The NFL’s 2026 regular season moves toward Week 9 with several major results already confirmed and one nationally televised matchup remaining on the Week 8 schedule. As of Monday afternoon, November 2, Chicago’s game against Seattle had not started, while Sunday’s completed contests included decisive victories by Buffalo and Jacksonville, a close AFC West contest between Denver and Kansas City, and overtime finishes involving Cincinnati and Arizona.

The latest results provide an updated picture of the league before the next round begins Thursday. Week 8 runs from October 29 through November 2, while Week 9 starts November 5 and concludes November 9. Keeping those dates separate is important for interpreting weekly projections, current team records and live scores.

Buffalo delivered one of Sunday’s most convincing performances, defeating Baltimore 36-10. The Bills improved to 6-1 and reinforced their position among the AFC’s leading contenders. Quarterback Josh Allen recorded 289 passing yards, according to Pro Football Reference, while Baltimore dropped to 4-4. The Ravens now face a short turnaround before hosting Jacksonville on Thursday.

Jacksonville also produced a commanding result, defeating Indianapolis 42-7. The Jaguars improved to 5-2, while the Colts fell to 2-6. Jacksonville’s performance establishes an important reference point for Week 9 projections because its next opponent, Baltimore, enters Thursday’s game after a substantial defeat.

Denver’s 28-24 victory over Kansas City was another significant development. The Broncos improved to 6-2, while the Chiefs fell to 5-2. The four-point result highlighted the competitive nature of the AFC West and increased the importance of upcoming games involving both teams. Kansas City returns home to face the New York Jets in Week 9, while Denver travels to Carolina.

In the NFC North, Detroit defeated Minnesota 19-15, improving to 5-2 and handing the Vikings their first loss of the season. Minnesota moved to 6-1. The result tightened the competitive picture within the division, with Chicago still awaiting its Monday night result against Seattle.

Other Sunday games produced a mixture of defensive performances, close finishes and significant scoring totals. Cincinnati defeated Tennessee 43-36 in overtime, while Arizona edged Dallas 33-30 in another overtime contest. Pittsburgh beat Cleveland 27-6, and Tampa Bay shut out Atlanta 16-0.

The complete November 1 scoreboard showed the following final results:

• Buffalo Bills 36, Baltimore Ravens 10
• Jacksonville Jaguars 42, Indianapolis Colts 7
• Denver Broncos 28, Kansas City Chiefs 24
• Detroit Lions 19, Minnesota Vikings 15
• Cincinnati Bengals 43, Tennessee Titans 36 (OT)
• Arizona Cardinals 33, Dallas Cowboys 30 (OT)
• Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Cleveland Browns 6
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16, Atlanta Falcons 0
• Las Vegas Raiders 38, New York Jets 33
• Los Angeles Rams 24, Los Angeles Chargers 9
• New England Patriots 24, Miami Dolphins 19
• Washington Commanders 27, Philadelphia Eagles 10

The Los Angeles matchup at SoFi Stadium carried particular significance for Southern California. The Rams defeated the Chargers 24-9, improving to 4-4, while the Chargers remained winless at 0-7. The teams enter Week 9 with different challenges: the Rams travel to Washington, and the Chargers host Houston.

Sunday night’s game completed another important portion of the NFC schedule. Washington defeated Philadelphia 27-10, improving the Commanders to 2-4-1 while dropping the Eagles to 2-6. Both teams face new opponents in Week 9, with Washington hosting Los Angeles and Philadelphia welcoming the New York Giants.

Monday Night Football now becomes the immediate focus. The Chicago Bears, carrying a 5-2 record, visit the 4-3 Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. Eastern, or 5:15 p.m. Pacific, with national television coverage listed across ESPN and ABC platforms.

Chicago enters the matchup seeking a third consecutive victory. The Bears’ official November 1 preview highlighted the anticipated debut of defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, acquired from Tennessee in a trade the previous week. Quarterback Caleb Williams also faces Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold in a matchup between two former USC players selected near the top of their respective NFL drafts.

Injuries remain an important factor. The NFL’s Week 8 injury report listed Chicago running back Kyle Monangai as out with thumb and toe injuries. Seattle’s unavailable players included offensive tackle Charles Cross and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, while linebacker Uchenna Nwosu was listed as doubtful. Final active-player decisions remain relevant to evaluating the matchup.

