Bengals travel to Madrid while Cowboys stumble and Bucs set historic record
Week 9 NFL action features a transatlantic matchup, a quarterback change in Arizona, and a running-heavy win in Tampa Bay.
By Victoria Hayes ·
The NFL regular season has reached its midpoint, bringing immediate changes to rosters and schedules. The Cincinnati Bengals will face the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid this Sunday. This matchup marks the second regular-season game played at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. The stadium previously hosted a game between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders last November. Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow enters the game with momentum after throwing 13 touchdowns during a three-game winning streak. Atlanta seeks a rebound following a rain-soaked loss at Tampa Bay where they were shut out.
The Dallas Cowboys face pressure to improve after a costly overtime defeat. The team led Arizona 24-10 with 11 minutes remaining on Sunday but lost 33-30. This result snapped a perfect 69-0 record for home games when leading by at least 14 points in the fourth quarter. Owner Jerry Jones stated that others let head coach Brian Schottenheimer down. The Cowboys are now 3-5. They play the Colts, 49ers, Titans, and Eagles in their next four games. Winning three of those contests would return Dallas to a .500 record.
Gardner Minshew has become the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals. He entered the game against Dallas late in the third quarter and threw for 188 yards and three touchdowns. His performance secured the overtime victory. Head coach Mike LaFleur named Minshew the starter moving forward. This will be the sixth team for which Minshew has started. His first test comes in Seattle against the Seahawks. Seattle allowed 34 points to Chicago on Monday night and aims to respond.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers set a franchise record for rushing yards in a win over Atlanta. The team rushed for 324 yards in a 16-0 victory. They became the first NFL team to win a game without completing a pass since the Buffalo Bills did so in 1974. Baker Mayfield completed zero passes on three attempts in that game. The Buccaneers now travel to Chicago to face the Bears. Chicago has a 6-2 record, which is its best start in 14 years. The Bears allowed 34 points to Seattle on Monday but have scored at least 30 points in four of their last five games.
The Buffalo Bills visit Minnesota on Monday night for a clash of offensive and defensive extremes. Buffalo averages 33 points per game, the highest in the league. The Minnesota defense allows just 13 points per game, the lowest total. Both teams hold a 6-1 record. Minnesota lost to Detroit last week for its first defeat of the season. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen will test the Vikings pressure packages. The outcome will determine how each team positions itself for the final stretch of the season.
The schedule for Week 9 includes a morning kickoff in Spain at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The international game offers a different atmosphere for the Bengals and Falcons. Domestic games continue with the Cowboys trying to stabilize their record. The Cardinals attempt to maintain their momentum with a new starter at quarterback. The Buccaneers seek to balance their offense in Chicago. The Bills and Vikings meet in a high-stakes contest that defines their current standing in the league.
