Week Nine of the regular season begins tonight with the Las Vegas Raiders going on the road in a divisional matchup against the Denver Broncos. With only four teams on a bye this week, we are going to see 14 games played between Thursday and Monday. Since there is so much NFL action taking place, we have identified the five things to look out for this week.
5. Will the Ravens or Vikings once again land in the win column?
Even though this game doesn't feature a team with a winning record, it will still be an excellent matchup between two squads looking to build momentum after a rocky start to the season. The Minnesota Vikings are coming off their biggest win of the campaign after beating the Detroit Lions on the road 27-24, something they failed to do last year. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens have won two straight despite starting the season 1-5. There are also plenty of interesting storylines to consider in the lead-up to this game. How will Vikes defensive coordinator Brian Flores prepare for a quarterback like the Ravens' Lamar Jackson? Can Minnesota QB J.J. McCarthy continue to improve and even win his second straight game? How will offensive playmakers like Justin Jefferson, Derrick Henry, Mark Andrews, and Jordan Addison fare this weekend? You'll have to tune in at 1:00 p.m. EDT to find out the answers to these questions.
4. A potential Super Bowl matchup between the Patriots and the Buccaneers.
Nobody expected that the Week Ten game between the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would possibly be a preview of Super Bowl LX, but here we are. After going into the bye week with an underwhelming victory over the New Orleans Saints, the Bucs are looking to send a message to the rest of the NFL with a win over the red-hot Pats. Speaking of red-hot, nobody has been playing better recently than the New England Patriots, who are tied with the Denver Broncos for the longest win streak in the National Football League (six consecutive victories). This will be a true litmus test for the Pats, who have had a cupcake schedule ever since beating the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football in Week Five. Since then, New England's opponents have a combined record of 7-27 and a win percentage of .206. With only one more game on their schedule against a team that currently has a winning record, the Patriots can silence the doubters if they can earn a victory on the road against a Bucs squad that has Super Bowl aspirations.
3. The Rams and 49ers duke it out to keep pace with the Seahawks.
The San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams will go head-to-head for the second time this season as they both hope to earn their seventh win of the campaign. The Seattle Seahawks are sitting at 6-2 and will probably improve to 7-2 after they beat the Arizona Cardinals this weekend, so a win for either the Niners or the Rams will go a long way in helping them keep pace with the 'Hawks for first place in the NFC West. Though the division winner will probably be determined in the final weeks of the regular season, this game will undoubtedly play a huge part in deciding who ends up being crowned NFC West Champions. The 49ers are hoping to improve to 4-0 in the division with a win on Sunday. On the other hand, the Rams are looking for their first victory of the season against an NFC West opponent. With only two other games scheduled for the four o'clock hour, and both of those matchups featuring a team with a losing record, 49ers-Rams will be the thing to watch during the Week Ten late-game slate.
2. Two of the AFC's best in LA and Pittsburgh face off on Sunday Night.
There aren't many things better than a potential playoff matchup between two of the most respected franchises in the AFC on Sunday Night Football. There is a lot on the line for both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Los Angeles Chargers in this one. Though the Ravens are 3-5, they're still breathing down the Steelers' necks. On the other side, the Chargers are 6-3, but have to compete with AFC West behemoths like the 7-2 Denver Broncos and the 5-4 Kansas City Chiefs for a playoff spot. Both of these squads could really use a victory. If LA wins, its chances of making the postseason jump to 78%, according to NFL.com. One could argue the Steelers have more at stake since their odds to make the playoffs would increase to 72% from 58% currently with a win. This game will be a chess match between two of the best coaches and quarterbacks in the NFL. Tomlin vs. Harbaugh. Rodgers vs. Herbert. This game has everything you could hope for in a Sunday Night Football matchup, and it will play a huge factor in how the AFC playoff picture shakes out.
1. The Packers and Eagles battle for NFC supremacy on Monday Night Football.
What's better than a potential playoff matchup on Sunday Night Football? A potential playoff matchup on Monday Night Football that could end up determining the number-one seed in the NFC. The last time these two faced off was in the 2025 Playoffs, when the Eagles defeated the Packers 22-10. That was one of the closest games that Philly played in the postseason last year. Green Bay is desperate for a bounce-back victory after an incredibly disappointing loss at home to the Carolina Panthers in Week Nine. Though the Eagles sputtered briefly after starting the season 4-0, they now find themselves on a two-game win streak and are looking for their third victory in a row. Whoever comes away from Monday night with a win will own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the other team, which will be massively important when it comes to seeding for the 2026 NFL Playoffs. Several other teams, like the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, will be watching this game too, as they hope to keep pace with the Packers for first place in the NFC North. With so much interest from fans across the NFL, it's clear that this will be the most-watched game of Week Ten.
