Bill Belichick gets 300th career win ... can he catch Don Shula's all-time record?

The New England Patriots improved to a league-best 8-0 on Sunday, giving Bill Belichick his 300th career win as a head coach (counting playoff wins). 

By comparison, Don Shula collected 347 career wins (counting playoffs). If you're counting just regular-season wins, Shula holds a 328 to 269 edge.

Shula's wins records were once considered untouchable. However, in a few more seasons, Belichick could seriously threaten Shula's wins records.

The Patriots' win over the Browns proved not only that New England is well, New England. But also that Cleveland is the league's most disappointing team this season. Once a trendy preseason Super Bowl pick, the Browns have emerged this season as, well, the Browns. 

Meanwhile in San Francisco, the 49ers remained the NFL's only other unbeaten team, going to 7-0 after dropping a 50-burger on the Carolina Panthers. However, unlike the Patriots in the AFC, the 49ers appear to have legit challengers in the NFC with the New Orleans Saints (7-1), Green Bay Packers (7-1), Minnesota Vikings (6-2), Seattle Seahawks (6-2) among those contenders through Week 8.

Quick hits: Catch up on Sunday's best

• Winners and losers: The Browns have to be considered one of the NFL's biggest disappointments. Drew Brees, meanwhile, was stellar in his return for the Saints. 
• 32 things we learned in Week 8: With the Patriots and 49ers both extending their unbeaten starts, is the Super Bowl LIV matchup taking shape?
• For the third time in four seasons, three-time NFL defensive player of the year J.J. Watt has suffered a season-ending injury.
• Deshaun Watson got kicked in the eye and still threw the go-ahead TD pass in the Texans' win over the Raiders.
• After a 15-13 loss to the Colts, Broncos QB Joe Flacco criticized his coaches as being "afraid to lose."
• The Giants had a players-only meeting after enduring their fourth consecutive loss. "It's time to get this fixed," Giants LB Markus Golden said.
• Trey Flowers, the $90 million man, finally produced for the Lions — and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
• The NFL’s dismal officiating has been a narrative this season, and that concerning trend continued at Sunday's Titans-Buccaneers game.
• Buccaneers WR Mike Evans vented after Sunday's loss to the Titans, saying, "At this point, I just, I (expletive) hate losing."
• NFL fans crushed the Bears head coach Matt Nagy after an awful decision led to a missed last-second field goal by Eddy Pineiro.
• Jaxson De Ville got into the Halloween spirit mocking Sam Darnold's "seeing ghosts" comment.
• A Mercedes-Benz Stadium staffer had a great reaction to a very wide open DK Metcalf catching his second touchdown of the Seahawks' win over the Falcons.
• Patrick Mahomes' speedy recovery from a dislocated kneecap might be thanks to exceptional anatomy.

- PHOTOS: Best of Week 8 | Cheerleaders | NFL at 100

What our experts are saying

• Patriots have elite component — and it's not Tom Brady: The Patriots' defense showed signs of growth at the end of last season, but the unit has taken a substantial leap this season, Mike Jones writes.
• Drew Brees returns to better Saints team: Brees came back Sunday from his six-week rehab for a fractured thumb, and it was just like old times for the Saints and their icon, Jarrett Bell writes.
• Is it finally time to believe in Kirk Cousins? Critics have been bashing Cousins for years, but he might finally be ready to take the Vikings to promised land, Nate Davis writes.
• Why the Steelers' 'story's not set in stone': Nobody on this Steelers roster has experienced a losing season in Pittsburgh, where the team is facing unfamiliar questions, Tom Schad writes.

Week 8 rundown

• Packers 31, Chiefs 24: Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Jones helped push Green Bay to a 7-1 record. 
• Patriots 27, Browns 13: Another game, another dominant display by New England's defense.
• Texans 27, Raiders 24: Houston's win was costly as J.J. Watt was lost for the season.
• 49ers 51, Panthers 13: San Francisco put together a complete performance to keep its perfect record intact.
• Saints 31, Cardinals 9: Drew Brees returned after missing five games and kept the Saints' win streak alive.
• Colts 15, Broncos 13: After missing a 45-yard field goal and an extra point earlier in the game, Adam Vinatieri drilled a 51-yard game-winning field goal.
• Eagles 31, Bills 13: The Eagles rushed for 218 yards in the rain and wind to end their losing skid.
• Titans 27, Buccaneers 23: Jameis Winston continued his turnover-prone play and the Titans made him pay.
• Rams 24, Bengals 10: Playing in London didn't help the Bengals' chances of earning their first victory.
• Jaguars 29, Jets 15: Sam Darnold can't exorcise ghosts in Jacksonville, throwing three interceptions in the loss.
• Lions 31, Giants 26: Detroit finally got back into the win column thanks to some trick plays.
• Chargers 17, Bears 16: Eddy Pineiro added to the Bears' field goal heartbreak.
• Seahawks 27, Falcons 20: While Seattle improved to 4-0 on the road, Atlanta has lost six straight.
• Vikings 19, Redskins 9 (Thursday): Kirk Cousins beat his former team as Minnesota won its fourth straight.

Eyes on the (fantasy) prize

Takeaways from a fantasy perspective for Week 8:

• Once the Detroit Lions put starting RB Kerryon Johnson on injured reserve last week, the big question was who would be next in line for carries. After Sunday’s game, there’s no clear answer. However, second-year back Tra Carson got a much larger share than expected. He led the team in carries (12) and rushing yards (34).
• The Minnesota Vikings’ rushing attack has been so potent at times this season, it can support two running backs. Even backing up Dalvin Cook, rookie Alexander Mattison put up his highest combined yardage of the season in Week 8. With the Chiefs up next, he could get even more touches.
• Another rookie, Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow, also had his best game of the season -- catching four passes for 88 yards and his first NFL touchdown. He could be a decent bye-week filler, especially if No. 1 WR Tyrell Williams continues to have foot issues.
• With the persistent injuries plaguing Jets tight ends, Ryan Griffin has stepped up as a legitimate option in the passing game. He had Week 8’s most productive fantasy day among tight ends with four catches for 66 yards and two touchdowns. Also, if Tennessee’s Delanie Walker continues to be limited by injury, Jonnu Smith has shown he can produce. He caught six of seven targets for 78 yards and a score.

- Fantasy football: Valuable advice to help your team dominate

Coming this week

Monday: Week 8 wraps up with the winless Miami Dolphins playing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Dolphins making NFL-record 85th "Monday Night Football" appearance. They are 42-42 in their previous 84 appearances.

Tuesday: Paste BN Sports' NFL experts offer their power rankings for all 32 NFL teams after Week 8. 

Thursday: The undefeated San Francisco 49ers visit the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium (8:25 p.m. ET, FOX and NFL Network). Before the game, make sure to check out Paste BN Sports for expert picks for every Week 9 game.

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