NFL Review: Week 8
Hello everyone! We survived Bye-maggedon last week and got a lot better slate of games this weekend. Week 8 of the 2021 NFL season will be remembered as the day that back up QBs took over and put the league on notice. Four backups made game-winning contributions for their teams, and a number of teams pulled off massive upsets. This is the season that just keeps on giving!
After the drama of Thursday’s Cardinals vs Packers game, we now have 3 NFC teams with a 7-1 record, plus the Dallas Cowboys at 6-1. In the AFC, Buffalo continues to roll, but the Ravens and Raiders on Bye are also 5-2, and the Tennessee Titans are 6-2 and in 1st place. So much to talk about, so little time, but we HAVE to start (and focus on) some backup heroics in New Orleans, but first in Minnesota, for America’s Team.
Cooper Rush Keeps Dallas Rolling
How… bout them Cowboyz?!
No Dak, no problem! The bookies were certainly worried that Prescott’s absence would lead to the Vikings winning this game at home (the line moved from Cowboys -1.5 to Vikings -4.5 through the week and up until game time), but the fans in Dallas needn’t have worried. Cooper Freakin’ Rush stepped up to the plate, and delivered the business. He threw one pick – not his fault – but two TDs, including a DIME to win the game to Amari Cooper. Rush was unflappable, even after taking a massssssive hit and fumbling the ball, he bounced back and found a way to win this game for Mike McCarthy and the team.
Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore’s game plan was perfect. CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper continued to stake their claim as the best 1-2 punch at WR in the league, both going for 6+ catches and 100+ yards. They were probably competing with the two guys on the other sideline in this game, but Justin Jefferson was hampered with a couple niggly injuries, and despite Adam Thielen finding the endzone early on, the Cowboys duo definitely outshone the Vikings pair.
Also, is Cedric Wilson the greatest WR occasionally playing QB ever?! He has a perfect passer rating, and is 4/4 in his career. In the backfield. Ezekiel Elliott’s play on 3rd and 11 to get the Cowboys a 1st and Goal show that he’s getting back to his best. Tony Pollard is the perfect foil for Zeke, and the Cowboys continue to find ways to put up points regardless of who they’re facing.
But Cooper Rush’s effort also owes a lot to the other 2/3s of the team. Special Teams did their job, but Dallas’ defense is one of the surprise stories of the season, with Dan Quinn doing an unbelievable job of rectifying a historically bad unit from last season. Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs and those guys are playing out of their skin. Whenever Dallas needed to stiffen defensively and give Rush a chance, they did. Without Dak, you might have thought this was a trap game. Nuh uh. The Cowboys are for real.
But for Minnesota, as ever, when the lights are brightest, Kirk Cousins fails to deliver. The Vikings will not crack the later stages of the Playoffs until they have a signal caller with more talent and poise. Cousins was running for his life from the Dallas front at times, and benefited from a couple of soft “Roughing the Passer” penalties in order to sustain drives that still didn’t end in more than a Field Goal from Greg Joseph.
Mike Zimmer cannot be happy with Cousins being his guy when you look around the league and see all the other elite talents out there. If you’re the GM in Minnesota, would you not try and trade Cousins back to Washington? I just can’t see that Vikings fans truly believe Kirk is their best option in trying to win NOW. The Vikings SHOULD be challenging the Packers for the NFC North title, and they still might, with two games against Green Bay to come, but it doesn’t feel like this team is utilising the weapons they have effectively. Dalvin Cook caught zero passes last night. He also had less than 20 rushes. Give him the ball!
The Vikings are 3-4, and stepping into the Ravens’ den next week. Far from ideal. Facing a backup QB, this is a game Minnesota should have found a way to win. And yet, Cooper Rush became the hero for Dallas. Until Dakstreet’s back (alright), Rush will keep things going for America’s team.
Trevor Siemian Takes Down TB12
Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr. did not play his best game on Sunday. In fact, that’s 3 regular season games in a row with Tampa Bay against New Orleans that the Buccaneers have come out on the losing side. Yes, fine, they won in the NFC Divisional Round en route to their Championship, but Sean Payton’s men are 3-1 against Bruce Arians’ squad in the last couple seasons right now. If we look back before Brady’s arrival, the Saints have won the last SIX regular season meetings between these two teams. Is it possible Brady might go 0-2 in trying to win the NFC South!?
The Saints trimmed the Bucs’ lead atop the division to just half a game with this win. Things started well for Tampa, taking the lead on Chris Godwin’s 12 yard grab, but Jameis Winston responded finding Tre’Quan Smith to tie things up. But that would be the personal peak of Jameis’ revenge game against his former employers. A horsecollar-ish tackle, a twist, and a significant knee injury means that Winston is now being reported to be out for the season with ACL & MCL damage. Jameis has two impressive wins (the Packers & this one) on his resume this season now, but his injury is a hammer blow for the Saints’ long-term prospects, but the man who took over from him delivered in a way almost nobody was expecting…
Trevor Siemian wasn’t the guy at the Broncos. I genuinely had to ask my friend “who is the Saints’ back up?!” when Winston went down. I didn’t know Siemian had wound up there… but he made sure we all know exactly where he is now! 16/29, 159 yards passing and 1 TD… Not bad! Against one of the league’s premier defensive fronts no less. He may just about be able to keep the Saints in this race for the NFC South.
