Week 9 gave Oregon fans plenty to track across the NFL, and the results were a mixed bag for the former Ducks still making noise on Sundays. Bo Nix kept rolling, Bucky Irving kept producing, Christian Gonzalez had a rough afternoon, and Justin Herbert’s Chargers kept sinking.
Nix and the Broncos are riding a four-game winning streak after Sunday’s 26-21 victory over the Carolina Panthers, a result that kept Denver in first place in the AFC West. The former Oregon quarterback bounced back after an early interception and finished 25 of 37 for 237 yards and two touchdowns. At 7-2, the Broncos sit second in the AFC behind the Buffalo Bills, and the late-season push is shaping up to be a serious race with the Kansas City Chiefs for the division and a top seed.
Irving turned in another strong outing even though the Buccaneers came up short against the Chicago Bears, losing 27-24 on Sunday night. The former Ducks running back posted 97 yards and two touchdowns in the comeback attempt.
Through nine games, Irving has piled up 825 yards and seven touchdowns on 167 carries, which ranks fourth in the NFL. Tampa Bay is still in the NFC South mix at 3-6, with the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints sitting ahead of them at 3-5.
Not every former Duck had a night to remember. In New England’s 45-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Christian Gonzalez was part of a defense that got picked apart.
The Patriots’ defeat was already defined by Drake Maye’s struggles, but Gonzalez also had a difficult time matching up with Green Bay’s receivers, especially Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, who both went over 160 receiving yards. Gonzalez, who recently became one of the NFL’s highest-paid cornerbacks, had a career-worst showing and allowed over 10 catches.
Herbert and the Chargers are still searching for any kind of traction. Los Angeles dropped to 0-8 with a 44-22 loss to the Houston Texans, and Herbert’s interception streak continued for another week.
He finished 13 of 23 for 193 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The Chargers remain the league’s only winless team and will try again Monday night against a struggling Baltimore Ravens team that is dealing with Lamar Jackson on injured reserve.
In Other News...
Dan Lanning Just Added Fuel To Oregons Michigan Buildup
The buildup to Oregons meeting with Michigan at Autzen Stadium has already started to take on the edge fans would expect from two programs with real stakes attached. Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham recently pointed to Dan Lannings recruiting success and the financial resources behind Oregons program, and it was the kind of comment that tends to linger once the teams are headed toward a showdown.
Lanning answered in a way that kept the focus on the Ducks while still nudging the conversation back toward the Wolverines. He praised Whittingham, but also suggested Michigans spending priorities could end up shaping how the program recruits. With the game still ahead, the exchange has only added another layer to a matchup that was already going to draw plenty of attention. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Walks Into An Oregon Atmosphere Fans Already Hate
Autzen Stadium is getting a little extra theater for Oregons first meeting with Michigan since 2003, and the Ducks are leaning all the way into it. For the matchup, Oregon will break out a special Godzilla-themed uniform combination with black, silver and green jerseys, grey pants and a matte black helmet built around the movie monster motif.
The look is only part of the rollout. Oregon is also tying the game to its Ducks of a Feather NIL brand with related merchandise created in collaboration with Toho International, giving the weekend a full promotional package around one of the seasons most anticipated home dates. For a fan base that already treats Autzen as a weapon, the Ducks are clearly aiming to make the atmosphere feel as loud and as unmistakably Oregon as possible. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Could Be Closing In On Another Late Recruiting Flip
Oregon is heading into the Early Signing Period for the 2027 recruiting cycle with plenty of momentum, and the Ducks have managed to keep their class intact so far. That matters this time of year, when programs are trying to protect what they have while still leaving room for one more addition, and Oregon appears to be doing both as it continues to work the board.
One name to watch is Virginia Tech running back commit JP Jones-Priest, who is set for an official visit to Eugene. The 4-star recruit has put together a strong season and sits among the more highly regarded backs in the class, which is exactly the kind of player Oregon tends to keep in play late. Whether the Ducks can turn that visit into a real push remains the question, but the interest is clearly there. [Read more 🡒]