As the 2026 NFL regular season reaches its midway point with Week 9, eight home underdogs dot the schedule and three road favorites are firmly on upset alert. Lines via DraftKings; all times Eastern.
Green Bay Packers (+3) at New England Patriots
When: 4:25 p.m. ET | Where: Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts) | TV: Fox | Stream: Fubo | Packers ML: +142
Both teams started 1-2 and have gone 4-1 over the past five weeks. Jordan Love leads the NFL in passing yards entering Week 8, while Drake Maye leads the league in total yards and touchdowns from Weeks 4-8. The Patriots' offense is banged up: wideout A.J. Brown missed Week 8 with a knee injury and tight end Hunter Henry left last week's win with a foot injury. Green Bay's defense has allowed 14.6 points per game over the last five contests, ranking third in the NFL.
Buffalo Bills at Minnesota Vikings (+3.5)
When: Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET | Where: U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis) | TV: ESPN | Stream: Fubo | Vikings ML: +150
Buffalo averages a league-best 33.3 points per game; Minnesota allows a league-low 13.3 points per game. The Vikings lead the NFL with a 69.1% blitz rate. Against the blitz this season, Josh Allen ranks 20th among 31 qualified quarterbacks in passer rating (88.2) and is tied for the second-most interceptions (3). Minnesota's offense, led by Kyler Murray, has been less dynamic, but Buffalo's defense surrenders 25.9 points per game (tied 24th).
Houston Texans at Los Angeles Chargers (+4.5)
When: 4:05 p.m. ET | Where: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) | TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ | Chargers ML: +180
The Chargers are 0-7, last in scoring (14.1 PPG) and lead the league in turnovers (17). They haven't scored a touchdown since the third quarter of Week 5. Houston's defense has regressed sharply: after ranking 2nd in points allowed (2025) they are 18th in 2026; yards allowed dropped from 1st to 19th; interceptions from tied-3rd to tied-24th. The Texans have allowed 30+ points three times this season (once in 2025) and have given up three 300-yard passing games (none in 2025).
Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers (+2.5)
When: 1 p.m. ET | Where: Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte) | TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ | Panthers ML: +124
Under Dave Canales (since 2024), Carolina is 8-9 as a home underdog (11-6 ATS) and 6-4 since the start of last season. The Panthers' offensive line is banged up; Bryce Young has taken 11 sacks over the past two games. Denver is tied for the fourth-most sacks (23) through Week 8. Carolina has a rest advantage after playing last Thursday, while Denver may face a letdown after beating the Chiefs.
Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons (+3)
When: 9:30 a.m. ET | Where: Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid, Spain) | TV: NFL Network | Falcons ML: +142
Joe Burrow threw six touchdowns last week, but Cincinnati's defense allowed 36 points to Tennessee. Cam Ward passed for 304 yards, two touchdowns and rushed for 41 yards against the Bengals. Cincinnati lost Cashius Howell (fractured wrist), DJ Turner (heel) and Cedric Johnson (ankle); Turner and Johnson could play. The Bengals allow 4.8 yards per rush (tied fourth-highest). Atlanta gets edge rusher James Pearce Jr back from an eight-game suspension, and Bijan Robinson could exploit the run defense after Tony Pollard ran for 117 yards and two touchdowns against Cincinnati last week.