For Tampa, it’s another night to forget. They’re hardly in bad shape at 6-2, but just like last year there are some frailties being shown here in the regular season. No doubt they’ll put it all together come playoff time, but they also need to keep their stars healthy. Antonio Brown was out again, Gronk clearly wasn’t 100%, and left the game after playing just a handful of snaps.
The Buccaneers were swinging without much substance for the first 3 and a half quarters, finding themselves in a 23-7 hole. And… then they turned it on. When the Bucs took the lead in the 4th quarter on the Cyril Grayson TD (busted coverage from the Saints), with just under 6 minutes to play, the Saints hung in. You could have forgiven them – and Siemian especially – from being overawed by the moment, but they didn’t blink and the Saints ground out a win. Special shoutout to PJ Williams for the game-sealing Pick 6. We loved to see it.
Quick Hits
- Mike White! The Jets! How did THAT happen? We were almost ready to crown the Bengals a legit AFC contender and then this upset came along. Credit to White for taking that big hit, bouncing back, throwing for 405 yards and getting a win for Robert Saleh. Is this Mike White’s team now!?
- Joe Burrow losing to the Jets was not something I thought I’d be talking about this week. Cincinnati can’t afford this kind of inconsistency against poor teams if they’re going to usurp the Ravens and the Browns to take the AFC North. Ja’Marr Chase is a machine though. ROY nailed on?! Looks like it.
- Geno Smith! Thank you! That’s more like it. Seattle just about kept their season alive with this comprehensive beating of the Jaguars. It’s not much, but it gives them a chance to get healthy with a bit of momentum going into their Bye. After the Bye? The Packers and the Cardinals. Russ needs to get healthy NOW.
- I’m not saying this is likely, but I do think it would be perfect and hilarious if Urban Meyer’s Jaguars never win a game in the United States. They have to fly to London every year to pick up a win. Would be a good narrative.
- The Texans… where do we start? Embarrassing as an organisation on Sunday. They showed some fight at the end, but garbage time against back up defenders can’t save you from reality. Brandin Cooks deserves better. Will they trade Deshaun Watson? It feels less likely by the hour…
- The Rams are 7-1 and very legit, but have also had some cakewalk games. I’d like to see them tested a bit more. Good thing it’s Rams vs Titans on SNF next week!
- BREAKING: as I’m peacefully typing away writing this… we have a trade! Von Miller to the Rams!!! Well… Von, Aaron Donald & Jalen Ramsey on the same defense!? Woof. Look out, NFC.
- So the Broncos no longer have Von Miller, but they gain a 2nd and a 3rd round pick, and they ground out a win on Sunday on the back of Melvin Gordon’s brace of TDs. Denver are relying on their stout defense to stay afloat.
- Washington are in free fall. Heinicke is doing all he can, but it’s not enough. The silver lining is that it appears as though Antonio Gibson’s injury isn’t serious. THAT would have been a catastrophe.
- The Dolphins seem to have cooled their interest in the aforementioned Mr. Watson… but is that smoke and mirrors? Tua has now lost 3 straight since his return from injury. That Week 1 win in Foxboro feels like it happened decades ago… 7 losses on the bounce. Crisis times in Miami.
- Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills are the current SuperBowl favourites according to Vegas… and they’re damn sure playing like it. Bills Mafia is getting real excited.
- Mac Jones and the Patriots have life. Back to .500, and continuing to roll. Damien Harris finds the endzone again, but Jakobi Meyers continues to miss out. When he finally gets his TD, the celebration will be amazing. He has more than 1,000 yards more than the next highest receiver in NFL history to have never scored a TD. Incredible.
- The Chargers might look back on this one and really regret not beating this Patriots team come the end of the year. It didn’t quite click for LA yesterday, even coming off a Bye. Brandon Staley needs his guys to get back to winning ways immediately if they’re going to hold off the Chiefs and Raiders to win the AFC West.
- Welcome back to the win column, Carolina. Stephon Gilmore gets the game-sealing pick at the end, and sets himself up nicely to face his old team next week…
- Matt Ryan… it might be time to head out, pal. Confirmed: The Falcons are bad.
- Sidenote – Calvin Ridley, get well soon and I’m glad you feel comfortable enough to say publicly you need time away from the game to look after your mental health. Brave, and appreciated.
- How do the Eagles score 44 points and Jalen Hurts be uninvolved in all of their Touchdowns!? Fantasy Football heartbreak… Philly may not be anywhere near the finished article, but they appear to be in control of second place in the NFC East without much stress.
