NFL Week 9 Recap: Eagles and Chiefs win, Stroud Goes Off
Who knew that all the NFL needed to produce its most dramatic and compelling weekend of the season was that extra hour of sleep.
Daylight Savings Sunday ushered in a handful of palm-sweating thrillers and key conference and divisional matchups that surely had fans with one eye on January: Was the Germany showdown between Miami and Kansas City a preview of a playoff head-to-head? Would the Buffalo Cincinnati Sunday Night game foreshadow a playoff rematch between two teams who met in last year’s postseason?
Would Vegas’ interim head coach Antonio Pierce get a win in his NFL debut? Would NFL fans be blindsided by mesmerizing finishes from unlikely matchups?
We are neither seers, soothsayers, nor fortune-tellers so the answers to the first two questions won’t be known until after the turn of the new year.
As for the final two questions, we can answer with a resounding “YES.”
Here’s a recap of an exciting Week 9 of the NFL season:
Kansas City 21, Miami 14
The Chiefs (7-2) weathered a second-half rally to beat the Dolphins (6-3) and put down stakes on hosting the AFC playoffs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Trailing big at intermission, the Dolphins made a game of it in the third quarter. A Tua Tagvailoa touchdown pass to Cedric Wilson Jr. and a Raheem Mostert run cut the deficit to 21-14. Late in the fourth, Miami had the ball in Chiefs territory with a chance to tie, but three straight incompletions and a Tua fumbled snap on fourth down ended the comeback.
In a game of two halves, the first belonged to Kansas City, which built a 14-0 lead on two Patrick Mahomes TD throws. Nearing halftime, with Miami driving, KC corner Bryan Cook, on one of the most spectacular defensive plays of the year, went 59 yards with a Tyreek fumble to put the Chiefs up 21-0.
The Dolphins were shut out in the first half for the first time in 40 games (since early 2021). The Chiefs defense held a Miami offense averaging 453 yards per game to just 110 in the first half.
For the day, the KC D limited Hill to 62 yards receiving and Tua to 193 yards passing. It was the fifth game this season that the Chiefs have held an opponent under 17 points.
But the Chiefs offense also sputtered, especially in the second half. Mahomes finished with a pedestrian 185 yards — though the distribution of his passes was as democratic as one could imagine: eight different Chiefs caught at least two passes, with none catching more than three. Mahomes also lost a fumble in the third quarter as the Dolphins pressured him repeatedly during their comeback.
Once again, Kansas City can thank its elite defense for securing the win. Today's outcome marked the fifth game this season that the Chiefs held an opponent to under 17 points.
Houston 40, Tampa Bay 37
In the most unpredictably thrilling game of the 2023 season, No. 2 overall pick C.J. Stroud hit rookie receiver Tank Dell on a 15-yard strike with six seconds left to give the Texans a dramatic win over Baker Mayfield and the visiting Bucs.
The play capped off a last-minute 70-yard drive and a historic day for Stroud, who tied an NFL rookie record with five touchdown passes and set a new rookie mark for passing yards with 470. The TD was the second scoring grab for Dell. He was one of three Texans’ offensive players to have more than 100 receiving yards on the day, led by Noah Brown, whose 153 yards featured a 75-yard TD catch.
Stroud’s performance further validates the evaluations of those who put observation and film evidence above test scores. As for those who do the opposite…we hope the next test iteration (the "S3"?) will be a marked improvement.
The fourth quarter alone was a remarkable event that saw three lead changes. With their regular placekicker injured, Houston repeatedly bypassed field goal and PAT attempts. With under nine minutes remaining, emergency placekicker Dare Ogunbowale kicked a 29-yard field goal to put the Texans up, 33-30. (With their regular placekicker injured, Houston bypassed field goal and PAT attempts throughout the game.) Then, with under two minutes left, Mayfield (21-of-30, two TDs) directed a 10-play 61-yard drive, finishing it off with a 14-yard TD pass to Cade Otton put up the Bucs up four points.
Forty-six seconds remained. Just enough time for the game-winning heroics of Stroud and Dell to unfold.
The win keeps Houston’s playoff hopes very much alive. A tough loss for Tampa (3-5), who failed to keep pace with NFL South-leading New Orleans.
Minnesota 31, Atlanta 28
Reserve QB Josh Dobbs threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Powell with 22 seconds left to lift the Vikings (5-4) to a victory equally as dramatic as what took place in Houston.
The TD pass to Powell was Dobbs’ second of the day, capping a 75-yard drive in just two minutes. This came just after the Falcons had regained the lead, 28-24, with seven-minute, 79-yard march of their own, led by powerful running of Tyler Allegeier, who plowed into the end zone from five yards out.
In perhaps the most compelling storyline of the 2023 season, Dobbs — in just his fifth day with the team — came through in relief of injured starting QB Jaren Hall, himself replacing the injured Kirk Cousins. Dobbs finished 20-of-30 for 158 yards and two passing TDs.
But he damaged the Falcons’ defense as much with his legs, running for 68 yards, including an 18-yard game-tying score in the third quarter. He also had a critical 22-yard run on the game-winning drive, and repeatedly escaped pressure to make key throws.
The win is Minnesota’s fourth straight, as their remarkable turnaround from a 1-4 start continues. They remain two games behind Detroit for the NFC North lead, but are now in the thick of the wildcard race.
For Atlanta (4-5), the loss was a bruising one; the Falcons dropped out of a tie with first-place New Orleans in the NFC South. QB Taylor Heinicke, in his first start taking over for the benched Desmond Ridder, threw for 268 yards and one touchdown, a 75-yard screen pass that WR Jonnu Smith took the distance.
Baltimore 37, Seattle 3
The Ravens again proved why M&T Bank Stadium is not a welcoming place for visiting teams to play. Two weeks after smashing once NFC division leader (Detroit), the Ravens did so again, this time taking the NFC West’s Seattle Seahawks to the woodshed.
The story of the day off was the Ravens’ ground game game against the Seattle defense, which came in as a top-10 unit against the run. Baltimore rushed for a staggering 298 yards, led by rookie free-agent back Keaton Mitchell, who posted 138 on just nine carries, including a touchdown from 40 yards. Lamar Jackson added 60 yards rushing, in addition to his 21-of-26 passing for 158 yards. All told, Baltimore registered 29 first downs and averaged nearly seven yards per play as it churned to 515 yards of total offense.
Seattle’s offense could muster just six first downs. The Seahawks’ running attack was dreadful (28 yards). Identified as keys to this game, Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet managed just 24 yards rushing between them. The gap between Seattle’s inability to run and the Ravens’ borderline epic ground game largely explains the whopping 20+-minute advantage Baltimore had in time of possession.
Seattle (5-3) falls into a first-place tie with idle San Francisco. The Ravens (7-2) maintain control of the AFC and keep pace with Kansas City for best record in the AFC. If the last two home wins for Baltimore account for anything, the Ravens will be formidable in January if they lock down homefield advantage.
New Orleans 24, Chicago 17
A three-yard pass from Saints’ backup QB Taysom Hill to Juwan Johnson gave the Saints the margin for victory, but the real difference in this game was turnovers.
Surprisingly, Chicago led for much of the first half, thanks to two Tyler Bagent-to-Cole Kmet touchdown passes. The two teams were tied at halftime and, after exchanging third-quarter field goals (including a 55-yard bomb by New Orleans’ Blake Grupe), remained deadlocked heading into the fourth.
Then things went really haywire for Bears’ QB Tyler Bagent.
After Hill to Johnson put New Orleans up 24-17 with 11 minutes left in the game, Bagent proceeded to turn the ball over on three of Chicago’s next four possessions, though New Orleans was unable to capitalize and build its lead. He threw two interceptions, including one to Paulson Adebo, who picked off Bagent twice on the day. Bagent’s final miscue was a fumble caused by Dario Davis with two minutes remaining that ended the Bears’ chances.
In total, Chicago turned the ball over five times and committed eight penalties.
New Orleans did not turn the ball over, which allowed them to escape with a win despite losing to the Bears in most statistical categories. The Saints’ offense, which showed signs of improvement last week in Indy, went back to its maddening inefficiency. They again could not establish a running game as Alvin Kamara ran for just 26 yards. QB Derek Carr threw for 211 yards but it took 34 passes to get there. He did throw two TDs
Most importantly he threw zero interceptions.
The Saints’ win coupled with the Tampa Bay loss to Houston puts New Orleans in first place in the NFC South. For Chicago, the Bears hope that Justin Fields returns soon so they can determine whether he is the future at the quarterback position.
Washington 20, New England 17
Defensive back Jartavius Martin intercepted a Mac Jones pass with 38 seconds remaining to seal the win for the Commanders. With New England nearly in position for a game-tying field goal, Martin corralled Jones’s 2nd-and-8 pass at Washington’s 33-yard line after it went through the hands of Patriots receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
The play ended not just the game but a scoreless fourth quarter. Washington placekicker Joey Slye broke a 17-17 tie with a 30-yard field goal near the end of the third quarter.
Until Martin’s interception, Jones had played a clean game, throwing for 220 yards and a TD pass to tight end Hunter Henry. However, he and the New England offense struggled on third down, going just 3-of-12, which kept the Patriots defense on the field most of the day. Washington won the time of possession battle by 14 minutes.
Conversely, the Commanders converted nine of 17 third downs as, for the first time in weeks, QB Sam Powell put together fine back-to-back performances. Howell threw for 325 yards and one TD, a beautifully thrown post pattern to Jahon Dotson for a 33-yard TD. Terry McLaurin led Washington receivers with five catches for 73 yards. Though the offensive line allowed three more sacks, the Commanders were able to run the ball better (124 yards) than in weeks past.
Washington (4-5) improved its positioning for a playoff run and must travel to Seattle next week. The misery of the 2023 Patriots continues. At 2-7, New England lays claim to the worst record in the AFC. Whoulda thunk that in August?
Cincinnati 24, Buffalo 18
The Bengals won their fourth straight game on Sunday night, beating back a late Buffalo charge to land the win. Cincinnati had built a 24-10 lead before a fourth-quarter touchdown from Josh Allen to Stefon Diggs, followed by a two-point conversion, cut that lead to six with over three minutes remaining. But on the ensuing possession, Bengals’ QB Joe Burrow hit receiver Tee Higgins for a 32-yard pick-up and the Bengals offense never gave up the ball.
The game marked the second terrific effort by a resurgent Burrow, whose puzzling, injury-mired performances before the team’s Week 7 bye are an ever-shrinking speck in the rear-view.
The fourth-year QB threw for 348 yards yards and two TD passes, one each to TE Irv Smith and receiver Drew Sample, a 22-yard strike before halftime that gave Cincinnati a two-touchdown advantage. Higgins caught eight passes for 110 yards.
Even without a strong running game (54 yards), the Bengals’ offense converted 8-of-15 third downs and line allowed just one sack against a Bills defense that came in second in the NFL in that category.
Speaking of teams without a running game. For yet another week, Josh Allen and the Buffalo passing game was left to fend itself. Allen threw for 258 yards and the one touchdown to Diggs, but the running game generated just 68 yards.
Turnovers also did the Bills in. They had two, including an Allen INT. Cincinnati did not turn the ball over once.
After a brutal 1-3 start, the Bengals (5-3) have surged into a three-way tie with Pittsburgh and Cleveland, all three 1.5 games behind Baltimore (7-2). Expect Buffalo’s yo-yo of a 2023 to continue: the Bills defense is hanging in there despite key injuries, but their unreliable running game puts too much on the shoulders of Allen and the passing attack.
Philadelphia 28, Dallas 25
In another heart-stopping finish, the Eagles tackled Dallas wide receiver CeeDee Lamb short of the end zone with no time remaining to hold on to the divisional win. The play came on a 3rd-and-26 with just five seconds left and Cowboys’ QB Dak Prescott hit Lamb on a deep crossing pattern as the clock ran out. Three Eagles’ defensive backs converged on Lamb and kept him from scoring the game-winning touchdown. (Lamb fumbled and the Eagles recovered, but the game was already over.)
In a penalty-marred battle — both teams drew 10 flags — Dallas led at intermission 17-14. Touchdown passes from Jalen Hurts to Devonta Smith (29 yards) and to A.J. Brown (four yards) on consecutive possessions to start the third quarter put Philadelphia up, 28-17. Dallas responded in the fourth, with Prescott leading a 52-yard drive, finished off by a seven-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert. The two-point conversion failed, however, and not having those two points proved pivotal on the game’s final drive.
Dallas dominated statistically, outgaining Philadelphia 406 yards to 292. Prescott, in particular, had a very productive game, throwing for 347 yards and three touchdowns. For the second straight week, Lamb posted monster numbers: 11 catches for 191 yards.
Near the end of the first half, a limping Hurts walked off the field with hurting limps after Micah Parsons sacked the Eagles QB just before halftime. Hurts seemed OK in the second half and finished an efficient 17-of-23 for 207 yards and the two TD throws. A.J. Brown (seven catches, 66 yards) saw his NFL-record streak of games with 125+ receiving stopped at six.
With the win, Philadelphia (8-1) gains some separation from Dallas (5-3) in the division and maintains its NFL-best record. Dallas acquitted itself well and showed a lot of heart in coming back for a near win, especially with skeptics counting on them to follow up last week’s destruction of the Rams at home with a dud on the road.