Another week of mild weather at the seven outdoor National Football League venues today. The only chance of any rain will be in Buffalo where the Bills host the Kansas City Chiefs in the marquee game of the week.
Week Nine of the NFL season is punctuated by the return of five starting quarterbacks who missed last week or more. On Thursday night, Lamar Jackson made his return to the Baltimore Ravens backfield and keyed an easy road win over the Miami Dolphins, 28-6.
While there are four additional teams returning their season starters to the field, the San Francisco 49ers wish it was five. They will still be without Brock Purdy, who continues to recover from turf toe. In his place is Mac Jones, who has done very well in relief while leading the 49ers to wins in four of his six starts. The 49ers are in New York today to battle the Giants.
The Atlanta Falcons return Michael Penix Jr. to their lineup after he missed last week and the Falcons absorbed a lopsided loss to the Dolphins, 34-10, with Kirk Cousins in for Penix. Carolina had an equally dismal performance for Bryce Young’s replacement last week when the Buffalo Bills throttled Andy Dalton in his only start of the year, 40-9. Young will be back behind center today when the Panthers meet the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
The Minnesota Vikings will take another run at keeping J.J. McCarthy in their lineup. He missed his entire rookie season after a preseason injury and his replacement, Sam Darnold, led the Vikings to their second-best regular season ever and into the playoffs. Darnold is now in Seattle, and this year’s backup, Carson Wentz, did not have the same success as Darnold did last season while filling in for McCarthy.
Tonight, the Commanders return Jayden Daniels in hopes of reviving Washington’s season which is in dire need of a win to improve upon a 3 and 5 season mark. He will oppose Darnold, the man that led the Vikings to 14 wins last year and has guided the Seattle Seahawks to the top of the NFC West standings with wins in five of seven games.