NFL Week 9 bold predictions: Vikings win without Kirk Cousins; 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 vast receiver Diontae Johnson snapped a streak of 119 consecutive catches without a landing, the second-longest streak through a large receiver in NFL historical past, through 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 turned into the primary group within the Super Bowl Era, since 1966, to have a profitable file regardless of being out-gained in each and every in their first 8 video games of a season. 

Since anything else can occur relating to 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 superb protection since Week 4. Their 12.5 issues in step with recreation allowed, 4.1 yards in step with play allowed and 21 group sacks all lead the league in that span. Seattle has an NFL-best 8 other avid gamers with more than one sacks this season, and linebacker Boye Mafe has recorded a sack in 5 consecutive video games, the longest energetic streak in all of the league. The Seahawks even beefed up their protection entrance on the industry time limit, 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 in step with go try allowed (3.9). However, all of that may 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 productive quarterback win share in opposition to the opposing convention in NFL historical past amongst the ones with at least 5 such begins. 

As for what makes Jackson one of these problem, nobody performs the quarterback function relatively like him. His 70.5% finishing touch 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 through any quarterback with a finishing touch share of 70% or upper although 8 video games of a season all-time. Jackson post 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 floor 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 at the present time. Jackson, who’s taking part in in a similar fashion to his 2019 NFL MVP shape, can have every other strong day out in opposition to one of the vital NFC’s superb groups, one that includes the league’s most up to date protection. 

Lamar Jackson via 8 video games: 2019 vs. 2023

* Won 2019 NFL MVP

Vikings win first recreation without Kirk Cousins since ‘Minneapolis Miracle’ in January 2018

(*9*)

Saying that shedding quarterback Kirk Cousins to a season-ending torn Achilles is an enormous blow to the Minnesota Vikings is a real understatement. He used to be taking part in like a top-five quarterback throughout the first 8 weeks of the season together with his finishing touch share (69.5%, fifth-best in NFL), passing yards (2,331, second-best in NFL trailing handiest Tua Tagovailoa), passing touchdowns (18, co-leads NFL with Tagovailoa) and passer ranking (103.8, third-best in NFL), all score within the peak 5. Cousins additionally turned into the primary quarterback in Vikings historical past with more than one passing touchdowns in seven of the group’s first 8 video games in a season. 

Minnesota additionally hasn’t gained a recreation without Cousins beginning at quarterback since their 2017 playoff run ahead of he arrived, that means the group’s ultimate victory without him below heart used to be 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 gained 4 in their ultimate 5 video games after an 0-3 begin to 2023, together with 3 in a row without 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) without 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 in finding the Vikings 2023 first-round choose, vast receiver Jordan Addison, he’s going to be adequate. 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 that 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), vast 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 shedding streak vs. the NFC

The Colts (3-5) have misplaced 3 consecutive video games after beginning 3-2 this season, and they’ve allowed 35 or extra issues in each and every in their ultimate 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 relationship again to 2022, the longest energetic 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 in step with lift, ultimate week. He additionally has no less than 75 or extra yards in each and every of his ultimate two video games. Taylor hasn’t been a one-dimensional again this season; he’s additionally averaging a career-high 10.9 yards in step with catch in 2023. The Panthers (1-6) are permitting 139.4 speeding yards in step with recreation, the fourth-most within the NFL. Taylor feasts, and the Colts trip him to victory, snapping two shedding streaks with one win. 

Cowboys dangle 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 standard at the present time 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’ve the team of workers 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 — surroundings a Cowboys single-season file — and 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore. Bland’s 9.6 passer ranking allowed as the main defender in protection is the bottom within the NFL amongst 50 avid gamers with 40 or extra objectives thrown their manner this season whilst Gilmore’s 46.3 passer ranking allowed as the main defender ranks 1/3 within the league. They additionally rank one and two within the NFL in finishing touch share allowed as the main defender in protection with Bland’s 41.5% fee 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 taking part in at an All-Pro stage, 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 common supervisor Dave Ziegler midway into their moment season after a 3-5 get started through which their offense struggled get vast receiver Davante Adams going. Adams, a First-Team All-Pro variety in each and every of the ultimate 3 seasons, had only one catch for 11 yards on seven objectives within the group’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 fee, the second-worst through any person within the NFL amongst the ones with no less than seven objectives in 2023. 

Adams’ 142 receiving yards and no touchdowns on 14 catches around the ultimate 4 video games are his fewest receiving yards in a four-game stretch since 2015, his moment NFL season. He has additionally handiest stuck one go of 20 or extra yards downfield on 12 passes of 20 or extra air yards thrown his manner 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 in step with go try (7.2), touchdown-to-interception ratio, 7-9 (0.78) and passer ranking (78.1). 

Interim head trainer Antonio Pierce, up to now the group’s linebackers trainer, named fourth-round rookie Aidan O’Connell the beginning quarterback transferring 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 used to be out with a concussion and got here on in aid of Brian Hoyer in a Week 7 loss on the Bears when Garoppolo used to be out with a again harm. After the clearing of the air in Vegas following the regime alternate, O’Connell and Adams attach for more than one completions of 20 or extra air yards in opposition to the Giants in Week 9, topping the Raiders’ season overall to Adams throughout the season’s first 8 weeks.