Man, NFL Week 9 in 2024 was something else. If you were looking for logic, you probably looked in the wrong place. We saw everything from a literal backward hurdle that broke the internet to some of the weirdest scores we've seen all year. It was the kind of week that makes you realize you don't actually know as much about football as you think you do.
Basically, the "good" teams looked human, the "bad" teams found a pulse, and the highlight reels were just plain stupid. Honestly, if you blinked, you missed a season-defining play.
NFL Scores Week 9 2024: The Big Winners and Losers
The schedule was packed, and the results were all over the map. You had the Kansas City Chiefs barely squeaking by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a 30-24 win in overtime. Patrick Mahomes did Mahomes things, but Baker Mayfield nearly pulled off the impossible at Arrowhead. It’s wild how the Chiefs just refuse to lose, even when they aren't playing their best ball.
Then you look at the Detroit Lions going into Lambeau Field and just dismantling the Green Bay Packers 24-14. It wasn't even as close as the score looks. Jared Goff was clinical, and that Lions defense is starting to look like a unit that can actually carry them to a Super Bowl.
Over in the AFC East, the Buffalo Bills took down the Miami Dolphins 30-27 in a game that came down to a 61-yard bomb of a field goal from Tyler Bass. Talk about redemption. Bass had been struggling, but he nailed the longest kick in franchise history when it mattered most.
🔗 Read more: College Football Top 10: What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Rankings
The Full Scoreboard
To keep it simple, here is how the rest of the week shook out:
- Baltimore Ravens 41, Denver Broncos 10 (Lamar Jackson was basically playing a video game)
- Cincinnati Bengals 41, Las Vegas Raiders 24 (Joe Burrow tossed five touchdowns, no big deal)
- Arizona Cardinals 29, Chicago Bears 9 (Arizona is actually... good?)
- Philadelphia Eagles 28, Jacksonville Jaguars 23
- Washington Commanders 27, New York Giants 22
- Los Angeles Chargers 27, Cleveland Browns 10
- Carolina Panthers 23, New Orleans Saints 22 (The upset of the week, for sure)
- Minnesota Vikings 21, Indianapolis Colts 13
- Los Angeles Rams 26, Seattle Seahawks 20 (Another OT thriller)
What We Learned from the Chaos
The nfl scores week 9 2024 tell a story of a league that is currently upside down. Take the New York Jets beating the Houston Texans 21-13 on Thursday night. Everyone had written the Jets off. Then Garrett Wilson goes and makes a one-handed touchdown catch that looked like it defied physics. Suddenly, the Jets had a spark, and the Texans looked like they missed Stefon Diggs more than they wanted to admit.
And we have to talk about Saquon Barkley. The Eagles' 28-23 win over the Jags was close, but the only thing anyone remembers is Saquon doing a backward hurdle over a defender. It was one of those "I need to see the replay ten times" moments. He finished with 159 yards from scrimmage, proving that the Giants' loss was very much Philly's gain.
Is the NFC North the Best Division in History?
Seriously, look at the standings after these games. The Lions are 7-1, the Vikings are 6-2, and the Packers are 6-3. Even the Bears, despite getting smacked by the Cardinals this week, are sitting at 4-4. Usually, there's at least one "bottom-feeder" in every division. Not here. Every single week in the North is a bloodbath.
💡 You might also like: Cleveland Guardians vs Atlanta Braves Matches: Why This Interleague Rivalry Hits Different
The Lions' win in Green Bay was a statement. It was rainy, it was windy, and they just out-muscled a Packers team that usually thrives in those conditions. Detroit isn't just a "dome team" anymore. They’re a problem.
The Massive Impact on the Playoff Picture
This week shifted the vibes for a lot of fanbases. If you're a Dallas Cowboys fan, you're probably hurting. They lost 27-21 to the Atlanta Falcons, and Dak Prescott went down with a hamstring injury. At 3-5, their season feels like it’s slipping into the abyss. Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins is out here thriving in Atlanta, looking like the missing piece they’ve needed for years.
Then there’s the Washington Commanders. They just keep winning. Jayden Daniels didn't have his most explosive game against the Giants, but he did exactly what was needed to get the 27-22 win. They are 7-2. If you had that on your bingo card before the season started, you're a liar.
Surprising Stats from Week 9
- Lamar Jackson posted a perfect passer rating (158.3) against the Broncos. It’s his fourth time doing that. Only Ben Roethlisberger has more.
- Joe Burrow joined some elite company by throwing 5 TDs in a game where his team really needed to stay relevant in the AFC playoff race.
- The Panthers broke a long losing streak by edging out the Saints. It wasn't pretty, but a win is a win when you're struggling that much.
What to Watch for Moving Forward
The nfl scores week 9 2024 showed us that the gap between the elite and the middle-of-the-pack is narrowing. You can't just pencil in a win because you're playing a team with a losing record. The trade deadline is also looming, and after seeing how thin some of these rosters are (looking at you, Cowboys and Texans), expect some moves.
📖 Related: Cincinnati vs Oklahoma State Basketball: What Most People Get Wrong About This Big 12 Grind
If you’re tracking your fantasy team or just trying to win the office pool, the lesson from this week is simple: don't overreact to a single bad game, but pay attention to the trenches. Teams like the Lions and Ravens are winning because they are bullying people at the line of scrimmage.
Your Next Steps for Week 10
Now that the dust has settled on Week 9, you should check the injury reports for Dak Prescott and Drake Maye, as those will swing the odds for next week significantly. Also, keep an eye on the waiver wire for any backup RBs who stepped up, like Rico Dowdle or Chase Brown, because they are clearly becoming the focal points of their respective offenses.
Check the updated AFC and NFC standings to see just how tight those Wild Card races are getting. With the way things are going, a 10-win season might not even be enough to guarantee a spot this year.
Actionable Insight: If you're betting or playing daily fantasy, stop fading the Arizona Cardinals. They've won three straight and are currently leading the NFC West. Their defense has allowed fewer than 15 points per game over this stretch, making them a "trap" team for anyone expecting an easy win.