Ten takeaways from NFL Week Eight

Sunday’s games from Week Eight of the season produced some fireworks. I’m going to take you through some of my biggest takeaways from the games. 

1 – A healthy Joe Burrow means big problems for the rest of the AFC. It’s the first game where he looked fully healthy. His movement to escape pressure or take off and pick up some yards was amazing. If he stays healthy, then the Bengals are in the thick of it. 

2- Some alarm bells are ringing in the Bay Area. Purdy is starting to make mistakes and we are seeing that the 49ers, when missing a few key pieces, really don’t look the same. CMC is making history with his TD streak, but that still isn’t stopping the losing run. Three in a row, no one saw it coming. 

3- Superstar showdown for WR1 in the League. In one corner you have Miami‘s own Cheetah. Already past the 1,000 receiving yards and on target for well over 2,000 at this rate. Taking on him is Philly’s Brown, who is on a six game otherworldly streak of his own. Each of the last six games with more than 125 receiving yards. These two are playing a different game right now, they are on a level of their own and I’m loving watching it. 

4- Vikings dealt a devastating blow. After a shocking start to the season, the Vikings have got things going and can’t stop winning just now, but in their Week Eight game, they lost QB Kirk Cousins, who has torn his Achilles. He will be out for the remainder of the season and that news really leaves them in no man’s land at QB. Cousins was having a great year and didn’t deserve for it to end this way. 

5- Will Levis lights it up on his debut. The former Kentucky QB put down a marker to the Titans organisation in their win over the Falcons. He looked the part, he won the game and his stats were excellent. The Titans looked a different proposition with him under centre. He will start again on TNF this week and if he plays anything like he did on Sunday, then HC Vrabel will have to really ask himself why Levis isn’t the starter indefinitely. 

6- CeeDee Lamb is a number one WR. For as long as he has been in the league, there have been doubts over Lamb being a true WR1. Those doubts are over now. He was the man in their demolition of the Rams. Career high in targets and yards. He put on a display which cemented his ability and earned him an incredible amount of respect. 

7- The Broncos end their losing streak to the Chiefs. I would love to focus on how the Chiefs failed to score a TD, purely because it rarely happens, but I’m not going to do that. The Broncos defense deserves it’s credit. They stepped up big time at home to shut down the Chiefs time and time again. The Broncos issues have mainly been on the defensive side of the ball, last night was the first time where they really played how many would expect them to. 

8- The Jaguars continue to win. And they continue to put down markers as a team to fear in the AFC. They handled their business in Pittsburgh and since they went to London, they have changed for the better. Their defense goes under the radar, but they shouldn’t be overlooked. This team looks like one going places. 

9- The Jets win in one of the uglier games you will ever watch. With one second left they score a FG to tie the game at 10 a piece and send it to overtime. They then quickly put the game to bed and somehow came out on top. The game can be summed up by three-and-out or punt. That was the story of the game. 4-3 record now, they aren’t playing any attractive football, but they are winning games. 

10- Saints find some much needed offense. A great game to watch and one that had plenty of action in it. The Colts didn’t hold back and they put up points, which meant the Saints had to show something and they did. Over 500 total offensive yards, which isn’t what we have seen from them so far this season. It’s a big time win after the run they have been on which has seen them lose four out of their previous five games. This win gives them something to build on now. 

Ten big takeaways from a blockbuster of a weekend, rounded off by another win for the Lions on Monday Night Football against the Raiders. Things are starting to heat up now and we are starting to see who the real players for the Super Bowl are.