Week 8 featured what was unquestionably essentially the most entertaining slate of video games this common season, with a number of groups pulling off surprising upsets and delivering some unforgettable moments.
Amidst the chaos, the Washington Commanders shocked the Chicago Bears on a walk-off Hail Mary, whereas the Baltimore Ravens had been surprised by their AFC North rival Cleveland Browns.
In the meantime, the New York Jets added one other humiliating chapter to their depressing season, whereas the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs cruised to yet one more victory to stay undefeated.
Listed below are some knee-jerk reactions from the eighth week of the NFL season:
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels locked up the Offensive Rookie of the 12 months Award
Despite the fact that there are nonetheless 9 video games left to play this season, Daniels delivered such a stellar efficiency towards the Chicago Bears that the OROY race is basically over. Daniels, who was a game-time determination for Sunday’s contest after struggling a rib damage final week, outplayed Caleb Williams in a duel between the highest two picks within the 2024 NFL Draft.
Williams solely accomplished 10 of his 24 passes for 131 yards. Daniels, then again, completed 21-of-38 passing for 326 yards and one landing whereas dashing for 52 yards, although the field rating would not inform your entire story. The LSU product loved a number of Heisman moments final season, however he had his OROY second with two seconds remaining in Sunday’s contest whereas Washington trailed 15-12.
After scrambling round within the backfield, Daniels fired a 52-yard Hail Mary that bounced into the arms of Noah Brown to safe an exhilarating 18-15 win.
The 2024 Jets are essentially the most disappointing group in franchise historical past
The Jets have produced a number of terrible groups all through franchise historical past. Nonetheless, after falling to 2-6 following an embarrassing 25-22 road loss to the rebuilding Patriots, it is protected to say that no Jets group has been extra disappointing than this one.
Regardless of lacking the playoffs for the final 13 seasons, New York entered 2024 with one thing it hadn’t had in properly over a decade: expectations. Not simply expectations however reputable Tremendous Bowl aspirations.
Trying on the names on the roster, it is simple to know why, but the on-field product has been flat-out abysmal. The Aaron Rodgers experiment could not have been extra of a catastrophe, and with no simple repair in sight, it would not be surprising if the Jets continued to spiral.
Ravens protection would be the purpose the group will not recover from the hump
The Cleveland Browns earned essentially the most shocking upset victory of the season on Sunday, defeating Baltimore 29-24 at home behind a 38-yard landing by WR Cedric Tillman with simply over a minute remaining in regulation. The loss not solely snapped a five-game profitable streak for Baltimore but in addition highlighted the ineffectiveness of the group’s protection, which is shaping as much as be its potential deadly flaw.
Along with scoring greater than 20 factors for the primary time in 2024, the Jameis Winston-led Browns offense set a season-high in whole yards (401). The absence of CBs Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins clearly performed a task within the consequence, however Baltimore’s cross protection was already the worst in the league getting into Sunday’s motion.
Whereas the Ravens boast arguably the NFL’s most full offense, that will not matter a lot if the protection cannot resolve its points, which may finally price the group within the playoffs.
Nationwide Tight Ends Day is not only a gimmick
NFL groups certain know easy methods to rejoice a vacation. Sunday marked the sixth annual Nationwide Tight Ends Day, which George Kittle of the 49ers created in 2018, and seemingly each group joined in on the festivities. General, NFL tight ends scored 17 touchdowns on Sunday, breaking the earlier Nationwide Tight Ends Day document of 12 mixed scores by the place.
Atlanta’s Kyle Pitts and Tampa Bay’s Cade Otton led the best way with two scores a bit, although essentially the most spectacular outing by a good finish on Sunday belonged to Arizona’s Trey McBride. Through the Cardinals’ 28-27 come-from-behind highway victory over the Miami Dolphins, McBride caught 9 passes for 124 yards.
NFL defensive coordinators will certainly have subsequent season’s Nationwide Tight Ends Day marked on their calendars.
OC Shane Waldron and HC Matt Eberflus aren’t the long-term solutions in Chicago
Hiring Waldron over now-Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury seems like some of the regrettable selections a group made within the offseason and one that might price Chicago’s teaching employees their jobs. Waldron has a historical past of questionable play-calling selections, however his gaffe with 6:25 remaining within the fourth quarter Sunday was undoubtedly his worst.
On third-and-goal at Washington’s 1-yard line, whereas Chicago trailed 12-7, Waldron known as a working play for backup guard Doug Kramer, who instantly fumbled the ball, which clearly proved expensive.
Even so, Sunday’s loss is not fully on Waldron, because the defensive-minded HC Eberflus’ decision-making significantly attributed to the consequence. Except for letting Washington decide up an additional 13 yards on the play earlier than Daniels’ Hail Mary, Eberflus surprisingly did not use any of his three timeouts to reset his protection.
The Bears are actually 1-13 against winning teams beneath Eberflus, and since they’ve a possible franchise quarterback in Williams, they haven’t any alternative however to re-evaluate the teaching employees going ahead.
Bengals ought to commerce WR Tee Higgins
Cincinnati fell to 3-5 on the season after struggling a 37-17 blowout home loss towards the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Making the playoffs appeared like a protracted shot for the Bengals getting into the competition. Now, Cincinnati should submit a 7-2 document going ahead to have a shot at a wild-card spot, which appears virtually not possible contemplating its protection permits the 10th-most points and eighth-most yards per recreation.
Subsequently, the Bengals ought to look to commerce Higgins on the Nov. 5 deadline, assuming he heals from the hamstring damage that stored him out of Sunday’s recreation. Though the approaching free agent is a key contributor, Cincinnati must pay Higgins a big contract extension to maintain him round, an enormous danger given his in depth damage historical past.
With so many holes elsewhere, the Bengals could be higher off spending the funds for a Higgins extension on different positions, significantly on the defensive aspect of the ball.
An ideal common season is perhaps reasonable for the Chiefs
QB Patrick Mahomes is off to the worst season of his profession, finishing 68.4% of his passes for 1,651, eight touchdowns and a league-leading 9 interceptions. Accidents proceed to pile up for the Chiefs, who’ve notably misplaced RB Isiah Pacheco for an prolonged interval and WR Rashee Rice for the rest of the yr.
But, Kansas Metropolis finds itself with an ideal 7-0 document, and it is doable it may submit the primary undefeated common season for the reason that 2007 Patriots.
The Chiefs have not performed anyplace near their finest soccer this season, however the offense is steadily enhancing week-to-week as new key contributors RB Kareem Hunt and WR DeAndre Hopkins get extra acclimated.
The Chiefs nonetheless have a number of tough matchups left to play, together with in Week 11 towards Buffalo. Nonetheless, if groups have not overwhelmed them whereas they have not carried out close to their full potential, it is honest to marvel at this level whether or not anybody can cease them.
