NFL Week 9 bold predictions: Colts snap 7-game losing skid vs. NFC; Lamar Jackson dominates strong Seattle ‘D’

Week 9 of the 2023 NFL season is underway, and there have been a couple of surprises within the Steelers’ 20-16 victory over the Titans on “Thursday Night Football.” Pittsburgh large receiver Diontae Johnson snapped a streak of 119 consecutive catches with no landing, the second-longest streak via a large receiver in NFL historical past, via catching the game-winning three-yard landing go from quarterback Kenny Pickett with 4:02 left to play. With the victory, the Steelers stepped forward to 5-3 and become the primary crew within the Super Bowl Era, since 1966, to have a profitable report regardless of being out-gained in each and every in their first 8 video games of a season. 

Since the rest can occur in terms of the NFL, what is subsequent, you ask? Well, listed here are 5 bold predictions for this weekend’s Week 9 slate.          

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The Seahawks (5-2) had been the NFL’s perfect protection since Week 4. Their 12.5 issues according to recreation allowed, 4.1 yards according to play allowed and 21 crew sacks all lead the league in that span. Seattle has an NFL-best 8 other avid gamers with a couple of sacks this season, and linebacker Boye Mafe has recorded a sack in 5 consecutive video games, the longest lively streak in all of the league. The Seahawks even beefed up their protection entrance on the industry cut-off date, obtaining Giants Pro Bowl defensive lineman Leonard Williams in trade for a 2024 second-round choose and a 2025 fifth-round choose. 

On the again finish, 2023 5th total choose Devon Witherspoon resides as much as the hype. He has allowed fewer than 35 receiving yards in 5 consecutive video games when centered, and he leads the NFL in yards according to go try allowed (3.9). However, all of that would possibly not be sufficient to decelerate Ravens do-it-all quarterback Lamar Jackson. He is 17-1 in opposition to the NFC — a convention that does not get to play in opposition to him frequently — the most efficient quarterback win share in opposition to the opposing convention in NFL historical past amongst the ones with no less than 5 such begins. 

As for what makes Jackson the sort of problem, no person performs the quarterback role fairly like him. His 70.5% of entirety share is the third-highest within the NFL this season whilst his 380 speeding yards lead all quarterbacks. Those 380 speeding yards are probably the most via any quarterback with a of entirety share of 70% or upper although 8 video games of a season all-time. Jackson publish a surprisingly environment friendly efficiency in opposition to the Lions in Week 7, throwing for 357 yards and 3 touchdowns on 21-of-27 passing whilst additionally tacking on a seven-yard speeding landing at the flooring in a 38-6 beatdown. The Lions are 6-2 this season and part a recreation up at the Seahawks for the No. 2 seed within the NFC in this day and age. Jackson, who’s enjoying in a similar fashion to his 2019 NFL MVP shape, can have any other strong trip in opposition to one of the most NFC’s perfect groups, one that includes the league’s most up to date protection. 

Lamar Jackson thru 8 video games: 2019 vs. 2023

* Won 2019 NFL MVP

Vikings win first recreation with out Kirk Cousins since ‘Minneapolis Miracle’ in January 2018

(*9*)

Saying that losing quarterback Kirk Cousins to a season-ending torn Achilles is a large blow to the Minnesota Vikings is a sarcasm. He was once enjoying like a top-five quarterback during the first 8 weeks of the season together with his of entirety share (69.5%, fifth-best in NFL), passing yards (2,331, second-best in NFL trailing simplest Tua Tagovailoa), passing touchdowns (18, co-leads NFL with Tagovailoa) and passer ranking (103.8, third-best in NFL), all rating throughout the peak 5. Cousins additionally become the primary quarterback in Vikings historical past with a couple of passing touchdowns in seven of the crew’s first 8 video games in a season. 

Minnesota additionally hasn’t received a recreation with out Cousins beginning at quarterback since their 2017 playoff run sooner than he arrived, which means the crew’s closing victory with out him below middle was once when Case Keenum threw a 61-yard, game-winning landing go to Stefon Diggs as time in expired of their 29-24 NFC Divisional Round playoff win in opposition to the New Orleans Saints, aka the “Minneapolis Miracle,” in January of 2018.

The Vikings (4-4) have received 4 in their closing 5 video games after an 0-3 begin to 2023, together with 3 in a row with out 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson. They will win their fourth in a row on Sunday in opposition to the Falcons (4-4) with out Cousins even with fifth-round rookie Jaren Hall out of BYU beginning at quarterback. 

