One more week remains before the first half of the NFL season ends. Week 8 was one of the season’s most surprising and dramatic weeks, as some teams pulled off huge statement wins that could change how we view their potential moving forward.
However, you can’t say the same about every team. Some teams should be starting to panic after disappointing Week 8 performances, as the reality of underachieving sets in. With the second half of the NFL season approaching, Week 8 could become a season-defining moment for several teams. Here are the biggest winners and losers from NFL Week 8.
Biggest Winners and Losers – NFL Week 8
NFL Week 8’s Biggest Winners
1. Chicago Bears
Not long ago, quarterback Caleb Williams looked to have suffered a potential season-ending injury in Week 2 when he left on a cart, making us wonder whether the Chicago Bears could overcome his absence. However, the Bears not only survived his absence for three weeks but have also been one of the hottest teams in the NFL, winning five of their last six games, including a huge road win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8. Now after this win, it’s time to put the Bears in the Super Bowl conversation.
The Bears delivered a huge statement win over the Seahawks, defeating the defending Super Bowl champions 34-17 in their best performance of the season. The offense dominated one of the NFL’s best defenses, which had allowed an average of 233.9 yards and 17.9 points per game. It generated 363 yards, with 237 coming through the air, a season-high against the Seahawks’ defense. Williams threw no interceptions and was sacked only once, showing efficiency. He threw for 247 yards while completing 71% of his passes. The team also went a perfect four-for-four in the red zone.
Not only did the offense dominate one of the NFL’s best defenses, but Chicago’s defense also looked significantly better after acquiring Jeffrey Simmons in a trade last week. It sacked Sam Darnold three times, with Simmons among the players who did so. It forced an interception, limited Seattle’s offense to one third-down conversion on 11 attempts, and stopped the Seahawks three of four times in the red zone, including a blocked field goal.
It was an incredible team performance for the Bears, who hadn’t had a signature win before this week. Their offense has been one of the best in the NFL since Williams returned in Week 6, averaging 31.7 points per game. The defense has been transformed with the acquisition of Simmons, and the unit now has a difference-maker. With so much talent on both sides of the field, the Bears are officially among the biggest Super Bowl contenders after a dominating Week 8 win over the Seahawks.
2. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos have been inconsistent this season despite their record because of their struggling offense. For three quarters of their game against the Kansas City Chiefs, it looked like the Broncos were on track for another loss to the Chiefs that would’ve given them control of the AFC West. Instead, this team once again found a way to win when they looked dead and buried, turning this division race upside down. The Broncos are now in the driver’s seat not only to win the division again but also to earn a high seed in the AFC.
Denver pulled off an 11-point fourth-quarter comeback to beat a Kansas City team that was 80-2 when leading by double digits in Patrick Mahomes‘ tenure. It wasn’t a pretty performance for the Broncos, as they didn’t score their first touchdown until almost a minute remained in the first half and went three-and-out on every third-quarter possession. However, their defense kept them in the game by making critical stops when Denver needed them most.
In the fourth quarter, the Broncos outscored the Chiefs 15-0 and made a goal-line stand on the last drive to win 28-24. Quarterback Bo Nix showed why he is a winner despite this year’s struggles, leading his team to two touchdowns and a two-point conversion in the team’s fourth-quarter possessions. In the end, Denver found a way to win another close game, as it has now won 15 consecutive one-score games over the last two seasons.
This was a big win for the Broncos as they now lead the AFC West by half a game and are currently the second seed in the AFC. Despite the win, the team still has problems to fix: their offense ranks third-worst in the NFL in total offense (273 yards per game) and continues to struggle to get off to fast starts. However, this win showed we should never doubt this team, as they keep finding ways to win close games and have an elite defense that lets them stay in games even when their offense struggles. The Broncos showed they are among the NFL’s strongest teams, making them a big winner in Week 8.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked like one of the worst teams in the NFL after four weeks, sitting 0-4 and putting head coach Todd Bowles on the hot seat. Their outlook grew dim when undrafted quarterback Jalon Daniels stepped in under center after Baker Mayfield‘s Week 3 injury, with four tough games ahead. Instead, the Buccaneers have turned things around, winning three of their last four games, including two divisional games. Tampa Bay is among the biggest winners in Week 8 after beating the Atlanta Falcons to put itself back in the NFC South race.
In a wet, sloppy game, the Buccaneers defeated the Falcons without Mayfield completing a single pass. They became the first team to win a game without a single completion since 1974, decimating the Falcons’ defense with the run. Tampa Bay rushed for 324 yards on 56 carries, with running back Bucky Irving rushing for 170 on 27 carries and scoring a touchdown. Their running game sustained long drives and helped the Buccaneers score 16 points while holding the ball for almost 11 more minutes than Atlanta.
The defense also played a key role in this win as they shut out a Falcons offense that has averaged 31 points since the return of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Not only did the Buccaneers shut out the Falcons, but they didn’t allow them to get a third-down conversion on 12 attempts and forced Penix Jr. to throw four interceptions. The Falcons only managed to get into the red zone once, and it didn’t happen until their last drive of the game.
The Buccaneers have gained a lot of momentum since Mayfield’s return in Week 7, dominating the Carolina Panthers and Falcons to get back in the division race. Their defense has been one of the best in the NFL, allowing 18.9 points and 285.9 yards per game while leading the league in takeaways with 16. Tampa Bay also has the NFL’s best running game, averaging 168.6 yards per game. With so much momentum on their side and a weak NFC South division, the Buccaneers look like division favorites after a season-defining win over the Falcons.
