Week 8 of the 2024/25 National Football League (NFL) regular season was truly one for the books. It was the fourth week since 2000 to feature five game-winning scores in the final minute of regulation, including the Cleveland Browns’ shocking the Baltimore Ravens in a 29-24 upset victory, and the Washington Commanders’ rookie quarterback (QB) sensation Jayden Daniels throwing up a 52-yard prayer, as time expired against the Chicago Bears, pulling off a stunning 18-15 win with the most improbable of touchdowns.
Of course, the Kansas City Chiefs remain undefeated for the season, after downing the Las Vegas Raiders 27-20 last Sunday, avenging the defeat on Christmas Day last year, and extending their 13-game win streak dating back to the game after that said loss. Three of the teams mentioned – Ravens, Commanders and Chiefs — all have Super Bowl aspirations but are trottingon very separate paths. All three are on tap in Week 9 and are expected to emerge with results to enhance their ambitions.
The Ravens (5-3) were on the wrong side of one of the NFL’s biggest upsets of the season last weekend and will welcome the Denver Broncos (5-3) into M&T Bank Stadium this Sunday,in an effort to right the ship. The matchup is a crossroads for both teams as they both sit in the middle of the pecking order of the American Football Conference (AFC). A definitive result this weekend will see one rise in the order and the other fall.
JustBet has Denver as the lowest underdog going into Week 9 and they must find a way to contain QB Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry, while exploiting the Ravens’ NFL-worst passing defense (allowing nearly 300 yards of offense per game).          Jackson and Henry have combined for 1,447 rushing yards this season, averaging 181 yards per game and out-rushing everyone they have faced. The Broncos have surprised this season, especially with their stout defense, and could provide a sneaky challenge, but the bookmakers appear to have to have this oneright and the Ravens should win.
The Commanders (6-2) travel to MetLife Stadium to tackle the New York Giants (2-6) on Sunday afternoon, in a battle of the first and last-place teams in the National Football Conference (NFC) East Division. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner, QB Daniels, is off to a hot start in his NFL career and proved last Sunday that he can hang with the big boys, after his availability was questionable due to a rib injury.
Daniels is the second QB of all time to complete 70 per cent of his passes and average 200 passing yards plus 50 rushing yards per game, in an eight-game span. The only other was Lamar Jackson, last year when he won his second Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. The rookie ranks second among all quarterbacks in rushing with 424 yards (behind Jackson with 501) but has doubled up on Jackson in rushing touchdowns, with four and is the first rookie to win six of his team’s first eight games since Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, in 2016.
He has led the Commanders to first place in their division and, having beaten the Giants 21-18 in Week 2, they are looking to sweep the season series against their NFC East rivals for the first time since 2021. New York leads the all-time series, 107-71-5, going back to 1932 and they are 57-30-3 against Washington at home, but this is a different Washington team. Their offense ranks third overall in the league, third in rushing and third in scoring, while the New York offense is ranked at the tail-end.
Washington is looking to start 7-2 for the first time since 1996 and JustBet has them at slight favourites going into the weekend. The only saving grace may be the pass rush of the Giants who lead the NFL with 35 sacks this season, the most by a team in its first eight games since the 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars (who also had 35). In the first meeting with Washington, they sacked quarterback Daniels five times and are the only team averaging over four sacks per game this year(4.4). That said, a Washington win appears to be the most likely outcome.
The Chiefs (7-0) close out Week 9 on Monday night when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) pay a visit to Arrowhead Stadium. The Buccaneers enter the weekend as the second-lowest underdog by JustBet, despite a very low year for the Chiefs, offensively. QB Patrick Mahomes is on pace for his lowest-ever totals in yards and touchdowns, and his highest in interceptions. He is currently trending towards 4,009 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions for the season. And his favourite target, tight end Travis Kelce, is also facing a downturn, with only 335 yards and one touchdown so far this season, putting him on pace for 813 yards and two touchdowns, both career-worsts.
However, Kansas City is yet to taste defeat, thanks mainly to their superior defence, and they are holding up despite the offence being out-of-sync. The Buccaneers are coming off a tough 26-31 loss to the Atlanta Falcons last weekend, but that game may have prepared them to tackle the opponents immediately on their horizon. The Chiefs have shown many signs of vulnerability and word from the Tampa Bay camp this week indicates they have cracked the “Mahomes Code” (whatever that means).
The Chiefs acquired receiver DeAndre Hopkins last week and his Kansas City debut produced two catches for 29 yards. He would have had a bit more time with Mahomes this week, which should result in higher production, but for Tampa Bay, they are missing two main targets through injury — Mike Evans and Chris Godwin — and this will significantly mitigate their offensive production. That said, QB Baker Mayfield still managed 330 yards passing (with two interceptions) and three touchdowns last weekend without them, so they are not without hope. However, the home team is expected to continue their winning ways, unless Tampa Bay has truly cracked the code. Are you ready for some football?
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