Week 8 could see sudden changes for several NFL teams.
The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers meet in the second of two NFC South showdowns. The underdog of the Philadelphia Eagles-Cincinnati Bengals might feel like all the luck they’ve built over the past few weeks is gone. The AFC South could get even tighter if the Houston Texans host the Indianapolis Colts. Two struggling NFC powers in the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers meet on Sunday night.
What Week 8 storylines are capturing the attention of the NFL writer trio of Mike Sando, Zak Keefer and Jeff Howe? Learn more about our Sunday primer.
The Vikings (now 5-2) lost to the Rams on Thursday night. The Bears (Commanders), Lions (vs. Titans) and Packers (Jaguars) all play on Sunday. Who is your pick to win the NFC North right now? Do you expect all four teams to make the playoffs?
shirt: Detroit is the clear favorite, having already won in Minnesota and has the best roster and the most “work time” with this group of coaches/players. I don’t think all four teams in the division will make the playoffs, but that could be trending in the near term based on what the Bears do over their next three games against Washington (without Jaden Daniels), Arizona, and New England. NFC North teams will continue to beat each other.
Keeper: Give me the Lions in the NFC North. Dan Campbell continues to rank among the best in the league. So far, there has been no hangover from last season’s disastrous conference title game loss. Detroit won exactly as he envisioned, with two of the best fronts in the league. And Jared Goff is playing like an MVP. This team will be a very tough team in the NFC playoffs.
How: Even without Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions are still playing like the best team in the NFC. They provide a force on both sides of the ball, especially if Goff remains in the MVP conversation. As for the playoffs, all four teams are performing well enough, and all four will likely finish the season in the top seven of the NFC Power Rankings. However, they will likely beat each other while an East or South team could use a more favorable slate to sneak into the final wild card spot.
The NFC North has the toughest division in the league in 2024. The Minnesota Vikings lost 5-2 on Thursday, and Jared Goff (16) and the Detroit Lions will host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. (Jeffrey Becker/Image Image)
A rib injury could keep Caleb Williams vs. Jayden Daniels out, but Bears-Commanders is a big game nonetheless. What do you like most about Williams and Daniels? What do you want to see from each rookie QB that they haven’t shown or proven yet?
shirt: I like the way both quarterbacks are starting in Week 1 without the game looking too fast and the job (franchise quarterback) looking too big. From what we’ve seen, both seem equipped to handle the job, both on and off the field. Daniels will have to prove he can stay on the field all season. That’s also part of a franchise quarterback’s job. As the season began, his durability became an issue. He is already dealing with an injury that threatens to keep him out. I want to see Williams perform well against good teams. He hasn’t had much of a chance to do that yet. The Houston game was a tough game.
Keeper: I spent time with Daniels in Washington last week, and as you can see from the story, his preparation is what sets him apart. His teammates were amazed at how early he showed up at the building every day. And Washington’s offense is built around what he does well without having to throw the ball 40 times a game. In Chicago, Williams has improved significantly recently, but the challenge now is to prove it against stiffer competition. Beating up Carolina and Jacksonville doesn’t mean much these days. To back this up after a bye week against Washington, who had led the NFC East since Week 3, speaks even more.
How: Daniels did everything right, but he admired the way his commanders continued to put him in positions to succeed. The coaching has been great and the running game has helped. Daniels did his part to lift his teammates. I’m not sure how much Daniels can improve at the next point, but a pre-draft concern was his ability to hold up physically and he’s already dealing with a rib injury. Williams took a little longer to get comfortable due to some line issues and skill spot injuries, but he never lost his way or lost confidence. He just continued to believe in his abilities and it’s very clear that his play has slowed down over the past few weeks. He’s tracking to play with a lot more confidence and I think Williams has the potential to help the Bears play.
By the looks of things and the odds, the Browns’ misfortune is set to get worse on Sunday against the Ravens. Take a seat at GM in Cleveland. What do you make of Deshaun Watson and his contract?
shirt: I would release Watson after June 1st if there is no deal to launder Watson’s contract through another team. Release would be simple. Cut him and watch his previously projected 2025 cap hit increase from nearly $73 million to nearly $119 million. Contract laundering will provide a longer opportunity to alleviate some of the cap and cash consequences. In this scenario, the Browns would trade Watson and their draft capital to a team that releases Watson, taking on some of the cap/cash burden and waiving his no-trade clause as part of his exit strategy. .
