Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, shown here after their 2024 AFC Divisional playoff game, face one another again in Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season.

Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season features a late Sunday afternoon game that was circled the moment the league schedule came out this year.

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs face Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills once again, perhaps for the final time at Highmark Stadium before the Bills move into a new venue across the street next season. It's a rematch of last year's AFC Championship game between the two teams, when the Chiefs came away with a 32-29 win. The Chiefs have ended the Bills' season four of the past five years, though Allen has a 4-1 record against Mahomes in the regular season.

But if that's the main course, there are still intriguing appetizers and maybe even a decent dessert on tap. The Baltimore Ravens could have Lamar Jackson back on Thursday Night Football against the Miami Dolphins, and the early Sunday afternoon slate is highlighted by the surprising Indianapolis Colts at the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sunday Night Football, meanwhile, will feature a matchup of teams headed in opposite directions, with the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks on the road against the reeling Washington Commanders. There are 14 games in all on the schedule, and the Dallas Cowboys host the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football to wrap things up.

Here's a look at the early expert picks and predictions for every game during Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season:

NFL Week 9 game predictions, picks

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 10:20 a.m. ET.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Miami Dolphins

  • Date: Thursday, Oct. 30
  • Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
  • Location: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
  • TV: None
  • Streaming: Amazon Prime, NFL+
  • Spread: Ravens (-7.5)

Sporting News: Ravens 31, Dolphins 21

"Lamar Jackson (hamstring) is expected to return – and the Ravens start a three-game road portion of the schedule that has no room for error. The Ravens lost their last TNF game at Miami – a 22-10 stunner in 2021 – but this feels more like a team ready to go on a run, especially after putting up 177 rushing yards last week."

Arizona Republic: Ravens 30, Dolphins 23

"Both of these teams impressed in NFL Week 8 victories, but the Ravens are expected to have Lamar Jackson back this week. Advantage: Baltimore."

Chicago Bears vs. Cincinnati Bengals

  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 2
  • Time: 1 p.m. ET
  • Location: Paycor Stadium (Cincinnati)
  • TV: CBS
  • Streaming: Fubo, Paramount+, NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL+
  • Spread: Bears (-2.5)

CBS Sports: Bengals 34, Bears 31

"In Week 8, the Bears got to face a team that had a bad defense and an offense led by a QB who spent most of August on the Browns' roster (Tyler Huntley). In Week 9, the Bears once again get to face a team that has a bad defense while being led on offense by a QB who spent August on the Browns' roster (Joe Flacco). ... The Bears secondary is banged up and ... Flacco is going to be able to take advantage of that."

Sports Illustrated: Take the Bears

"The Bears come in at 19th in DVOA, and while they still have plenty of areas they can improve on, they're a significantly better team than the Bengals and should be at least field goal favorites ... Put the Joe Flacco Thursday night performance from two weeks ago out of your mind; the Bengals are the far worse team in this matchup."

Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions

  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 2
  • Time: 1 p.m. ET
  • Location: Ford Field (Detroit)
  • TV: FOX
  • Streaming: Fubo, NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL+
  • Spread: Lions (-8.5)

ESPN: Lions win big

"Happy to immediately fade J.J. McCarthy on his return to the starting lineup, as the second-year passer looked worse than Carson Wentz in his limited action before suffering an ankle injury. He catches a Lions team off of a bye at Ford Field, where Dan Campbell has historically been very strong against the spread (26-11, for a cover rate of 70%)."

Sporting News: Lions 36, Vikings 22

"How will Minnesota slow down a Detroit offense that ranks third in the NFL with 30.7 points per game? The Lions have won the last three home meetings by 10 points or more and average 36.7 points at Ford Field."

Denver Broncos vs. Houston Texans

  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 2
  • Time: 1 p.m. ET
  • Location: NRG Stadium (Houston)
  • TV: FOX
  • Streaming: Fubo, NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL+
  • Spread: Texans (-1.5)

CBS Sports: Broncos 23, Texans 20

"The Broncos have racked up an NFL-high 36 sacks this year ... If you can't protect your quarterback, then you have almost no chance to beat the Broncos. Last year, CJ Stroud was sacked 52 times, which was the second-highest total in the NFL. This year, he's only been sacked 15 times through seven games, which is tied for the 14th most in the NFL. That's not a bad number, but there have been three different games this year where Stroud was sacked at least three times and the Texans went 0-3 in those games. On the other hand, the Texans are 3-1 when Stroud is sacked two times or less. If Denver can get pressure on Stroud, it's going to be a long day for the Texans."

