As we enter Week 9 in the 2026 season, I’m going to take a look at five NFL storylines you should be keeping an eye on. Now that we’re at the midway point in the season, there are some serious playoff storylines that are forming, as well as some big surprises that have already happened. What are you most looking forward to this NFL weekend?
What are the Top 5 NFL Storylines in Week 9?
Can the Baltimore Ravens Survive Without Lamar Jackson?
The Baltimore Ravens were one of the best teams in the NFL the first few weeks of the season, but suddenly find themselves in a difficult situation. In the course of a dozen plays last week, they lost both their franchise starting quarterback and his backup for the season. We’ve seen the difference that Lamar Jackson makes for the Ravens, both this year and in years past. Without Jackson, not many really see this Ravens team being able to compete with the league’s best. They just traded for Jacoby Brissett, who honestly gives them a solid, yet basic, quarterback. Brissett can manage games, but he isn’t going to win you championships or do anything special.
Derrick Henry is still one of the best backs in the league, but now needs a little more help from the passing game to produce at a high level. A lot of fantasy owners were disappointed in Zay Flowers’ Week 8 performance, but I imagine the talented receiver will bounce back with ease. Baltimore’s biggest problem? Their schedule. The Ravens play a difficult end-of-year schedule in the AFC North and won’t have the room for lackluster performances against legitimate Super Bowl contenders. They have some winnable games, but it will be a tough road. I don’t see a path for Baltimore to make it to the playoffs unless Brissett is a game changer.
Can Brian Flores’ Defense Shut Down Josh Allen and the Bills?
The Minnesota Vikings defense has been one of the biggest surprises this year, and has helped the Vikings to a 6-1 record. They held the Detroit Lions to just 19 points in Week 8, the number two-ranked scoring offense, and now face the number one-ranked offense in Week 9. Josh Allen breaks the game open in a unique way with his ability to beat teams both on the ground and through the air. Historically, Allen is one of the best quarterbacks in the league against the blitz, but there’s a big difference between the average blitz and what Minnesota brings. Most people would consider this to be one of Allen’s most mistake-riddled seasons so far.
Those two things combine to create a difficult storm for the Buffalo offense. It’ll be important for them to have extra blocking as well as giving Allen quick reads that he can hit if the pressure gets home. This will be a very important game of who’s actually the real deal. If Minnesota shuts down the Bills, it proves their legitimacy, and if Buffalo can score on the Vikings, it does the opposite.
This is going to be a tough day for Allen and Co. They need their defense to give them favorable field position and as many opportunities as possible. There’s definitely a perfect scenario for Buffalo where they get the run game going and just totally stymie the pass rush. This is one of my must-watch games of the weekend just for the playoff implications.
Can the Chicago Bears Keep Their Momentum Moving?
The Chicago Bears have been on fire over the last three weeks since Caleb Williams‘ return. They’ve knocked off the two defending AFC and NFC champions in consecutive weeks and have looked unstoppable on offense. Their Week 8 win over Seattle was impressive. Chicago absolutely dismantled one of the best defenses in the NFL, which is a particularly good sign for their playoff chances.
Despite all that success, this is a rather inexperienced team that plays in the hardest division in football. They have the hardest remaining strength of schedule of any team in the NFL, and still have the Bills, Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, and two games against the Lions left. All five of those teams are playoff contenders and present a significant challenge for Chicago.
The addition of Jeffrey Simmons on the defensive front was felt instantly for Chicago. Their defense has been solid, but not spectacular this year, and now has one of the league’s best pass-rushers. It gives the Bears a little more balance. Ben Johnson loves games where he can run the clock out and control possession. That’s a lot more difficult in shootouts or games where they’re playing from behind.
Chicago has what it takes to contend for the Super Bowl, and their daunting schedule could actually be a blessing in disguise. It will have them more prepared than anyone for difficult playoff games if they can excel now. It starts this weekend for Chicago, against the rebounding Tampa team that’s rushed for 584 yards in the last two weeks. Keep an eye on Chicago over the second half of the season.
Can Philadelphia Stop the Bleeding?
The Philadelphia Eagles started the year 2-0, but have since lost six straight games. It’s been a combination of injuries, bad coaching decisions and missed plays that have contributed to their disaster of a season. They’re taking on the 4-2-1 New York Giants in Week 9. New York has been a surprising early front-runner in the NFC East and has a chance to further strengthen their position at the top of the division.
The question continues to rise: can Philadelphia turn their season around, or do they just sell house and reset for the future? They’ve actually been getting healthier in the last few weeks, but will be turning to career backup Joe Milton at quarterback for the foreseeable future.
At this point, there might not be a path for Philadelphia to get to the playoffs. There are no easy wild card spots in the NFC, and they’re several games back in their own division. Obviously, a win over New York would help their chances, but they’re still in a massive hole. The Eagles currently have the fourth overall pick, and might prefer to continue raising that stock over winning some meaningless games. They have some very winnable games left on their schedule, and it’s possible that Philadelphia might get 6-7 wins by season’s end. They have a chance to not bleed out, but the blood loss they’ve already had might be too much to overcome.
Can the Denver Broncos Establish Themselves As AFC Favorites?
The Denver Broncos have a legitimate shot to establish themselves as the top dogs in the AFC. They’ve already won games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Jaguars, and have upcoming games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bills, and New England Patriots. If they can win even two of those games, I think they have a real shot at repeating as the one-seed. Mile-High Stadium in Denver is known for being one of the best home-field advantages in all of sports, and would give Denver a great chance in the playoffs.
The Denver offense has been improving the last few weeks, and they’ve been linked to multiple trades for some more offensive talent. If they wind up landing Jonathon Taylor at the deadline, their offense would increase tenfold. They’ve shown the ability to beat Super Bowl-caliber teams and have the opportunity to have the tie-breaker against the bluebloods of the AFC. Denver has definitely shown a lot of inconsistencies on offense this year, and at times hasn’t felt like a Super Bowl team.
Their defense is one of the best in the NFL and will keep them competitive against anyone. Looking at their schedule, they have a great chance to put themselves in a fortuitous position. A road victory this weekend against a backsliding Panther team further improves those chances.
The Last Word
Many other NFL storylines are playing out this weekend, but these five feel like the most important to keep an eye on both this weekend and over the second half of the season. Two of these teams are trying to save their seasons, and the other three have a real shot at a Super Bowl run if things work in their favor. What storyline would you add to this list?
Main Image: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
