NFL Week 9 Grades: Grading Every NFL Team’s Sunday Performance

The Sunday of Week 9 is in the books. Here is how every team that played on Sunday graded out.

The Sunday of Week 9 is in the books, and more than a few teams made a big statement.

These grades don’t just take into account how a team played and the final score. It factors in things like expectations, short and long-term goals of the franchise, injuries, and other factors. It’s a long season, and the grade is about more than just who won and who lost. The big picture has to be kept in mind.

Las Vegas Raiders: D

41-24 (L) @ Bengals

The Las Vegas Raiders proved to be a really bad football team once again. Head Coach Antonio Pierce is out of his depth. The good news is that Brock Bowers continues to shine. But, the franchise needs to reboot.

Cincinnati Bengals: A-

41-24 (W) Vs. Raiders

The Bengals had to win, and they finally got their first win at home of the season in emphatic fashion. Joe Burrow absolutely destroyed the Las Vegas pass defense. But, giving up 24 points to the Raiders is concerning, even if 14 of them were in garbage time. Still, a great day for the Bengals.

Dallas Cowboys: D-

27-21 (L) @ Falcons

The Cowboys continue to be a complete dumpster fire. This game wasn’t as close as the score suggets, as a late touchdown makes it look closer. And Dak Prescott suffered a hamstring injury that could keep him out a few weeks. If that’s the case, the season may be essentially over.

Atlanta Falcons: B+

27-21 (W) Vs. Cowboys

The Falcons played a great football game on Sunday, and Kirk Cousins was fantastic. The only reason this isn’t an A is because of the injury that Drake London suffered. If he’s out for an extended period of time, that will really hurt Atlanta.

Miami Dolphins: C

30-27 (L) @ Bills

Once again, the Dolphins play an opponent close, only to find a way a way to lose. This time, it was on a drive-extending penalty and ensuing field goal. But, Tua Tagovailoa looks better than anyone could’ve expected coming back from injury, and the team is playing hard for Mike McDaniel. The Dolphins could easily be back in the playoffs next season.

Buffalo Bills: B+

30-27 (W) Vs. Dolphins

It’s always great to win a divisional game, and the Dolphins are solid with Tua back in the lineup. But, the Bills have to cut down on the mistakes, like Keon Coleman’s drop that turned a touchdown into an interception, if they want to win the Super Bowl. Plus, the defense struggled late.

Los Angeles Chargers: A+

27-10 (W) @ Browns

The Chargers get the coveted A+ grade for the fact that their passing offense had its best game of the season. If Justin Herbert is put into positions to succeed through the air, this team is a real sleeper in the AFC.

Cleveland Browns: D

27-10 (L) Vs. Browns

The Browns wasted any goodwill they built up by beating the Ravens last week by getting stomped at home. But, Cedric Tillman played well once again, and could be a long-term player for the team at wide receiver. And, Myles Garrett continues to be awesome. Those are the only positives.

New England Patriots: B-

20-17 (L) @ Titans

Yes, the Patriots lost. But, the rest of the season is all about Drake Maye. While a Maye interception ended the game in overtime, he led a sensational two-minute drive to even get the game to overtime. It was capped off by a sensational touchdown pass on the final play of regulation. He appears to have the goods. And, the Patriots will have the tiebreaker for better draft position with the Titans. That’s a tiebreaker that could come in handy.

Tennessee Titans: C

20-17 (Win) Vs. Patriots

Yes, the Titans won. Usually that’s good. But, they’re bad, and losses are likely better for the franchise in the long-term. The Patriots will have the tiebreaker over them, which could hurt the future of the Tennessee Titans.

Washington Commanders: A-

27-22 (W) @ Giants

Jayden Daniels continues to thrive, and the run game was solid. But, after a great first half on defense, they let Daniel Jones throw the ball on them a bit too effectively in the second half. That being said, they’re 7-2 and look headed to the playoffs.

New York Giants: C

27-22 (L) Vs. Commanders

Another Sunday, another home loss for the Giants. They’re now 0-5 at home. But, they’re a game closer to the end of the Daniel Jones experience, it will help them in the draft, and some young players continue to play well. It’s all about the future for the G-Men.

New Orleans Saints: D

23-22 (L) @ Panthers

The only positive is that it will help the Saints in terms of draft position. Seven straight losses means Dennis Allen needs to be fired. A team that is reluctant to do a full rebuild may be forced into doing it.

Carolina Panthers: B+

23-22 (W) Vs. Saints

Yes, it will hurt their draft position. But, this franchise desperately needed something to feel good about, and they got it. Most importantly, Bryce Young continues to look a bit better than he did to start the season. And, rookie tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders continues to impress. They’re still a terrible football team, but they can maybe build on this win.

Denver Broncos: D-

41-10 (L) @ Ravens

The Broncos had the chance to prove that they were for real after a 5-3 start. Instead, they were completely dominated by the Ravens. There’s no shame in losing to Baltimore, but they were exposed as frauds, at least for this week. A playoff berth is still in front of them, but this showed they aren’t serious contenders whatsoever.

Baltimore Ravens: A+

41-10 (W) Vs. Broncos

A week after a disappointing loss to the Browns, the Ravens were back to playing excellent football. Lamar Jackson continues to be sensational, the defense played great, and Derrick Henry continues to run well. This was a statement win.

Jacksonville Jaguars: D

28-23 (L) Vs. Eagles

Give credit to the Jaguars for not packing it in after going down 22-0 in the second half. But, they were thoroughly outplayed, and a truly awful call was the only reason the game was even close. After a very good October, Trevor Lawrence took a big step back, as well.

Philadlephia Eagles: B

28-23 (W) Vs. Jaguars

Yes, the Eagles outgained the Jags 447-21 and were by far the better team. Yes, the Jaguars were gifted eight points on a dreadful call when they ruled that Saquon Barkley was not down by contact when he fumbled and Travon Walker picked it up for a touchdown. But, they did not handle adversity well in the game. AJ Brown left with injury. Nick Sirianni made some questionable coaching decisions, as well. It’s a win, and they’re 6-2, but the vibes are not great coming out of Week 9.

Chicago Bears: F

29-9 (L) @ Cardinals

The Chicago Bears needed a win after losing on a Hail Mary last week before they head into the meet of the schedule. Instead, they had a complete and total clunker and couldn’t protect Caleb Williams at all. It was as disastrous a performance of any game for any team all year. Their playoff hopes are in serious jeopardy.

Arizona Cardinals: A+

29-9 (W) Vs. Bears

The Arizona Cardinals had gone nearly three years without back-to-back wins. Now, they’ve won three in a row, and this one came in dominant fashion. The weakness of this team has been their pass rush, at least on paper. But, they put together arguably the NFL’s most dominant pass rush performance of the season on Sunday. And, they ran for over 200 yards. It’s an all-around outstanding performance for a team that’s improving quickly.

Detroit Lions: A

24-14 (W) @ Green Bay

What makes the Lions so dangerous is that they can beat teams in a variety of ways. On Sunday, it was a fantastic performance on defense that didn’t give up a touchdown until the game was well in hand in the fourth quarter and forced a crucial Jordan Love interception that was returned for a touchdown late in the first half. Most importantly, in wet and windy conditions in Green Bay, they took care of the football. Jared Goff was efficient once again. It’s hard to argue that this isn’t the best team in the NFL.

Green Bay Packers: D

24-14 (L) Vs. Lions

The Packers had a chance to take the lead in the division, and had a clunker at home. Jordan Love continues to have backbreaking turnovers at the worst time. The Packers handled the elements much worse than the team that plays in the dome. Overall, just a really disappointing day for the Packers.

Los Angeles Rams: A

26-20 (W) @ Seahawks

It wasn’t pretty. Puka Nacua got ejected for throwing a punch, the offense sputtered, and they needed a 103-yard interception return to get the game to overtime. But, A team that was once 1-4 is now 4-4 andn right in the thick of the playoff race. This was a game they absolutely had to have and they won it. That’s an A grade.

Seattle Seahawks: D-

26-20 (L) Vs. Rams

Any goodwill from the 3-0 start is officially gone, as the team has lost five of six since. The worst part is that they probably outplayed the Rams. But, Geno Smith throwing a pick-six in the end zone on an ill-fated first and goal play cost them this game, and maybe their season, when it’s all said and done. Really disappointing day in Seattle.

Indianapolis Colts: F

21-13 (L) @ Vikings

If you’re going to bench the quarterback that you used a top five pick on a year ago and clearly needs to develop, the other guy better play well. But, Joe Flacco was not good, they were outgained 415-227, and the Vikings beat them much worse than the final score. There is basically nothing positive that can be taken from this game.

Minnesota Vikings: A-

21-13 (W) Vs. Colts

The Vikings broke their two-game losing streak with agreat performance against the Colts. It was concerning that big mistakes and turnovers kept the Colts in the game. But, the advanced stats will show that the Vikings blew the Colts out. Sam Darnold showed a few flashes of the bad version of Sam Darnold and that can’t continue. But, he completed 82% of his passes. That’s the new Sam Darnold.