The NFL’s Week 9 schedule is highlighted by a clash of what many would consider to be the league’s two best teams, with the Kansas City Chiefs visiting the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Of course, the matchup that matters in that regard is the one likely to happen yet again in January.
The Bills’ season has ended with a playoff loss to the Chiefs in four of the last five years, and until Buffalo and quarterback Josh Allen get over the hump when it truly matters, nothing that happens in early November will move the narrative.
But it can still be entertaining.
Here’s more on that matchup and the other top games of the week.
(All game times ET; all point spreads via ESPNBet)
Kansas City Chiefs (5-3) and Buffalo Bills (5-2)
4:25 p.m. Sunday
The Chiefs and Bills are No. 1 and No. 3 in terms of best Super Bowl odds, per BetMGM, sandwiched around the Detroit Lions.
It feels like that’s been the case in the AFC for several years now, so no surprise.
And while, as noted, whatever happens in this regular-season meeting doesn’t ultimately impact what could happen in a couple months, this is an ideal time to get these two heavyweights into the ring together.
The Chiefs have won four of their last five games after a sluggish start and have been invigorated offensively while getting top receivers Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice back in recent weeks. They’re averaging 30.8 points over the last five games, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the current betting favorite for the MVP.
Kansas City will be without running back Isiah Pacheco this week, but Kareem Hunt is more than capable of carrying a bigger responsibility in the backfield.
The Bills, meanwhile, shook off two straight losses, regrouped during their bye and came out and pasted the Panthers 40-9 last week with James Cook rushing for 216 yards and 2 TDs.
No, whatever happens Sunday won’t matter in a couple months, but it should sure be fun nonetheless.
Kansas City is a 2.5-point favorite.
Denver Broncos (6-2) at Houston Texans (3-4)
1 p.m. Sunday
The Broncos are rolling with five straight wins, and second-year signal-caller Bo Nix is playing the best of his young career.
Don’t let the records fool you, though, this is a tough challenge Denver’s momentum.
The Texans have won three of their last four games after an 0-3 start, and while their offense remains a big question mark due to offensive line struggles, their defense is legit.
The Texans allow the fewest points (14.7 per game) and yards (266.9 per game) in the NFL.
Nix has totaled 4 touchdowns (either passing or running) in two straight games. If he can deliver another big game against Houston’s ferocious defensive front, then the Broncos truly have to be taken seriously as Super Bowl contenders.
Houston is a 1.5-point favorite.
Atlanta Falcons (3-4) and New England Patriots (6-2)
1 p.m. Sunday
Speaking of surging second-year quarterbacks … well, one at least.
New England’s Drake Maye has put himself in the MVP conversation while leading the Patriots to five straight wins, throwing for 10 touchdowns with just 1 interception in that span.
Coach Mike Vrabel has transformed the Patriots already in his first season. New England enters the week atop the AFC East standings.
Atlanta, meanwhile, is looking to rediscover whatever it had earlier in the season when it beat the Bills and looked like one of the best offenses in football. The Falcons were held to 10 points in each of their last two games — losses to the 49ers and Dolphins.
The last one was without starting QB Michael Penix Jr., who is having a tougher second year in the NFL than the likes of Nix and Maye with just 5 TDs and 3 INTs for the season. He’s back Sunday in a pivotal game for the Falcons’ hopes of competing for a playoff spot this year.
New England is a 5.5-point favorite.
Indianapolis Colts (7-1) and Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)
1 p.m. Sunday
The Colts have the best offense in the NFL — league-best 33.8 points per game and 385.3 yards per game — with running back Jonathan Taylor having a career year. He leads the league with 850 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns.
Indianapolis has the look of a Super Bowl contender and will try for a fifth straight win Sunday against a team going in the opposite direction.
At one point, the Steelers looked like they were going to run away with the AFC North by default, but the Joe Burrow-less Bengals have found new life with Joe Flacco, the Baltimore Ravens are revived with the return of QB Lamar Jackson and Pittsburgh has been going backward with two straight losses to the Browns and Packers.
Aaron Rodgers has been an upgrade at quarterback overall for the Steelers this season, but the defense has been a major letdown, giving up more than 30 points in four of seven games.
Indianapolis is a 3.5-point favorite.
Minnesota Vikings (3-4) at Detroit Lions (5-2)
1 p.m. Sunday
This game has the potential to be one-sided with the way each team is playing, but it’s an important game nonetheless as it will reveal whether Minnesota has any chance of competing this season with second-year QB J.J. McCarthy, who makes his first start since Week 2.
McCarthy was so abysmal in that game — a 22-6 loss to the Falcons in which he passed for just 158 yards and 2 interceptions — the Vikings were happy to let him take a month and a half to recover from an ankle injury while riding backup Carson Wentz until he broke down.
There’s nowhere else to turn now for the Vikings. Either McCarthy is ready to lead a talented offense that was one of the best in the league last year with Sam Darnold, or Minnesota’s leadership is going to have to answer questions about why it let Darnold sign elsewhere while putting its hopes on the arm of a QB not ready for the stage.
Detroit, meanwhile, is as good as expected — actually better than expected with its defense playing the best it has in the Dan Campbell era.
Detroit is a 9.5-point favorite.