NFL
NFL Week 9 preview
The NFL returns for more weekend action, with another 14 games to get stuck into between Friday and Tuesday.
We preview two of the matches below.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Miami Dolphins – Sunday 14:30
No need to set your alarms for this one as we kick off our weekend action in Germany as the Dolphins take on the Chiefs.
This game carries multiple storylines. It serves as a chance for Tyreek Hill to seek revenge and provides Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs an opportunity to reaffirm their prowess, even without the league’s top receiver. Additionally, it marks a pivotal contest between the two AFC teams with the best Super Bowl odds, potentially determining the No. 1 seed when Feburary arrives. For those interested in wagering, expectations point to a high-scoring affair with an over/under set in the 50s.
Recently, the Dolphins experienced a setback against the Eagles, falling 31–17 on the road, extending their losing streak against teams with strong winning records. However, Tua Tagovailoa rebounded in the following game, orchestrating a 31–17 victory over the Patriots, with Jalen Ramsey making an impactful interception in his Miami debut. Notably, Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill both exceeded 100 receiving yards in the same game for the first time this season, although the league’s leading rushing offense faced limitations. The Dolphins are slight underdogs at 21/20 for Sunday’s fixture.
In contrast, the Chiefs endured their first defeat in Patrick Mahomes’s career against the Broncos last week, succumbing 24–9. They relinquished a 16-game winning streak against their division rivals and committed five turnovers, failing to reach the end zone as Mahomes battled illness. Notably, this loss came against the same defence that Miami put 70 points on in Week 3. The 1.5-point spread is one of the lowest line of the year for the Chiefs, who haven’t experienced consecutive losses since September 2021, and are 4/5 in the money line betting.
Mahomes and Tagovailoa, both MVP candidates, have crossed paths once before in their careers, with the Chiefs prevailing 33–27 in 2020 during Tagovailoa’s rookie year. Two pivotal touchdowns from Hill played a significant role in determining the outcome, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he emerges as an X-factor once again on Sunday, trading at 19/20 for an anytime touchdown.
Seattle Seahawks @ Baltimore Ravens – Sunday 18:00
Lamar Jackson’s impressive record against NFC opponents faces yet another test this Sunday when the Ravens take on the Seattle Seahawks. The former MVP quarterback has accumulated a remarkable 17–1 record against the NFC, securing victories against the Cardinals and Lions in the past two weeks. The Ravens are heavily favoured to extend that record to 18–1 here at 20/53, even as the Seahawks are riding a two-game winning streak and have triumphed in five of their last six outings.
Seattle’s recent 24–20 victory over the Browns was hard-fought and featured a last-minute touchdown catch by rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Geno Smith had another game with two interceptions, but the Seahawks managed to compensate by forcing three turnovers of their own. This win also propelled them past the 49ers in the NFC West, a scenario that seemed unlikely just a few weeks ago when San Francisco was still undefeated.
In their previous game against the Cardinals, the Ravens dominated for the first three quarters, although the match ultimately ended with a closely contested 31–24 final score, thanks to a successful onside kick attempt by Arizona. Jackson had a relatively ordinary day as a passer, with the Ravens heavily relying on Gus Edwards, who delivered 94 total yards and three touchdowns.
This matchup may not receive as much attention as some others, but it ranks among the top games of the week. Both teams boast top-10 rankings in Defence-adjusted Value Over Average, and while Baltimore boasts the league’s best scoring defence, allowing only 15.1 points per game, Seattle has maintained a formidable defence over the past month as well. Despite this, Seattle’s odds of 9/4 suggest they’ll have to put in a serious performance to defeat their opponents on Sunday.
