NFL Week 9 delivered decisive results ahead of the Tuesday trade deadline, with several contenders earning high marks and struggling teams facing tough evaluations.
The Buffalo Bills earned an A- for a dominant 23-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings, as James Cook rushed for over 100 yards and the defense forced three turnovers without allowing a third-down conversion. The Green Bay Packers received an A+ after a 45-27 rout of the New England Patriots, with Jordan Love throwing for 372 yards and three touchdowns while two receivers topped 150 yards each for the first time in franchise history. The San Francisco 49ers (A) forced five turnovers in a 38-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, while the Houston Texans (A) exploded for 44 points behind C.J. Stroud's 384 yards and five touchdowns. The Jacksonville Jaguars (A) and Kansas City Chiefs (A-) also posted impressive wins, and the Cincinnati Bengals (A) won 34-17 in Madrid behind Joe Burrow's sharp first half.
On the other end, the Patriots (F) and Los Angeles Chargers (F) were graded as the week's worst performers, with Drake Maye and Justin Herbert struggling behind porous offensive lines. The Raiders (D-), Baltimore Ravens (D-), and New York Jets (D) also received failing marks due to quarterback instability and offensive futility. The Vikings (C-), Indianapolis Colts (C-), Arizona Cardinals (C-), Philadelphia Eagles (C-), and Washington Commanders (C) all earned low grades after losses that raised questions ahead of the deadline.
Standout individual efforts included Cook's 100-yard rushing turnaround, Love's near-perfect passing, Stroud's five-touchdown game, and Trevor Lawrence's 197 first-half yards in heavy rain. Defensively, the Bills, 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks (B+) each forced multiple turnovers and stifled opposing offenses.
With the trade deadline at 4 p.m. ET Tuesday, several 2-7 teams — including the Colts, Jets, and Eagles — may consider roster overhauls, while contenders like the Chiefs and Packers could seek receiver help to sustain their playoff pushes.
