Los Angeles Rams OLB Byron Young / Credit: Rams media site
Here are my Week 9 NFL Game Predictions, both straight-up and against the spread and my results from last week and the season.
You’ll also find an array of fantastic notes down below for Week 9 and the 2025 season courtesy of NFL Communications press releases.
There are 26 VFLs on 53-player rosters in the NFL. There are 3 more on practice squads and 2 on injured reserve bringing the league total to 31 with NFL teams. See how each VFL in the NFL did via a UT release below. Look for a VFL in the NFL, ex-Vol and local player update blog soon on this feed and website, 991TheSportsAnimal.com.
Vince’s Picks Results
Week 8: 8-5 straight-up & 8-5 spread
Season: 83-38 (70%) straight-up & 68-53 (56%) spread
Winners are in bold. Pick against the spread selection is listed to the side.
Week 9
Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025
8:15pm
Baltimore (-7.5) at Miami – Baltimore -7.5
Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025
1pm
Chicago (-2.5) at Cincinnati – Chicago -2.5
Minnesota at Detroit (-8.5) – Minnesota +8.5
Carolina at Green Bay (-13.5) – Carolina +13.5
Denver at Houston (-1.5) – Denver +1.5
Atlanta at New England (-5.5) – New England -5.5
San Francisco (-2.5) at NY Giants – San Francisco -2.5
Indianapolis (-3) at Pittsburgh – Indianapolis -3
LA Chargers (-9.5) at Tennessee – LA Chargers -9.5
4:05/4:25pm
Jacksonville (-3) at Las Vegas – Jacksonville -3
New Orleans at LA Rams (-14) – LA Rams -14
Kansas City (-2) at Buffalo – Buffalo +2
8:20pm
Seattle (-3) at Washington – Seattle -3
Monday, Nov. 3, 2025
8:15pm
Arizona at Dallas (-2.5) – Dallas -2.5
Off This Week: Cleveland, NY Jets, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay
Vols in the NFL – Week 8
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Former Tennessee stars continued to make an impact across the league in Week 8 of NFL action, highlighted by strong performances from Derek Barnett, Joe Milton III and rookie James Pearce Jr.
Barnett delivered one of his best outings of the season for the Houston Texans, tallying a sack, two tackles, a tackle for loss and two quarterback hits in a 26-15 victory over San Francisco.
In Denver, Joe Milton III made the most of his opportunity under center for the Dallas Cowboys, completing 3-of-4 passes for 58 yards and a touchdown.
James Pearce Jr., making his first career start for the Atlanta Falcons, turned in a solid performance with four tackles and a quarterback hit.
A full recap of Vols around the league can be found below.
Derek Barnett – DE – Houston Texans
Posted one sack with two tackles, a TFL and two QB hits in a 26-15 win over San Francisco
Matthew Butler – DT – Miami Dolphins
Played 15 defensive snaps in Miami’s 34-10 victory over Atlanta
Jerome Carvin – OL – Jacksonville Jaguars
On practice squad
Morgan Cox – LS – Tennessee Titans
Snapped eight times against the Colts
Joshua Dobbs – QB – Patriots
Did not see any action on Sunday
Princeton Fant – TE – Dallas Cowboys
On practice squad
Kamal Hadden – DB – Green Bay Packers
Did not see any action in Week 8
Hendon Hooker – QB – Carolina Panthers
On practice squad
Jalin Hyatt – WR – New York Giants
Did not see any action against Philadelphia
Theo Jackson – DB – Minnesota Vikings
Made one tackle versus the Chargers on Thursday night
Jauan Jennings – WR – San Francisco 49ers
Caught four passes for 45 yards against Houston
Jakob Johnson – FB – Houston Texans
On Reserve/Injured list
Alvin Kamara – RB – New Orleans Saints
Carried the ball six times for 21 yards with two receptions for 24 yards against Tampa Bay
Cade Mays – C – Carolina Panthers
Played 27 snaps for the Panthers versus Buffalo
Jaylen McCollough – DB – Los Angeles Rams
Bye Week
Joe Milton III – QB – Dallas Cowboys
Went 3-for-4 with 58 passing yards and a touchdown at Denver
Omarr Norman-Lott – DT – Kansas City Chiefs
On Reserve/Injured list
Josh Palmer – WR – Buffalo Bills
Hauled in two receptions for 60 yards against Atlanta
James Pearce Jr. – OLB – Atlanta Falcons
Had four tackles and a QB hit in his first career start on Sunday
Dylan Sampson – RB – Cleveland Browns
Caught five passes for 29 yards at New England
Elijah Simmons – DT – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Played seven snaps on defense against Detroit
Trey Smith – OL – Kansas City Chiefs
Did not play on Monday night
Alontae Taylor – CB – New Orleans Saints
Recorded two tackles and a pass break up against Tampa Bay
Darrell Taylor – OLB – Houston Texans
Did not see any action on Sunday
Dont’e Thornton Jr. – WR – Las Vegas Raiders
Bye Week
Cedric Tillman – WR – Cleveland Browns
On Reserve/Injured list
Shy Tuttle – DT – Tennessee Titans
Posted two tackles against the Colts
Darnell Wright – OT – Chicago Bears
Played all 63 offensive snaps against Baltimore
Jaylen Wright – RB – Miami Dolphins
Rushed nine times for 28 yards in a 34-10 win over Atlanta
Byron Young – OLB – Los Angeles Rams
Bye Week
NFL Week 9 Notes
NEW YORK — Oct. 28, 2025 — Entering Week 9, 13 teams have recorded at least five wins this season, the third-most through Week 8 since 1970, trailing only 1986 (16 teams) and 2020 (14).
