NFL Week 9 delivered several disappointing offensive performances on November 5 and 8, 2026, with teams struggling to move the football, finish drives and protect their quarterbacks. The Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals were among the teams unable to score a touchdown or sustain consistent offensive production.
Some struggles were expected, particularly among teams dealing with injuries or inexperienced quarterbacks. Others were more surprising, including the Detroit Lions, whose usually productive offense needed considerable help from its defense and special teams to defeat Miami.
The problems were not limited to losing teams. The New York Giants managed only one touchdown against Philadelphia but still escaped with a 19-11 victory, showing how a strong defensive performance can overcome a difficult afternoon on offense.
Miami Dolphins: Nine Points Against Detroit
Miami produced one of the weakest offensive performances of the week in a 19-9 loss to the Lions at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins finished with just 182 total yards and failed to score a touchdown.
Quarterback Malik Willis completed 13 of 25 passes for 128 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception. Miami also struggled on third down, converting only four of its 12 opportunities.
The Dolphins entered the game with the NFL's 27th-ranked offense in total yardage, making their difficulties less surprising than those of some other teams. Still, their inability to capitalize on Detroit's slow offensive start made the defeat particularly frustrating.
Miami's longest gain came on a fake punt rather than a conventional offensive play. Punter Bradley Pinion completed a 46-yard pass to running back Kaytron Allen, helping create another field-goal opportunity.
Zane Gonzalez accounted for all nine points with three field goals. Running back Ollie Gordon II led Miami with 55 rushing yards on 16 carries, while rookie receiver Caleb Douglas caught six passes for 70 yards.
Detroit's defense intercepted Willis and recorded three sacks, preventing Miami from mounting a serious comeback. The Dolphins fell to 1-7 and continued to struggle with generating touchdowns.
New York Jets: Field Goals Cannot Keep Up With Kansas City
The Jets had an opportunity to challenge the Kansas City Chiefs early but repeatedly failed to finish promising possessions. New York eventually lost 35-12 at Arrowhead Stadium after being held scoreless throughout the second half.
The Jets opened with a 14-play drive that consumed more than eight minutes. They reached Kansas City's 5-yard line but settled for a field goal, missing an opportunity to establish an early touchdown advantage.
Another scoring chance followed when New York recovered a Chiefs fumble in Kansas City territory. Once again, the offense failed to reach the end zone and produced only three points.
Kansas City gradually took control behind running back Kenneth Walker III, who scored three touchdowns and finished with 143 yards from scrimmage. The Chiefs scored 21 unanswered points after halftime.
The Jets managed only 46 total yards in the second half, including minus-nine yards during the third quarter. Kansas City's defense recorded five sacks and prevented New York from scoring a touchdown throughout the afternoon.
New York fell to 2-7, with its inability to turn early opportunities into touchdowns becoming the defining offensive problem.
Philadelphia Eagles: Joe Milton III Cannot Spark a Comeback
Philadelphia's offense struggled again in a 19-11 home loss to the Giants at Lincoln Financial Field. The defeat extended the Eagles' losing streak to seven games and dropped their record to 2-7.
Quarterback Joe Milton III completed 18 of 34 passes for 169 yards without a touchdown. He also led Philadelphia in rushing with 64 yards, underscoring the difficulties the Eagles experienced establishing a conventional running game.
Saquon Barkley scored Philadelphia's only touchdown on a three-yard run in the opening quarter. However, the former NFL rushing champion finished with just 22 yards on 13 carries.
Philadelphia did not score again until Jake Elliott kicked a field goal late in the fourth quarter. By then, the Giants had established a lead that the Eagles could not overcome.
The Giants' defensive pressure made matters worse for Milton and the Philadelphia offense. New York recorded seven sacks, including three by rookie linebacker Arvell Reese.
Milton showed flashes of mobility, but the Eagles could not consistently move the chains. Their inability to establish a reliable rushing attack left too much responsibility on an inexperienced quarterback.
New York Giants: A Victory Despite Offensive Problems
The Giants won in Philadelphia for the first time since 2013, but their offensive performance was far from convincing. New York scored just one touchdown and relied heavily on kicker Dominic Zvada, who converted all four field-goal attempts.
Starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy completed 12 of 19 passes for 127 yards. He temporarily left the game after suffering a hip injury, forcing backup Jameis Winston into action.
Winston delivered the Giants' only touchdown, connecting with tight end Isaiah Likely on a five-yard pass in the third quarter. The score gave New York a lead it would not surrender.
Running back Devin Singletary endured a particularly difficult afternoon, carrying the ball 21 times for only 31 yards. That represented an average of less than 1.5 yards per attempt.
McCarthy eventually returned and helped secure the result with a critical third-down scramble. However, the Giants' limited rushing production and dependence on field goals showed that the offense still needed improvement.
New York improved to 5-2-1 and maintained its position near the top of the NFC East. The victory demonstrated how defensive pressure and dependable kicking can compensate for an inconsistent offense.
Arizona Cardinals: No Touchdowns Against Seattle
Arizona also struggled badly in a 17-3 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. The Cardinals finished with 198 total yards and failed to find the end zone.
Quarterback Gardner Minshew and the offense began with an encouraging 89-yard drive, but Seattle's defense stopped them short of a touchdown. Arizona settled for a field goal and never scored again.
The Cardinals gained just 109 yards during the remainder of the game. Their offense repeatedly stalled, including five consecutive possessions that ended in punts.
Seattle recorded three sacks and eight tackles for loss, consistently disrupting Arizona's attempts to establish momentum. The Cardinals also failed on a fourth-and-goal opportunity late in the contest.
A Seattle defense missing several important players still managed to control the game. Arizona's inability to build on its opening possession made the defeat one of Week 9's clearest examples of offensive inconsistency.
Washington Commanders: Injuries and Missed Opportunities
Washington's offense also struggled during a 20-13 home defeat against the Los Angeles Rams. Quarterback Jayden Daniels completed 24 of 35 passes for 274 yards and one touchdown, but the Commanders scored only three points in the second half.
Washington entered the game without several injured receivers, including Terry McLaurin. The absences placed additional pressure on Daniels and a receiving group that had struggled to maintain continuity.
Van Jefferson caught Washington's only touchdown pass, a seven-yard completion during the second quarter. Running back Rachaad White also contributed a 45-yard reception that helped set up the score.
The Rams applied considerable pressure, with Myles Garrett recording three sacks and forcing a fumble. Washington also lost center Lucas Patrick to a concussion, adding to its offensive-line problems.
The Commanders had two opportunities to tie the game late but failed to convert either possession into points. Their final drives ended with a turnover on downs and a lost fumble.
Head coach Dan Quinn acknowledged that the team had not consistently combined its offensive, defensive and special teams performances. Washington fell to 2-5-1, with injuries and poor execution continuing to undermine its season.
Baltimore Ravens: A Difficult Thursday Night
Baltimore's offensive problems began the week with a 33-10 loss to Jacksonville on Thursday, November 5. The Ravens were without starting quarterback Lamar Jackson and relied on rookie Joe Fagnano, who was making his first NFL start.
Fagnano completed 10 of 18 passes for only 60 yards, throwing two interceptions without a touchdown. Baltimore failed to generate a sustained passing attack and struggled to recover after falling behind early.
Jacksonville's defense forced three turnovers and held the Ravens to four conversions on 14 third-down attempts. The Jaguars entered halftime ahead 17-3 and expanded their lead throughout the second half.
Baltimore's only touchdown came on a 65-yard run by Justice Hill in the fourth quarter, after Jacksonville had already built a 33-3 lead. The late score did little to change the overall picture of the game.
The defeat dropped Baltimore to 4-5 and extended its losing streak to four games. With Jackson unavailable, the Ravens showed how difficult it can be to maintain an effective offense when the passing game offers little production.
Week 9's struggles demonstrated that poor offensive performances can take different forms. Miami, New York and Arizona could not reach the end zone, while Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore were unable to sustain enough productive drives to remain competitive.
For the Giants and Lions, defensive play and reliable kicking were enough to secure victories despite offensive difficulties. The losing teams face a more immediate challenge: finding ways to protect their quarterbacks, convert scoring opportunities and establish consistency before the season moves further into November.