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    • Which players and teams will make a splash?
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    Which players and teams will make a splash?

    Seren Anwen Posted on

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    NFL teams — or at least the 30 that don’t have a bye — have one last chance to make a major statement before the season reaches its halfway point.

    The conclusion of Week 9 may lead to some eye-opening revelations around the league. With the league’s trade deadline approaching on Tuesday, governing bodies and coaching staffs will have to make a final decision on whether to stick with major personnel moves or try to shake things up by either bringing in a key veteran or giving up one in a shot at their draft capital to increase or assist with their long-term capitalization prospects.

    With that in mind, here are the USA TODAY Sports NFL staff’s bold predictions for Week 9:

    Jameis Winston will become the Chargers’ first quarterback to score over 300 yards this season

    With Deshaun Watson out for the season (again) after tearing his Achilles tendon, the Cleveland Browns offense is starting a new life with Jameis Winston at quarterback. In his debut last weekend, Winston merely earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors by throwing for 334 yards and three touchdowns without a pick (115.3 passer rating), paving the way for an upset against the powerhouse Baltimore Ravens. And suddenly there are echoes of last season, when another veteran quarterback, Joe Flacco, came off the bench and led the Browns to the playoffs. It’s a bit much to expect Winston to lead Cleveland to the playoffs, but with a serious winning streak, it’s possible. And his presence, as was the case with Flacco in 2023, is such a contrast. Last season, Flacco went 4-1 as a backup starter and rushed for 300 yards in each of his final four games. Now Winston starts another 300-yard series. It’s also worth noting that while the Browns are 5-1 against Flacco or Winston, they are 1-6 in Watson’s starts since the start of the ’23 season. And Watson not only failed to break 300; he hasn’t even passed 200 points in a game this season. It won’t be easy for the famous Jameis to pass for 300 yards against LA. The Chargers, who rank eighth in the NFL in yards allowed, lead the league in scoring defense (13.0 points per game) and have not allowed a single 300-yard passer. Still.

    –Jarrett Bell

    Doug Pederson scored after another Jaguars loss

    The Jaguars are dismal enough to trigger a midseason prime-time schedule shift, as their matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles was supposed to be on “Sunday Night Football” before being replaced by the Colts-Vikings matchup. But the late afternoon encounter with the Birds will not delay a fate that likely brings Doug Pederson’s team its seventh loss of the season.

    Owner Shad Khan’s patience may not last Sunday night or Monday morning, and with Pederson holding the league’s hottest coaching position, his services may no longer be needed. Of course, Khan could always choose to outplay Pederson and his staff throughout the season, but if the battle against the Eagles becomes one-sided, Pederson’s final opponent as Jaguars head coach could be the team that gave him his first header. Coaching job in the NFL.

    For safety (and real change in Jacksonville), general manager Trent Baalke should be right behind Pederson out the exit door.

    —Chris Bumbaca

    The Chargers trade for the No. 1 wide receiver regardless of the outcome of Week 9

    The Chargers parted ways with their top two wide receivers from last season and then selected draft tackle Joe Alt fifth overall in a receiver-rich draft class. Old was as advertised. The right tackle didn’t allow pressure on any of his 38 pass-blocking snaps against the Saints in Week 8, which was the most non-pressure snaps allowed by a rookie tackle in the last three seasons, according to Next Gen Stats. However, the Chargers’ receiving corps leaves a lot to be desired. Second-round pick Ladd McConkey leads the team with 30 catches and 376 receiving yards. But the Chargers lack a legitimate X-wide receiver to be the first option, a key reason the team ranks in the bottom half of the NFL in passing offense and red zone efficiency. I expect the Chargers to strengthen their playoff push midseason by trading for a wide receiver. Jets wide receiver Mike Williams, whom the Chargers released in the offseason after seven seasons, is a wideout the Chargers could pursue a reunion with before the Nov. 5 NFL trade deadline.

    —Tyler Dragon

    Falcons rush for over 200 yards and trample Cowboys

    Atlanta nearly surpassed that mark two weeks ago when it rushed for 198 yards and three touchdowns on 38 carries in a 38-20 win over Carolina. And what’s the only defense that can match the Panthers in terms of how often they get crushed on the ground? That would be the Cowboys, who also give up 154.6 rushing yards per game. Even with Christian McCaffrey still sidelined and backup Jordan Mason leaving the game, the San Francisco 49ers managed 223 yards on 36 carries against Mike Zimmer’s group last week.

    The matchup doesn’t get any easier on Sunday, as Falcons running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier rank seventh and fifth in winning percentage so far this season. Pro Bowl offensive guard Chris Lindstrom’s status is worth watching after he missed practice on Wednesday with a knee injury. But even if he’s out, Dallas is too outgunned at the line of scrimmage to remain competitive, especially with Kirk Cousins ​​more than capable of keeping the Cowboys on their toes by getting the favorable looks from Drake London , Darnell Mooney and others take advantage of Kyle Pitts in the passing game.

    —Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz

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    Seren Anwen
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