Three teams – Baltimore, Miami and the New York Jets – earned victories in Week 8 after entering the week with one-or-fewer wins. The Jets overcame a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter to secure their first win of the season.
Entering 2025, teams had lost 135 consecutive games when trailing by 15-or-more points entering the fourth quarter, including the postseason – there have been four such wins so far in 2025 (Buffalo in Week 1, Tennessee Week 5, Denver in Week 7 and the New York Jets in Week 8).
For Week 9 capsules, click here.
Here’s a look at a few interesting storylines entering Week 9:
- 2024 AFC Championship Game rematch:When the Buffalo Bills (5-2) host the Kansas City Chiefs (5-3) on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS), it will mark the ninth matchup, including the postseason, between quarterbacks Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. The Bills have won the past four regular-season matchups, while the Chiefs have won the past four postseason meetings, including the 2024 AFC Championship game in Kansas City. In Week 11 last season in Buffalo, the Bills defeated the Chiefs, 30-21, to hand Kansas City its first loss of the season after a 9-0 start.
- Both Kansas City and Buffalo enter Week 9 with a top-five offense, as the Bills ranks third overall with 382.9 yards per game and the Chiefs ranks fifth with 378.3 yards per game. Defensively, Buffalo (161.9 passing yards per game allowed) and Kansas City (177.8) lead the AFC in passing defense.
- Mahomes is tied for first with 17 touchdown passes this season and with at least three touchdown passes on Sunday, it will mark Mahomes’ fourth consecutive game with at least three touchdown passes, a feat he has only accomplished twice in his career (2018, 2021). Mahomes has 46 career games with at least three touchdown passes and can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino(46 games) for the most games with at least three touchdown passes by a player in his first nine seasons all-time.
- Last week, Allen registered his 46th career game with both a touchdown pass and rushing touchdown, surpassing Cam Newton(45 games) for the most such games in NFL history. It also marked Allen’s 81st regular-season win since entering the NFL in 2018, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (80 wins) and Ben Roethlisberger (80) for the fourth-most regular-season wins by a quarterback in his first eight seasons in NFL history.
- Leaders in the AFC: Three of the four division leaders in the AFC – Denver (6-2), Indianapolis (7-1) and New England (6-2) – have at least six wins this season and have winning streaks of four-or-more games. The two NFC teams with six wins – Philadelphia and Tampa Bay – each have a Week 9 bye.
- Denver Broncos (6-2) at Houston Texans (3-4) (1p.m. ET, FOX): The Broncos, who lead the NFL with 36 sacks and have allowed a league-low eight sacks this season, are the first team in NFL history with at least 35 sacks and 10-or-fewer sacks allowed in its first eight games of a season. Denver has won five consecutive games entering Week 9, including one-score road victories over Philadelphia (Week 5) and the New York Jets (Week 6, in London).
- Denver quarterback Bo Nixtied his career high with four touchdown passes last week in his 25th career start. Nix has seven games with at least three touchdown passes since 2024, fourth-most among AFC quarterbacks, trailing only Joe Burrow (10 games), Lamar Jackson (eight) and Patrick Mahomes (eight).
