Week 9 marks the final slate of the first half of the 2024 NFL season—and so far, we’ve had no shortage of excitement, disappointment and surprises.

The New York Jets have been the last two, and they kicked off Week 9 trying to end a five-game skid against a banged-up Houston Texans team sitting at 6-2 that had won four of five. Said skid was ended by a big second half from the Jets, which raises a question…

How many injuries are too many for Houston to bear?

Sunday’s slate should be a barnburner. Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will try to build on last week’s thrilling Hail Mary finish when the soaring Commanders head to New York to face the reeling Giants.

In Titletown, the Green Bay Packers might not have quarterback Jordan Love, but they do have a chance to take over first place in the NFC North. All they have to do is beat the conference’s hottest team in the Detroit Lions.

Can the Dallas Cowboys get back on track against the first-place Atlanta Falcons? Can the Miami Dolphins reverse their recent futility against their rivals in Buffalo? Can the Kansas City Chiefs remain the league’s lone undefeated team against the injury-ravaged Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

Now, about those floundering Jets…

If ever there was a game that was a tale of two halves, it was the Jets’ 21-13 win over Houston at MetLife Stadium.

Over the first 30 minutes, the Jets offense was, well, offensive. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was 7-of-14 for 32 yards. The Jets had fewer than 70 yards of offense, less than 10 minutes of possession and five first downs. They fumbled a ball out of Houston’s end zone for a touchback on their best drive.

It’s the dumbest rule in the NFL. But that’s a conversation for another day.

Everything that has been wrong with New York during its 2-6 start was on full display. Jets gotta Jet. The team was fortunate to only be down 7-0.

Then, in the second half, a completely different squad took the field—especially on offense.

Rodgers followed that dismal first half with a precise second that included three touchdown passes—two to Garrett Wilson and one to Davante Adams. The team’s star wideouts combined for 16 catches, 181 yards and those three scores.

One of Wilson’s was the type you’ll be seeing a lot of in the days and weeks to come.

Running back Breece Hall topped 80 total yards. The defense stiffened, allowing just a pair of field goals after intermission.

It was a truly Halloween-ish display of Jekyll and Hyde football.

When the Jets play like they did after halftime, New York looks like the team the fans were excited about before the season. Yes, the Texans have been hit hard by injuries. But they were still a two-loss first-place team.

If the Jets could actually put together a couple of 60-minute efforts like that second half, they might just be able to get a floundering 2024 campaign back on track.

But after nine games, it’s optimistic bordering on delusional to expect that to happen.

The Houston Texans have been blasted by injuries. Wide receiver Nico Collins is on injured reserve with a hamstring setback. Fellow wideout Stefon Diggs is done for the year after tearing his ACL last week. No. 1 linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has missed multiple games with a knee injury.

All the injuries have ramped up the pressure on second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud to carry the team—at least for a while. Last week, Houston was able to sneak past the Indianapolis Colts.

But Thursday night at MetLife Stadium, Stroud buckled.

His passing numbers against the Jets were…not good. Just 11 completions in 30 attempts for 191 yards. 126 of those yards went to wide receiver Tank Dell, who is the proverbial last man standing at his position.

Against the Jets, Stroud looked less like the star so many expect him to be and more like a second-year player unsure what to do. There were errant throws. Forced ones. Stroud held the ball far too long far too often—the Texans allowed a whopping eight sacks, including a strip-sack turnover deep in Jets territory.

Houston is going to have to learn how to live without Diggs. At best, Collins will be back next week. But if he’s not ready to go, the Texans have no chance against the soaring Detroit Lions with the game plan we saw Thursday.

Until they get right at wideout, the Texans have to lean on running back Joe Mixon, who had yet another 100-yard game with a touchdown. Dial things back. Grind wins out.

Because it was painfully evident in Week 9 that for all his talent, Stroud can’t carry the offense. Not yet.

Here’s a look at the rest of the Week 9 schedule.

Sunday, November 3

Monday, November 4