Week 9 of what’s already been a fascinating 2024 NFL season has arrived. This means that ready or not, the time for our weekly “best NFL ATS bets” column has arrived.
After a profitable run from Weeks 4-7, we went 1-for-3 on our best bets in Week 8, which means we need a strong response to get back on the right track.
Below are our week-by-week results this year:
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Here’s what we like in Week 9 in Jaguars vs. Eagles, Colts vs. Vikings and Broncos vs. Ravens.
All kickoff times below are ET.
Jaguars vs. Eagles — 4:05 p.m. (CBS)
We had our doubts about the Eagles on the road in Cincinnati last week, but Jalen Hurts and Co. were outstanding in a 37-17 win. The Bengals fell to 3-5 with that loss, but the Eagles became the first team this year to beat Joe Burrow’s team by more than a touchdown.
Philadelphia won going away last Sunday after entering the fourth quarter up just 24-17. In the process, the Eagles showed a level of offensive balance that should scare the rest of the league. Saquon Barkley delivered another solid day on the ground (22 carries for 108 yards) and Hurts was razor-sharp through the air, completing 16-of-20 passes for 236 yards, with 1 TD, 0 interceptions and 0 sacks.
Defensively, the Eagles secondary had one of its best games of the year. Philly limited Burrow to 234 yards on 37 passing attempts while holding Ja’Marr Chase to nine catches for 54 yards and 1 TD on 11 targets.
Looking ahead to this Sunday, the Jaguars offense is without WR Christian Kirk (broken collarbone) for the rest of the year. That’s not all, though. This team is also dealing with injuries to guards Brandon Scherff and Ezra Cleveland, receivers Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas Jr. and RBs Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby, all of whom are questionable.
Oh, and the Jags also downgraded at left tackle this week, sending starter Cam Robinson to Minnesota in a trade. Fourth-year LT Walker Little, who has 18 career starts under his belt, will replace Robinson on Trevor Lawrence’s blind side on Sunday.
The 2-6 Jags have already been blown out twice this year (losing 47-10 to the Bills in Week 3 and 35-16 to the Bears in Week 6), and it shouldn’t come as a shock if they lose this one by two touchdowns or more.
Best bet: Eagles -7.5 (-110 at DraftKings) 1 unit
Bonus bet: Eagles -13.5 (+172 at FanDuel) 0.5 units
Colts vs. Vikings — 8:20 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
While the Eagles are coming off one of their best performances of the year, another NFC favorite we’re high on this Sunday is fresh off of back-to-back losses after a 5-0 start.
Following consecutive losses to the Lions in Week 7 and the Rams on Thursday Night Football in Week 8, the post-TNF mini-bye could not have come at a better time for coach Kevin O’Connell’s team.
Another reason to like the Vikings here is the highly anticipated return of star right end T.J. Hockenson. If the two-time Pro Bowler is anywhere near full strength in his first game back from a torn ACL he suffered last season, defending the Minnesota passing game becomes infinitely more difficult.
Sam Darnold and the Vikings have been plenty potent (they’re seventh in the NFL in scoring at 29.6 points per game) without any proven complements to superstar WR Justin Jefferson in the passing game. They figure to be a brutal matchup for opposing defenses if Hockenson can stay healthy.
The Colts should get much more accurate passing from Joe Flacco than they were getting from Anthony Richardson. Flacco — who turns 40 in January — could struggle against Vikes DC Brian Flores’ blitz-happy defense given his lack of mobility, though.
Minnesota’s secondary is vulnerable when opposing quarterbacks have time to throw, but Flacco will have a long night if the Indy O-line struggles to keep the Vikings pass rush at bay.
Best bet: Vikings -5 (-110 at DraftKings) 1 unit
Broncos vs. Ravens — 1 p.m. (CBS)
While we like the Ravens to bounce back with a win after an upset loss to Cleveland last Sunday, we don’t see them doing so by a comfortable margin.
There might not be a more underrated unit in the entire league than the Denver defense, which is third in the league in both points allowed and yards allowed. Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s group lacks stars outside of CB Patrick Surtain II, but it has been outstanding all season.
Denver gave up 26 points to Seattle in Week 1, but only one team in the last seven weeks has scored more than 20 points on this defense.
The Ravens’ historically good rushing attack led by Derrick Henry will be able to move the ball today (and in just about every game the rest of the way). But a week after Broncos QB Bo Nix played his best game of the year, we expect the visitors to keep up with the Ravens.
Following a rough start to the year, Nix has turned in four straight solid performances, and he’s facing a Ravens D that has has given up at least 29 points in three of the last four weeks.
Best bet: Broncos +9.5 (-105 at bet365) 1 unit
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