- The Texans have won three of their past four games, including home victories over Tennessee (Week 4) and San Francisco (Week 8). Houston leads the NFL in scoring defense (14.7 points per game allowed) and total defense (266.9 yards per game allowed) this season.
- Indianapolis Colts (7-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3) (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS):Indianapolis enters the game with a 7-1 record, their best start since 2009, when they started 14-0. Entering Week 9, the Colts rank first in the league in total offense (385.3 yards per game), touchdowns (32) and points per game (33.8). The last time the Colts finished a season leading the NFL in yards per game was 1976.
- Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylortotaled 174 scrimmage yards (153 rushing, 21 receiving) and three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) in Week 8, becoming the fifth player since 2000 and first since 2006 (Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson) with at least three scrimmage touchdowns in four games in a season. Taylor is the only player with four games of 100-or-more rushing yards this season and leads the NFL in scrimmage yards (1,056), rushing yards (850), scrimmage touchdowns (14) and rushing touchdowns (12) this season.
- In his first season with Indianapolis, quarterback Daniel Joneshas recorded career bests in passing yards (2,062), completion percentage (71.2), passer rating (109.5) and yards per attempt (8.5) through the first eight weeks. Since 1970, Jones is the eighth quarterback to win at least seven of his first eight starts with a team, among the team’s first eight games of the season.
- Minnesota Vikings (3-4) at Detroit Lions (5-2) (1 p.m. ET, FOX):The Week 9 meeting will mark the 127th all-time matchup between the division rivals, with the Vikings leading the series 80-45-2. In Week 18 last season, the Lions defeated the Vikings, 31-9, to secure the NFC North division title. Detroit quarterback Jared Goff has recorded a 116.4 passer rating and 74.9 completion percentage at home this season, both the second-highest mark in the league, trailing only New England quarterback Drake Maye.
- Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jeffersonsurpassed 8,000 receiving yards last week, becoming the youngest player ever (26 years and 129 days old) and fastest player in the Super Bowl era (84 games) to reach the mark. In 10 career games against Detroit, he has recorded 72 receptions for 1,208 yards, his most receiving yards against any opponent.
- Lionswide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown enters the game tied for the league-lead in touchdown receptions with seven, six of which have come in Detroit’s three home games this season.
- Atlanta Falcons (3-4) at New England Patriots (6-2) (1 p.m. ET, CBS): The Patriots have won five consecutive games entering Week 9 and can win six straight games for the first time since 2021. New England ranks fourth in the NFL in total defense, allowed 18.9 points per game and are one of four teams, along with Houston, Kansas City and Seattle, to allow 20-or-fewer points in six games this season.
- Patriots quarterback Drake Mayebecame the first player in NFL history with at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 135-or-higher in five of his team’s first eight games of a season. In Week 9, he can become the first player under the age of 24 and fourth player in NFL history to record at least 200 passing yards and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in eight consecutive games.
- Seattle Seahawks (5-2) at Washington Commanders (3-5) (8:15 p.m. ET, NBC, Sunday Night Football): Week 9 will mark the first time that Seattle and Washington have met on Sunday Night Footballand just the third primetime meeting between the two clubs (Week 5, 2014 and Week 12, 2021, both on Monday night). Since 2024, the Seahawks are 10-1 (.909 winning percentage) on the road under head coach Mike Macdonald, the highest road winning percentage in the NFL.
- Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigbaleads the NFL with 819 receiving yards this season and has recorded at least eight receptions, 100 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in each of his past three games. At 23 years old, he is the youngest player in the Super Bowl era with at least 75 receiving yards in each of his first seven games of a season and joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Isaac Bruce (833 receiving yards in 1995) as the only players under the age of 24 with at least 800 receiving yards in their first seven games of a season.
- Originally selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft by Seattle, Washington linebacker Bobby Wagner faces his former team for the first time since 2022, when he was with the Los Angeles Rams. In 11 seasons with the Seahawks, Wagner totaled 1,560 tackles, with at least 100 tackles in each season. Heenters Week 9 ranked second in tackles this season (83) and has the most tackles (524) in primetime since entering the league in 2012, nearly double the next player (Eric Kendricks – 292 tackles). Since 2000, Wagner is the only player in the league to record at least 500 tackles in primetime games.
- Denver Broncos (6-2) at Houston Texans (3-4) (1p.m. ET, FOX): The Broncos, who lead the NFL with 36 sacks and have allowed a league-low eight sacks this season, are the first team in NFL history with at least 35 sacks and 10-or-fewer sacks allowed in its first eight games of a season. Denver has won five consecutive games entering Week 9, including one-score road victories over Philadelphia (Week 5) and the New York Jets (Week 6, in London).