The rookie might be making his first profession get started in Week 9 after finishing 3 of his 4 passes for 23 yards in a 24-10 victory over the Packers in Week 8 after Cousins left the sport. As lengthy as he can to find the Vikings 2023 first-round choose, large receiver Jordan Addison, he’s going to be good enough. Addison has seven receiving touchdowns in his first 8 video games, tied for the second-most within the Super Bowl generation. The Falcons that Hall might be dealing with are coming off permitting 4 passing touchdowns to a fellow rookie, the Titans’ Will Levis, in his debut as an NFL beginning quarterback, two of which have been 40 or extra yards. Plus, Atlanta head trainer Arthur Smith continues to underutilize his peak 10-pick skill-position avid gamers: tight finish Kyle Pitts (fourth total choose in 2021), large receiver Drake London (8th total choose in 2022) and operating again Bijan Robinson (8th total choose in 2023). That’s a recipe for a Vikings victory. 

Colts snap their seven-game losing streak vs. the NFC

The Colts (3-5) have misplaced 3 consecutive video games after beginning 3-2 this season, and they have got allowed 35 or extra issues in each and every in their closing 3 video games, tied for the second-longest such streak in franchise historical past. They have additionally misplaced seven in a row in opposition to NFC groups courting again to 2022, the longest lively winless streak in opposition to the other convention within the league. Both of the ones streaks finish on Sunday in opposition to the Panthers. 

Running again Jonathan Taylor, the 2021 speeding champion, is beginning to warmth up: he totaled a season-high 95 speeding yards on 12 carries, a mean of seven.9 yards according to elevate, closing week. He additionally has a minimum of 75 or extra yards in each and every of his closing two video games. Taylor hasn’t been a one-dimensional again this season; he’s additionally averaging a career-high 10.9 yards according to catch in 2023. The Panthers (1-6) are permitting 139.4 speeding yards according to recreation, the fourth-most within the NFL. Taylor feasts, and the Colts trip him to victory, snapping two losing streaks with one win. 

Cowboys hang A.J. Brown below 125 receiving yards, snapping WR’s ancient streak

Normally, projecting a large receiver to have 125 or extra receiving yards could be regarded as bold, however that is simply industry as same old nowadays for Eagles Pro Bowler A.J. Brown. His six video games in a row with 125 or extra receiving yards give him the longest such streak in NFL historical past. 

Fortunately for Dallas, they have got the staff to stay alongside of him in second-year cornerback DaRon Bland, who recorded his 1/3 pick-six of 2023 on Sunday in opposition to the Rams — atmosphere a Cowboys single-season report — and 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore. Bland’s 9.6 passer ranking allowed as the principle defender in protection is the bottom within the NFL amongst 50 avid gamers with 40 or extra objectives thrown their means this season whilst Gilmore’s 46.3 passer ranking allowed as the principle defender ranks 1/3 within the league. They additionally rank one and two within the NFL in of entirety share allowed as the principle defender in protection with Bland’s 41.5% price simply forward of Gilmore’s 42.9% determine. The Cowboys know the ball goes to visit Brown, and whilst it’ll be a problem, Dallas’ peak two corners, who’re each enjoying at an All-Pro degree, will mix to carry Brown to below 100 receiving yards on Sunday. 

The vibes could not be a lot worse in Las Vegas. Raiders proprietor Mark Davis fired head Josh McDaniels and basic supervisor Dave Ziegler midway into their moment season after a 3-5 get started through which their offense struggled get large receiver Davante Adams going. Adams, a First-Team All-Pro variety in each and every of the closing 3 seasons, had only one catch for 11 yards on seven objectives within the crew’s 26-14 “Monday Night Football” loss on the Detroit Lions in Week 8, one of the performances this season that give a contribution to his 14% catch price, the second-worst via any individual within the NFL amongst the ones with a minimum of seven objectives in 2023. 

Adams’ 142 receiving yards and no touchdowns on 14 catches around the closing 4 video games are his fewest receiving yards in a four-game stretch since 2015, his moment NFL season. He has additionally simplest stuck one go of 20 or extra yards downfield on 12 passes of 20 or extra air yards thrown his means in 2023, a noticeable decline from the 14-of-36 clip from 2022 with 9 of the ones 14 completions going for touchdowns. A large contributor to the drop-off is Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who’s averaging career-lows in yards according to go try (7.2), touchdown-to-interception ratio, 7-9 (0.78) and passer ranking (78.1). 

Interim head trainer Antonio Pierce, prior to now the crew’s linebackers trainer, named fourth-round rookie Aidan O’Connell the beginning quarterback shifting ahead. His 108.4 passer ranking led all avid gamers within the 2023 preseason. He additionally began in a Week 4 loss at Chargers when Garoppolo was once out with a concussion and got here on in reduction of Brian Hoyer in a Week 7 loss on the Bears when Garoppolo was once out with a again damage. After the clearing of the air in Vegas following the regime exchange, O’Connell and Adams attach for a couple of completions of 20 or extra air yards in opposition to the Giants in Week 9, topping the Raiders’ season overall to Adams during the season’s first 8 weeks.