NFL Week 9 lowlights: Patriots crushed, another end-of-game Commanders debacle and Cleveland's running back regret

Maye wasn't alone being careless with the football. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson lost a fumble late in the third quarter, which Green Bay promptly converted into points on the next play from scrimmage, a 39-yard bomb from Packers quarterback Jordan Love to wideout Christian Watson. 

Love consistently shredded the Patriots secondary and finished 23-of-29 for 372 yards (12.8 yards per attempt) and three touchdowns. Watson led Green Bay with 171 yards and seven receptions, while receiver Matthew Golden added 10 receptions, 164 yards and a touchdown.

Head coach Mike Vrabel was also off his game, curiously challenging a deep completion to Watson in the second quarter. The call on the field itself was 50-50, hardly a slam-dunk reversal, but that was by no means the issue with Vrabel's decision to throw the red flag.

Patriots corner Carlton Davis III was penalized for pass interference, which would have set Green Bay up with first-and-goal whether the call on the field was overturned or not.

The Patriots were their own worst enemy in Week 9. But as Brady noted, this may just be who they are.

Worst mismatch: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase vs. Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell

Terrell, playing in his seventh NFL season, has been here before.

On Sunday, he was taken back to January 2020 when assigned to Chase in the College Football Playoff national title game between his Clemson Tigers and Chase's LSU Tigers, a 42-25 LSU win. As in that game, the individual matchup was entirely one-sided.

Per Sumer Sports data, Chase caught four of five targets when covered by Terrell for 103 yards, including 38 after the catch, and a touchdown in Sunday's 34-17 Bengals win.

"When Joe seen A.J. Terrell on me, he got pretty excited," Chase said of his 46-yard touchdown, which capped Cincinnati's opening drive, per The Athletic Bengals reporter Paul Dehner Jr.

As arguably the best receiver in football, Chase makes a lot of corners look bad. But few have looked as awful as Atlanta's CB1 did on Sunday.

Worst transaction misfire: Cleveland Browns release Audric Estime, then allow him to run all over them

On Monday, Estime, a former Denver Broncos fifth-round pick, was waived by the Browns. Six days later, he made them pay.

The third-year running back from Notre Dame led the New Orleans Saints backfield in a 23-22 overtime win over Cleveland, finishing with 15 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown.

He got going on New Orleans' opening drive, gaining 32 yards on the first three plays, including an 18-yard run that matched the Saints' rushing total in their last game, a 16-10 loss in Paris to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With a minute remaining in regulation, he gave the Saints a 16-13 lead on a two-yard touchdown.

"It's like a Disney movie, I'm not gonna like," Estime told Saints sideline reporter Jeff Nowak after the game. For the Browns, it may have felt more akin to a "John Wick" film, and they were the nameless henchmen.

Worst play: Kansas City Chiefs attempt a QB sneak

The Chiefs have avoided running QB sneak like the plague, last doing so with tight end Noah Gray against the Denver Broncos three seasons ago. After Sunday's 35-12 win over the Jets, we might not see them try again for the rest of the decade.

Backup quarterback Justin Fields came in for Patrick Mahomes to attempt the sneak on a 3rd-and-1 midway through the first quarter, only to be stopped short of the line to gain. Making matters worse, a successful Jets challenge ruled Fields fumbled and lost possession on the play.

"I mean, you guys asked for it, so we gave it to you, and it didn't work," Reid told reporters following the game.

For as good of a coach as the three-time Super Bowl winner Reid is, one would think he'd have his team better prepared for those plays. But if the Chiefs haven't learned how to do it yet, they probably never will.

Worst finish: Washington Commanders flub ending (again) versus Los Angeles Rams

Move over, Packers-Bears or Chiefs-Bills. The best rivalry in football is between the Commanders and the ends of games.

Four weeks ago, the Washington played to a tie against the New York Giants after poor clock management resulted in it being able to attempt a game-winning field goal at the end of overtime.

Sunday's last gasp against the Rams in a 20-13 loss wasn't as egregious, but not by much.

With the ball at the Los Angeles 32-yard line, quarterback Jayden Daniels only threw the ball five yards past the line of scrimmage to tight end Chig Okonkwo, forcing a futile lateral situation.

Head coach Dan Quinn explained afterward that it was all by design and influenced by five-man Rams pass rush.

Without running a simulation, we have to imagine a shot toward the end zone from 30 yards away has a higher likelihood of success than what Washington actually tried. Even on deep incompletions, receivers can draw pass interference penalties, making it even smarter choice.

Quinn once again had his team unprepared for a pivotal moment. Soon, the Commanders may have to pivot to their next head coach.