Nov 5, 2026 · 1h 4m
NFL quarterback upheaval reshapes Week 9 playoff debate
NFL Cover Zero: Chicago Road Trip, QB changes, Halfway Awards, and Week 9 Preview
With several teams changing quarterbacks and the playoff picture tightening, the episode tests which contenders can survive uncertainty.
- 1Baltimore turns to Jacoby Brissett while injuries threaten its playoff position and Thursday matchup with Jacksonville.
- 2Philadelphia, Seattle, and Cleveland face consequential quarterback decisions involving Joe Milton, Drew Lock, and Shedeur Sanders.
- 3The hosts pair midseason award debates and playoff-rule arguments with picks across the entire Week 9 schedule.
Don't miss
The hosts debate whether Shedeur Sanders can keep Cleveland in the playoff hunt after Deshaun Watson enters concussion protocol.
The brief
Matt Jones and Drew Franklin set up their Chicago trip for Bears–Buccaneers, then widen the lens to a Week 9 shaped by quarterback instability.
Baltimore’s injuries force a debate over whether Jacoby Brissett can keep the Ravens in contention, while Philadelphia and Seattle make their own quarterback changes.
Cleveland’s concussion protocol decision puts Shedeur Sanders in line to start, adding another test of a team’s playoff hopes and quarterback depth.
The hosts challenge division-based playoff advantages, review midseason award favorites, and weigh whether returning stars can alter the league’s balance.
A full slate of Week 9 picks leads back to Chicago, where Matt backs the Bears, Drew backs Tampa Bay, and the touchdown parlay gets updated.
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