NFL Week 9 bold — Anything can happen in the National Football League, and the kickoff to Week 9 of the 2026 season certainly solidified that idea. The Baltimore Ravens defense entered Week 9 on a 12-game streak of not allowing a 50-yard play, but they allowed two to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first half of a 33-10 "Thursday Night Football" home defeat.

Key Developments and Main Event

It's also incredibly stunning that Ravens running back Derrick Henry has run for under 60 yards in four consecutive games. However, he did surpass Pro Football Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson and Jerome Bettis for seventh on the all-time rushing list Thursday night.

It's also a good thing Baltimore traded for veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett this week because the Ravens have now scored 14 or fewer points in four straight games for the first time in Ravens history. What other shocking events could happen during the rest of the NFL's Week 9 menu of games? Let's take a look at five bold predictions.

Core Facts and Essential Highlights

Joe Milton-led Eagles upset first-place Giants The New York Giants (4-2-1) are 3.5-point road favorites at the Philadelphia Eagles (2-6), per DraftKings Sportsbook, marking the first time they are favored over the back-to-back NFC East champs since 2016.

It makes sense: The Eagles have lost six in a row, and the Giants have gone three consecutive divisional games without a loss. However, the Eagles will snap their losing streak on Sunday behind new starting quarterback Joe Milton III.

Broader Context and Market Implications

Milton, who was Dak Prescott's backup with the Dallas Cowboys since 2025, was scooped up off of the Cowboys' practice squad by Philadelphia. He will take his turn at the wheel of the Eagles' offense after Tanner McKee lost all three of his starts this season. Milton will bring big plays back to Philadelphia's offense.

Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer has compared Milton's arm strength to that of Brett Favre, whom he coached with the New York Jets in 2008. This preseason, Milton showed significant strides in the accuracy and touch departments in Dallas' three exhibition games in 2026.

He completed 29 of his 43 passes (67.4%) for 378 yards, three passing touchdowns and no interceptions for a 118.2 passer rating. Milton will use the lessons he learned from Prescott to emerge victorious over a Giants team Prescott has dominated throughout the course of his career.

Vikings sack Bills QB Josh Allen more than five times Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores YOLO defense leads the NFL in the following statistics: • Scoring defense (13.3 points per game allowed) • Red zone defense (25% red zone touchdown rate allowed) • Goal-line defense (37.5% goal-line touchdown rate allowed) • Completion percentage allowed (56.2%) • Touchdown-to-interception ratio allowed (4-8) • QB pressure rate (46%) • Blitz rate (73.6%, the highest by any team in the 21st century) They are bad news for any offense, but especially a Buffalo Bills offensive line that is allowing a 38% quarterback pressure rate, the 11th-highest in the league this season.

Bills 2024 NFL MVP quarterback Josh Allen has a propensity for going haywire in primetime against the league's top defenses. In the Week 12 edition of "Thursday Night Football" at the Houston Texans last season, Allen absorbed a career-high eight sacks.

Playing on the road in Minnesota on "Monday Night Football" in Week 9 against Flores' ferocious pass rush group could lead to a slightly similar disaster.