JOSH ALLEN
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen had three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) last week, his 46th career game with both a touchdown pass and rushing touchdown, surpassing Cam Newton (45 games) for the most such games in NFL history.
Allen has five rushing touchdowns in 2025 and on Sunday against Kansas City (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS), can become the first quarterback and fourth player ever with at least six rushing touchdowns in each of his first eight career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Brown, Marshall Faulk and LaDainian Tomlinson.
Additionally, with a rushing touchdown, Allen can become the first quarterback and sixth player ever with at least six rushing touchdowns in eight consecutive seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk (10 consecutive seasons from 1994-2004), LaDainian Tomlinson (10 from 2001-10), Jim Brown (nine from 1957-65) and Thurman Thomas (eight from 1989-96) as well as Derrick Henry (eight from 2018-25).
The players with the most consecutive seasons with at least six rushing touchdowns in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | SEASONS |
| Marshall Faulk HOF | Indianapolis, St. Louis Rams | 10 (1994-2004) |
| LaDainian Tomlinson HOF | San Diego Chargers, N.Y. Jets | 10 (2001-10) |
| Jim Brown HOF | Cleveland | 9 (1957-65) |
| Derrick Henry | Tennessee, Baltimore | 8 (2018-25) |
| Thurman Thomas HOF | Buffalo | 8 (1989-96) |
| Josh Allen | Buffalo | 7* (2018-24) |
| *has five rushing touchdowns in 2025 | ||
PATRICK MAHOMES
Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes passed for 299 yards and three touchdowns with a 104.9 passer rating last week, his third straight game with at least three touchdown passes.
Mahomes has 46 career games with at least three touchdown passes and at Buffalo on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS), can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (46 games) for the most such games by a player in his first nine seasons in NFL history.
With a passer rating of 100-or-higher on Sunday, Mahomes can surpass Matt Ryan (61 games) for the third-most games with a passer rating of 100-or-higher in his first nine career seasons, trailing only Russell Wilson (74 games) and Dak Prescott (63).
The players with the most games with a passer rating of 100-or-higher in their first nine seasons in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES |
| Russell Wilson | Seattle | 74 |
| Dak Prescott | Dallas | 63 |
| Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 61* |
| Matt Ryan | Atlanta | 61 |
| *in ninth season | ||
Mahomes has 49 career games with at least 300 passing yards, the most by a player in his first nine seasons in NFL history. With his next 300-yard performance, he can become the sixth quarterback all-time with at least 50 such games in his first 12 career seasons.
The players with the most games with at least 300 passing yards in their first 12 seasons in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | GAMES |
| Drew Brees | San Diego Chargers, New Orleans | 67 |
| Matt Ryan | Atlanta | 64 |
| Peyton Manning HOF | Indianapolis | 56 |
| Kurt Warner HOF | St. Louis Rams, Arizona | 52 |
| Kirk Cousins | Washington, Minnesota | 50 |
| Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 49* |
| *in ninth season | ||
DRAKE MAYE
New England quarterback Drake Maye is the first player in NFL history with at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 135-or-higher in five of his team’s first eight games of a season and has at least 200 passing yards and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in each of his past seven starts.
With at least 200 passing yards and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in Week 8, Maye can become the first player under the age of 24 and fourth player in NFL history to record at least 200 passing yards and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in eight consecutive games, joining Aaron Rodgers (12 consecutive games in 2011 and eight in 2020), Tom Brady (eight in 2007) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (eight in 2004)
The players with at least 200 passing yards and a passer rating 100-or-higher in the most consecutive games within a single season in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON | GAMES |
| Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay | 2011 | 12 |
| Tom Brady | New England | 2007 | 8 |
| Peyton Manning HOF | Indianapolis | 2004 | 8 |
| Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay | 2020 | 8 |
| Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 2018 | 7 |
| Drake Maye | New England | 2025 | 7* |
| *active streak | |||
AARON RODGERS
Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers is tied for third in the NFL with 16 touchdown passes, including five games with multiple touchdown passes this season.
With two touchdown passes on Sunday against Indianapolis (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Rodgers can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (165 games) for the third-most games with multiple touchdown passes in NFL history. Only Tom Brady (204 games) and Drew Brees (173) have more.
