2026 NFL Week 9 Biggest Takeaways for Every Team

The NFL's Week 9 slate is its last before the 2026 trade deadline on Nov. 10. Organizations across the league will be evaluating their own roster, as well as the 31 other lineups.

Case in point, the Baltimore Ravens already made a move by trading for quarterback Jacoby Brissett prior to Thursday's matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. With Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley injured and Brissett not up to speed, undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano led the Ravens offense. The game went as expected.

Baltimore won't be the only franchise dealing with quarterback upheaval this weekend.

Bleacher Report NFL analysts Brent Sobleski, Kris Knox, and Moe Moton will follow all of the weekend's action to break down the biggest stories and ask the most pressing questions coming out of each contest.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence

Jaguars 33, Ravens 10

The Jacksonville Jaguars, the Juggernaut

The Jacksonville Jaguars aren't mentioned among the league's elite squads. They need to be. Liam Coen's team may have come up short during their 2025 postseason appearance, but this roster has been outstanding since November of last year.

Thursday's 23-point victory over the Baltimore Ravens became the Jaguars' fourth double digit win this season—which leads the NFL and doubles the league's next-best squad. Furthermore, Jacksonville also has a league-leading eight wins by 20 or more points since the start of the 2025 campaign, according to NFL Researcher.

While the Jags were on the road during their latest outing, Jacksonville has been particularly dominant when playing at EverBank Stadium with seven straight wins by 17 or more points.

Depending on Monday's outcome for the Buffalo Bills, the Jaguars could be tied atop the AFC standings with an opportunity to claim homefield advantage throughout the 2026 postseason.

Will the Jaguars Be Active at the Trade Deadline?

With Thursday's performance, the Jaguars now own a 6-2 record and sit comfortably atop the AFC South. Jacksonville has the potential to be quite active before Tuesday's trade deadline, as a buyer and seller.

To the Jags credit, the league's best run defense slowed Derrick Henry and allowed him to run for only 57 yards. Yes, Justice Hill broke off a 65-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, but the game was already out of hand. Even so, Jacksonville is in the market for defensive tackle help after DaVon Hamilton suffered a torn quadriceps, according to ESPN's Ian Rapaport.

Furthermore, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. may be as good as gone. The former 1,000-yard receiver wasn't targeted once during Thursday's contest. He's officially caught one pass during his last four appearances.

Is Joe Fagnano Experience Already Over for Baltimore Ravens?

Joe Fagnano's first start served as a wonderful underdog story of an undrafted rookie who didn't expect to make the Ravens' roster coming out of training camp. He did and was thrust into Baltimore's starting in Week 9 as Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley recover from injuries.

A great story doesn't automatically equate to a fairytale ending. In Fagnano's case, he's likely a one-and-done starter after throwing for 60 yards and two interceptions during Thursday Night Football.

Granted, the wet evening made life more difficult on the first-year quarterback. But it was clear the Ravens weren't going to put the ball in his hands anyway. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle built the offensive gameplan through Derrick Henry.

Meanwhile, Jacoby Brissett now has 11 days between games to prepare as QB1 after being acquired in a trade from the Arizona Cardinals.

Ravens Experience Another Significant Injury

As if missing a roster's top two quarterbacks isn't enough, the Ravens best defensive player, Kyle Hamilton, left Thursday's contest with a hip injury and didn't return to the game.

Hamilton is a two-time first-team All-Pro. His ability to move around like a chess piece serves as the rudder for the Ravens defense. His 10 tackles for loss/stops at the line of scrimmage are the most among safeties this season, according to Pro Football Focus.

If Hamilton is forced to miss any time, Baltimore's defense will look drastically different.

Sunday Slate

AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn

Will Sunday's matchup against the Dallas Cowboys be Jonathan Taylor's last game with the Indianapolis Colts?

Sunday's action will be the final indicator of who will be buyers and who will be sellers prior to Tuesday's trade deadline. Though a few have already been determined prior this weekend's matchups. Everyone is looking at you, Indianapolis Colts.

Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons (9:30 a.m.)

Dallas Cowboys at Indianapolis Colts (1 p.m.)

New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs (1 p.m.)

Detroit Lions at Miami Dolphins (1 p.m.)

Cleveland Browns at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m.)

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (1 p.m.)

Los Angeles Rams at Washington Commanders (1 p.m.)

Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers (1 p.m.)

Houston Texans at Los Angeles Chargers (4:05 p.m.)

Green Bay Packers at New England Patriots (4:25 p.m.)

Las Vegas Raiders at San Francisco 49ers (4:25 p.m.)

Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks (4:25 p.m.)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears (8:20 p.m.)

All times are Eastern Standard Time.

Monday Night Football: Buffalo Bills at Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman

Minnesota Vikings' Kyler Murray (left) and Carson Wentz (right)

How does an NFL team bench its starting quarterback without calling it a benching? Ask the Minnesota Vikings.

Carson Wentz will start Monday against the Buffalo Bills. Officially, Wentz will now be QB1 because Kyler Murray is dealing with hamstring tightness.

Wentz took over the offense in Week 1 when Murray suffered a concussion. His inclusion may help since Minnesota continues to struggle offensively. However, a matchup against the Bills means Josh Allen will be on the same field, making life much more difficult on an opponent, even if it features an elite defense.