NFL Week 9 Brought Rivalry Fallout and Major Setbacks

NFL Week 9 brought the Raiders back to the Bay Area, extended Philadelphia’s losing streak to seven games, and delivered costly wins for Green Bay and Los Angeles.

Minnesota followed its second straight defeat with a quarterback trade, while several teams entered the new week facing decisions that went well beyond the final scores.

The Battle of the Bay Returned, and the 49ers Took Control

For decades, the Raiders and San Francisco 49ers shared one of professional football’s most recognizable regional rivalries. Their former homes in Oakland and San Francisco were separated by the Bay Bridge, creating a geographic connection that remained part of the rivalry even as the franchises followed different paths. On November 8, the Raiders returned to the Bay Area for their first regular-season appearance there since relocating to Las Vegas after the 2019 season.

The reunion ended with a 38-17 defeat at Levi’s Stadium. San Francisco scored touchdowns on its first three possessions, building a 21-10 halftime lead. Brock Purdy threw for 232 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, while Christian McCaffrey scored twice.

Las Vegas remained within striking distance until the second half became a series of lost opportunities. The Raiders committed five turnovers after halftime, beginning when rookie linebacker Jaden Dugger intercepted Kirk Cousins on the first offensive play of the third quarter and returned the ball 35 yards for a touchdown.

Later, Fred Warner forced a fumble from tight end Brock Bowers, and Dre Greenlaw recovered it. Michael Mayer also lost the football near the goal line after Upton Stout forced another fumble, with Warner recovering in the end zone. Cousins threw two additional interceptions in the fourth quarter.

The 49ers finished with 190 rushing yards while limiting the Raiders to 24. San Francisco improved to 7-1, while Las Vegas fell to 4-5.

The rivalry also produced a striking historical connection. According to game reporting, San Francisco had not forced five second-half turnovers in a game since accomplishing the same feat against the Raiders at Candlestick Park 20 years earlier. The Raiders’ return to Northern California ended with their third consecutive regular-season defeat against San Francisco.

Philadelphia’s Seventh Straight Loss Raised Coaching Questions

The Eagles entered Sunday needing a victory after six consecutive defeats. Instead, a 19-11 home loss to the New York Giants extended their losing streak to seven. Philadelphia fell to 2-7, while New York improved to 5-3-1 and strengthened its position in the NFC East.

The Eagles’ offense continued to struggle despite another change at quarterback. Joe Milton III made his first career start after Tanner McKee had failed to stabilize the position. New York linebacker Arvell Reese recorded three sacks and 12 tackles, repeatedly disrupting Philadelphia’s attempts to establish a sustained offensive rhythm.

The Giants’ defense prevented the Eagles from gaining a first down on seven possessions. Philadelphia also struggled to protect its quarterback and establish its running game, leaving the offense unable to produce a meaningful comeback.

Monday brought questions about whether the losing streak would produce changes to the coaching staff. Coach Nick Sirianni acknowledged that staffing decisions could be considered during Philadelphia’s Week 10 bye, although he emphasized that any changes would follow an evaluation of the team’s performance.

According to NFL.com, Sirianni said he would examine his own performance before determining whether other adjustments were necessary. The Eagles entered their bye with their longest losing streak since 2012, turning what began as an unsuccessful effort to replace injured quarterback Jalen Hurts into a broader evaluation of Philadelphia’s offense and coaching structure.

Green Bay Scored 45 Points, Then Lost Josh Jacobs

Green Bay delivered one of Week 9’s most productive offensive performances, defeating New England 45-27 behind 372 passing yards and three touchdowns from Jordan Love. The Packers improved to 6-3 after producing 478 total yards and forcing four turnovers.

Christian Watson caught seven passes for 171 yards and a touchdown, while Matthew Golden added 164 receiving yards and another score. Their combined 335 receiving yards helped Green Bay overwhelm the Patriots’ defense.

Running back Josh Jacobs fractured a finger during the first quarter and could not return. On Monday, coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that Jacobs would require surgery, leaving Green Bay without a definitive timetable for his return.

LaFleur explained that Jacobs had attempted to return to the game but lacked sufficient grip strength to continue. The team had not established a definitive recovery timetable, and LaFleur declined to rule out injured reserve, which would require Jacobs to miss at least four games.

Kaleb Johnson provided immediate production against New England, rushing for 68 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Green Bay now faces a difficult NFC North matchup against Minnesota, with Johnson potentially taking on a larger role if Jacobs remains unavailable.

Buffalo’s Monday Win Was Followed by a Minnesota Quarterback Trade

Buffalo entered Monday Night Football at 6-1, facing a Minnesota team attempting to recover from its first defeat of the season. The Bills left Minneapolis with a 23-6 victory, their fourth consecutive win, and a 7-1 record.

Buffalo’s defense forced three turnovers and prevented Minnesota from scoring a touchdown. Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz struggled against the pressure, completing eight of 25 passes for 81 yards with two interceptions. Minnesota had started the season 6-0, but the loss dropped the Vikings to 6-2 and raised additional questions about their passing offense.

By Tuesday, the Vikings had taken action. Minnesota announced it was acquiring quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a 2027 third-round draft pick, pending a physical.

The deal reunited Cousins with the organization where he spent six seasons from 2018 through 2023. Cousins had started all nine games for Las Vegas during the 2026 season, and his departure created an opportunity for the Raiders to turn toward rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the first overall selection in the 2026 draft.

The trade changed the quarterback situations of both franchises just days before Minnesota was scheduled to face Green Bay.

The Rams Won, Then Learned Puka Nacua Could Miss a Month

Los Angeles defeated Washington 20-13, improving to 5-4 behind another productive performance from receiver Puka Nacua. Nacua caught 14 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown, while adding 20 rushing yards.

The victory came with a significant setback. Nacua was injured on Los Angeles’ final offensive play, and coach Sean McVay confirmed Monday that the receiver had sustained MCL and PCL sprains along with turf toe. McVay said Nacua would likely be placed on injured reserve, potentially sidelining him for at least four games.

With Davante Adams already sidelined by a hamstring injury, the Rams face Arizona with another major absence threatening an offense that leaned heavily on Nacua against Washington.

References: 2026 NFL season, Week 9: What We Learned from Sunday’s games | 49ers Defense Forces Five Turnovers in 38-17 Win Over Raiders; Takeaways from #LVvsSF | Game Recap: Second half turnover frenzy costs Raiders, falling short to 49ers | Nick Sirianni not ruling out staff changes during Eagles’ bye week following 7th consecutive loss | Game Recap: Giants 19, Eagles 11 | Packers defeat Patriots, 45-27 | Packers RB Josh Jacobs to miss time due to surgery on broken finger | Bills-Vikings on ‘Monday Night Football’: What We Learned from Buffalo’s 23-6 win over Minnesota | Vikings Bring Back Quarterback Kirk Cousins Via Trade with Raiders | Rams Injury Updates: Puka Nacua likely going on Injured Reserve