Rams Pass Latest Test At Home To Move To 8-0
How can I explain this?
If you watched the the early afternoon slot of games in Week 8, you likely noticed a trend.
No game was close.
That’s right, around 4 pm/ET with most of these games in the fourth quarter only one game was within single digits and that was a game at Soldier Field between the New York Jets and Chicago Bears where realistically a 17-10 score at home for the Khalil Mack-less Bears felt like a 14-point lead.
Ironically, Chicago went on to win that game 24-10.
Games expected to be close were mostly one-sided thrashings. That would change a little later due to some bizarre events, but overall, it was a blowout centric day across the NFL.
Better days are ahead, hopefully, as Week 9 promises to have more than a few noteworthy matchups.
Here are my takeaways from Sunday’s NFL Week 8 action below.
Rams Get Unlikely Heroes In Nail Biter Over Packers
The Los Angeles Rams have been tested this season, and Sunday’s home game vs the well-rested Green Bay Packers represented their stiffest to date.
Due to unlikely heroes, the Los Angeles Rams still have not tasted defeat this season.
The Rams outlasted the Green Bay Packers 29-27 on Sunday afternoon at Los Angeles Memorial Stadium to improve to 8-0.
A big hit by Ramik Wilson on wide receiver Ty Montgomery during the Packers final kickoff return would cause a fumble that would be recovered by Los Angeles, spoiling Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense opportunity to win the game late.
It wasn’t just Wilson’s hit that proved critical, but the play from “the other” guys.
A downed punt at the one-yard line by Sam Shields, a hit in the end zone by Mark Barron and two touchdowns by Cooper Kupp fill-in Josh Reynolds all contributed equally to Los Angeles’ latest win.
Unable to display their typical offensive prowess due to a step up in competition, Jared Goff, who finished with 295 passing yards and three touchdowns, was mostly under duress throughout the game.
The Packers defense came to play, with Goff being sacked a season-high five times on Sunday. A standout performance by cornerback Jaire Alexander and the Packers defensive unit wouldn’t be enough, however, as the Packers offense cold spell following a first quarter touchdown lingered into the second half.
Aaron Rodgers finished with 286 passing yards and one touchdown, not exactly lighting the world on fire as we’re accustomed to seeing.
If there is a bright spot for the Green Bay Packers, it’s their defensive play, which was questioned coming into the game after a so-so first six games.
They’ll need to be better next week vs the New England Patriots on the road.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams will have their hardest road game of the season when they visit the Bayou to take on the New Orleans Saints.
Bengals Hold Off Buccaneers As Winston Benched
Whether it’s the end of Jameis Winston as Buccaneers starting quarterback or not, the quarterback is now back in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 37-34 on Sunday afternoon at Paul Brown Stadium after kicker Randy Bullock hit a game-winning 44-yard field goal as time expired.
The Cincinnati Bengals blew a 21-point lead and a 18-point fourth quarter lead, but they’ll take a much needed win after losing two straight games.
The talk of the game on any other day would be Cincinnati rewriting their own history of late game gaffes, but on this day the benching of Bucaneers’ starting quarterback Jameis Winston is the story.
After his fourth interception, a 21-yard interception touchdown return by Jessie Bates, Winston would be benched after late in the third quarter for backup Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick went on to lead the fierce fourth quarter comeback for the Buccaneers as he hooked up with Mike Evans on a 72-yard touchdown and O.J. Howard in a game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Fitzpatrick finished the game 11-for-15 for 194 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Jameis Winston, who was making his third start of the season following a three-game suspension to open the year, finished the game with 276 passing yards, one touchdown and four interceptions.
He also completed only 51 percent of his passes, illustrating the fourth year quarterback is struggling with accuracy.
Year four is an important year for Jameis Winston, and while you might attribute it to rust against teams who have a leg up on him in terms of games, there’s little to argue with coach Dirk Koetter’s decision to yank him after another poor throw to the opposing team.
Dirk Koetter after the game held off on naming a starter for Tampa Bay’s next game in Carolina next week, but it’s clear that Winston’s spot as Buccaneers starting quarterback is tedious at best.
When the Buccaneers drafted Jameis Winston with the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, they expected growing pains with Winston’s accuracy being a question mark but NFL makeup looking like a sure thing.
Four years later, there seems to be little improvement from the quarterback who threw a pick six in his first career game to the one we see now.
Newton, Panthers Roar In Win Over Ravens
The Panthers won’t admit it, but being labeled as underdogs at home pissed off a team that had won nine straight at Bank of America Stadium.
On Sunday, they let off of those emotions and anger out on the rugged Baltimore Ravens.
Behind Cam Newton’s three total touchdowns and a strong defensive performance, the Carolina Panthers pummeled the Baltimore Ravens 36-21 on Sunday afternoon.
Newton dominated the NFL’s top ranked defense coming into play as he finished with 219 passing yards while completing 72 percent of his passes.
The Panthers trailed early 7-0 after an opening drive touchdown by the Ravens, but would assume control thereafter. Carolina scored 27 unanswered points vs Baltimore, putting the game out of reach on a 12-yard touchdown run by Cam Newton in the fourth quarter.
The Carolina Panthers (5-2) have won 10 straight now at home and have not lost there since Week 3 of last season.
They are keeping pace with the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South, and hope to continue their winning ways at home vs the last place Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Sunday.
Mahomes 4 TDs Lead Chiefs To Sweep Of Broncos
The Kansas City Chiefs keep scoring and scoring, but just as was the case back in Week 4 vs Denver, The Broncos didn’t back down from the Chiefs.
The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Denver Broncos 30-23 on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium to improve to 7-1 this season.
Patrick Mahomes continued his blistering pace by throwing for 303 passing yards and four touchdowns with an interception on Sunday afternoon.
It’s the second-year quarterback’s third consecutive game with four touchdown passes as he and the Kansas City Chiefs offense continue to befuddle NFL defenses.
Like last week, though, it was Kareem Hunt’s “beast mode” like running that stole the show.
On a 4th and 1 play midway through the third quarter, Kareem Hunt would take a shovel pass from Patrick Mahomes and proceed to hurdle over a Bronco defender and finish the run by fighting his way for a touchdown with several Broncos trying to keep him out of the end zone.
Kareem Hunt finished with 86 total yards from scrimmage and one touchdown as the Broncos did a good job of limiting him on the ground with 3.1 yards per carry.
Andy Reid said it best after the game, Kareem Hunt is one of the best running backs in the league.
What he does for Kansas City in the run game and the pass game can not be overstated enough. He’s the heartbeat of the Chiefs offense and manages to with his speed, athleticism and ferocity go out and dominate on a given play.
The Denver Broncos (3-5) fought tremendously hard to be in the game, trailing 16-14 at the half, but two second half turnovers by Case Keenum proved critical in this one.
Keenum finished the game 262 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception as Denver couldn’t make it two wins on the row on the road.
The Broncos will prepare for a road visit from the Houston Texans next Sunday at Sports Authority Field.
Meanwhile, Kansas City will visit the Cleveland Browns next Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium.
What are your thoughts on Sunday’s Week 8 action? Leave your comments below!