Popular Bob's Week 9 NFL Forecast: Will the QB carousel continue?

Quarterbacks have been taking a beating this season, and entering Week 9 it will be particularly important to keep tabs on the injury reports. Seven starters who missed their team's last game are either returning this week or in the day-to-day category.

Plus, there are fresh injuries, such as the shoulder issue for Cincinnati's Joe Flacco. He reportedly has a 50-50 chance to play Sunday.

Here's a look at this week's games:

THURSDAY

---> Baltimore Ravens (2-5) at Miami Dolphins (2-6), 6:15 p.m.

Ravens 7.5 (50.5 O/U)

Forecast: Ravens 31, Dolphins 17,

If we are to believe news coming out of Baltimore, expect QB Lamar Jackson (hamstring) to make his first start since Week 4. Baltimore also should benefit from the improved health of its defense, which was missing nine key players four weeks ago.

SUNDAY

---> Chicago Bears (4-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-5), 11 a.m.

Bears -2.5 (51.5 O/U)

Forecast: Bears 30, Bengals 17

Three times this season a team gained 500 yards of offense in regulation, and twice it happened against Cincinnati, including by the Jets last week (horrors!). Chicago should thrive.

---> Minnesota Vikings (3-4) at Detroit Lions (5-2), 11 a.m.

Lions 9 (47.5 O/U)

Forecast: Lions 38, Vikings 13

Minnesota QB J.J. McCarthy, who hasn't played since Week 2, was listed as questionable at midweek (ankle) but is expected to start. In his last game, though, he fumbled three times and had two INTs. In the Lions' last game they throttled QB Baker Mayfield and the Bucs 24-9.

---> Carolina Panthers (4-4) at Green Bay Packers (5-1-1), 11 a.m.

Packers -13 (44 O/U)

Forecast: Packers 26, Panthers 16

Carolina QB Bryce Young is listed as questionable (ankle), and based on the extra-high odds sportsbooks have posted, Andy Dalton is expected to start.

---> LA Chargers (5-3) at Tennessee Titans (1-7), 11 a.m.

Chargers 8.5 (43.5 O/U)

Forecast: Chargers 27, Titans 6

A matchup of LA's defense, which last week held Minnesota to its lowest yardage total in six years (164), against a Titans offense on pace to have the worst yardage per game in the league the past seven years.

---> Atlanta Falcons (3-4) at New England Patriots (6-2), 11 a.m.

Patriots -5 (45 O/U)

Forecast: Patriots38, Falcons 17

QB Michael Penix (shoulder) is expected to start for Atlanta after sitting out last week's loss to Miami. The Falcons' defense, though, will have to deal with QB Drake Maye, who's had five games with a 135-plus passer rating. All other QBs have totaled 11 such games.

---> San Francisco 49ers (5-3) at NY Giants (2-6), 11 a.m.

49ers -2.5 (49 O/U)

Forecast: 49ers 27, Giants 13

49ers QB Brock Purdy might get the start (toe), especially since backup Mac Jones seemingly is in worse shape (questionable, bruised knee). NYG is without its top WR and RB.

---> Indianapolis Colts (7-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3), 11 a.m.

Colts -3 (50.5 O/U)

Forecast: Colts 38, Steelers 21

Pittsburgh's 30th-ranked defense goes against the league's No. 1 offense that includes rushing leader Jonathan Taylor.

---> Denver Broncos (6-2) at Houston Texans (3-4), 11 a.m.

Texans -1 (40 O/U)

Forecast: Broncos 23, Texans 14

Denver almost surely will be without last year's Defensive Player of the Year in CB Patrick Surtain (doubtful, pec strain). But that shouldn't stop the Broncos from giving Houston headaches.

---> Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-5), 2:05 p.m.

Jaguars -3 (44.5 O/U)

Forecast: Raiders 20, Jaguars 17

---> New Orleans Saints (1-7) at LA Rams (5-2), 2:05 p.m.

Rams -13.5 (44 O/U)

Forecast: Rams 27, Saints 17

New Orleans' Tyler Shough will become the 10th rookie QB to start a game the past two seasons. In their debuts their teams went a collective 5-4 ATS, 3-6 SU.

---> Kansas City Chiefs (5-3) at Buffalo Bills (5-2), 2:25 p.m.

Chiefs -2 (52.5 O/U)

Forecast: Bills 26, Chiefs 23

It's midseason, so the Bills rate an edge. Buffalo defeated KC in each of the past four regular seasons. It's in the playoffs that the Chiefs have gotten even, going 4-0 since 2021.

---> Seattle Seahawks (5-2) at Washington Commanders (3-5), 6:20 p.m.

Seahawks -3 (48 0/U)

Forecast: Seahawks 30, Commanders 19

Washington likely gets back QB Jayden Daniels (hamstring), but top receiver Terry McLaurin is out (quad).

MONDAY

---> Arizona Cardinals (2-5) at Dallas Cowboys 3-4-1), 6:15 p.m.

Cowboys -2.5 (54 O/U)

Forecast: Cowboys 27, Cardinals 21

Does it matter who starts at QB for Arizona? The Cardinals lost their last three games before Kyler Murray (questionable, foot) got hurt, and Arizona followed with two more defeats with Jacoby Brissett.

RECORDS

Last week's results: 5-8 against the spread, 9-4 straight up

Season total: 56-61-2 ATS, 74-45 SU