Week 8 of the NFL season has come to an end and the LA Rams are still undefeated at 8-0. The New Orleans Saints avenged a playoff loss in Minnesota and they’re now headed on a collision course with the Rams in Week 9.
The other big storylines from Week 8 included Patrick Mahomes throwing four touchdowns (again), the Philadelphia Eagles are finally cured from a vicious Super Bowl Hangover after a win in London, and the worst teams in the league – the Raiders, Giants, Bills, and Niners – are truly bad after losing once again and they remain with only one win.
8-0 in LA and Gurley Issues Bad Beat
The Los Angeles Rams are still undefeated after holding off Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in a thriller 29-27. Despite a crowd that had way more Packers fans than Rams fans, the Rams knocked off the Rodgers to improve to 8-0.
Todd Gurley strikes again. Jared Goff tossed three touchdowns and Todd Gurley added another score. Gurley had a touchdown within reach but he got tackled on purpose inside the five-yard line late in the fourth quarter. Any score (FG or TD) would have pushed the points total over for bettors. Gurley sacrificed the touchdown well aware of fantasy and betting implications. A brash Gurley responded with, “Man, forget fantasy. Forget Vegas.”
A moment that sports bettors will never forgetpic.twitter.com/IVUzdPpz8Q
— The Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) October 28, 2018
Saints Get Revenge Win in Minny
The Saints avenged a playoff loss against and emerged as the second-best team in the NFC. In January, the Vikings edged out the Saints 29-24 in the NFC Divisional Playoffs. With the loss fresh on the memory of Sean Payton and the Saints, they went into Minnesota and beat the Vikes 30-20 on their home turf in front of a Sunday Night Football audience.
Marcus Williams anchors a revamped secondary and no one wanted a second chance more than Williams, who missed a key tackle against Stefon Diggs that lost the playoff game for the Saints.
Drew Brees will always keep the Saints in the game, but if the Saints play defense, then look out. The Saints D came to play against the Vikes. Eli Apple, acquired in a trade from the NY Giants, started in the secondary. Marcus Williams finished the game with five tackles and a he broke up a key pass play. PJ Williams made a game-changing interception and returned it 45 yards for a pick-6.
The Saints improved to 7-1 with a showdown against the undefeated LA Rams in New Orleans next Sunday, which looks like it might be a preview of the NFC Championship.
A pick-6 de PJ Williams para o Saints! pic.twitter.com/EqYstZj1ZK
— Matchup Brasil – NFL ?? (@MatchupNFL) October 29, 2018
Philly Hangover Over
After eight weeks, you cannot use the Super Bowl hangover as an excuse. Doug Pedersen’s team has finally corrected the ship after a disastrous start of the season where they lost two consecutive home games.
The Eagles beat down on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Wembley Stadium in London. Several Jags players had brushes with the law the previous night, while the Eagles were all business in their 24-18 victory.
At 4-4, the Eagles are finally on even ground. They’re also in good spot and could finish 6-2 rest of the season with two difficult road games against the Rams and Saints. Then again, even soft division games in the NFC East can be tough.
The future is in their hands. Pederson can salvage a 10-win season and head into the playoffs with Carson Wentz finally back to his old self.
Wentz looking better and better every week, since he returned from a knee injury. He threw his first pick in five games, but he’s tossed 8 touchdowns in his last three games and completed approximately 75% of his passes.
4 More for Mahomes
This might not come as a shock to many of you because Patrick Mahomes threw 4 touchdowns.
Again.
Mahomes threw 4 touchdowns in each of his last three games. He’s thrown 4 or more touchdowns in 5 of his 8 games this season. Mahomes also has seven consecutive weeks with 300 passing yards or more.
At this point, everyone is expecting massive numbers every week from the sophomore quarterback. The Kansas City Chiefs and Mahomes beat Denver Broncos 30-23. It was Sammy Watkins’ turn this week to score a bunch of points. Watkins caught two touchdown passes from Mahomes.
Bad Teams Still Bad
There’s a lot of competition for the NFL’s basement in both conferences. Five teams came into Week 8 with only one win and they were desperately seeking their second W of the season. Only one team won while the New York Giants, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco Niners, and Bills all lost.
Two 1-6 teams slugged it out in a NFC West division game between the San Francisco Niners and Arizona Cardinals. Rookie Josh Rosen led the Cardinals to a comeback win with a sensational drive with less than two minutes remaining. The Cardinals improved to 2-6 to get off the schneid. Meanwhile, the Niners sunk to 1-7.
