Week 9 of the NFL season will kick off on Thursday with a bout between the Baltimore Ravens and the Miami Dolphins, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This week has some loaded matchups, including games between two of the top AFC contenders, two of the best defenses in the league, and an NFC North showdown.

Today, I’m going through the schedule and finding the 10 most intriguing storylines to watch for this week.

Can Lamar Jackson bring the Ravens back into playoff contention?

Lamar Jackson is back in action on Thursday night after missing the last three games with an injury. The Ravens have really struggled without him, and they’re currently sitting at 2-5, but they’re coming off a big win, and the AFC North is as weak as it’s ever been. So the question has to be asked: Can Jackson bring them back into playoff contention?

Thursday night should give us a good idea. They still have a ton of issues defensively, but those can be masked by elite quarterback play. If Jackson can come in and lead the Ravens to something like 28 points per game, their defense SHOULD be able to give them a shot to win most games.

If the Ravens come out and look really good against the Dolphins, I’ll have some faith that Lamar can get them to the playoffs. But if they come out and look like the Ravens we saw at the beginning of the year, I may be out on them.

Will the Bears or Bengals get themselves back into the playoff picture?

Both the Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals had playoff aspirations heading into the season, but find themselves on the back foot a bit. The Bears are 4-3, but are in a loaded NFC, and the Bengals are 3-5, but have one of the most electric offenses in football with Joe Flacco under center.

A win here would be massive for both teams, and a loss would be devastating. I’m not saying the loser is eliminated from playoff contention, but it would make their lives much, much more difficult. I think this will be a fairly high-scoring game, so it’ll come down to which defense can get a big stop in the fourth quarter.

Can the Vikings take advantage of a banged-up secondary?

On paper, this game shouldn’t be too close. The Detroit Lions are one of the best teams in the league, and the Minnesota Vikings are struggling, but there’s a way the Vikings can keep this game close.

The Lions’ secondary has been decimated by injuries, but they’re coming off a bye and, at the time of writing this, haven’t released their first injury report. We’ll see who they get back, but Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are going to be tough to stop, no matter who you have on the back end. If Carson Wentz can just find a way to get the ball into their hands, this game could be much closer than many think.

What will the Giants’ offense look like without Cam Skattebo?

Last week, Cam Skattebo suffered a gruesome ankle injury, and after successful surgery, he’s likely done for the year. I know we’ve seen the New York Giants’ offense without Skattebo as the main back early in the year, but he became the focal point of this offense the last few weeks, and that’s when they excelled. So what will their offense look like without him?

We got a glimpse last week when Tyrone Tracy took over and ran for 39 yards on 10 carries. It was against a good Eagles defense, but they still just weren’t explosive enough. They need to find a way to get the run game going without Skattebo, and this week they play a pretty solid San Fran run defense.

Can the Steelers slow down Jonathan Taylor, and therefore the Colts?

The key to stopping the Indianapolis Colts is stopping Jonathan Taylor. That’s much easier said than done, but the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to give it their best shot on Sunday. Their run defense hasn’t been as good as it’s been in the past, but there’s something about the black and gold that’s intimidating.

I expect Pittsburgh to sell out against the run and force Daniel Jones to beat them with his arm. Will it really matter in the end? Probably not, because the Steelers don’t have a great pass defense either, but at least it would give T.J. Watt a chance to be a factor and potentially rattle Jones.

Will defense reign supreme in Houston?

I’m so excited for the Denver vs Houston game. Two of the best defenses in the league are going head-to-head in the early window. This just screams 13-10 ball game to me.

Both teams have competent offenses, but they’ve both been very inconsistent throughout the year. I expect this to be a defensive slugfest, and instead of it coming down to who can get a big stop late, it will be which offense can make a big play in the final fourth quarter. Points will be at a premium, so every yard matters.

What will this edition of Chiefs vs Bills give us?

This could be the game of the year. The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs are two of the AFC’s top contenders every single year, and they always give us one hell of a game. This time around, it shouldn’t be any different.

Both of these offenses are firing on all cylinders right now. Patrick Mahomes is one of the favorites to win the MVP, and after their bye week, Josh Allen led the Bills to 40 points last time out. Defensively, the Chiefs have a massive advantage, but in the past, defense hasn’t really mattered in this matchup; it’s been all about which quarterback out-duels the other.

I wish this were a primetime game, but at least it’s in the late window. This should be another epic chapter in the Mahomes vs Allen book, so buckle up and get your popcorn ready for Sunday at 4:25 pm ET.

Will Tyler Shough give the Saints a spark offensively?

The New Orleans Saints were playing pretty good football for a 1-5 team, but in their last two games, they’ve been outscored 49-17 and just have no juice offensively. Kellen Moore made the executive decision to pull Spencer Rattler in favor of second-round rookie Tyler Shough, and now he’s announced Shough will start on Sunday.

So, can Shough provide the Saints with a spark? Last week, he came in relief and completed 57 percent of his throws for 128 yards and an interception, but he didn’t look all that bad. I think he’s got some juice to him, but I’m terrified of the Los Angeles Rams’ pass rush. Shough struggled with pressure throughout his entire college career, and now he has to go against Jared Verse and Byron Young.

I think he could provide a bit of a spark, but only if his offensive line can keep him protected. If not, it’s going to be another long day for the Saints.

Can Jayden Daniels save the Commanders’ season?

Jayden Daniel is set to begin practicing on Wednesday, meaning he should be in line to play this Sunday. The Washington Commanders, who made the NFC Championship last year, are 3-5 this year, and their playoff hopes are slowly seeping away. However, a win this week could work wonders for their confidence moving forward.

The only bad thing is that they have to play one of the best teams in the league in the Seattle Seahawks. Sam Darnold and Co. are rolling, and have a top 10 offense and defense. Washington is going to need Daniels to put the team on his back and come through with a vintage JD5 performance because otherwise, they stand no chance, and their season might be over before they even get to their bye.

Can the Cowboys keep their slim playoff hopes alive?

Much like the Commanders, the Dallas Cowboys are on the outside looking in on the playoff picture. They have this high-flying, electric offense that is so fun to watch, but man, that defense is bad. Despite scoring 30.8 points per game (2nd in the league), the Cowboys are 3-4-1 and need a win this week to keep their hopes of securing a Wild Card spot truly alive.

I have faith that the Cowboys offense can outpace the Arizona Cardinals’ offense if they were playing the same defense, but I’m worried the Cardinals will just continuously march down the field and put three or six on the board. Dak Prescott is going to have to score on pretty much every possession if they want to win, but if anyone’s going to do it, it’s him and the Cowboys.