NFL Week 8 Short Takes

We are halfway home in the NFL season with a first-half that had some surprises, some awful teams that playing on the level that was expected of them, and oddly enough, games being played in stadiums with very little to no fans. Stranger days ahead I’m sure. A 9-5 week last week for yours truly and here’s the quick look at what went down.

Atlanta Falcons 25 / Carolina Panthers 17: The Falcons are fighting somewhat after a horrendous start and the Panthers are beginning to slide.

Buffalo Bills 24 / New England Patriots 21: This was like an AFC championship game for Buffalo as they knock off their division rivals and take the driver’s seat in the AFC East. That’s unfamiliar territory for not just the Bills but the Patriots as well.

Indianapolis Colts 41 / Detroit Lions 21: If Philip Rivers can continue to have solid games the Colts can make noise in the AFC. The Lions? Hopeless.

Miami Dolphins 28 / Los Angeles Rams 17: The upset of the week despite Miami’s rookie quarterback Tagovaila not having an impressive start to his NFL career. The Rams could have used this one given Seattle’s result.

Las Vegas Raiders 16 / Cleveland Browns 6: The Raiders did my Steelers a favor and buried the Browns just a little deeper in the AFC North.

Minnesota Vikings 28 / Green Bay Packers 22: Upset special #2. The Vikings were supposed to be contenders at the start of the season, it only took them eight weeks to get. The Packers need to regroup again.

Kansas City Chiefs 35 / New York Jets 9: I predicted a 51-9 score so I was only half right. But it is no surprise to the disparity in the score. If any team loses to the Jets the rest of the way, they will be embarrassed.

Pittsburgh Steelers 28 / Baltimore Ravens 24: Never bet against your team right? I had the Ravens winning 27-24 because I figured how difficult it is to go unbeaten in the NFL. Well, here we are 7-0, Pittsburgh ties its best start in franchise history as the 1978 team began 7-0 and finished with a Super Bowl victory. Is that the Steelers fate for 2020? Super Bowl champs again? We in Steelers Nation hope for.

Cincinnati Bengals 31 / Tennessee Titans 20: Upset #2 for the day and this was a big one. The Titans were still not over losing their unbeaten record to Pittsburgh and were considered to be one of the NFL’s best teams. Not anymore. Joe Burrow just keeps on getting better and more comfortable. Bengals fans should be very happy about that.

Denver Broncos 31 / Los Angeles Chargers 30: Just like that the Chargers are in last place in the AFC West. With the win, the Broncos moved ahead of L.A. Neither team has a shot at the division title and probably not a playoff spot either.

New Orleans Saints 26 / Chicago Bears 23: In overtime, the Saints get a much-needed victory setting up a showdown with Tom Brady and the Bucs this weekend. The oddest thing I witnessed in this game was seeing not a single fan in the stands in Chicago and the broadcast team piping in fan noise like cheering even though no fans were present. Weird.

Seattle Seahawks 37 / San Francisco 49ers 27: The Buccaneers might think they are the NFC’s best team but Seattle will have something to say to that. Russell Wilson is having his best season yet and I believe the Seahawks are the team to beat in the NFC. Jimmy Garoppolo? Hurt again.

Philadelphia Eagles 23 / Dallas Cowboys 9: The Pittsburgh Steelers are licking their chops heading into week 9. They get the Cowboys who are seeing their season going down the tubes. The Eagles take control of the NFC East with the win but must still fend off The Washington Football Team.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25 / New York Giants 23: This is the not warmup game the Bucs wanted to have in preparation for a first-place shown down with the Saints. For the Giants, it’s a lost season but unlike the other loser teams like the Jets, and Jaguars, New York has been competitive.