Arizona Republic: Texans 23, Broncos 20

"The Texans may be just 3-4 overall, but they are 2-1 at home. C.J. Stroud and Houston will end Denver's 5-game win streak in a thriller."

Carolina Panthers vs. Green Bay Packers

  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 2
  • Time: 1 p.m. ET
  • Location: Lambeau Field (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
  • TV: FOX
  • Streaming: Fubo, NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL+
  • Spread: Packers (-12.5)

Sports Illustrated: Take the Packers

"The Panthers aren't nearly as good as people thought they were after a few wins against bad teams, and they proved that when they were steamrolled by the Bills last week, the first elite team they've faced this season. Now, they have a second straight game against an elite opponent."

New York Post: Packers cover spread

"It’s hard to find a team playing better football than Matt LaFleur’s group at the moment. ... The (Panthers) offense struggled mightily in the absence of Bryce Young. ... It’s clear Young covers a lot of issues in Dave Canales’ offense. The Panthers do hold a respectable 4-4 record, but don’t trust (Andy) Dalton, especially with (Micah) Parsons seemingly growing more comfortable with this Packers defense."

Atlanta Falcons vs. New England Patriots

  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 2
  • Time: 1 p.m. ET
  • Location: Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts)
  • TV: CBS
  • Streaming: Fubo, NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL+
  • Spread: Patriots (-5.5)

CBS Sports: Patriots 27, Falcons 17

"Drake Maye ... has thrown for at least 200 yards with a passer rating of at least 100 in seven straight games, becoming only the fifth QB in NFL history to pull off that feat. ... If your quarterback is playing as well as Mahomes, Manning, Brady and Rodgers in their primes, then I can't pick your team to lose, especially in this situation: We have a QB playing at a high level going up against a team that flops around like a fish out of water when they play outdoors."

The Athletic: Take the Patriots

"The Pats completely destroyed one of the league’s best defenses in the second half ... Each of (Atlanta's) last six games has been decided by more than this 5.5-point line, with the average margin exceeding 16 points."

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San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Giants

  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 2
  • Time: 1 p.m. ET
  • Location: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
  • TV: CBS
  • Streaming: Fubo, NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL+
  • Spread: 49ers (-2.5)

Sporting News: 49ers 26, Giants 19

"The Giants' season took a turn with the injury to Cam Skattebo (ankle), and the 49ers are coming off a 26-15 loss at Houston. Which team gets right here? Brock Purdy (toe) has yet to return for the 49ers. New York had just 68 rushing yards in the 38-20 loss to the Eagles."

New York Post: Giants can cover

"Jaxson Dart ... is 2-0 at home as a starter, with huge upset wins over the Chargers and Eagles. Dart plays with a certain confidence at MetLife, posting a rushing line of 24 carries, 115 yards, and 2 TDs. More importantly, he’s yet to turn the ball over at home. The 49ers’ roster has been decimated by the injury bug, with All-Pros Fred Warner and Nick Bosa on injured reserve. Their pass rush was absent last week against Houston, allowing CJ Stroud to throw a season-high 318 passing yards."

Indianapolis Colts vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 2
  • Time: 1 p.m. ET
  • Location: Acrisure Stadium (Pittsburgh)
  • TV: CBS
  • Streaming: Fubo, NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL+
  • Spread: Colts (-3)

ESPN: Colts win and cover

"Tough to bet on the Steelers right now given the lack of team speed and the poor level of play we are seeing on the defensive side of the ball from Mike Tomlin's club. Pittsburgh has given up 30-plus points in each of its last two games, and the Colts' balanced offensive structure can create matchup issues and explosive-play opportunities."

CBS Sports: Colts 41, Steelers 24

"Joe Flacco had only been with the Bengals for nine days when he faced the Steelers and he still managed to lead the Bengals to 33 points. If the Steelers couldn't stop Flacco, it seems highly unlikely that they're going to be able to slow down a Colts offense that has been unstoppable all season."

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Tennessee Titans

  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 2
  • Time: 1 p.m. ET
  • Location: Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
  • TV: CBS
  • Streaming: Fubo, NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL+
  • Spread: Chargers (-10)

Arizona Republic: Chargers 33, Titans 13

"Justin Herbert and the Chargers are a big favorite in this game and it's not hard to see why. The Titans are 0-3 at home. They have been outscored by 120 points this season. They'll get outscored by a lot in this game."

Sports Illustrated: Bet on the Chargers

"The bottom five teams, of which the Titans are the worst of them, have little to no chance of being competitive against a top 10 team, let alone in it outright."