- The Lions… might be going entirely defeated… By my count, they have 3 remaining shots to win a game. The Steelers (hard to get a read on them) in two weeks, the Bears on Thanksgiving, and the Broncos on December 12th. If it ain’t one of them… it’s 0-17. Ouch. Dan Campbell doesn’t deserve this.
- You saw the Bears’ season highlight on Sunday. That Justin Fields TD run was incredible. Shame about the rest of the offense. Khalil Herbert is doing well.
- In a battle of not good QBs, Jimmy G had TWO rushing TDs. Wild. The 49ers keep their season alive, but I still think they finish 4th in the NFC West once Russell Wilson returns for Seattle.
- Ugh. That’s a BAD loss for the Browns.The usually unflappable Jarvis Landry suffered from drops and a killer fumble, Odell held to one catch, Chubb not his usual self… Baker gave his all, fighting through his injuries to try and win this game. Cleveland now NEED to beat Cincinnati next weekend.
- Mike Tomlin is REFUSING to have a losing season with the Steelers. Unsure how he is continuing to keep this team at .500, but he’s doing it. Broken Ben is making just enough throws, and Najee Harris is carrying the load on his back. Congrats to Freiermuth on the game-winner. Great moment for him. Mike Tomlin is an unbelievably good Coach.
- Carson Wentz. Oh no. What a rollercoaster of a Quarterback. That Pick 6? Bruuuuuutal. Shout out Michael Pittman. Any idea why they stopped targeting him in the second half until the last drive?! Wild. The Colts… are clinging onto their playoff hopes by a thread.
- A big win for the Titans, but a crushing injury loss. It looks like Derrick Henry might be done for the regular season. Titans are apparently working out Adrian Peterson today. Could he become the bellcow and keep this Tennessee team headed to the playoffs!?
MNF Prediction: (Season Record: 5-3)
So after winning 5 straight, I’m now riding a two-game losing streak because Geno Smith and the Seahawks refused to play offense last Monday night, except for one 80+ yard TD by DK Metcalf. ‘Twas a shame. Ah well. Let’s rectify it tonight, with an intriguing matchup between the New York Football Giants and the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs need this one in the worst way. With the Raiders on a Bye, and the Chargers stumbling at home against New England, Kansas City has a chance to clamber back into contention in the AFC West, though they’ll likely also need to run the table against their in-division foes as the season goes on… Either way, Mahomes is healthy, having shaken off that brutal hit against the Titans last week, and with Hill & Kelce needing to put in big performances, I’m expecting fireworks from the Chiefs offensively.
The question mark – as always – is on the other side of the ball. Can this Chiefs defense step up and make a play when needed?! They haven’t done so yet, which is why the Chiefs find themselves on the mat staring up at the Raiders and Chargers. However, they have the talent, coaching, and experience to get this show back on the road sooner rather than later.
For the Giants, Joe Judge’s authoritarian experiment hasn’t quite gone perfectly as yet, but there have been some surprising moments of life from this team. Beating the Saints was a strange one, and then – without all of their main weapons – handled the Panthers with ease last week.
Devontae Booker has filled in admirably for Saquon Barkley, and both Sterling Shepard and Kadarius Toney – who is ELECTRIFYING – are back tonight, so Danny Dimes has some hope in this one. Jones has shown he can compete in this league, but needs to find more consistency to get the Giants back onto the island of relevancy. But, unfortunately for NY, that doesn’t start tonight. This is the Chiefs, and I’m just not going to pick against Patrick Mahomes under PrimeTime lights. No chance in hell.
Week 9 Preview
Well, next Sunday marks the official halfway point of this 18-Week NFL season! It doesn’t start great on Thursday, but with Mike White & Carson Wentz on TNF, you know SOMETHING insane is going to happen at some point.
Then, the early window is a bit lacking in great matchups, but the Bengals vs the Browns should be good, and the “Stephon Gilmore Revenge Game” of Patriots vs Panthers could be interesting too. But the late slate!? Potential fireworks – Packers vs Chiefs, Cardinals vs 49ers, and Eagles vs Chargers. There’s gonna be some points scored in those games!
Sunday Night Football – as mentioned earlier – has the Rams vs the (maybe Derrick Henry-less) Titans, and Monday Night Football is a smash mouth, “we can’t throw it so we have to run it” meeting of the Steelers and the Bears. Old School Football. As always, I’m @CallumJDSquires on Twitter and Instagram. Enjoy the Trade Deadline… I’m rooting for chaos.
Callum Squires
Designer
CALLUM IS FROM LONDON, BUT PLAYED COLLEGE SOCCER AT TRINITY UNIVERSITY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, WHERE HE LEARNED NEVER TO CHEER FOR THE COWBOYS. CALLUM IS A LONG-SUFFERING DOLPHINS FAN WHO BELIEVES THE TUA HYPE