It’s officially the halfway point of the 2025 NFL season. Things might finally be clearing up in the league, and the playoff picture is starting to creep into fans’ minds. Week 9 is huge, so who comes away with the wins?
The Dolphins looked terrific in their 34-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Tua Tagovailoa played his best game all season, and the defense locked Kirk Cousins down. Thursday night might kill all momentum, though.
The Ravens might be back to their winning ways after a 30-16 victory over the Chicago Bears. Baltimore is expecting Lamar Jackson to return on Thursday night, which only solidifies this pick. At 2-5, the Ravens need this more.
Winner: Baltimore Ravens
The Bears looked great going into Week 8 before losing to a Tyler Huntley-led Ravens team. Caleb Williams took a step backwards, and they had a hard time running the ball. The defense also allowed 30 points to a backup QB.
This game relies solely on whether Joe Flacco suits up. He’s considered day-to-day with a shoulder injury. It’s no debate that he’s elevated the Bengals’ offense after Jake Browning’s struggles. If he’s active for this game, he’ll keep the Bengals in the fight.
Winner: Cincinnati Bengals
The Lions are coming off a bye week well rested following a beatdown of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jahmyr Gibbs looks fully unlocked, and Jared Goff is still extremely consistent.
The Vikings’ QB troubles continue, as Carson Wentz is out for the year with a shoulder injury. Second-year QB J.J. McCarthy is expected to return for this matchup. It’s easy to forget this is only his third start in the NFL. The Lions are the clear pick here.
Winner: Detroit Lions
After struggling for the last few weeks, the Packers returned to the form they showed early in the season. They beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in a fairly convincing fashion, and Jordan Love was unstoppable.
The Panthers also returned to form last week when they were blown out by the Buffalo Bills 40-9. This team has shown flashes of potential, but nothing has been sustainable. The Packers are 11.5-point favorites for a reason.
Winner: Green Bay Packers
The Texans found a way to beat the San Francisco 49ers, but they’re still extremely suspect. The defense plays well, but the offensive line and lack of real weapons are major problems.
The Broncos are white-hot on a five-game win streak. They’ve scored 77 points in the last five quarters of football, and the defense has been on another level. The Texans can always pull off the upset, but Denver has the hot hand.
Winner: Denver Broncos
The Falcons are the most inconsistent team in the NFL. Just two weeks ago, they were beating the Buffalo Bills; now they’re getting beaten down by the Dolphins. Their journey through the AFC East continues with an MVP-caliber opponent.
The Patriots are all the way back. Drake Maye is a superstar under Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels, and the defense is as tough as it gets. It may be too soon to crown them Super Bowl contenders, but it’s getting harder to bet against them.
Winner: New England Patriots
The 49ers’ luck seems to have run out with a loss to the Texans last week. They should luckily have Brock Purdy back in time for a game against a downtrodden 2-6 Giants team.
New York is now without its two biggest offensive playmakers, Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo. This team is a roller coaster of emotions, but one thing is for sure: Jaxson Dart is good at football. If the Giants’ defense can hold up, they’ll have a shot here, but the offense might not have enough firepower.
Winner: San Francisco 49ers
The Steelers are 4-3, but it’s an ugly 4-3. The highest-paid defense in the NFL allowed Jordan Love to throw for 360 yards and three touchdowns. It’s getting hard to take Pittsburgh seriously, but a win here can change that.
The 2025 Colts are ridiculously good at football. Jonathan Taylor is on an MVP pace as a running back, and the defense has been outstanding when it matters most. Depending on which version of the Steelers they meet, this could be a challenge. There’s not much reason to doubt them right now, though.
Winner: Indianapolis Colts
It’s never fun to completely dismiss a team, but the Titans are not a serious threat at this point. They’re facing a 5-3 Chargers team coming off 10 days of rest. If Tennessee wins this game, they may as well throw a parade.
Winner: Los Angeles Chargers
Similar to the Titans, the Saints are 1-7, and inching closer to the number one Draft pick. Rookie QB Tyler Shough will be starting this game against a tough opponent.
The Rams are coming off a bye week following a 35-7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Matt Stafford is lighting it up, and Puka Nacua is expected back for this game.
Winner: Los Angeles Rams
The Jaguars have been up and down all season, but their toughness cannot be denied. They’re coming off a bye week and have a perfect bounce-back game on Sunday.
The Raiders are also returning from a bye week after being embarrassed by the Kansas City Chiefs. They have a 26-81 point differential in their last three games. They’re not in any position to beat .500 opponents.
Every year, fans look forward to this matchup despite it not being a primetime game. Both of these teams have seen their respective skids this year, but they’re both back on the rise.
Just like every year, this is a coin toss. Josh Allen has a regular-season record of 4-1 against Patrick Mahomes, while Mahomes is 4-0 against Allen in the playoffs. Maybe if the Chiefs win this one, the Bills can win the playoff rematch.
Winner: Kansas City Chiefs
The Commanders look like a shell of themselves without Jayden Daniels under center. Marcus Mariota isn’t a bad backup, but the Chiefs laid a beating on them on Monday night. Daniels might be back for this, but it might not matter.
The Seahawks are coming off their bye week with a 5-2 record. Sam Darnold is on fire, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is having a career year. Hopefully, the Commanders keep this close, because Sunday night has already had a few one-sided affairs.
Winner: Seattle Seahawks
The Cardinals are the last team here coming off a bye week. The extra time is good for Kyler Murray before he returns to the lineup. Can he give Arizona a spark against a laughably bad defense?
The Cowboys looked horrific in a 44-24 loss to the Broncos. The offense was bad, the defense allowed another 40-burger, and they still can’t defend the run. This needs to be a bounce-back for Dallas.
Winner: Dallas Cowboys
The mid-point of the season is essential for teams trying to turn around. November football is here, and no one can afford to drop the ball now.
Bye Week Teams: Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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