The second half of the NFL regular season kicks off this weekend.
With nine weeks of action and the trade deadline in the books, the 32 teams now gear up for a stretch run that offers little margin for error.
Outside of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North, who both stand alone as the only squads in their division with winning records, every other divisional leader holds only a slim edge over rivals in hot pursuit. And in the NFC West, the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams both own 6-2 records and the San Francisco 49ers trail at 6-3.
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Grab your popcorn. The final two months of the regular season will likely feature all kinds of scratching, pecking and scrapping for divisional leads and postseason berths.
Here are five of the most compelling storylines on tap for Week 10.
The NFL takes its show abroad once again as the Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons meet in Berlin on Sunday morning.
One of the hottest teams in the league during the first half of the season, the Streaking Patriots vs. resilient BucsWho says rebuilds take a long time? Mike Vrabel has breathed life into the New England Patriots, guiding them to a 7-2 start while riding a six-game winning streak despite fielding a roster that still has its fair share of deficiencies. The Patriots boast a defense that ranks first against the run (just 75.4 yards per contest and 3.6 yards per carry) and ranks among the top 10 in takeaways (11). Meanwhile, second-year quarterback Drake Maye finds himself among the leading early MVP candidates while ranking fifth in the league in passing yards (2,285) and tied for third in touchdown passes (17) while throwing only four interceptions.This could make for an intriguing shootout between Maye and Baker Mayfield, who is playing the best ball of his career and has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers off to a 6-2 start despite rampant injuries along his offensive line and wide receiving unit.Mayfield put his teammates on notice, reminding them that now, with half the season and their Week 9 bye behind them, the “real football” begins. Tampa’s players hope to buck the trend that has seen them sluggishly return from their bye weeks, losing each of the last two years. It’ll take an effective day from Mayfield, who once again is without veteran receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans and might have a pieced-together backfield as well, to go along with a strong outing from Tampa’s defense. Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles is masterful at finding ways to pressure young quarterbacks. The Bucs rank fifth in the NFL in blitz and pressure rates. But Maye doesn’t hesitate to break the pocket and scramble towards daylight when things break down. For the Bucs to be successful, they will have to contain Maye and force him into third-and-long situations. (Patriots at Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS) Patriots second-year QB Drake Maye has New England thinking playoffs again. (Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)NFC West clashesIt’s rivalry week in the NFC West — one of the most hotly-contested divisions in the league. The 49ers welcome the Rams, and the Seahawks host the Arizona Cardinals.AdvertisementIt’s the second meeting of the season for the Rams and Niners. The last time around (Week 5), the short-handed 49ers edged the Rams 26-23 in overtime. While Kyle Shanahan’s team continues to battle the injury bug, the coach and his staff keep finding ways to win games as backups have assumed vital roles and have delivered. It looks like another start for Mac Jones at quarterback as Brock Purdy continues to nurse a debilitating turf toe injury. In seven starts, Jones has completed 67.2 percent of his passes for 1,832 yards and 10 touchdowns. Meanwhile, running back Christian McCaffrey has helped shoulder the load by delivering 596 rushing yards and four touchdowns on a league-high 168 carries, and 61 receptions for 626 yards and four touchdown catches. The last time around, the Rams held McCaffrey to 57 rushing yards on 22 carries; however, he also had 82 receiving yards and a touchdown on eight catches.The Rams will have to find a way to neutralize McCaffrey, and they’ll need more out of their own rushing attack after managing just 78 ground yards in their last meeting with San Francisco. Sean McVay’s squad will also have to do a better job of finishing. In Week 5, Matthew Stafford passed for 389 yards and three touchdowns, but the Rams converted on only four of 10 third downs, and after taking a 17-7 lead into halftime, managed only nine points in the final two quarters and overtime.Meanwhile, up north, the 6-2 Seahawks are coming off an authoritative victory over the Murray now on injured reserve. The well-traveled veteran passed for 261 yards and two touchdowns last week and will try to carry that performance over into this game and help his team exact revenge on the Seahawks for the 23-20 defeat suffered in Week 4. (Rams at 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox; Cardinals at Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS)Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde NFC powersTwo of the most well-rounded, yet perplexing teams of the NFC face off as the Eagles visit the Green Bay Packers on Monday night.Both have the potential to win the conference and contend for a Super Bowl. Both, however, have exhibited inconsistencies while at times playing down to the level of the competition and losing games they should have dominated.The Eagles look to build some momentum as they return from their bye week. After weeks of offensive ups and downs, they finally put together a well-rounded, impressive outing in their pre-bye victory over the New York Giants. But such outings (four touchdown passes from Jalen Hurts, 150 rushing yards from Saquon Barkley) have been few and far between this season.Defensively, the Eagles will return from their break with a bit of a different look after adding pass rusher Jaelan Phillips and defensive backs Jaire Alexander and Michael Carter at the trade deadline, while also welcoming outside linebacker Nolan Smith back from injury and defensive end Brandon Graham back from retirement.AdvertisementMeanwhile, the Packers look to rebound from an embarrassing loss to the Carolina Panthers at home last week. Just one week prior, the Packers looked like a Super Bowl team when they bullied the Steelers on the road, but then last week, they turned the ball over twice, scored just one touchdown on five trips inside the red zone and went 2-for-3 on field goals. Defensively, the Packers did hold Bryce Young to just 102 passing yards and an interception, but they had no answer for running back Rico Dowdle, who rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns and helped position his team for a 49-yard game-winning field goal as time expired.Which Packers team shows up this week? Which Eagles offense takes the field?Both teams should approach this game with a sense of urgency, because a victory here could go a long way toward securing coveted seeding and home-field advantage in the playoffs. (Eagles at Packers, 8:15 p.m. ET, Monday, ESPN). Nov 15, 2025Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. 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Who says rebuilds take a long time? Mike Vrabel has breathed life into the New England Patriots, guiding them to a 7-2 start while riding a six-game winning streak despite fielding a roster that still has its fair share of deficiencies. The Patriots boast a defense that ranks first against the run (just 75.4 yards per contest and 3.6 yards per carry) and ranks among the top 10 in takeaways (11). Meanwhile, second-year quarterback Drake Maye finds himself among the leading early MVP candidates while ranking fifth in the league in passing yards (2,285) and tied for third in touchdown passes (17) while throwing only four interceptions.
