4th & Monday: A ridiculous TD scamper, a MLB-brawl themed celebration and a touching moment with Seahawks rookie
The Rams are 8-0 for the first time since 1969 and the Chiefs continue to be a must-watch football operation.
The Packers gave the Rams quite a scare at Lambeau Field West (err, the L.A. Memorial Coliseum). Just when it seemed Aaron Rodgers would get the ball back with ample time to put his team in position to win, Ty Montgomery fumbled and Todd Gurley iced the game with an unselfish play that likely irked fantasy owners and those who gamble on NFL games. And yet another huge showdown looms for the Rams. They face the 6-1 Saints in Week 9. New Orleans made a statement Sunday night with a road win in Minnesota.
Are the Saints evolving into the NFC's best? They proved against the Vikings they don't need a prolific offense to win. Their game against the Rams will provide answers.
The Chiefs completed a sweep of the division rival Broncos. Patrick Mahomes threw for 303 yards and 4 TDs, but it was running back Kareem Hunt who provided the signature highlight of the game.
It's probably time for Browns coach Hue Jackson to worry. Jackson is now 3-36-1 in two and a half seasons after a loss against Steelers. He's just one highlight in our Week 8 winners and losers.
On Monday night, the Patriots likely will provide a joyous victory lap for Boston fans following the Red Sox's World Series win.
MORE: 32 things we learned from Week 8
Quick hits: Must-see NFL moments
- Gurley does the right thing: Fantasy owners and gamblers might not have been happy, but Todd Gurley did the right thing when he pulled up on what looked to be an easy score. The play allowed the Rams to run out the clock and hold off the Packers.
- Chiefs' Kareem Hunt scores incredible TD: The Chiefs went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Broncos' 1-yard line, and the result was one of the best touchdowns of the season. The Chiefs are fun.
- Young fan shares touching moment with Griffin: Rookie linebacker Shaquem Griffin has become a fan favorite among Seahawks fans, but the incredible story of overcoming his handicap has won him admiration in other NFL cities as well.
- Steelers completely botch free kick: After a safety, the Steelers unnecessarily gave the Browns the ball after forgetting to recover a free kick. The gaffe resulted in a touchdown for Cleveland.
- Vinatieri sets another record: Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri booted his way to another NFL record. With a 25-yard field goal against the Raiders, Vinatieri passed Pro Football Hall of Famer Morten Andersen to set a new all-time record for points scored.
- Seahawks' must-see TD celebration: The Seahawks celebrated a touchdown in their win over the Lions by re-enacting an MLB brawl -- complete with an off-target pitch and a charge of the mound.
- Moment of silence in Pittsburgh: There was a moment of silence at Heinz Field before the national anthem to honor the victims of the shooting at a synagogue in nearby Squirrel Hill. On Saturday, a gunman killed 11 people and injured six more in the attack.
- Many people react to Coliseum paint job: The Rams share the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with USC, which had a game Saturday (the Trojans lost). With less than 24 hours between games, the paint job didn't look great for the Rams game.
- Theilen honors Twins great with special cleats: Vikings WR Adam Thielen paid tribute to Minnesota Twins legend Joe Mauer during Sunday night’s game against the Saints with personalized cleats.
- Ravens drop 11 into pass coverage: If you've ever wondered why teams don't just drop 11 men into coverage for Hail Mary plays, apparently the Ravens were asking that same question.
- Bears burn Jets blitz badly: Tarik Cohen had one of the easiest 70-yard touchdowns you'll ever see.
- Unfamiliar NFL rule negates what most thought was a TD: A bizarre sequence near the end of the first half of the Texans' win over the Dolphins on Thursday night had many fans shaking their heads.
TOP SHOTS: Best pics from Week 8 | Cheerleaders | Celebrations | Fans
Key story lines from Week 8
- Gurley boosts MVP cred: Todd Gurley might have irked fantasy owners and those hoping for a larger margin of victory for the LA Rams, but his unselfish play to seal the Rams' win over the Packers furthered his MVP credentials.
- Rebuilding Browns still have plenty of work to do: The Browns sparked hope after a young core helped end a winless streak, but the Steelers showed their rivals on Sunday that there's still a long way to go in the Dawg Pound.
- Missed opportunity for Green Bay: The Packers had the chance to shake up their season. They had the NFC’s best team on the ropes in its own stadium. And then, with the game on the line, they blinked.
