NFL Week 9 Delivers Unprecedented Drama as Fan-Voted 'Himmy' Award Crowns Top Individual Performances

Week 9 of the National Football League season unfurled a tapestry of gridiron action, from commanding routs to nail-biting finishes, encapsulating the league’s unpredictable nature. The slate of games began with a dominant Thursday night performance and culminated in a Sunday filled with competitive matchups, setting the stage for the fan-voted ‘Himmy’ Award, designed to recognize the week’s most impactful individual effort.

The week commenced on Thursday Night Football with the Baltimore Ravens securing a decisive 28-6 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Quarterback Lamar Jackson, returning from injury, orchestrated a formidable offensive display, throwing four touchdown passes to lead the Ravens’ charge. His efficient performance re-established Baltimore’s offensive rhythm and underscored their status as a formidable contender within the AFC North. The Dolphins, meanwhile, struggled to contain Jackson’s dual-threat capabilities, highlighting areas for improvement on their defensive unit.

Sunday’s contests amplified the intensity across the league, with nine of the 12 games played decided by a single possession, a testament to the heightened parity and competitive balance prevalent in the NFL this season. Among the day’s most dramatic finishes, the Chicago Bears emerged victorious in a high-scoring affair, defeating an unnamed opponent 47-42, sealed by a pivotal 58-yard touchdown with just 17 seconds remaining on the clock. This late-game heroics showcased the resilience of the Bears’ offense and the inherent volatility of NFL outcomes.

Further exemplifying the week’s dramatic flair, the Pittsburgh Steelers managed a seven-point victory over the Indianapolis Colts despite conceding six turnovers throughout the game. This unusual statistical anomaly pointed to the Steelers’ defensive prowess, which consistently created disruptive plays, and perhaps the Colts’ missed opportunities to capitalize on Pittsburgh’s miscues. The Jacksonville Jaguars also contributed to the Sunday suspense, narrowly edging the Las Vegas Raiders by a single point in an overtime thriller, a result that carried significant implications for both teams’ divisional standings and playoff aspirations.

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Amidst this backdrop of collective team efforts and league-wide drama, individual brilliance shone brightly. The ‘Himmy’ Award, a fan-driven initiative by ESPN, serves to identify and celebrate the player whose performance most emphatically dominated the Week 9 narrative. With voting concluded prior to the Monday Night Football matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys, the anticipation built for the announcement of the fan-anointed "him" of the week.

Here’s a detailed look at the candidates and how their exceptional Week 9 performances made their case for the ESPN NFL Week 9 "Himmy" Award:

Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen

Josh Allen, the Buffalo Bills’ dynamic quarterback, delivered a near-flawless performance, leading his team to a critical victory. Completing 23 of 26 passes for 273 yards and one touchdown, Allen also showcased his renowned dual-threat capability with six carries for 19 yards and two crucial rushing touchdowns. This outing saw Allen establish a new franchise record for completion percentage in a single game at 88.5%, demonstrating remarkable accuracy and command of the Bills’ offense.

Beyond his passing efficiency, Allen strategically utilized his tight ends, accumulating a career-best 149 passing yards targeting Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, and Jackson Hawes. This adaptability in his passing game adds another dimension to the Bills’ offensive scheme, making them harder to defend. Historically, Allen continues to carve out a unique niche in the NFL record books. His Week 9 performance marked his 47th career game with both a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown, further extending his own NFL record and underscoring his unique skill set. Furthermore, his two rushing touchdowns brought his career total to 72, positioning him just three shy of Cam Newton’s all-time record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.

The Bills’ success, particularly against top-tier opponents, is also noteworthy. Since the 2020 season, when Allen and Patrick Mahomes first squared off, Buffalo holds a commanding 5-1 regular-season record against the Kansas City Chiefs. This record stands out, as no other team has managed more than three wins against Kansas City in that same timeframe, cementing the Bills’ status as a perennial AFC powerhouse and a consistent challenger to the Chiefs’ recent dominance.

Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold delivered a career-defining performance against the Washington Commanders, showcasing an exceptional level of efficiency and accuracy. Darnold completed 21 of 24 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns, spearheading the Seahawks’ offense. His first half was particularly remarkable, as he went a perfect 16-for-16, accumulating 282 yards and all four of his touchdowns, leading Seattle to a commanding 31-7 halftime advantage. Rookie wide receiver Tory Horton hauled in two of these scores, with practice-squad elevation Cody White adding another, illustrating Darnold’s ability to elevate the play of his receiving corps.

Darnold’s statistical output only grew more impressive upon closer examination. He finished the game with a career-high QBR (Quarterback Rating) of 97.8, a metric that reflects a quarterback’s total contribution to a game. This performance marked the third time this season that Darnold has achieved a QBR of 97 or higher, a feat that ties him with NFL legends Tom Brady (2007), Tony Romo (2014), and Lamar Jackson (2019) for the most such games by a starting quarterback in a single season since ESPN began tracking the metric in 2006.

Furthermore, Darnold etched his name into the NFL’s play-by-play era records (since 1978) by becoming the first player to throw for at least 250 yards with zero incompletions in any single half. This extraordinary level of precision underscores a quarterback operating at the peak of his abilities, driving the Seahawks’ offensive machine and solidifying their position in the competitive NFC West.

Las Vegas Raiders TE Brock Bowers

Despite his team’s narrow overtime loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers continued his record-breaking trajectory with a phenomenal individual outing. Bowers hauled in 12 receptions for 127 yards and three touchdowns, an exceptional stat line for any player, let alone a tight end. This performance extended his streak of games with at least two receptions to 22, setting a new NFL record for the longest such run to start a career by a tight end, surpassing Sam LaPorta’s mark set earlier in 2023 with the Detroit Lions.

Bowers’ three-touchdown, 127-yard effort also placed him in elite company, as he became the first tight end to achieve at least 125 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in a single game since Rob Gronkowski accomplished the feat with the New England Patriots in 2014. For the Raiders franchise, Bowers’ performance was equally historic, marking the first time a Las Vegas tight end recorded three touchdowns and at least 125 receiving yards in a game since Todd Christensen did so against the then-San Diego Chargers in 1983.

Adding to his growing list of accolades, Bowers’ career receiving yards now stand at 1,546 through just 22 games. This remarkable pace makes him the fastest tight end to reach 1,500 receiving yards since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, requiring the fewest games to achieve this milestone. Bowers’ consistent production and record-setting pace underscore his emergence as one of the league’s premier talents at the tight end position, offering a significant offensive weapon for the Raiders.

Carolina Panthers RB Rico Dowdle

Running back Rico Dowdle played a pivotal role in the Carolina Panthers’ 16-13 victory over the Green Bay Packers, a win that elevated the Panthers above .500 for the season and snapped the Packers’ three-game winning streak. Dowdle’s ground game was instrumental, as he carried the ball 25 times for 130 yards and two touchdowns. His second touchdown gave the Panthers a 13-6 lead late in the third quarter, a moment that also sparked a memorable, albeit penalized, celebration.

Dowdle’s "two-pelvic-thrust" celebration, a clear nod to the Hingle McCringleberry character from a "Key & Peele" sketch, drew an unsportsmanlike conduct flag but also garnered significant attention, including a shout-out from the show’s co-creator, Keegan-Michael Key. Beyond the theatrics, Dowdle delivered in critical moments. In the final minute of the game, his impactful 19-yard run set up Ryan Fitzgerald’s game-winning 49-yard field goal, sealing the Panthers’ crucial victory.

Since making his first start of the season in Week 5, Dowdle has been a revelation in the Panthers’ backfield. In that span, he has accumulated an NFL-best 633 rushing yards, a statistic that highlights his significant contribution to Carolina’s improved performance. The Panthers’ record since his increased involvement stands at an impressive 4-1, directly correlating his consistent ground production with the team’s recent resurgence and solidifying his case as one of Week 9’s most impactful performers.

ESPN Research contributed to this story.