NFL Week 8’s Biggest Losers
1. Baltimore Ravens
Week 8 couldn’t have gone any worse for the Baltimore Ravens. After being among the favorites to win the Super Bowl heading into the NFL season, the reality of missing the NFL playoffs for a second straight year has started to set in Baltimore after a blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills and suffering devastating injuries. For that reason, the Ravens are Week 8’s biggest loser.
Heading into the Bills game, the Ravens got a massive boost as quarterback Lamar Jackson returned from a high-ankle sprain after missing the past three games. However, his return was short-lived when Jackson suffered a potential season-ending right thumb injury on his first snap. Things kept getting worse for Baltimore as backup quarterback Tyler Huntley also left the game in the second quarter with a toe injury, forcing the team to turn to third-string quarterback Joe Fagnano.
Despite the tough quarterback situation, the Ravens’ offense looked lifeless with Fagnano under center, generating 128 yards. Fagnano threw for 91 yards, threw an interception, and fumbled while completing 10 of his 21 passes. Their defense wasn’t any better, allowing 36 points despite forcing two turnovers. They gave up 426 yards, managed only one sack of Bills quarterback Josh Allen, and allowed the Bills to score three touchdowns on four red zone trips.
Things won’t get better for Baltimore, as Jackson is expected to miss the rest of the season and Huntley the foreseeable future with a turf toe injury. While their remaining schedule looks manageable, the Ravens play in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions, with everyone in the AFC North holding a two-game winning record or better. On top of that, they have to play with a third-string quarterback for most of the season who didn’t show much optimism in Week 8. If the Ravens miss the playoffs, we can look back at Week 8 as the week when their season fell apart.
2. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys had a golden opportunity in Week 8 as they faced a rebuilding Arizona Cardinals team at home, with a chance to cut their deficit and catch the first-place New York Giants in a wide-open NFC East. It looked like they were on track for a much-needed win, with a 14-point lead over the Cardinals in the fourth quarter. They were 202-0-1 all-time at home when leading by 14+ points in the fourth quarter. Instead of finishing the game, Dallas collapsed, lost to Arizona in overtime, and now sits two games behind the Giants as the NFC East title slips away. That makes them one of the biggest losers in Week 8.
The Cowboys looked good for most of the game, holding a commanding 14-3 lead over the Cardinals, and the defense looked its best all season, forcing two turnovers and preventing Arizona from scoring a touchdown in the first half. However, the game flipped when Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur benched quarterback Jacoby Brissett for Gardner Minshew late in the third quarter, hoping for an offensive spark. The move paid off as Arizona scored touchdowns on all four possessions in regulation with Minshew under center to tie the game, but a missed extra point by Chad Ryland sent it to overtime.
Dallas’ defense forced a three-and-out on Arizona’s first overtime possession, and the team needed only a field goal to win. Instead, the offense also went three-and-out, giving the Cardinals another chance. They managed to drive down the field before a Ryland game-winning field goal won the game for Arizona. This was an embarrassing collapse for the Cowboys, as the defense allowed big plays against a Cardinals offense playing with a backup quarterback, letting them back into the game. On top of that, they were lucky to go to overtime as Ryland missed the extra point, his first of the season, that would’ve clinched the game for Arizona.
While the offense played well most of the game, they weren’t clinical when they needed to be, failing to get a first down that would’ve clinched the game in the fourth quarter and going three-and-out on their only overtime possession. They finished their last two drives with -7 yards on six plays against one of the NFL’s worst defenses. Things aren’t getting better in Dallas, and the coaching staff continues to fail to maximize this roster’s potential. After this loss, the Cowboys face an uphill climb to make the NFL Playoffs as their chance to win the NFC East continues to slip away.
3. Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals took care of business in Week 8, beating the Tennessee Titans to move to 5-2 and get within half a game of the first-place Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North. However, they were among the biggest losers in Week 8 because of the way they beat one of the NFL’s worst teams.
Heading into the Titans game, the Bengals were expected to take care of business easily at home as they played a Titans team that was 1-6 and among the worst in the NFL. Instead, Cincinnati barely survived the upset bid, winning 43-36 in overtime in a game that exposed its flaws and produced an ugly performance. The biggest reason the Bengals pulled out the win was quarterback Joe Burrow‘s heroics.
Cincinnati got off to an ugly start, going into the second quarter down 13 after being shut out in the first. The defense also allowed Tennessee’s offense to score in all three of its first-quarter possessions. This drew a lot of boos from fans, as they were embarrassed by one of the worst teams in the NFL. After a second-quarter comeback that gave the Bengals a 14-13 lead at halftime, it looked like this team was on track for a routine win after a slow start. However, Cincinnati’s offense and defense showed inconsistency in the second half: the offense had three turnovers, while the defense allowed 23 points to a struggling Titans offense.
In the end, the Bengals survived despite their struggles as the defense made two critical stops in Tennessee’s final two drives, and Burrow threw for five touchdowns while rushing for one. However, this is not a positive win for Cincinnati, as the defense struggled to stop the Titans by giving up 440 yards to an offense that ranks second-worst in the NFL in total offense, averaging 272.5 yards per game. The Bengals’ offense also committed four careless turnovers, which would have been punished against stronger opposition. Despite the win, Cincinnati has to improve in many areas because it doesn’t look like an AFC contender right now after its Week 8 performance.
Main Image: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
