NFC South predictions: Frank Reich gets revenge against the Colts

Two quarterbacks make their 2023 debut in Atlanta while Frank Reich has revenge on his mind when his Panthers take on the Colts nearly one year after they fired him. Here are our NFC South predictions for Week 9.

Minnesota Vikings (4-4) at Atlanta Falcons (4-4) | 1 p.m. ET

Rookie Jaren Hall gets the first start of his NFL career against a Falcons team also going through some quarterback upheaval. Head coach Arthur Smith announced Taylor Heinicke will start for the first time in 2023, benching Desmond Ridder after eight mediocre weeks. Heinicke had no problem getting teammates in Washington to rally around him when he started 24 games from 2021-22 and he will get the same buy-in from the Falcons. 

This isn't a good matchup for Hall to start his NFL career. Minnesota has one of the worst rushing attacks in football, ranking 31st (73.3 yards per game), and likely won't have any luck against a Falcons defense that allows 3.8 yards per rush attempt. Will Hall be the second rookie making his first NFL start to beat the Falcons after Will Levis diced them for four touchdowns? Arthur Smith might be FedEx'd out of town overnight if that happens.

PREDICTION: Falcons, 24-6

Chicago Bears (2-6) at New Orleans Saints (4-4) | 1 p.m. ET

The Saints usually feast on rookie quarterbacks, which bodes well for them when they face Tyson Bagent, a former Division II quarterback making his third NFL start. He was 46-of-66 (70 percent) for 394 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in his first two starts. The Saints have already played rookies Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud this season. They combined to go 35-of-60 (58.3 percent) for 353 yards, three touchdowns and an interception with Saints defenders getting six sacks.

New Orleans tries to stack good offensive performances after a 38-27 win in Indianapolis. Quarterback Derek Carr had his best game as a Saint, going 19-of-27 for 310 yards (his third consecutive 300-yard game) and two touchdowns. He should have another big game against a Bears defense that ranks 30th against the pass (262.3 yards per game) but is stout against the run, ranking third (78.8 yards per game). 

PREDICTION: Saints, 31-10

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4) at Houston Texans (3-4) | 1:00 p.m. ET

The Bucs will have had 10 days to figure out how to snap their three-game losing streak, but they may not find a respite in Houston. The Texans have a strong defensive front led by rookie first-rounder Will Anderson Jr. and 2020 third-rounder Jonathan Greenard, who leads the team with six sacks. That might be a problem for a Bucs offensive line which has given up six sacks over the past two weeks after allowing five sacks in their first five games. The Texans have lost two games against NFC South opponents on walk-off field goals but get payback in Week 9.

PREDICTION: Texans, 16-13

Indianapolis Colts (3-5) at Carolina Panthers (1-6) | 4:05 p.m. ET

It's a Frank Reich revenge game. When Indianapolis and Carolina meet on Nov. 5, it will be almost the one year anniversary of when the Colts fired Reich and hired former center Jeff Saturday off the "Get Up" set on Nov. 7, 2022. Reich got his first win as Panthers head coach in Week 8 and will try to build on that performance against his former team. Bryce Young had his best start against the Texans, finishing 22-of-31 (71 percent) for 235 yards and a touchdown. Neither defense is good - the Panthers are 30th in scoring defense (28.4 points per game) and the Colts are 32nd (28.6 points per game) - so we're taking Young to get his second win in a row and Reich the last laugh.

PREDICTION: Panthers, 27-20