Fall is here, the clocks have rolled back, and the NFL seems to be spiraling downward. Now that we’re officially in the second half of the regular season, it feels like the league has gone from a little tipsy to completely intoxicated. We celebrated equality in football wildly last night, yet we’re still trying to wrap our heads around if anyone in this league is actually performing well this season. Are they dominant? Maybe they all just have their own flaws. It really depends on how you look at it.
In the spirit of this completely chaotic NFL season, let’s shine a light on this week’s unexpected winners.
Starting in Detroit, the struggling Vikings managed to come in and hand the Lions their third loss of the season. JJ McCarthy, returning from injury, took the spotlight. You know, there wasn’t anything overly exciting about the quarterback play from either team, but it’s fitting into this season’s theme: top quarterbacks just can’t seem to stay in games. It really does alter the final score. What you actually need is a solid player who can manage a decent running game and make those crucial throws when it counts, rather than someone who can launch a 50-yard pass and then go missing for most of the match.
This was McCarthy’s style on Sunday. Every touchdown drive for the Vikings relied on the young QB making significant plays on third downs. He broke through the Lions’ blitz with deep throws multiple times and even scrambled for a touchdown. That was what set the Vikings apart in this physical matchup.
However, the true highlight for the Vikings belongs to Brian Flores. He really showcased why he’s considered one of the NFL’s top defensive minds, particularly in adapting to his team’s weaknesses. What he’s been doing with Minnesota’s roster is enough to get him another head coaching gig in 2026. Flores brings an unpredictable approach to pass defense, utilizing his linebackers in ways you wouldn’t expect. Often, his defensive line keeps opponents guessing, making it quite challenging to analyze their plays on film.
This chaos effectively shut down Detroit’s running game. As a result, even though Jared Goff played exceptionally, it didn’t change the outcome. The emphasis this season seems to be on running effectively and clutch performances. The Vikings won that battle and thus the game.
Similarly, a few hours west, the Panthers shocked the Packers after trailing by 14 points. It was yet another strange matchup, but it revolved around running the ball and winning, not to mention head coach Dave Canales’ intriguing strategies that might go unnoticed league-wide this week.
Interestingly, the Panthers opted to choose direction instead of the usual kick or receive decision at the game’s start. Not an everyday strategy, but Carolina hoped to maintain closeness and rely on the wind for a crucial fourth-quarter advantage. This paid off with a 49-yard field goal at the end, largely assisted by the favorable wind behind kicker Ryan Fitzgerald.
Bryce Young was decent, much like McCarthy in Detroit. Still nursing an ankle injury from a few weeks back, you could see it affected him, but what’s really been overlooked about Young’s game is his clutch ability. Few quarterbacks shine in those tight moments like he does. It’s becoming a defining characteristic of his play.
On this particular day, Young demonstrated excellent execution in tight situations, recording multiple key plays. He had a hand in getting the ball down the field during critical final minutes, completing two passes of over ten yards and setting up the game-winning field goal. That marked his 11th career win, with nearly all coming from game-winning drives. Ultimately, stats don’t matter much if you’re leading your team to victory.
Adding to that, Rico Doodle delivered another solid performance, epitomizing the key takeaway of the NFL season. Just remember—run the ball and deliver in tough moments.
Wrapping up this surprising week, we’ve got to mention the main loser of Week 9: Daniel Jones. Was he embodying his past self as some kind of Halloween joke? The top quarterback this season had a rough outing against the Steelers.
A lot of this was due to the Steelers’ defense dominating the Colts’ offensive line in a way we haven’t really seen this year. But it doesn’t excuse Jones’ struggles of throwing three interceptions, fumbling three times (with two lost), and just being a total mess.
And here’s something we might be glossing over in this game: Indianapolis faced the reality that Jonathan Taylor simply wasn’t effective, rushing only 14 times for 45 yards. This one-dimensional offense certainly doesn’t help, and it’s hard to ignore how poorly Daniel Jones performed this week.
For Colts fans, there’s no reason to panic. We’ll see if this game was merely a one-off or a sign of a new trend.
Now, let’s dive into the rest of the league’s games from Week 9.
The Bengals’ defense is a bit of a joke, yet you have to give some credit where it’s due. Just a week after a poor performance, Williams bounced back to display he can be a game-changing quarterback.
Against Cincinnati, he threw for 280 yards and three touchdowns, plus caught another on a trick play. The Bears showed a level of creativity and flair this week that wasn’t often seen previously. It feels like the first-year head coach is beginning to carve out effective offensive schemes, something that could benefit Chicago down the line.
Earlier, Doodle has been making waves this season. The Panthers’ running back is firmly back in the lead role after his standout performances, even with Tuba Hubbard still under contract.
Doodle was pivotal in securing the Panthers’ victory on Sunday, finishing with 130 rushing yards and two touchdowns. His hard work opened up opportunities for the rest of the offense.
Carolina remains inconsistent, but they certainly have a knack for staying competitive and making things difficult for others.
Sam Darnold has seemingly run out of superlatives this season. He’s been playing remarkably well, hinting he might be on the verge of Baker Mayfield-level greatness. Darnold was nearly flawless in the first half against the Commanders, going 12-of-12 for 282 yards and four touchdowns before slowing down a bit in the second half, though it didn’t truly matter.
Darnold’s performance is so strong; he’s easily the best free-agent signing this year—no question about it.
Loser: Everything about the Washington Commanders now
The mood among the Commanders is pretty grim at the moment. The rising number of injuries compounds the situation, but it feels like the coaching staff is unsure how to bounce back. Fans expected this year to mark a new chapter of progress for the team, but it’s taken a downward turn.
Honestly, it would take a miracle for them to recover from their 3-6 record and make the playoffs. Expectations were high for a 10+ win season, so it’s a letdown to see it fall apart like this.
Just before I wrapped this up, Jaden Daniels got injured. Things just keep heading south.
At this point, Kansas City is out of wiggle room. They started the season in a tight spot and are scrambling to find their footing, but things aren’t looking up. Losing to the Bills isn’t shameful, yet both the Chargers and Broncos winning on the same day intensified their struggles, complicating their playoff path.
But we have faith the Chiefs will find a way out—they usually do. However, the number of losses they can afford has significantly shrunk.