The players with the most games with at least two touchdown passes in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | GAMES |
| Tom Brady | New England, Tampa Bay | 204 |
| Drew Brees | San Diego Chargers, New Orleans | 173 |
| Peyton Manning HOF | Indianapolis, Denver | 165 |
| Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay, N.Y. Jets, Pittsburgh | 165 |
MATTHEW STAFFORD
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, in Week 7 before the team’s Week 8 bye, recorded his fifth career game with five touchdown passes and ranks tied for first with 17 touchdown passes this season.
On Sunday against New Orleans (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX), Stafford – who has only thrown two interceptions in 2025 – can become the fifth different player with at least 20 touchdown passes and three-or-fewer interceptions in his first eight games of a season, joining Tom Brady (2007 and 2015), Patrick Mahomes (2020), Aaron Rodgers (2011 and 2020) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Y.A. Tittle (1963).
The players with at least 20 touchdown passes and three-or-fewer interceptions in their first eight games of a season in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON | PASS TDs | INTs |
| Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 2020 | 21 | 1 |
| Aaron Rodgers MVP | Green Bay | 2020 | 24 | 2 |
| Tom Brady | New England | 2015 | 22 | 2 |
| Aaron Rodgers MVP | Green Bay | 2011 | 24 | 3 |
| Tom Brady MVP | New England | 2007 | 30 | 2 |
| Y.A. Tittle MVP / HOF | N.Y. Giants | 1963 | 23 | 3 |
| Matthew Stafford | L.A. Rams | 2025 | 17* | 2* |
| *in first seven games | ||||
JONATHAN TAYLOR
Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor totaled 174 scrimmage yards (153 rushing, 21 receiving) and three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) last week and joined Gene ‘Choo-Choo’ Roberts (1949 with the New York Giants) as the only players all-time with three touchdowns in four of his first eight games of a season.
Taylor can become the fourth player in NFL history with at least three touchdowns in five games in a single season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson (six games in 2006) and Marshall Faulk (five in 2000) as well as Chuck Foreman (five in 1975).
Taylor leads the NFL with 850 rushing yards and 14 scrimmage touchdowns this season and on Sunday at Pittsburgh (1 p.m. ET, CBS), can become the sixth player since 1990 and first since 2006 (Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson) with at least 900 rushing yards and 15 scrimmage touchdowns in his first nine games of a season.
The players with at least 900 rushing yards and 15 scrimmage touchdowns in their first nine games of a season since 1990:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON | RUSH YARDS | SCRIMMAGE TDs |
| LaDainian Tomlinson HOF | San Diego Chargers | 2006 | 932 | 18 |
| Shaun Alexander | Seattle | 2005 | 1,114 | 17 |
| Priest Holmes | Kansas City | 2002 | 908 | 16 |
| Terrell Davis HOF | Denver | 1998 | 1,219 | 16 |
| Emmitt Smith HOF | Dallas | 1995 | 1,137 | 16 |
| Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis | 2025 | 850* | 14* |
| *in first eight games | ||||
JA’MARR CHASE
Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase leads the NFL with 70 receptions and has 38 receptions in his past three games, tied with Michael Thomas (38 receptions from Weeks 1-3 in 2018 with New Orleans) for the most receptions in a three-game span in NFL history.
On Sunday against Chicago (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Chase – who had 10 receptions in Week 6, 16 receptions in Week 7 and 12 receptions in Week 8 – can join Pro Football Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson (Weeks 13-16, 2012 with Detroit) as the only players in NFL history with at least 10 receptions in four consecutive games.
Additionally, Chase can become the fourth player ever with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in 20 games in his first five seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Lance Alworth (24 games), Randy Moss (24) and Jerry Rice (21).
Chase has 15 career games with at least 125 receiving yards since entering the NFL in 2021 and with 125 receiving yards in Week 9, can tie Odell Beckham Jr. (16 games) and A.J. Brown (16) for the fourth-most such games by a player in his first five seasons in the Super Bowl era.
The players with the most games with at least 125 receiving yards in their first five seasons in the Super Bowl era:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | GAMES |
| Justin Jefferson | Minnesota | 23 |
| Randy Moss HOF | Minnesota | 17 |
| Julio Jones | Atlanta | 17 |
| Odell Beckham Jr. | New York Giants | 16 |
| A.J. Brown | Tennessee, Philadelphia | 16 |
| Ja’Marr Chase | Cincinnati | 15* |
| *in fifth season | ||
TEE HIGGINS
Cincinnati wide receiver Tee Higgins had his fourth touchdown reception of the season last week and since Week 5 of the 2024 season, has at least one touchdown reception in eight consecutive home games.
