Everything you need to know about the Week 9 NFL slate

The GIST: Hold on to your corgis — yesterday was a masterclass in NFL chaos, and the bedlam is just beginning with tomorrow’s 4 p.m. ET trade deadline looming. Catch up on our deadline predictions from last week’s edition of The Blitz, then scroll on for a Week 9 gridiron recap. Hut, hut, here we go.

💪 LA Rams defensive end Myles Garrett is back like he never left, tallying three sacks and forcing a fumble in his first action since Week 1 to lift the Rams to a 20–13 win over the Washington Commanders.

🐯 Toss Cincinnati Bengals quarterback (QB) Joe Burrow’s (backwards) hat in the MVP conversation. The Bengals posted a 34–17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid, and Joe Cool accounted for at least four touchdowns for the fourth straight game.

❤️‍🩹 Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson will reportedly miss six to nine weeks as he recovers from a thumb injury that will require surgery. Cue The BeeGees because the two-time MVP’s hoping a recent trade for QB Jacoby Brissett keeps the season alive until he’s healthy.

• Elsewhere, Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes shook off a concerning-looking elbow injury (and another miss from the worst kicker in the league) to power his team to a lopsided 35–12 victory over the NY Jets.

⚡ The 0-8 LA Chargers’ no good, very bad season continued with a 44–22 loss to the Houston Texans. Hey, at least the Bolts scored their first touchdown since Week 5 — chalk that up to a moral victory.

📈 Las Vegas Raiders tight end (TE) Brock Bowers is that guy, breaking the NFL record for most receptions by a TE in their first three seasons. While the record books are out, add Eagles punter Braden Mann, who blasted the longest punt since 2001 — an 86-yard beauty — in a 19–11 loss to the NY Giants. It’s all about balance.

🍿 And Week 9 isn’t even over yet: The 6-1 Buffalo Bills and 6-1 Minnesota Vikings clash tonight at 8:15 p.m. ET on Monday Night Football. Superhuman Bills QB Josh Allen taking on a juggernaut Vikings defense? Count us in.