This could make for an intriguing shootout between Maye and Baker Mayfield, who is playing the best ball of his career and has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers off to a 6-2 start despite rampant injuries along his offensive line and wide receiving unit.
Mayfield put his teammates on notice, reminding them that now, with half the season and their Week 9 bye behind them, the “real football” begins. Tampa’s players hope to buck the trend that has seen them sluggishly return from their bye weeks, losing each of the last two years. It’ll take an effective day from Mayfield, who once again is without veteran receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans and might have a pieced-together backfield as well, to go along with a strong outing from Tampa’s defense. Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles is masterful at finding ways to pressure young quarterbacks. The Bucs rank fifth in the NFL in blitz and pressure rates. But Maye doesn’t hesitate to break the pocket and scramble towards daylight when things break down. For the Bucs to be successful, they will have to contain Maye and force him into third-and-long situations. (Patriots at Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS)
It’s rivalry week in the NFC West — one of the most hotly-contested divisions in the league. The 49ers welcome the Rams, and the Seahawks host the Arizona Cardinals.
It’s the second meeting of the season for the Rams and Niners. The last time around (Week 5), the short-handed 49ers edged the Rams 26-23 in overtime. While Kyle Shanahan’s team continues to battle the injury bug, the coach and his staff keep finding ways to win games as backups have assumed vital roles and have delivered. It looks like another start for Mac Jones at quarterback as Brock Purdy continues to nurse a debilitating turf toe injury. In seven starts, Jones has completed 67.2 percent of his passes for 1,832 yards and 10 touchdowns. Meanwhile, running back Christian McCaffrey has helped shoulder the load by delivering 596 rushing yards and four touchdowns on a league-high 168 carries, and 61 receptions for 626 yards and four touchdown catches. The last time around, the Rams held McCaffrey to 57 rushing yards on 22 carries; however, he also had 82 receiving yards and a touchdown on eight catches.
The Rams will have to find a way to neutralize McCaffrey, and they’ll need more out of their own rushing attack after managing just 78 ground yards in their last meeting with San Francisco. Sean McVay’s squad will also have to do a better job of finishing. In Week 5, Matthew Stafford passed for 389 yards and three touchdowns, but the Rams converted on only four of 10 third downs, and after taking a 17-7 lead into halftime, managed only nine points in the final two quarters and overtime.
Meanwhile, up north, the 6-2 Seahawks are coming off an authoritative victory over the Murray now on injured reserve. The well-traveled veteran passed for 261 yards and two touchdowns last week and will try to carry that performance over into this game and help his team exact revenge on the Seahawks for the 23-20 defeat suffered in Week 4. (Rams at 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox; Cardinals at Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS)
Two of the most well-rounded, yet perplexing teams of the NFC face off as the Eagles visit the Green Bay Packers on Monday night.
Both have the potential to win the conference and contend for a Super Bowl. Both, however, have exhibited inconsistencies while at times playing down to the level of the competition and losing games they should have dominated.
The Eagles look to build some momentum as they return from their bye week. After weeks of offensive ups and downs, they finally put together a well-rounded, impressive outing in their pre-bye victory over the New York Giants. But such outings (four touchdown passes from Jalen Hurts, 150 rushing yards from Saquon Barkley) have been few and far between this season.
Defensively, the Eagles will return from their break with a bit of a different look after adding pass rusher Jaelan Phillips and defensive backs Jaire Alexander and Michael Carter at the trade deadline, while also welcoming outside linebacker Nolan Smith back from injury and defensive end Brandon Graham back from retirement.
Meanwhile, the Packers look to rebound from an embarrassing loss to the Carolina Panthers at home last week. Just one week prior, the Packers looked like a Super Bowl team when they bullied the Steelers on the road, but then last week, they turned the ball over twice, scored just one touchdown on five trips inside the red zone and went 2-for-3 on field goals. Defensively, the Packers did hold Bryce Young to just 102 passing yards and an interception, but they had no answer for running back Rico Dowdle, who rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns and helped position his team for a 49-yard game-winning field goal as time expired.
Which Packers team shows up this week? Which Eagles offense takes the field?
Both teams should approach this game with a sense of urgency, because a victory here could go a long way toward securing coveted seeding and home-field advantage in the playoffs. (Eagles at Packers, 8:15 p.m. ET, Monday, ESPN).
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