MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Byrnes

Week 9 began in Miami:

Baltimore got some much-needed help as the Ravens traveled to Florida, hoping to turn their injury-filled season around.

Thursday Night:

*Baltimore (2-5) @ Miami (2-6): Baltimore 28-6

Two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson returned from injury and reminded everyone why the Ravens were the AFC favorite to reach the Super Bowl.

Jackson (18/23-204 yds-4 TDs) shook off rust by targeting his tight ends with great success.

Isaiah Likely (3-60), Mark Andrews (2-22-2 TDs), and Charlie Kolar (2-23-TD) were easy to find and key to the win.

Derrick Henry rushed for an efficient 119 yards on 19 carries, keeping defenses honest.

All Miami managed to accomplish was a series of miscues, fumbles, ill-timed penalties, and getting GM Chris Grier fired.

Sunday’s Games:

*New Orleans (1-7) @ LA Rams (5-2): LAR 34-10

The Rams controlled the ball the entire game (43:53 to 16:07), taking over an entire quarter off the clock on two touchdowns drives to begin the second half, and turned a 20-10 halftime lead into a blowout.

Matthew Stafford (281yards-4 TDs), who has to be an MVP-frontrunner, hasn’t thrown an interception since week 3, while tossing 16 touchdown passes.

Davante Adams (5-60) scored twice while returning star, Puka Nacua (7-95), added another score to pace the wide receivers.

Four tight ends combined for ten receptions, over 100 yards receiving, and a score while Kyren Williams (114-TD) had his first 100-yard rushing game of the season.

*Denver (6-2) @ Houston (3-4): Denver 18-15

Houston entered Sunday, the NFL’s top-rated defense, but it was a stingy Denver “D” that kept the Texans out of the endzone.

Houston’s defense played well early, and special teams recovered a muffed punt, and blocked a field goal to give themselves good field position, only for Denver to force five field goals by Ka’imi Fairbairn (23, 41, 38, 40, 41).

Denver’s quarterback Bo Nix (171 yds-2 TDs) ran for 34 yards on the final drive to help position the Broncos to hit the game winning field goal.

With Houston quarterback CJ Stroud exiting in the second quarter with a concussion, the Texans had five 3-and-out drives to limit further scoring opportunities.

*Kansas City (5-3) @ Buffalo (5-2): Buffalo 28-21

Is something up with Patrick Mahomes? 

After his poor first half last week versus Washington, Mahomes followed it up with uncharacteristic issues hitting his receivers and finished with his worst regular-season completion percentage (44.1%) of his career.

Getting hit 15 times along with three sacks didn’t help the situation.

Reigning MVP quarterback Josh Allen threw for a team record 23/26 (88.5%), 273 yards, and had three total touchdowns.

Running back James Cook III (114 yards) ran for his fifth 100-yard game of the year and remains the NFL’s second leading rusher.

Other Games:

NE 24 – Atl 23

LAC 27 – Ten 20

Chi 47 – Cin 42

SF 34 – NYG 24

Min 27 – Det 24

Car 16 – GB 13

Jax 30 – LV 29 

*Jax K Cam Little set NFL record with 68-yd field goal!

Sea 38 – Was 14

Pit 27 – Ind 20

* Monday Night

Ari 27 – Dal 17 

Key Injuries:

-Jax 2-way Travis Hunter (knee) *practice*

-Atl DE Leonard Floyd (hamstring)

-NE WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring)

-LAC LT Joe Alt (ankle)

-Hou QB CJ Stroud (concussion)

-Was QB Jayden Daniels (elbow)

-Buf DE Michael Hoecht (ACL)

Byrnes Picks:

*Week 9 results:

(10-4) (89-45-1)

*Week 10 Picks:

Den over LV

LAR over SF

Ind over Atl

NYJ over Cle

Hou over Jax

Buf over Mia

TB over NE

Chi over NYG

Bal over Min

Car over NO

Sea over Ari

Det over Was

LAC over Pit

Phi over GB