We are less than a week away from the NFL Trade Deadline. The most critical week for assessing whether a team is a contender or a pretender is now. Will teams buy in, sell the farm, or sit tight. That’s what Week 9 is all about in the National Football League. After another loss by the Chiefs, the AFC seems open for business at the top. The NFC is the Niners, Vikings and a handful of other teams rising to the top. Here are our Top 3 2026 NFL Games Week 9.
Buffalo Bills vs Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings may be the shock of the NFL eight weeks in. They are 6-1 after finally being handed their first loss of the year. The NFC North is a brutal division and that means that this crown is still very up for grabs. Playing Buffalo isn’t doing the Vikings any favors as they try to hang around the top. Buffalo is coming off a beatdown of the Baltimore Ravens where the offense managed 36 points. No one is as good offensively as the Bills are, averaging well over 30 points a game while Josh Allen puts together another MVP season. The Vikings have had a great run, and I expect Brian Flores to put together a nice game plan defensively, but this is a game that goes to Buffalo. The Vikings offense has struggled to find consistency. Kyler Murray is also dealing with a hamstring injury, which is something to monitor heading into Monday. Prediction: Bills 28 Vikings 24
Green Bay Packers vs New England Patriots
The Patriots are off to a strong start under Mike Vrabel, winning three straight games at home and coming off a 24-19 victory over Miami. Drake Maye has been playing some excellent football, throwing 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions. It felt like Maye was regressing early in the season, but he has figured it out over the last few weeks. As long as New England keeps up with Buffalo, they are right in the thick of the AFC race. Green Bay has been a bit harder to figure out. The Packers have one of the best passing attacks in football, led by Jordan Love, but their running game has been a major problem. They’re averaging just 60.6 rushing yards per game, the worst mark in the NFL. Josh Jacobs is back for the time being but with more legal issues coming, he could be shelved again. With a good New England defense and a game that’s being played in Foxborough, I’ll take the Pats. Prediction: Packers 20 Patriots 23
Las Vegas Raiders vs San Francisco 49ers
This will be a nostalgic battle for anyone who lives in the Bay Area. The Raiders and 49ers will battle it out for the first time in San Francisco since the Raiders left Oakland. Credit to Vegas who has been far better than anyone was giving them credit for before the season began. Kirk Cousins is playing good football and there is a lot of momentum for this team despite having a very hard schedule. The 49ers are coming out of their bye week and could be getting back some key pieces this week in Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, and Nick Bosa. If those three are back, this is an easy dub to pencil in for the Niners. If they aren’t playing, especially Evans and Samuel, it could be tough sledding for that San Francisco offense which has struggled this season without them. Prediction: Raiders 24 49ers 30