Keeper: I’m going to beg my boss, i.e. owner Jimmy Haslam, to release Watson after June 1st and eat the dead money. This is a significant hit (nearly $119 million until the 2025 cap), but I think it will be the best outcome for both sides in the long run. Cleveland will pay a huge price for their mistake, namely the $230 million fully guaranteed contract they handed him in 2022, but they can’t keep Watson’s situation going for years, eating away at the headlines, and moving on without hindering this team. You will also have opportunities. You can’t save this. Even if he returns in 2025, Watson will be a $46 million quarterback coming off a serious injury that has sidelined him for four years. Now is the time for logic, not stubbornness, to win.
deeper
Deshaun Watson and the Browns’ escape plan (after admitting it’s finally over): Sando’s Pick Six
How: The damage has been done. Remember when it was widely believed that the Packers would struggle in 2023 due to more than $50 million in dead money after Aaron Rodgers? (This example isn’t valid because they made the playoffs, but I’m using it to give perspective.) Well, the Browns already have $23 million in dead cap space for 2025, and with one cut after June, they have 1 That’s an additional $19 million. This will have devastating ramifications for the rest of the roster. This is even worse than the way the Broncos were forced to cut Russell Wilson after releasing him. The Browns need to stop restructuring Watson’s deal. Even if he plays at Mahomes’ level with a cap hit of $72.9 million, the Browns will need to be supernatural with players on rookie contracts to be a playoff threat. Unless they plan on scooping up Watson’s cap space over several decades of empty space like Bobby Bonilla did, it’s time to face reality and recognize that the contract has hindered their roster building for the foreseeable future.
Injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin will be challenges for the Bucs to overcome. The Falcons seem like they can beat anyone and lose to anyone. As these two teams prepare to meet on Sunday, what do you make of the top spot in the NFC South?
shirt: The Buccaneers were going to win this division, and they still might. With Kirk Cousins’ surgically repaired Achilles tendon potentially rounding into stronger form later in the season, receiver injuries have opened the door for the Falcons to overtake them.
Keeper: That’s a pretty good synopsis, and one of the reasons I don’t think anyone can trust the Falcons right now. The Bucs were a preseason pick to win the NFC South again. They quietly won their fourth straight division crown. But the recent losses of Evans and Godwin have left Atlanta open. A loss to the Falcons on Sunday could mean a long few weeks for the Bucs. Before their bye, they’ll face last year’s Super Bowl teams Kansas City and San Francisco in back-to-back weeks. Even though the 49ers have had injuries as well, they are not a team you want to play in the short term.
deeper
Bucs’ Chris Godwin undergoes surgery. Mike Evans misses several weeks
How: Aside from a few issues when Baker Mayfield had a lot of turnovers, the QB has played well enough to be a perimeter MVP candidate. I think he can still keep the Bucs in contention unless the Falcons flip a switch. Tampa offensive coordinator Liam Coen has also taken the offense to a much higher level, and his concept will free up lesser-known players to replace Evans and Godwin. I’m still much more interested in the defense that gives up the 5th most goals in the league. There is no way to have a winning streak just because you are struggling on offense. The Falcons were pretty good until their blowout loss to the Seahawks. We’re unlikely to see the best version of Kirk Cousins ​​this season due to his Achilles tendon recovery, but he’s good enough to win the division while keeping games close.
The Cowboys and 49ers cross paths once again in one of the league’s biggest rivalries. But both teams are struggling. What must the 49ers do to win? What does Dallas need to do to win on Sunday night?
shirt: The 49ers won by running the ball all over Dallas’ weak defense to control the flow of the game and give quarterback Brock Purdy an easy night. The Cowboys win with a strong game from Dak Prescott and game-changing play on special teams, with Dallas being stronger than San Francisco this season.
Keeper: Personally, I think this game is more about the Cowboys than the 49ers. San Francisco is not right. There are too many injuries. But I don’t see Seattle running away with the division. The 49ers just need to keep chasing Christian McCaffrey until he returns. For a group of veterans like this, a December run isn’t impossible. But on Sunday, it feels like the Cowboys’ season is on the verge of collapse. Dallas can’t win at home, can’t beat anyone decent, and can’t stop going their own way. This confrontation is not helpful. The 49ers have won three straight against the Cowboys, including two in the playoffs. And remember last year’s meeting. San Francisco’s 42-10 rout foreshadowed the Cowboys’ playoff embarrassment three months later.
How: The 49ers’ rise is the main story, but a subplot (perhaps a glimpse into more damaging issues) is giving the game away. They had no business losing to the Rams and Cardinals the way those games were played. Then they made too many mistakes to capitalize on the Chiefs. This is about the trend of teams looking to win their conference. I think the 49ers will beat the Cowboys, but they haven’t shown yet that they can close games this season. Meanwhile, the Cowboys didn’t consistently run the ball or stop the run. Until these factors are improved, they are not a threat in NFC.
(Top photo by Caleb Williams: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