- NFL's worst team? The Giants are one of three NFL teams with just one win, and one has to wonder if this team has hit rock bottom yet.
- 5 teams to challenge Patriots in AFC: After what the Texans showed Thursday night, count Houston among five contenders in the AFC to challenge the Patriots' near-perennial throne.
Q&A: Get your NFL questions answered!
Each week, Paste BN Sports' NFL experts answer questions from you, the fans of the NFL.
Submit your question either through our Facebook group, The Ruling Off the Field, or here (be sure to leave your name!). Then, make sure to check the Friday edition of this newsletter to see if your question got answered!
Week 8 rundown
Saints 30, Vikings 20: Less avenging the "Minneapolis Miracle"; more the "Minneapolis Measuring Stick."
Rams 29, Packers 27: The Packers wasted an opportunity to knock off the undefeated Rams.
Cardinals 18, 49ers 15: The Cardinals' rookie QB and WR connected for a late game-winning score to send the home fans happy.
Colts 42, Raiders 28: The Colts head into their bye week riding a two-game winning streak.
Steelers 33, Browns 18: The Steelers have the look of one of the top contenders in the AFC. The Browns, meanwhile, still have a lot of work to do.
Bears 24, Jets 10: Chicago ended a two-game skid, but the victory came at a cost.
Bengals 37, Buccaneers 34: Could the return of FitzMagic mean another quarterback change in Tampa?
Seahawks 28, Lions 14: Seattle deals Detroit a devastating reality check.
Redskins 20, Giants 13: The Giants have a strong case to be considered the NFL's worst team. After a bye in Week 9, the Giants get to play the 49ers, who are also 1-7.
Chiefs 30, Broncos 23: The high-powered Chiefs offense once again put forth an impressive display in completing a season sweep of the Broncos.
Panthers 36, Ravens 21: Cam Newton and Carolina were impressive against the league's top-ranked defense.
Eagles 24, Jaguars 18: The Eagles needed a win badly, and got it in London against a Jaguars team that's in a free-fall.
Texans 42, Dolphins 23 (Thursday): In leading Houston to its fifth straight win, Deshaun Watson appears just about back from his ACL tear.
Don't forget to join our NFL Facebook group!
If you love talking football, we have the perfect spot for you. Join The Ruling Off the Field, to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders. Don't forget to send in questions to our experts. We'll answer them in Friday's 4th & Monday newsletter!
Eyes on the (fantasy) prize
Here are some early candidates fantasy owners can consider on the waiver wire this week:
After doing nothing for the previous four weeks, Dolphins WR DeVante Parker got a chance to shine on Thursday. He broke out with six catches for a career-high 134 yards and should return to the starting lineup.
A hip injury had kept the Colts’ Jack Doyle out of action since Week 2, but he returned in a big way with six receptions for 70 yards and a TD. If he was dropped earlier, he can be a top tight end the rest of the way.
It isn't easy to tell them apart, but wideouts David Moore and D.J. Moore are both worth a look. David, of the Seahawks, has four TD catches in his last three games ... while rookie D.J. of the Panthers grabbed five of six targets Sunday for a career-high 90 yards.
The Eagles gave unheralded running back Josh Adams a decent amount of work in London (nine carries, 61 yards). Just what fantasy owners need, another mouth to feed in the Philly backfield.
Finally, the if Buccaneers make the switch to Ryan Fitzpatrick as their starter, it’ll be hard to pass on the quarterback for the NFL’s top-ranked offense.
MORE: Week 8 takeaways, plus the Broad Shoulders Award
Coming this week
Monday: Week 8 concludes with the Buffalo Bills hosting the New England Patriots (8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN). Tom Brady has had some success against the Bills, going 28-3 vs. Buffalo. Patriots are also 7-0 in night games against the Bills. This could be a long night for Buffalo.
Tuesday: Paste BN Sports' NFL experts update their power rankings for all 32 NFL teams after Week 8. Don't agree with our rankings? Speak up! Submit your own rankings to tell us where our experts got it wrong with our NFL Fan Power Rankings.
Thursday: The San Francisco 49ers host their Bay Area rival, the Oakland Raiders (8:20 p.m. ET on FOX, NFL Network and Prime Video), to kick off Week 9. Before Thursday's game, make sure to visit Paste BN Sports to check out our expert picks for every Week 9 game.
Want to keep this conversation going? Head to Facebook, and/or give a Twitter follow to your friendly neighborhood Paste BN Sports football guy who put together this newsletter, @jimreineking.