Week 9 of the NFL Season sees four teams—the Lions, Jaguars, 49ers and Broncos—on bye. That means that the rest of the games will be crucial. This week also see a return of international games with a matchup in Germany to kick-start the day. Below are the five games on the Sunday slate that I’m most excited to see.

Germany Game:

Kansas City Chiefs (6-2) at Miami Dolphins (6-2)
About: The Chiefs and Dolphins are among the contenders in the AFC. They are also both leading their division. That gives this one some high stakes. The Chiefs are coming off a difficult loss to the Broncos, while the Dolphins have struggled against good teams, suffering losses to the Buffalo Bills and the Philadelphia Eagles. Both want a win, and both will be motivated to get it in Germany.

Early Games:

Seattle Seahawks (5-2) at Baltimore Ravens (6-2)
About: Don’t look now, but the Seahawks are leading the NFC West. They are a half game up owing to the 49ers’ three-game losing streak. The Ravens, meanwhile, are 6-2, tied for the best record in the AFC. The Ravens have a couple teams in the rearview mirror as all four teams in the AFC North are over .500. The Ravens need to keep winning to stay on top while the Seahawks are looking to remain atop the NFC West and in line for a playoff berth. This one has some big stakes.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4) at Houston Texans (3-4)
About: The Buccaneers went into their bye week atop the NFC South. They’ve come out and failed to get any wins. Now at 3-4, they are in need of a win to stay in the race. The Texans, meanwhile, have had an up-and-down season. At 3-4, they are chasing the Jaguars and are in need of a win. Can C.J. Stroud get back on track and get the Texans a win, or will the Buccaneers move to .500. This should be an interesting battle.

Late Games:

Dallas Cowboys (5-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (7-1)
About: Rivalry games are always a big deal and this one is especially competitive as both teams have designs on a deep playoff run. The Cowboys stumbled badly against the 49ers and are looking to prove they can succeed against the cream-of-the-crop in the NFC. The Eagles, meanwhile, want to build on the best record in the league. Expect fireworks in what could be one of the best games of the week.

Sunday Night Game:

Buffalo Bills (5-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-3)
About: This was a pivotal game in 2022 as the cancellation set both teams on a path. That makes this game even more intriguing, and it comes in another Prime-Time battle. Both the Bills and Bengals came into the season with Super Bowl aspirations. Both have had some early struggles, and both are chasing teams in their own division. Both need wins. This is the game of the week for me.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.