NFL Week 9 confidence pool rankings: Jaguars will trample over murky Ravens

The AFC is a different dimension without Lamar Jackson involved, and with his return this season in doubt, the Ravens are without a paddle. That was evident when Jackson left after one snap to a thumb injury in Sunday’s 36-10 whipping to Buffalo. Jahmyr Gibbs found the antidote to Brian Flores’ blitz-heavy defense and ran for 153 yards to hand the Vikings their first loss of 2026.  And wouldn’t you know it, Patrick Mahomes exhibited signs of mortal life in the fourth quarter, getting stuffed on fourth-and-goal in the game’s final play against Denver. Chalk was heavy last week, and so was the Buccaneers’ running game — it’s been 52 years since an NFL team won a game without completing a pass. Jackson’s absence is worth enough points on the spread to make a heavyweight conference clash a potential laugher.Your guess is as good as mine on who will be taking snaps for Baltimore. I realize it’s lame to rank two of the longest favorites on the slate atop this list.

The 49ers are well rested, getting healthier and have the veteran group to trust not losing on home turf to a developmental Raiders team right after their first loss of the season. With a date against New England next week and a Dolphins team that just fought to cover the spread against the Patriots, this could be a trap game.But I’ll still place faith in Detroit’s explosive rushing attack and a defense that’s turned a corner over its past three games. There’s the Joe Cool we know.

Throwing for 462 yards and five touchdowns will do it.There’s no limit to the Bengals passing attack, and the Falcons just lost to one that didn’t complete a singular attempt.Another week, another humiliating loss for the J-E-T-S JETS! A second-half defensive collapse and red-zone stalls cost them in a 38-33 shoot out to Las Vegas.

The Mahomes clutch factor may not seem as foolproof as before, but it won’t be necessary anyway. It’s fair to say Caleb Williams is a matchup-proof threat af...