The Patriots held a 21-7 lead with under two minutes left in the first half, and were driving for more, when a strip-sack of Drake Maye gifted the Atlanta Falcons incredible field position. Atlanta scored a touchdown on a short throw from Michael Penix Jr. to Drake London to cut New England’s lead to 21-14 at the break.

Perhaps to the surprise of some, the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos, who are both 6-2 and atop their respective divisions with second-year quarterbacks at the helm, enter Week 9 with the longest active winning streaks in the NFL.

The Sunday afternoon slate for Week 9 is headlined by two big AFC matchups with playoff implications. In the early afternoon window, it's two first-place teams facing off when the Indianapolis Colts (7-1) head to Pittsburgh (4-3) for a showdown with the Steelers.

The Sunday afternoon slate for Week 9 is headlined by two big AFC matchups with playoff implications. In the early afternoon window, it's two first-place teams facing off when the Indianapolis Colts (7-1) head to Pittsburgh (4-3) for a showdown with the Steelers.

Sam Darnold plays a perfect half. Sam Darnold had a perfect first half against the Commanders, going 16 of 16 for 284 yards and four touchdowns in the first two quarters of Seattle's 38-14 win. Darnold is the only QB over the past 35 years to complete 100% of his passes for at least 250 yards passing and four passing touchdowns in a single half.

Jacobs has been automatic for the Packers this season – he’s found the end zone in all but one game and rolls into Week 9 riding a four-game TD streak. He’s already stacked up nine rushing TDs, and Green Bay keeps handing him the rock whenever they’re sniffing the goal line.

Panthers running back Rico Dowdle accumulated 130 rushing yards during Sunday's contest. Green Bay will still face Saquon Barkley, Aaron Jones Sr. (twice), Jahmyr Gibbs, D'Andre Swift/Kyle Monangai (twice) and Derrick Henry before the regular season concludes.

Sam Darnold had a perfect first half against the Commanders, going 16 of 16 for 284 yards and four touchdowns in the first two quarters of Seattle's 38-14 win. Darnold is the only QB over the past 35 years to complete 100% of his passes for at least 250 passing yards and four passing touchdowns in a single half.

The halfway mark of the NFL season is here! The Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals will wrap things up on Monday night in Week 9, but Sunday's slate was full

Just when it seemed like a pecking order was forming in the NFL, Week 9's games served up a serious challenge to the established order.