made an immediate impact. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, has struggled mightily through the air, completing just 7 of 14 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown over its past two games. That won’t be enough to keep pace with Caleb Williams and a surging Chicago offense. Look for the Bears to win their fourth consecutive game.
Projected score: Bears 28, Buccaneers 20
Pick: Bears -6
Packers at Patriots (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)
New England’s narrow win over Miami last week raised some eyebrows, and the Patriots may be in for a tougher test against a Green Bay defense that has allowed just 14.6 points per game over its past five contests, third-best in the NFL. Drake Maye, who leads the league in total yards and touchdowns since Week 4, could struggle without A.J. Brown, who remains sidelined with a knee injury. On the other side, Jordan Love leads the NFL in passing yards and completions of 20-plus air yards, and ranks fourth in passing touchdowns. The Patriots’ defense will have its hands full, making an upset plausible.
Projected score: Packers 23, Patriots 21
Pick: Packers +3
Rams at Commanders (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Jayden Daniels was erratic in Sunday night’s win over Philadelphia, posting an off-target rate of 17.2%, the third-highest of his career. That’s a concern against a Rams defense allowing 301.1 total yards per game, fifth-fewest in the league. Washington is 0-5 following a win since the start of last season and has a minus-9.0 points-per-game differential in those games. The Commanders also rank 25th in passer rating against (100.6), which could mean a big day for Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua. Expect Los Angeles to win and cover.
Projected score: Rams 27, Commanders 21
Pick: Rams -4.5
Cowboys at Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Indianapolis is reeling after a 42-7 loss to Jacksonville and has dropped 13 of its past 15 games. The Colts allow 27.8 points per game, third-most in the NFL, which sets up a Dallas offense that could approach 30 points. Daniel Jones has the league’s worst passer rating (68.7) and has thrown 20 turnovers compared to 13 touchdowns since Week 9 of last year. With Jonathan Taylor’s role diminishing due to trade rumors—he played a season-low 62.3% of snaps last week—the Colts’ offense may not be able to keep up. Dallas should cover.
Projected score: Cowboys 30, Colts 17
Pick: Cowboys -4.5
Bills at Vikings (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Minnesota’s offense has been sluggish, averaging just 279.4 total yards per game (fourth-fewest) and 20 points per game (sixth-fewest). Kyler Murray is sidelined with a hamstring injury, thrusting Carson Wentz into the starting role. The line has shifted only slightly, with Buffalo now a 3-point favorite after opening at -3.5. The Bills lead the league in scoring at 33.3 points per game, but they may not need 30 to win. Buffalo converts 70% of its red-zone trips into touchdowns (fifth-best), and if they can exceed 20 points, that might be enough against a sputtering Vikings offense.
Projected score: Bills 24, Vikings 17
Pick: Bills -3
Remaining picks
- Bengals at Falcons (in Madrid): Falcons +3 (Projected: Bengals 27, Falcons 26)
- Jets at Chiefs: Chiefs -8.5 (Projected: Chiefs 30, Jets 20)
- Lions at Dolphins: Lions -6.5 (Projected: Lions 34, Dolphins 23)
- Browns at Saints: Saints -3.5 (Projected: Saints 24, Browns 20)
- Giants at Eagles: Giants -3 (Projected: Giants 24, Eagles 17)
- Broncos at Panthers: Panthers +3 (Projected: Broncos 21, Panthers 20)
- Texans at Chargers: Chargers +6 (Projected: Texans 24, Chargers 20)
- Raiders at 49ers: Raiders +9.5 (Projected: 49ers 27, Raiders 20)
- Cardinals at Seahawks: Seahawks -8.5 (Projected: Seahawks 33, Cardinals 20)
