The biggest takeaways from Week 9 of the NFL season

The GIST: Woah, we’re just about halfway there, with nine weeks of regular-season NFL action nearly done and dusted. The biggest takeaway from the first half? Truly anything can happen on any given Sunday.

Emotional Sunday Night Football return: Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin returned to Paycor Stadium for the first time since suffering a cardiac arrest in January, but the Cincinnati Bengals walked away with the on-field dub, topping the Bills 24–18.

A last-second stunner: Houston Texans quarterback (QB) CJ Stroud tossed five touchdowns (TDs) — including the game-winner — and set a rookie record for passing yards in a 39–37 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while running back Dare Ogunbowale (brother of WNBA star Arike) became the first non-kicker or punter to make a field goal since 2004. What can’t he do?

Injury bug strikes again: NY Giants QB Daniel Jones left yesterday’s 30–6 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders with a knee injury, and the Giants fear their QB1 tore his ACL, which would be the third season-ending starting QB injury this season. Brutal.

Nail-biter in Germany: The Kansas City Chiefs held on to beat the Miami Dolphins 21–14 in Frankfurt, riding a wacky TD and overcoming an uncharacteristically lackluster (yet still franchise record-setting) performance from tight end Travis Kelce to get the job done. Time to fill in that blank space.