Last weekend was bookended by visions of legendary NFL QBs going down to defeat while upstart youngsters romped. It all started last Thursday when Tom Brady and the 2021 Super Bowl champion Bucs got Lamar’d — outrun and outgunned by Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. 
 
On Sunday, Panthers QB PJ Walker, a 2017 undrafted free agent, dropped a 75-yard Darrell Lamonica bomb on the depleted Falcons secondary, putting the league on notice: don’t overlook those unknown young guns. Walker and the Panthers had already skunked the Bucs the week before.
 
But the Falcons also have a relatively-young gun, QB Marcus Mariota. He and a totally-unknown WR, Damiere Byrd, put a Michael Vick juke on that stout Panther defense — and ended up taking over first place in the crazy NFC South.
 
Late Sunday night, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers were dished their fourth straight loss, burned by the arm and legs of the Bills’ Josh Allen, who, in an interview, reported that he copied some of Rodgers’ patented throws.
 
After the thrashing, Rodgers looked old, tired, and frustrated — a look that is now becoming familiar — you may recall that the Commanders and QB Taylor Heinicke (who?) had humiliated the Packers just one week before.
 
On Sunday, the Commanders showed it was no fluke, taming the Colts in a tense showdown. But injured veteran QB Matt Ryan was spared the indignity — the Colts’ season has been turned over to QB Sam Ehlinger, their 2021 draftee.

Speaking of draftees, QB Malik Willis got his first win as a pro, boosting the Titans to a solid lead in the AFC South. With the Vikings besting the Cardinals, the NFC North is the only other division with a clear leader.
 
In Week Nine, we eye the Chargers and Falcons duking it out for possible leads in the AFC West and NFC South. The Cardinals try to get back in the NFC West division race vs. the surprising Seahawks. And the Commanders try to get off the bottom in the NFC East by challenging the Vikings.
 
But my Game of the Week is a battle of two AFC giants: Titans-Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.

Last weekend, my win-loss record was a nice 10-5.  Here are the Week Nine matches — and my picks:
 
1.    Eagles          at Texans              Eagles          TNF
2.    Chargers      at Falcons              Chargers
3.    Dolphins       at Bears                Dolphins
4.    Panthers       at Bengals             Bengals
5.    Packers        at Lions                 Packers
6.    Raiders        at Jaguars              Jaguars
7.    Colts            at Patriots              Patriots
8.    Bills             at Jets                   Bills
9.    Vikings         at Commanders      Vikings
10.  Seahawks     at Cardinals           Cardinals
11.  Rams           at Bucs                  Bucs
12.  Titans          at Chiefs                Chiefs           SNF
13.  Ravens         at Saints                Ravens         MNF

The Browns, Broncos, Cowboys, Giants, Steelers, and 49ers have byes. But there is plenty of football to keep us happy. So, enjoy!