NFL Week 9 winners: Minnesota's new QB comes up clutch in victory over Falcons

Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles are survivors. Once again, they didn't play their best game Sunday against the rival Dallas Cowboys. However, as they've done time and time again this season, they got the job done, winning 28-23 to improve to 8-1. 

The Cowboys had numerous chances to turn the game in their favor and if one of them went their way, they probably would have handed the Eagles their second loss of the season. Regardless, Dallas wasn't able to capitalize on their opportunities. Despite being outgained 406-292, the Eagles made the most of theirs. 

Philly was 7-of-14 on third down and perfect on fourth down (2-for-2) and in the red zone (3-for-3). The Eagles remain the only one-loss team in the NFL and following their win on Sunday, they now hold a 2.5-game lead over the Cowboys atop the NFC East.     

C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans quarterback: Stroud put an exclamation point on an impressive first year during Sunday's action, leading the Texans (4-4) to a miraculous come-from-behind victory, 39-37, over the Tampa Buccaneers in a wild one. The 22-year-old brought the Texans back multiple times against the Bucs, ultimately finding wideout Tank Dell for a game-winning 15-yard touchdown with six ticks left on the fourth-quarter clock. 

Not only did Stroud close out a dramatic comeback with a five-touchdown performance, but he also set an NFL record. Stroud tossed for 470 yards, setting a single-game rookie mark previously held by former St. Louis Rams QB Marc Bulger, who threw for 453 yards against the then-San Diego Chargers in 2002, per Stathead. 

According to ESPN Stats and Info, Stroud is the sixth player in NFL history to pass for 450 yards or more while throwing five touchdowns with zero interceptions.     

Paulson Adebo, New Orleans Saints cornerback: After a sluggish start, the Saints defense took control in the second half en route to a 24-17 victory over the Chicago Bears due largely to several big plays by Paulson Adebo. The third-year cornerback intercepted Bears QB Tyson Bagent twice and forced a fumble by WR D.J. Moore, which he also recovered. 

Overall, Adebo finished the day with seven tackles, three pass defense and three takeaways. The Saints' third-round pick in 2021 is emerging into quite the playmaker. Through seven games this season, Adebo has picked off four passes and forced two fumbles.

With Sunday's win over the Bears, the Falcons moved to 5-4, taking over first place in the NFC South.     

Cleveland Browns defense: Facing off against a rookie fifth-round quarterback making his first career start in Clayton Tune, the Browns took full advantage, posting a shutout in a 27-0 victory to improve to 5-3. 

Cleveland held the Cardinals to only 58 total yards of offense on Sunday. Since 1967, only 13 teams have held an opponent to 58 yards or less in a game, per Stathead. 

The Browns forced three turnovers, sacked Tune seven times and allowed only one third-down conversion (1-for-12) in the win. Cleveland also held Tune to only 2.8 yards per reception. Tune is only the sixth QB in NFL history to average 2.8 yards per completion (15 or more attempts) and the first since New York Jets' Bob Davis in 1971.    

 Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders running back: Jacobs finally had his breakout game of the 2023 campaign. After averaging 51 yards through eight contests, Jacobs came alive against the New York Giants. The two-time Pro Bowler rushed for 98 yards (26 carries) and two touchdowns, helping the Raiders move to 4-5 following a blowout, 30-6 victory. 

By halftime, Jacobs already had 85 yards on 18 carries and had found the endzone twice. It was Jacobs' first two-touchdown performance since Week 12 of the 2022 season, when he rushed for 229 yards (33 attempts) in a 40-34 win over the Seattle Seahawks. 

Jacobs' big game came against a Giants defense ranked 24th against the run entering Week 9, but it might jump-start the struggling back for the second half.     

Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver: Entering Week 9, Johnson had more successful two-point conversions (2) than touchdown receptions over the last season-and-a-half of football. That all changed against the Tennessee Titans. 

In the Steelers' come-from-behind victory over the Titans on "Thursday Night Football," Johnson snapped a streak of 22 games without a TD grab. With 4:02 left in the fourth quarter, Johnson secured a three-yard TD pass from QB Kenny Pickett, which proved to be the game-winning score. 

Johnson hadn't recorded a TD reception since Week 16 of the 2022 campaign, catching 109 passes for 1,145 yards (10.50) over that stretch.