Packers & Bengals win in style - NFL week nine

Published1 hour ago

The potential Super Bowl contenders are starting to emerge in the NFL with the regular season having reached its halfway point this weekend.

The San Francisco 49ers have the league's best record after winning on Sunday and will be joined on 7-1 by either the Buffalo Bills or Minnesota Vikings - provided they do not have a tie in Monday's game.

The Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos both ground out hard-fought wins to improve to 7-2 heading into their bye weeks.

The Cincinnati Bengals put on a show as the NFL's international series continued while the Green Bay Packers outclassed one of last season's Super Bowl teams.

Here are the top stories from week nine in the NFL.

Broncos claim NFL record

After winning at defending champions Seattle last week, Chicago looked set for another impressive victory as they charged into a 14-0 lead against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Sunday's primetime game.

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams then threw a career-high four interceptions before the Bucs drew level with three minutes remaining.

But Williams managed to lead the hosts into field-goal range, with Cairo Santos making a 38-yard kick as time expired to beat the Bucs 27-24 for Chicago's fourth straight win.

The Bears are now second in the NFC North, the only division in which all four teams have a winning record, but will go top if the Vikings lose to the Bills on Monday.

Denver are top of the AFC West after they scored two touchdowns in the final quarter and sacked Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young with just over a minute left to clinch a 26-21 road win.

Not only did it extend the Broncos' winning run to five but was their 16th straight win in one-score games in the regular season - a new NFL record.

Bengals put on a show in Spain

Joe Burrow attended Milan fashion week this summer and modelled in Paris in 2024, but this week he visited Madrid to play his first international game.

The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback vowed to put on a show at the Bernabeu Stadium in the seventh of a record nine international games this season, and the Bengals did just that as they beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-17 to go 6-2.

After being involved in six touchdowns last week, Burrow played a part in another four in Spain. The 29-year-old completed 24 of his 29 passes for 271 yards to cement himself as a contender for his first Most Valuable Player award.

Ja'Marr Chase had a season-high 155 receiving yards as the Bengals scored more than 30 points for a fourth straight game – tying a team record.

The Bengals are now 6-2 and joint-top of the AFC North with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who they face in next Sunday's primetime game.

Their divisional rivals the Cleveland Browns lost 23-22 at the New Orleans Saints in overtime.

Packers ruin return of Patriots legends

Four-time Super Bowl winner Rob Gronkowski was inducted into the New England Patriots' hall of fame while his former team-mate Tom Brady returned to Gillette Stadium for the first time in his broadcasting career.

Yet they had to watch Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love put on a masterclass as the Packers romped to a 45-27 win against a New England team that reached last season's Super Bowl. It was the most points the Patriots had allowed at home since 1970.

Love went deep time and again, racking up 372 passing yards, three touchdown passes and a touchdown run. Wide receivers Christian Watson and Matthew Golden became the first Green Bay players to each claim more than 150 receiving yards and a touchdown in the same game since 1942.

Brady and Gronkowski are third all-time for passing yards from a quarterback-tight end duo (9,186) and Kansas City Chiefs pair Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce went top of that list on Sunday.

Mahomes brushed off an injury scare against the New York Jets to ensure he and Kelce surpassed Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates (9,352) to reach 9,360 during a 35-12 win for the Chiefs.

Garrett stars on Rams return

Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald finally played together for the first time as the Los Angeles Rams won 20-13 at the Washington Commanders.

After making his Rams debut in Australia in week one, Garrett needed knee surgery and Donald didn't make his return from retirement until week two.

While Donald, 35, is still waiting for his first sack of the season, Garrett claimed three and forced a fumble to help the former Super Bowl favourites clinch a third straight win.

Puka Nacua racked up 150 receiving yards and a touchdown but could join fellow wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) on the sidelines as he injured a knee. Nacua will have an MRI on Monday.

Although the Rams are now 5-4, their NFC West rivals the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks both got back to winning ways.

The 49ers (7-1) won 38-17 against the Las Vegas Raiders while defending champions Seattle (5-4) beat the Arizona Cardinals 17-3.

More Colts trades before deadline?

The Indianapolis Colts have already begun a rebuild, trading away two key players during the season, and they could have more big-name departures before the trade deadline on Tuesday.

The Colts slipped to 2-7 with a 27-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys but had already been in talks over running back Jonathan Taylor, their prized asset.

They have reportedly taken calls about quarterback Daniel Jones too, while wide receiver Josh Downs has requested a trade.

The New York Giants withdrew an offer for Taylor but head coach John Harbaugh said that "things do change" after Sunday's 19-11 win over the Philadelphia Eagles – a seventh straight loss for Philly and the Giants' first win at their divisional rivals in 13 years.

Down to their third-choice quarterback, the Baltimore Ravens have completed a trade for Jacoby Brissett from Arizona but despite speculation over Derrick Henry, the Ravens reportedly have no intention of trading the veteran running back.

Arizona pair Budda Baker and Josh Sweat have been linked with a trade while there has been interest in wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr, who has slipped down the pecking order at the 6-2 Jacksonville Jaguars.

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