Week 9 NFL players to watch: A long-awaited revenge game starts the week off strong

Week 9 of the 2023 NFL season is underway. Here are the must-see players on Sunday:

SUNDAY’S POST-GAME HEADLINE TODAY | Hill has long-awaited revenge game vs. Chiefs

WR Tyreek Hill’s long-awaited revenge game is finally here. The NFL’s leading receiver in yards (1,014) and touchdowns (8) gets to face his former team and will surely have the Chiefs regretting their decision of trading him to the Dolphins in 2022 after the two sides couldn’t agree on a new contract. Kansas City won’t make it easy on Hill as its defense is allowing the second-least passing yards per game (176.1) in the league. But it won’t have a true home-field advantage to lean on as the meeting is in Germany this time around.

SUNDAY’S POST-GAME HEADLINE TODAY | Jackson builds on case for NFL MVP

After a little bit of a rough start to the season, QB Lamar Jackson seems to be much more comfortable in new offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s offense. If he continues playing the way he has, he may just find himself in contention for MVP by season’s end. The 2019 NFL MVP has thrown for 1,767 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions while also posting 380 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. The Seahawks are no pushover, but Jackson should be able to build on his MVP case with a strong performance against Seattle’s defense, which has allowed the 11th-most passing yards per game (234.3).

SUNDAY’S POST-GAME HEADLINE TODAY | Barkley runs away with the win

Giants RB Saquon Barkley hasn’t had the start to the season that he had likely imagined, rushing for 412 yards and just one touchdown in five games. But his Week 9 matchup against the Raiders could be the game that begins to turn his and the team’s season around. Las Vegas’ defense is allowing the third-most rushing yards per game (140.6), which certainly sets up Barkley to have a big day on the ground. We almost got our second revenge game of the week, but TE Darren Waller is out with a hamstring injury.

SUNDAY’S POST-GAME HEADLINE TODAY | Eagles “Tush Push” their way to another win

The Eagles have perfected the Tush Push unlike anyone else, and it will likely play a big role in this divisional matchup, whether it’s a fourth-down conversion or a goal-line situation. QB Jalen Hurts leads all quarterbacks with six rushing touchdowns and has the fourth-most rushing touchdowns out of anyone on the season. The Cowboys will do their best to stop it by using star LB Micah Parsons in several different alignments, but even he won’t be enough to end its dominant streak.

SUNDAY’S POST-GAME HEADLINE TODAY | Burrow stays hot against stout Buffalo defense

QB Joe Burrow seems to be officially back after a rough 1-3 start to the season when he was clearly not healthy dealing with a calf injury. But the fourth-year quarterback has thrown for 785 yards, eight touchdowns and just two interceptions on the Bengals’ three-game win streak and looks almost unstoppable once again. The Bills defense, which is allowing the third-fewest points per game (17), will do its best to slow Burrow down, but he is surely looking to take full advantage of having home-field advantage on “Sunday Night Football.”