NFL Week 9 winners: AFC North foes dominate; Alvin Kamara breaks records

Saints RB Alvin Kamara

Kamara has been the lone bright spot of the Saints offense amid the team’s seven-game losing streak. He matched his career-high for rushing yards in a game (155) and set a new career-high for scrimmage yards in a game (215) during New Orleans’ embarrassing 23-22 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Kamara broke more than just personal records in the Saints' loss, however. He recorded his 551st career reception in the game, surpassing Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (548) for the most receptions by a running back in their first eight seasons.

Rams S Kamren Kinchens

Kinchens, a third-round rookie out of the University of Miami, had only played 88 career snaps before Sunday according to Next Gen Stats. Despite his inexperience, he came up with two interceptions off of Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith, the second of which he returned 103 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Rams a seven-point lead.

Kinchens’ pick-six was the longest by a rookie in the Super Bowl era, according to Rams PR.

Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow

Despite the absence of star WR Tee Higgins for a second-consecutive week, Burrow had one of the best passing outings of his career in a 41-24 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. He completed 27 of his 39 attempts, including 15 consecutive completions to open the game, for 251 yards and five touchdowns. It was his second five-touchdown performance of the season.

After a 1-4 start, Cincinnati has won three of its last four matchups and sits one win away from .500. If the Bengals can continue to win games, Burrow, thanks to games like these, will be in the thick of the MVP race by the season's end.

Atlanta Falcons defense

After allowing opponents to convert 49.04% of third-down attempts over the first eight weeks of the season, Atlanta’s defense showed out on crucial downs against Dallas. With three minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Cowboys were 0-for-6 on third down and 0-for-3 on fourth down attempts.

Dallas ended the game a combined 4-for-18 (22.2%) on third- and fourth-downs, their lowest conversion rate of the season. Those defensive stops, especially on fourth down, proved to be the difference in Atlanta securing a six-point home victory and improving to 6-3 for the first time since 2016.

Cincinnati Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson

Hendrickson racked up a career-high four sacks and forced a fumble during Cincinnati’s 41-24 demolition of the Raiders. His 11 sacks lead the league before Sunday night's contest between the Indianapolis Colts and Minnesota Vikings.

Last season, Hendrickson missed the All-Pro team and didn’t receive a single Defensive Player of the Year vote despite accumulating a career-high 17.5 sacks. With a wide-open race for the coveted award through nine weeks, Hendrickson’s statement game puts him in a prime position to make a run at his first DPOY.

Arizona Cardinals

After being blown out at home by Washington in Week 4 and dropping to 1-3, it seemed as if the Cardinals were bound to be a .500 or worse team for the eighth time in the past nine seasons. However, with their convincing 29-9 routing of the Chicago Bears on Sunday, the Cardinals (5-4) have their first winning record at any point of a season since 2021 and find themselves in sole possession of a depleted NFC West division.

With a win over the New York Jets next week, the Cardinals could be heading into their bye week with a 6-4 record and be in a surprisingly solid position to secure just their second trip to the playoffs since 2015. 

Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

With superstar receiver D.K. Metcalf sidelined for a second-consecutive week with a knee injury, Smith-Njigba took advantage of a drastic increase in volume. Smith-Njigba racked up 180 receiving yards and two touchdowns, both career-highs, on seven receptions in a 26-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. His 14-yard touchdown with 51 seconds remaining sent the game to overtime.

Despite their loss, the Seahawks should feel more comfortable giving Smith-Njigba a continued increase in volume even after Metcalf's return.