Studs and Duds from an Incredible NFL Week 8

Week 8 of the NFL proved why football remains the number one sport in the United States. Six of the eight games in the one o’clock window were decided by fewer than six points. In four games, the winning score came within the final 60 seconds of the fourth quarter. The final two games ended with failed comeback drives late in the fourth quarter by Tampa Bay and Indianapolis Colts in losses to the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans. It was a great advert for a league that sells its customers the red zone package for this exact experience. The afternoon went into delirium when the Washington Commanders pulled off a stunning Hail Mary victory without any time left in the game. In this article, we will determine the studs and those who delivered duds in week 8.

Studs

1. Jameis Winston makes fans wonder what if-in March 2022, the Browns pulled off a controversial trade in acquiring DeShaun Watson and a sixth-round pick for six picks including three first-round picks. Another stunning aspect of the trade was the decision to fully guarantee a 230-million-dollar extension. However, Watson has battled injury problems and underwhelmed in his play. The Browns felt compelled to play their quarterback this season to justify the move, but Watson has struggled badly. Unfortunately, Watson’s season ended with an Achilles injury. It meant that Jameis Winston enjoyed his first start in week 8 against a Ravens team considered the best in the league. Winston played one of the best games of the weekend by completing 27 of 41 passes, 334 yards, and three touchdowns. Winston was in complete command of the game and made the right throws compared to Watson. It has left fans wondering what if Jameis started the entire season.

2. Jared Goff quietly building MVP case- in 2021, the Los Angeles Rams viewed Jared Goff as an inferior quarterback and decided to pull the trigger by trading for Matthew Stafford from the Lions. The decision appeared vindicated because Stafford led the Rams to win Super Bowl LVI. However, Goff has proven to be a quality quarterback who has revitalized a struggling franchise to a ferocious den for his opponents. In 2024, Goff is the leader of one of the most devastating offenses in the league. In week 8, the Lions faced a Titans defense that struggled against the Bills last week, but the Lions made the unit a mockery. Goff capitalized on the Titans’ two turnovers by completing 12 of 15 passes for 85 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Lions are 6-1 and the top team in the conference because Goff is the leader of the den.

3. Jalen Hurts shines in big win- the Eagles were on a two-game winning streak, but there were still doubts that Philadelphia was heading in the right direction. The two games were against the New York Giants and the Cleveland Browns. Fans were apprehensive because the team collapsed after leading the division early last season. However, the Eagles clashed with the Bengals in week 8 and won easily 37-17 to take the early division lead. Hurts played well by completing 16 of 20 passes for 236 yards and one touchdown. However, Jalen was even more devastating on the ground with ten carries, 37 yards, and three touchdowns. Jalen has benefited from the return of DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, who tallied 11 catches and 169 yards combined. Saquon Barkley finished with another hundred-yard game, and with that productivity, Hurts looks primed to return to his 2022 form that led to their Super Bowl run.

Duds

1. Tyrique Stevenson and Matt Eberflus look bad in Hail Mary loss- the matchup of the number one and two draft picks lived up to the billing as a hard-fought NFC battle. Caleb Williams pulled off the comeback by marching his team down the field in an impressive 10 plays, 62-yard drive that ended with a touchdown and 2-point conversion. The Bears now led the game 15-12 with 25 seconds left. Bears Coach Matt Eberflus and his staff decided to play a soft coverage allowing Jayden Daniels to make two easy completions to bring the ball to the 48 yard-line. Then, Bears Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson decided to turn his back on the play and talk to the fans while Daniels was scrambling around behind the line of scrimmage. Then, Daniels unleashed a Hail Mary throw at the front of the end zone. Stevenson scrambled to get back into the play and tipped the ball into the end zone. The ball was caught by Noah Brown for a miraculous victory. It is a terrible look for Stevenson, who apologized to his teammates and fans, but if they miss the playoffs, then this game will haunt Chicago.

2. Jerry Jones and the entire Cowboys are a disaster- the Dallas Cowboys were reeling from another decisive loss before their bye week against the Detroit Lions. The expectation was that the Cowboys would address some of their deficiencies and be a competitive team on the gridiron. On Sunday, Dallas faced the San Francisco 49ers, a team struggling with injury problems and slumping form. The Cowboys jumped out to a 10-6 lead at halftime, and there was hope that they could earn a desperation win. Instead, the Cowboys were manhandled in the third quarter 21-0, with the 49ers rushing for 236 yards compared to 56 yards by the team in Dallas. Also, Dak threw his second interception in the third quarter. Despite a late flurry of points, the Cowboys could not mount a comeback and now they are steering down the barrel of a losing season with difficult matchups against the Falcons, Eagles, Texans, and Commanders in the next four weeks. Jerry Jones failed to manage the cap, resign their key players quicker, and provide the requisite players to compete. It will be a bigger disaster to tear this team apart and rebuild from the ground up.

3. Rodgers and Jets season grounded after nightmare loss- Robert Saleh was blamed for the downturn of the Jets season. However, after a 25-22 loss to the New England Patriots in week 2, the Jets are now 0-3 without Saleh on the sidelines. Jets Owner Wood Johnson decided to back Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, in trading for DaVante Adams, and turning the season around. Instead, the team played worse on defense without Saleh. The Jets’ defense allowed the lowly ranked Patriots’ offense to enjoy back-to-back drives that included 26 plays, 131 yards, and a combined 7:40 seconds that resulted in a field goal and game-winning touchdown. The team was indiscipline in being whistled for 8 penalties and was an inefficient 4 of 10 from third down. The Jets would need to be nearly perfect to climb out of a 2-6 record and face the Texans, Cardinals, Colts, and Cardinals, who are fighting to remain in playoff contention. At age 41, Rodgers’ time with the Jets appears to be heading for a messy divorce.