On Sunday against Chicago (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Higgins can become the third player all-time with a touchdown reception in nine consecutive home games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Cris Carter (10 consecutive home games with Minnesota from 2000-01) and Jerry Rice (nine with San Francisco from 1989-90).
JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA
Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba – at 23 years old – leads the NFL with 819 receiving yards and has at least 75 receiving yards in each of his seven games this season.
With 81 receiving yards on Sunday Night Football at Washington (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), Smith-Njigba can join Pro Football Hall of Famer Isaac Bruce (938 receiving yards in 1995) as the only players under the age of 24 with at least 900 receiving yards in their first eight games of a season in NFL history.
Additionally, with 75 receiving yards in Week 9, Smith-Njigba can become the fifth player in the Super Bowl era with at least 75 receiving yards in each of his first eight games of a season, joining Antonio Brown (first nine games in 2014), Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin (first nine in 1995), Dwight Clark (first eight in 1982) and Adam Thielen (first eight in 2018).
The players with at least 75 receiving yards in the most consecutive games to begin a season in the Super Bowl era:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON | GAMES |
| Antonio Brown | Pittsburgh | 2014 | 9 |
| Michael Irvin HOF | Dallas | 1995 | 9 |
| Dwight Clark | San Francisco | 1982 | 8 |
| Adam Thielen | Minnesota | 2018 | 8 |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Seattle | 2025 | 7* |
| *active streak | |||
TREY MCBRIDE
Arizona tight end Trey McBride, in Week 7 before the team’s Week 8 bye, recorded his sixth career game with at least 10 receptions, the most such games by a tight end in his first four seasons in NFL history. This season, he ranks second among tight ends with 47 receptions and since Week 17 last season, has at least five receptions in nine consecutive games.
On Monday Night Football at Dallas (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC), McBride can become the third tight end in NFL history with at least five receptions in 10 consecutive games, joining Travis Kelce (15 consecutive games in 2018 and 11 from 2020-21) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez (13 from 2008-09),
The tight ends with the most consecutive games with at least five receptions in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | SEASON(S) | GAMES |
| Travis Kelce | Kansas City | 2018 | 15 |
| Tony Gonzalez HOF | Kansas City, Atlanta | 2008-09 | 13 |
| Travis Kelce | Kansas City | 2020-21 | 11 |
| Trey McBride | Arizona | 2024-25 | 9* |
| Jason Witten | Dallas | 2012 | 9 |
| *active streak | |||
TRAVIS KELCE
Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce had 99 receiving yards and his 100th career touchdown reception (including the postseason) last week, one of four tight ends all-time with at least 100 career touchdown receptions, including the playoffs.
Kelce ranks second among tight ends with 474 receiving yards this season and with 26 receiving yards at Buffalo in Week 9 (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS), can become the fourth tight end all-time with at least 500 receiving yards in 12 career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Tony Gonzalez (16 consecutive seasons) and Antonio Gates (13) as well as Jason Witten (15).
The tight ends with the most seasons with at least 500 receiving yards in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | SEASONS |
| Tony Gonzalez HOF | Kansas City, Atlanta | 16 |
| Jason Witten | Dallas | 15 |
| Antonio Gates HOF | San Diego Chargers | 13 |
| Rob Gronkowski | New England | 11 |
| Travis Kelce | Kansas City | 11* |
| Shannon Sharpe HOF | Denver, Baltimore | 11 |
| *has 474 receiving yards in 2025 | ||
BYRON YOUNG
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Byron Young ranks third in the NFL with a career-high nine sacks this season and since Week 17 last season, has at least a half sack in nine consecutive games.
With a half sack on Sunday against New Orleans (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX), Young can become the sixth player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with at least half a sack in each of his first eight games of a season.
The players with at least half a sack in the most consecutive games to begin a season since 1982:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON | GAMES |
| Jared Allen HOF | Minnesota | 2011 | 9 |
| Everson Griffen | Minnesota | 2017 | 8 |
| Dwight Freeney HOF | Indianapolis | 2009 | 8 |
| Robert Mathis | Indianapolis | 2005 | 8 |
| Shaun Ellis | N.Y. Jets | 2003 | 8 |
| Byron Young | L.A. Rams | 2025 | 7* |
| *active streak | |||
