The Rich Top 5: NFL Week 9’s Most Intriguing Matchups

Week 9 has a game in Madrid, a Bay Area rivalry that isn't really in the Bay Area anymore, and a Monday night showdown with a new quarterback under center. Rich ranked the matchups he's most looking forward to, and as usual, he couldn't stop at five.

Number five is Raiders and Niners. "Once upon a time, the battle of the Bay Area," Rich said. "Now it's Vegas versus San Jose. You know, like the Golden Knights versus the Sharks."

San Francisco is coming off its first loss of the season and a bye, and coming back mostly healthy. Rich said Mike Evans apparently isn't ready, but it looks like Nick Bosa is back, and Brandon Aiyuk is back in the building "unless his key card's not working." The crew debated whether the 49ers would really bother checking with IT to make sure Aiyuk's card works.

The Raiders are coming off their first win since a three-game win streak to start the season was followed by a four-game losing streak. And Rich loves the storyline at quarterback: Kirk Cousins against the 49ers, the spot where everyone once thought he was headed before Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch "jumped the gun for Jimmy G." Rich called it "a whole Shanahan tree of Shanahan situation," with the Kubiak system in place. "I can't wait for this one."

Number four is Bengals-Falcons from Madrid. "Tapas for breakfast, everybody," Rich said, before the crew got into a side debate about paella and whether having been to Marbella counts. Back to football: Rich wants to see what the Bengals do to follow up their current run, and he said the Falcons need a win. One prediction from the table was that Cincinnati would fall behind by two scores and Joe Burrow would lead the comeback. "Can the Falcons put two scores together? It's been a bit," Rich said. Others at the table noted Atlanta did beat the Niners and argued to throw out last week's rainstorm game.

Rich also noted the sacrifice involved. He's waking up in the middle of the night to be there, maybe 2 or 2:30. "It's obscene," he said. When someone suggested he just stay up all night, Rich wasn't having it. "You keep coming up with terrible ideas."

Number three is the Bears and Bucs. Chicago just came off its biggest regular-season win of the Ben Johnson era. So, Rich asked, are the Bears who we think they are?

Or does Todd Bowles watch the Seattle film and decide Caleb Williams had it too easy? Rich imagined the Bucs coach's reaction: you just sat back there and had a Giordano's pizza. "No, no, no. We are going to be blitzing you from the O'Hare tarmac," Rich said. "Completely different situation."

The Bucs have won two in a row. Rich added a twist on Baker Mayfield: "When will Baker complete his first pass and get a single passing yard? Because once that happens, the Bears have got him right where they want him, because when Baker doesn't throw for a passing yard, they win."

Number two is Packers and Patriots in the late window. New England is without A.J. Brown and without TreVeyon Henderson, but the crew noted the Patriots haven't needed them. Green Bay comes in off a mini bye after the Week 8 kickoff game. Rich laid out the NFC North order of the day: the Lions will have already played the Dolphins and be getting ready for the Vikings, the Packers play second, and the Bears go Sunday night. Meanwhile the Patriots need to stay on the Bills' heels.

Topping the list is the Monday night game, Bills and Vikings. "I think this goes without saying," Rich said. Carson Wentz is getting the start. "If it looks anything better than what we've seen, I think we might see him again, quite frankly." On the other side, the Bills get another chance with "their Mandalorian quarterback" to go into a tough spot and kick some tail. "This defense versus Josh Allen and the offense of the Bills, let's go."

And yes, there was one more. Rich added Eagles and Giants. The Giants face Philadelphia and then the Washington Commanders a few days later. Can New York use that five-day stretch to stamp itself on the NFC East? Or will the Eagles stand in the way and end their long losing streak?