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Week 9 of the NFL season brought incredible highs for players like Ja’Marr Chase and Green Bay’s receiving corps, alongside difficult outings for struggling quarterbacks and teams. CBS Sports Headlines reported on the standout performers and major disappointments from Sunday’s action across the league.
Ja’Marr Chase Shines in Madrid
Ja’Marr Chase delivered the best first half of his career during the 2026 Madrid Game, helping the Cincinnati Bengals secure a 34-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons for their first international win. Chase finished the contest with 10 receptions for 155 yards and a touchdown. The vast majority of that production came before halftime, as he hauled in eight catches for 142 yards and a score in the opening two quarters. That mark set a personal best for any first half and represented the highest first-half yardage by a Bengals wide receiver since 1988. Additionally, the performance made Chase and Randy Moss the only two players in NFL history to record at least seven touchdowns in each of their first six seasons.
Drake Maye Reverts to Turnover Struggles
For New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, a dismal outing against the Green Bay Packers pushed his season turnover total to 13, tying him with Daniel Jones and Justin Herbert for the most in the league. Maye tossed three interceptions, with the first coming in the opening minute of the game. Although he had limited his interceptions to just one over his previous four appearances, his Week 9 performance marked his second game this season with three picks.
Green Bay Receivers Make History
The Green Bay Packers rolled to a 45-27 win over the Patriots behind a historic day from wide receivers Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, who were fueled by quarterback Jordan Love. The pair combined for 17 catches, 335 yards, and two touchdowns, becoming the first Packers teammates to each notch 150 receiving yards and a touchdown in the same game since 1942. Golden spearheaded the attack early, recording six catches for 126 yards and a score in the first quarter alone.
Commanders and Raiders Face Difficulties
The Washington Commanders fell to 2-5-1 following a 20-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams after suffering from costly late-game decisions. Trailing with eight seconds remaining and holding no timeouts, quarterback Jayden Daniels threw a short pass that was completed near the goal line, which ran out the clock. On the final play, Washington ran a hook-and-ladder instead of a Hail Mary, drawing intense scrutiny for coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator David Blough. Meanwhile, the Rams welcomed back Myles Garrett from knee surgery to join Aaron Donald on the defensive line, with Garrett recording three sacks and a forced fumble.
In Las Vegas, Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins threw three interceptions in a 38-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, tying him with Tua Tagovailoa for the most three-pick games since 2020. With trade rumors swirling and the offense struggling, coach Klint Kubiak could eventually turn the offense over to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
Standout Performances and Injury Scares
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders impressed in a 23-22 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints, completing 4-of-12 passes under pressure in the second half and overtime for 141 yards and two touchdowns, including a 64-yard go-ahead strike to KC Concepcion and a scoring pass to Harold Fannin Jr.
Elsewhere, the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Giants avoided major disasters when their starting quarterbacks suffered scares. Patrick Mahomes took a hard hit to his throwing arm from rookie David Bailey, causing a strip-sack and intense discomfort, but he did not miss a snap and shut out the Jets in the second half of a 23-point win. J.J. McCarthy missed nearly the entire third quarter of the Giants’ 19-11 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles due to a hip issue, but returned in the final period to secure the franchise’s first win in Philadelphia in 13 years.
Chargers End Drought as Stroud and Broncos Continue Winning Ways
The Los Angeles Chargers finally found the end zone twice after a 12-quarter and 37-possession touchdown drought—tied for the longest in franchise history—when Justin Herbert connected with Quentin Johnston on a 58-yard score. However, it was not enough to prevent a 44-22 defeat to the Houston Texans, leaving the Chargers winless at 0-8. For the Texans, C.J. Stroud racked up 384 yards and five touchdowns, marking the second time in his career he has reached at least 350 yards and five scores in a single game.
The Denver Broncos continued their success in close games, defeating the Carolina Panthers 26-21 to extend their regular-season winning streak in one-possession games to 16, the longest such streak in NFL history. Edge rusher Nik Bonitto secured the victory with a late strip-sack after the Panthers advanced into scoring range.
Kicking Woes and Special Teams Highlights
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker missed another field goal attempt—after a previous miss was negated by an offsides penalty—bringing his season total of misses to seven and his total misses since the start of 2025 to 17. The ongoing struggles have led Kansas City to add Justin Tucker to their practice squad.
Special teams also featured a rare historic feat when the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions each successfully executed a fake punt, marking the first game in NFL history where both punters completed a pass. Detroit’s Jack Fox connected with Tay Martin for 11 yards, while Miami’s Bradley Pinon floated a 46-yard pass to Kaytron Allen. Additionally, Philadelphia Eagles punter Braden Mann booted an 86-yard punt, setting the longest mark in the NFL since 2001.
