What we learned, winners and losers from NFL Week 8
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NFL Week 8 is (almost) in the books! Here are some of the biggest takeaways from another eventful set of games.
➤ Game of the day: Washington Commanders 18, Chicago Bears 15 — This game wasn't trending toward anything special for all but about a minute of game play. It was in the final minute when things went sideways. The Bears might have thought they'd won the game when Roschon Johnson scored a 1-yard touchdown with 25 seconds remaining. Instead, Jayden Daniels – who was a game-day decision if he'd even play – launched a Hail Mary in the final seconds that miraculously found receiver Noah Brown in the end zone for the winning touchdown.
➤ Disappointment of the day: Baltimore Ravens — Just when many were ready to anoint the Ravens as the league's best team, they go out and wind up on the wrong end of what might be the season's biggest upset. The Browns crossed a point total (a whopping 20!) that they hadn't crossed all season, and did it with backup quarterback Jameis Winston starting in place of injured Deshaun Watson.
➤ Quotable: "I've been in the darkness. You gotta go in there, make peace with it." — a philosophical Aaron Rodgers after the Jets lost yet another game. Sunday's stunning loss to the New England Patriots was the Jets' fifth straight setback 🤢.
➤ How about the ...!
- Arizona Cardinals: The cardiac Cards struck again. Three weeks after rallying from 10 down in the second half on the road against the San Francisco 49ers, the Cardinals pulled off another double-digit comeback.
- Cleveland Browns: Maybe this team is just better without Deshaun Watson playing quarterback.
- Detroit Lions: Sunday's 50-burger 🍔 against the Tennessee Titans meant that Detroit has scored 172 points in its last four games. That is the most points for a team in a four-game stretch since the 2019 Baltimore Ravens also scored 172 points from Weeks 9-12.
➤ What's up with the ...?
- New York Jets: You know things are going poorly when Aaron Rodgers is pointing fingers at the media for the team's struggles.
- Seattle Seahawks: This team might be tied atop the NFC West, but it has lost three straight games at once-formidable Lumen Field.
➤ Not sure if you heard, but Sunday was National Tight Ends Day. So, let's highlight some standout performances from tight ends on Sunday:
- The San Francisco 49ers' George Kittle had 128 yards and a touchdown on "Sunday Night Football."
- The Arizona Cardinals' Trey McBride had nine catches for 124 yards, becoming the third tight end in NFL history with at least five receptions in eight consecutive road games. He's in good company: Travis Kelce (five-plus receptions in 10 straight road games from 2019-20) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez (five-plus receptions in nine games from 2004-05).
- The Las Vegas Raiders' Brock Bowers has 52 receptions so far this season, tied with Eddie Royal for the third-most for a player in the first eight games of their NFL career. Only Puka Nacua (61) and Saquon Barkely (58) had more.
➤ Alt uniform of the week: Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Bucco Bruce and the classic "Creamsicle" uniforms were back in Week 8. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, the team did something it often did back in the day in those uniforms … lose.
📸: Alternate and throwback uniforms of 2024 NFL season
NFL Week 8 key storylines
➤ Winners and losers: Desperate moves haven't worked. At 2-6, Aaron Rodgers and the Jets no longer can expect a turnaround to a season that has quickly become a failure.
➤ Aaron Rodgers is not 'mobile at all,' Patriots player says: In assessing the four-time NFL MVP's current capabilities, Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux said Rodgers is "struggling right now" and doesn't "look the same" as he did in previous years.
➤ 32 things we learned: Who's on a hot streak heading into Halloween? While Week 8 was ghastly for some teams, it was a treat for others who are striking fear into opponents.
📸: Fans, mascots, cheerleaders and celebrities at NFL games
NFL Week 8 results
- San Francisco 49ers 30, Dallas Cowboys 24: Just when the injury-ravaged 49ers desperately needed a win to get their once-promising season back on track, the team got the perfect elixir for their struggles ... a game against the Cowboys.
- Washington Commanders 18, Chicago Bears 15: It's generally not wise to taunt people. It's infinitely even more unwise to taunt people before you've even won.
- Denver Broncos 28, Carolina Panthers 14: Rookie quarterback Bo Nix had his best game as a pro, throwing for 284 yards for three touchdowns while also rushing for another score. Bryce Young, meanwhile, was back as the Panthers' starting quarterback, but the results were awfully familiar: Two interceptions, two sacks, another lopsided Carolina loss.
- Los Angeles Chargers 26, New Orleans Saints 8: Rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey had a breakout game, catching six passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns, sparking what's been a sleepy Chargers passing attack.
- Buffalo Bills 31, Seattle Seahawks 10: The Bills rolled to victory against an overmatched Seahawks team, which has lost three straight games at home.
- Kansas City Chiefs 27, Las Vegas Raiders 20: The Chiefs are the seventh defending Super Bowl champion to open a season 7-0, joining the 2015 and 2019 New England Patriots, 2011 Green Bay Packers, 2007 Indianapolis Colts, 1998 Denver Broncos and 1990 San Francisco 49ers.
- Cleveland Browns 29, Baltimore Ravens 24: The Browns pulled off what might be the upset of the season and ended a five-game losing streak in the process.
- Detroit Lions 52, Tennessee Titans 14: The Lions steamrolled the Titans and recorded the second 50-burger 🍔 of the season (Buccaneers vs. Saints in Week 6 is the other one). The Lions' point total is the highest by a team this season, which is scary given the team wasn't even particularly sharp on Sunday.
- Houston Texans 23, Indianapolis Colts 20: The Texans managed to prevail in a wild game against the Colts, who surrendered the head-to-head tiebreaker after a second loss to Houston.
- Green Bay Packers 30, Jacksonville Jaguars 27: The Packers' move to acquire Malik Willis continues to look brilliant. With Jordan Love out with a groin injury, Willis helped the Packers avoid an upset against one of the NFL's worst teams.
- Arizona Cardinals 28, Miami Dolphins 27: Tua Tagovailoa made his much-publicized return, but it was Kyler Murray and the Cardinals who pulled out the last-second win.
- New England Patriots 25, New York Jets 22: With rookie Drake Maye out with a head injury, Jacoby Brissett led an improbably comeback win.
- Atlanta Falcons 31, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26: The Falcons assumed control of the NFC South with this win, which completed a season sweep of the Buccaneers.
- Philadelphia Eagles 37, Cincinnati Bengals 17: Jalen Hurts accounted for four touchdowns (three via the run) as the Eagles won a third consecutive game.
- Los Angeles Rams 30, Minnesota Vikings 20 (Thursday): Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua returned for the Rams, who might have saved their season by beating a Vikings team that has lost twice over five days after a 5-0 start.
Coming up this week
➤ Monday: Week 8 concludes with the Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the New York Giants at Acrisure Stadium for "Monday Night Football" (8:15 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN; there also will be a ManningCast for this one on ESPN2/ESPN+).
➤ Tuesday: Paste BN Sports offers its power rankings for all 32 NFL teams after Week 8.
➤ Thursday: Week 9 kicks off with the New York Jets hosting the Houston Texans at MetLife Stadium on "Thursday Night Football" (8:20 p.m. ET, Prime Video). Before the game, make sure to check out our expert picks for every Week 9 game.
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