Honestly, if you bet on the favorites in early November, your wallet probably took a massive hit. Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season wasn't just another slate of games; it was a total wrecking ball for survivor pools and playoff projections alike. We saw heavyweights like the Lions and Packers trip over their own feet while bottom-dwellers suddenly looked like world-beaters.
The headline everyone is screaming about? The Buffalo Bills finally getting the regular-season monkey off their back by taking down the Kansas City Chiefs 28-21. Josh Allen played like a man possessed, tallying three total touchdowns and making sure Patrick Mahomes didn't have enough time for one of those patented "13 seconds" miracles. It felt different this time. Highmark Stadium was vibrating.
But the chaos didn't stop in Orchard Park. Down in Green Bay, the Carolina Panthers—yes, those Panthers—walked into Lambeau Field as 13-point underdogs and walked out with a 16-13 victory. Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald hit a 49-yarder as time expired, which is kinda poetic considering he'd missed a crucial extra point earlier in the game. It’s the kind of win that makes you think Dave Canales might actually be building something real in Charlotte.
Breaking Down the NFL Scores Week 9 Results
If you missed the 1:00 PM window, you missed a shootout for the ages in Cincinnati. The Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals put up a combined 89 points.
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Chicago 47, Cincinnati 42. Caleb Williams was basically a magician on the final drive. After the Bears blew a 14-point lead in the final two minutes (classic Chicago, right?), Williams found rookie tight end Colston Loveland for a 58-yard touchdown with only 17 seconds left. Cincinnati's defense looked completely lost. Jordan Battle missed a tackle that’s going to haunt his film sessions for a month.
Here is how the rest of the board shook out across the league:
- Baltimore Ravens 28, Miami Dolphins 6: Lamar Jackson returned from a hamstring scare and looked like he never left. He threw four touchdowns, two of them to Mark Andrews. Miami looks broken.
- Minnesota Vikings 27, Detroit Lions 24: This was the shocker of the North. Sam Darnold and the Vikings silenced Ford Field, proving the Lions' defense might have some serious cracks.
- Denver Broncos 18, Houston Texans 15: A defensive slugfest ended with a Wil Lutz walk-off field goal. The big story here wasn't the score, though—it was C.J. Stroud leaving with a concussion.
- New England Patriots 24, Atlanta Falcons 23: Atlanta missed an extra point that would have tied it. Drake Maye is quietly leading New England to a 7-2 record, which nobody had on their bingo card in August.
- Jacksonville Jaguars 30, Las Vegas Raiders 29 (OT): Cam Little is a legend. He hit a 68-yard field goal to help force overtime, and then the Jags stuffed a Raiders two-point conversion attempt to win it.
The Injury Bug Bit Hard This Week
You can't talk about NFL scores week 9 without talking about the stars who didn't finish their games. The medical tents were busy.
Jayden Daniels went down with a nasty-looking left arm injury in the fourth quarter of the Commanders' 38-14 loss to the Seahawks. Early reports mention a dislocated elbow. If he's out for a significant stretch, Washington's season is essentially on life support.
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Green Bay lost more than just a game; they lost Tucker Kraft. The tight end is feared to have a torn ACL. For a team that relies so much on its young pass-catchers, that's a massive blow to Jordan Love’s arsenal.
Then there's the 49ers. They beat the Giants 34-24, but Kyle Shanahan looked like he'd seen a ghost in the post-game presser. Rookie pass rusher Mykel Williams likely tore his ACL. San Francisco’s defense is starting to look like a MASH unit.
AFC and NFC Standings Shakeup
The playoff picture is a total mess now.
In the AFC, we have a three-way tie at the top between the Colts, Patriots, and Broncos at 7-2. If you told a fan that three years ago, they’d think you were crazy. The Chiefs falling to 5-4 means they are currently fighting for a Wild Card spot. Think about that. The defending champs are "in the hunt," not leading the pack.
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Over in the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) took over the top seed without even playing a snap thanks to their bye week and the Packers' collapse. The NFC West is a bloodbath. Seattle (6-2), the Rams (6-2), and the Niners (6-3) are all within a hair of each other.
What This Means for Your Fantasy Team
If you own Aaron Jones, don't panic yet. While he left the Vikings game with a shoulder injury, the word out of the locker room is it's just a minor AC joint sprain. He might even play next week.
However, if you were riding the Puka Nacua train, he had a rib scare. Sean McVay says he's fine and could have gone back in, but the Rams were winning so big (34-10 over the Saints) they just sat him.
The real waiver wire gems? Look at Kyle Monangai in Chicago. With D'Andre Swift out, this kid went for 176 yards on 26 carries. He looked like a bowling ball out there.
Actionable Insights for Week 10:
- Watch the Waiver Wire: Grab Kyle Monangai (CHI) or Jordan Mason (MIN) if they are available. With the injuries to starters, these guys are high-volume replacements.
- Betting Tip: Keep an eye on the "Under" for Texans games if Davis Mills has to start for C.J. Stroud. That offense loses its vertical threat without Stroud.
- Survival Strategy: If you're still alive in your survivor pool, the Eagles look like the safest play coming off their bye, though they have a tough road game in Green Bay.
- Check the Concussion Protocol: Follow the news on C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love closely. Their availability completely shifts the betting lines for Week 10.
Week 9 proved that "Any Given Sunday" isn't just a cliché. It's a warning. The landscape of the 2025 season just shifted, and the race for the Super Bowl is wider open than we've seen in a decade.