New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles Rams

  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 2
  • Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
  • Location: SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles)
  • TV: FOX
  • Streaming: Fubo, NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL+
  • Spread: Rams (-13.5)

Sporting News: Rams 30, Saints 13

"The Saints are a double-digit underdog for the second time this season, and they have lost their last three games by an average of 12.7 points per game. Los Angeles has a pass rush that has totaled 26 sacks, led by Byron Young with nine. It's a huge spread, but the Rams have allowed less than 10 points in three games this season."

The Athletic: Rams cover big spread

"The Rams are ... now getting the respect they deserve from oddsmakers, as it’s only the ninth game this year to reach a double-digit line. But the favorites covered these supersized spreads five times so far. ... Matthew Stafford currently leads the league in passing touchdowns with 17 despite the bye week and is second in yards/game. At 11-1, he currently has the most intriguing MVP odds in the league, and it looks like he should be getting his favorite target, Puka Nacua, back for this game as well."

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Las Vegas Raiders

  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 2
  • Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
  • Location: Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
  • TV: FOX
  • Streaming: Fubo, NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL+
  • Spread: Jaguars (-3)

Arizona Republic: Jaguars 24, Raiders 16

"The Raiders have only scored 103 points in seven games this season. They won't be able to outscore Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars."

Covers.com: Take the Jaguars

"The Jacksonville Jaguars and the Las Vegas Raiders each hired a new head coach last offseason, but it’s the Jaguars that are far happier with their current (coach). ... We’ve seen the (Jaguars) defeat both the Chiefs and the 49ers. It's clear that the team is improving and moving forward under (Liam) Coen. It’s not possible to say that with any certainty about the Raiders yet, with Pete Carroll’s tenure being a disappointment thus far. ... We’ve seen nothing from the Raiders to suggest they are likely to win, or even cover against the Jaguars here, who have at least shown us glimpses of being dangerous at times this season."

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills

  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 2
  • Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
  • Location: Highmark Stadium (Orchard Park, New York)
  • TV: CBS
  • Streaming: Fubo, Paramount+, NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL+
  • Spread: Chiefs (-1.5)

CBS Sports: Chiefs 34, Bills 31

"Heading into Week 9, it feels like (Patrick) Mahomes is playing at a higher level than (Josh) Allen. The Bills QB has one game this year where he's thrown three touchdown passes, Mahomes has hit that number four times in the past five weeks. With Rashee Rice back from suspension, the Chiefs' offense is at full strength."

Sporting News: Chiefs 28, Bills 24

"This is a tough stretch for the Chiefs, with road games at Buffalo and Denver, games that will become more important in the race for AFC playoff seeding. ... Allen is 4-1 in head-to-head regular-season matchups against Mahomes. The Chiefs, however, have found a new gear and are equipped to win this game on the road. The Bills are 4-4 straight up as a home underdog since 2019, so this really is a toss-up."

Seattle Seahawks vs. Washington Commanders

  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 2
  • Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
  • Location: Northwest Stadium (Landover, Maryland)
  • TV: NBC
  • Streaming: Fubo, Peacock, NFL+
  • Spread: Seahawks (-3.5)

Action Network: Fly with the Seahawks

"Seattle boasts a top-three rush defense that is more than capable of stuffing Washington's run-first attack. Washington has a bottom-10 pass defense that has to deal with the deadly combo of Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Commanders don't even have a special teams advantage as the Seahawks are the one team better than them in that department."

BetMGM: Seahawks win on the road

"Without (Jayden) Daniels, not sure how you get to the window on the Commanders as home dogs. Seattle also enters this game off a bye week, while Washington plays off a road MNF game. That’s a less-than-ideal spot for Dan Quinn’s unit as home pups. That said, Seattle enters this game in a potential sell-high spot. Although they beat Houston 27-19, it came while turning the ball over four times."

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Arizona Cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys

  • Date: Monday, Nov. 3
  • Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
  • Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
  • TV: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2
  • Streaming: ESPN Unlimited, Fubo, Sling, NFL+
  • Spread: Cowboys (-3)

ESPN: Cowboys are the pick

"Dallas piles up the points at home with multiple explosive options in George Pickens, CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson. The Cowboys defense, while leaky, still creates pressure and turnovers to disrupt. Arizona is scrappy, and Kyler Murray can produce when kept clean, but the Cardinals are bottom 10 in yards per play."

Arizona Republic: Cowboys 37, Cardinals 24

"Will Arizona end its 5-game losing streak by getting a win in Dallas? Dallas is 2-0-1 at home this season and has scored at least 40 points in every game at AT&T Stadium. The Cardinals won't be able to keep up."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL Week 9 game picks: Odds and predictions for every matchup

Reporting by Mark Giannotto, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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