Which players and teams will catch your eye?

NFL teams – or at least the 30 that didn’t have a bye – have one last chance to make a big announcement before the season reaches the halfway point.

End Week 9 could lead to some eye-opening revelations in the league. WITH Tuesday is the deadline for replacing the leaguefront offices and coaching staffs will have to make the final decision on whether to support any major personnel moves or try to turn things around by bringing in a key veteran or sending one to increase draft capital or help develop a long-term cap projection.

With that in mind, here are the USA TODAY Sports NFL staff’s bold predictions for Week 9:

Jameis Winston will become the first quarterback this season to pass 300 yards rushing for the Chargers

With Deshaun Watson out for the season (again) with a torn Achilles tendon, the Cleveland Browns offense is getting new life with Jameis Winston at quarterback. In his debut start last weekend, Winston only earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors, throwing for 334 yards and three TDs without a pick (115.3 passing yards) in an upset of the high-flying Baltimore Ravens. And suddenly shadows of last season appear, when another veteran quarterback, Joe Flacco, came off the bench and led the Browns to the playoffs. It’s a bit of a stretch to expect Winston to lead Cleveland to the playoffs, but it’s possible with a winning streak. And his presence, like Flacco’s in 2023, is such a contrast. Flacco was 4-1 as a backup last season and passed for 300 yards in each of the last four games. Now Winston is starting what could be another 300-yard streak. It’s also worth noting that while the Browns are 5-1 with Flacco or Winston, they’re 1-6 in Watson’s starts since the beginning of the ’23 season. And it wasn’t just Watson who failed to break 300; he hasn’t even exceeded 200 points in a game this season. Passing for 300 yards against Los Angeles won’t be easy for Famous Jameis. The Chargers, eighth in the NFL in yards allowed, lead the league in scoring defense (13.0 points per game) and have not allowed a single pass of 300 yards. Already.

—Jarrett Bell

Doug Pederson fired after another Jaguars loss

Jaguars are sullen enough to be called flexible mid-season scheduleas their matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles was scheduled to be on “Sunday Night Football” before being replaced by the Colts-Vikings team. However, the meeting with the Birds in the late afternoon will not delay the fate that will probably end with the seventh defeat of the season for Doug Pederson’s team.

Owner Shad Khan’s patience may not last until Sunday night or Monday morning, and with Pederson occupying the league’s hottest coaching position, his services may no longer be needed. Of course, Khan could always decide to allow Pederson and his staff to see action during the season, but if the challenge against the Eagles is unsuccessful, Pederson’s last opponent as the Jaguars’ head coach could be the team that gave him his first head… the coaching job in NFL.

For good measure (and a real change in Jacksonville), general manager Trent Baalke should be right behind Pederson at the exit door.

—Chris Bumbaka

The Chargers are trading for the No. 1 wide receiver, regardless of the Week 9 outcome

The Chargers parted with their top two wide receivers from last season, then opted to draft Joe Alta fifth overall in a receiver-heavy draft class. Alt was as advertised. According to Next Gen Stats, the right tackle didn’t allow him to get pressure on any of his 38 pass-blocking snaps against the Saints in Week 8. He has tied for the most no-pressure snaps allowed by a rookie over the last three seasons. However, the Chargers’ receiving corps leaves much to be desired. Second-round pick Ladd McConkey leads the team with 30 catches and 376 receiving yards. However, the Chargers lack a true wide-X wide receiver who could be a number one option, which is a major reason the team ranks in the bottom half of the NFL in passing yards and red zone efficiency. I predict the Chargers will strengthen their offense for the midseason playoffs by trading for a wide receiver. Jets wide receiver Mike Williams, whom the Chargers released in the offseason after seven seasons, is a wide receiver the Chargers could reunite with before the Nov. 5 NFL trade deadline.

-Tyler Dragon

The Falcons rush for over 200 yards, trampling the Cowboys

Atlanta nearly surpassed that mark two weeks ago when it rushed for 198 yards and three touchdowns on 38 carries in a 38-20 win over Carolina. And what is the only defense that can match the Panthers in terms of ground strike rate? That would be the Cowboys, who also give up 154.6 rushing yards per game. Even though Christian McCaffrey was still on the bench and backup Jordan Mason left the game, the San Francisco 49ers gained 223 yards on 36 carries against Mike Zimmer’s group last week.

The matchup doesn’t get any easier on Sunday, with Falcons defensemen Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier sitting in seventh and fifth place, respectively, with record-setting successes so far this season. It’s worth taking a closer look at Pro Bowl offensive guard Chris Lindstrom’s situation after he missed Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury. But even if he drops, Dallas has too much of an advantage at the line of scrimmage to stay competitive, especially since Kirk Cousins is able to keep the Cowboys on their toes by taking advantage of any favorable looks that Drake London, Darnell Mooney and Kyle Pitts are getting in the game passes.

—Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz