NFL Week 8: Notes and observations from Sunday
With NFL Week 8 action in the book save for Monday night, we take stock of notes and observations from a wild weekend.
– The AFC is going to be a wild ride. While the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans appear sure shots to win theirs respective divisions, the other two are wide open. The Baltimore Ravens are leading the Cincinnati Bengals by a half-game in the North. Meanwhile the Los Angeles Chargers fell a full game behind the Las Vegas Raiders in the West. Looming are the Kansas City Chiefs, who can close to 1.5 games with a victory on Monday over the New York Giants.
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– The Dallas Cowboys are clear contenders. Despite being without a litany fo stars including their quarterback in Dak Prescott, they beat the Minnesota Vikings 20-16. Dallas is 6-1 and should be getting healthier in the coming weeks. The Cowboys also have one of the league’s easiest schedules, helped out by playing in the comically bad NFC East. Right now, the Philadelphia Eagles are in second place at 3-5.
– The NFC North is over. The Green Bay Packers are 7-1 after handing the Arizona Cardinals their first defeat of the season. Meanwhile the Vikings, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions all lost this weekend. Detroit is 0-8 and perhaps headed for history, while the Bears and Vikings each only have three wins. The division could legitimately be wrapped up by December at this rate. Green Bay still has both games remaining against Minnesota, a home date with Chicago and a road trip in Week 18 to Detroit.
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– With the NFL trade deadline coming on Tuesday, there’s question whether Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson will be dealt. Watson, who is facing 22 civil suits for alleged sexual assault in Texas, hasn’t been active for one game this season despite being eligible to play. Will the Miami Dolphins, the team most rumored to be in for his services, make a move at 1-7? It seems highly unlikely, but something to watch.
– Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz has largely played well this season, but he cost his team dearly on Sunday. In a 34-31 overtime loss, Wentz threw two hideous interceptions, one coming as a pick-six in the final two minutes of regulation before the second was thrown in overtime. With the defeat, Indianapolis is now 3-5 with a tough slate ahead, and sitting three games behind Tennessee after being swept by the Titans, the Colts’ only real hope is a wild card berth.