Seattle entered Monday as a three-point home favorite in the CBS Sports game preview. That market assessment suggests a competitive contest rather than a projected blowout. Chicago’s recent offensive performances and Seattle’s defensive strength create contrasting potential paths to victory. The result will also influence how both teams approach their next games, with the Bears scheduled to host Tampa Bay and the Seahawks set to face Arizona on November 8.

The Week 9 schedule opens Thursday, November 5, when Jacksonville visits Baltimore at 8:15 p.m. Eastern on Prime Video. Jacksonville enters after its convincing victory over Indianapolis, while Baltimore must respond to Sunday’s loss in Buffalo. The early Week 9 betting line reported by FOX Sports favored Jacksonville by 8.5 points.

Sunday’s November 8 schedule begins with an international game in Madrid. Cincinnati faces Atlanta at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, with NFL Network carrying the matchup. The Bengals’ overtime victory over Tennessee gives them positive momentum, while the Falcons must respond after being shut out by Tampa Bay.

The main Sunday afternoon schedule features several important matchups:

• Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers — 1:00 p.m. ET
• Dallas Cowboys at Indianapolis Colts — 1:00 p.m. ET
• New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs — 1:00 p.m. ET
• Detroit Lions at Miami Dolphins — 1:00 p.m. ET
• Cleveland Browns at New Orleans Saints — 1:00 p.m. ET
• New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles — 1:00 p.m. ET
• Los Angeles Rams at Washington Commanders — 1:00 p.m. ET
• Houston Texans at Los Angeles Chargers — 4:05 p.m. ET
• Las Vegas Raiders at San Francisco 49ers — 4:25 p.m. ET
• Green Bay Packers at New England Patriots — 4:25 p.m. ET
• Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks — 4:25 p.m. ET

Sunday Night Football features Tampa Bay at Chicago at 8:20 p.m. Eastern. The week concludes Monday, November 9, when Buffalo visits Minnesota at 8:15 p.m. Eastern. Pittsburgh and Tennessee are scheduled for byes during Week 9.

Early projections indicate that several teams enter the next round as substantial favorites. FOX Sports published November 2 betting lines showing San Francisco favored by 9.5 points against Las Vegas, Seattle favored by 11.5 against Arizona and Kansas City favored by 9.5 against the Jets. Jacksonville was favored by 8.5 against Baltimore, while Detroit was favored by 6.5 on the road against Miami.

Other projected matchups appear more competitive. Buffalo was listed as a 2.5-point favorite at Minnesota, New England held a 2.5-point advantage over Green Bay, and Denver was favored by 2.5 at Carolina. Those spreads are market estimates, not predicted final scores, and can change as injury information, team announcements and betting activity develop throughout the week.

San Francisco’s matchup against Las Vegas is particularly relevant to Bay Area football audiences. The 49ers return from their Week 8 bye to host a Raiders team that improved to 4-4 after beating the Jets. The matchup creates another opportunity to assess how San Francisco performs against an opponent coming off a high-scoring victory.

Seattle’s Week 9 outlook also depends partly on Monday’s game against Chicago. The Seahawks have a shorter preparation window before hosting Arizona, which enters after its overtime win in Dallas. Similarly, Chicago must prepare for Tampa Bay after traveling to Seattle, creating a scheduling consideration for both teams regardless of Monday’s result.

The remaining weeks of the regular season will increasingly connect individual results to playoff positioning. Divisional records, head-to-head outcomes and conference performance will become more consequential as teams compete for postseason berths. However, Week 9 projections should still be treated as preliminary. A single injury, turnover sequence or unexpected result can substantially change a team’s outlook.

For live updates, the NFL’s official scores and schedule pages provide game status, kickoff information and final results. CBS Sports and other major sports outlets also publish scoreboards and game previews. Fans following the November 2 matchup should distinguish pregame projections from verified in-game scoring, while those tracking Week 9 should check for updated injury reports and revised schedules before each kickoff.

With Sunday’s Week 8 results confirmed and Chicago-Seattle still to be decided, the immediate NFL calendar offers a clear transition: one final Monday game, a short break before Thursday Night Football, and a 15-game Week 9 slate featuring significant AFC and NFC matchups. The next round of results will determine whether the early favorites maintain their positions or whether another series of unexpected outcomes reshapes the league’s competitive picture.