09-08-2025, 08:10 AM
The Broncos began Sunday's Week 8 activity with a come-from-behind win against the Jaguars in London as well as Christian McCaffrey capped the 4 p.m. ET games with his development 49ers efficiency in a gain the Rams. In between, A.J. Brown's three-touchdown performance paced the Eagles and also Dak Prescott hit his stride in a Cowboys rout of the else did we gain from Sunday's NFL slate? We asked The Athletic's Jeff Howe, Kalyn Kahler and Tim Graham to weigh in on the McCaffrey tossed, caught AND competed touchdowns in the 49ers' sway the Rams on Sunday. Seahawks still lead the NFC West by a video game, however is San Francisco the department favored after including McCaffrey?Howe: The 49ers absolutely have a greater ceiling than the Seahawks. They have actually been thwarted by a lots of injuries, particularly on protection, and the crime's rhythm has actually been irregular, likely originating from Jimmy Garoppolo not having a true offseason. Thinking the Niners' wellness self-corrects, they ought to still take the division. And even though they're a video game back, the Niners can confiscate the tiebreaker if they beat the Seahawks in Week 15 as well as move the collection. The Seahawks are a truly good story. They play tough as well as they've improved much quicker than expected, however the Niners are the better team when : This is why I absolutely like the NFL globe we are living in today. Professions are impressive and also I'm so grateful that general supervisors have ultimately understood that. I love how 49ers train Kyle Shanahan framed his thinking on this. "I check out everything as a wager, " he informed reporters. "I check out making trades as a wager. I check out not making professions as a wager." The Niners really did not wish to need to assume concerning what their infraction can have looked like with McCaffrey in it. Recently, McCaffrey had just a pair days with the Niners' playbook and also really did not do a lot versus the Chiefs. This week, he made background, and also we saw what this Niners offense can be with his explosive and also versatile ability. I believe the Niners can be the most effective group in the west, and McCaffrey's existence will lift an infraction that has actually battled with uniformity. They are absolutely a group that is going to get heavy steam as the period goes on and players get : I do not want to be as well influenced by one historical performance, as well as it was a historic performance for a violation that was decent before he arrived. But allow's not overlook Jimmy Garoppolo's performance today. He was 21-of-25 for 235 yards and also 2 goals with zero giveaways, yet McCaffrey obtains some of that credit, also, for offering defenses that a lot more to fret around as well as creating other alternatives. That's why the 49ers will certainly become the NFC West's ideal was one of the most shocking group or specific performance from the very early slate of games?Howe: The Raiders no-showed versus the Saints, and also their playoff possibilities are probably gone. The offending line had not been adequate, and also quarterback Derek Carr struggled once more because of this. Davante Adams' stat line 2 touches for 2 lawns) is untenable. As well as the Raiders protection also often really did not match the initiative of the Saints infraction. This was a really poor receiving every : The Jaguars keep losing close games and are currently on a five-game skid. After all the exhilaration over the means they began this season under new and also experienced training with 2 decisive sway the Colts and also the Chargers, I'm stunned they have actually come under such a hole. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence hasn't removed the means I assumed he would now. The Jaguars have some amazing young ability on defense in first-round choices Travon Walker and also Devin Lloyd, but they can not seem to liquidate a close game, and also Sunday, their chances of beating the Broncos in London finished with a Lawrence interception. Lawrence made one more bad choice at the objective line that caused a pick as well as he do with just a 52.2 passer ranking. I'm shocked Lawrence's sophomore-year growth has : One of the most amusing video game was in between a couple of pedestrian clubs that integrated for 884 lawns and also 71 factors. Panthers twist Eddy Pineiro missed an additional factor at the end of law and also an area goal in overtime inside a dome, no much less) that would have put his team in initial place. Yet rather, the Falcons won 37-34 to take over the NFC South with a mighty 4-4 document. Had the Panthers won, all 4 teams would certainly've been 3-5 in the league's shallowest all the Week 8 action with our real-time blogMore outstanding showing: Eagles violation against the Steelers, or Cowboys violation against the Bears?Howe: The Steelers defense hasn't satisfied expectations, mainly as a result of injuries, yet they've still got some heavy players and also the Eagles were still leading. A.J. Brown was impressive with six catches, 156 backyards and 3 goals, as well as Jalen Hurts proceeds to keep defenses off equilibrium. They're a problem to DEEPEREagles play 'total game' in return from bye week and put NFL on noticeKahler: I have to go with the Cowboys, just due to the fact that I can't bear in mind the last time I saw a 25-yard QB sneak. I mean, are you severe? They required 1 yard and also Dak got 25 instead Jaylen Webb Jersey, thanks to some great barring before him. After that play, you simply understood the Bears protection wasn't mosting likely to come back from that, and Prescott simply maintained running and tossing anywhere he : What a dastardly inquiry. I like it. I'm lured to say the Eagles shellacking a happy company that keeps criteria also when hitting the reset button, however the Cowboys detonated in such a way that pumps confidence right into an offense that always seems on the brink of losing it. Say Goodbye To Cooper Rush dispute, please, not after Dak Prescott tossed and ran all over the field. No Ezekiel Elliott? No problem because Tony Pollard apparently changed his last name to Dorsett. CeeDee Lamb ultimately obtained some assistance from Michael Gallup and also Dalton Schultz in the exact same video game. Eagles WR A.J. Brown uploaded the initial three-touchdown video game of his NFL profession in Sunday's gain the Steelers. Eric Hartline/ United States Today) The Jets had their four-game win streak broken by the Patriots on Sunday, and also currently a Week 9 competition with the Costs waits for. Was New york city's very early run thwarted by injuries or can the Jets remain a playoff challenger until season's end?Howe: The Jets have the document as well as the skill to continue to be in the mix, however there's a major interest in sustainability here. Their offensive identity was developed on the ground video game, which took a massive hit with the season-ending injuries to Breece Hall and Alijah Vera-Tucker. Zach Wilson got off to a good beginning against the Patriots, however he crashed back to planet with three awful interceptions, consisting of two that were inexcusable. If the Jets need to maintain leaning on Wilson, he needs to be a lot more responsible with the ball or the 5-2 start will merely be an afterthought in their : It could be time to wonder just how much Zach Wilson is holding back the Jets. Wilson's three-interception, 48.8 percent-completion-percentage performance today isn't unexpected since he's had a hard time with this during his Jets career, but it really felt much more remarkable due to the fact that this year, the Jets have confirmed themselves to be a gifted team. Among Wilson's choices was amazingly bad. No Jets receivers were open, and rather of throwing the sphere away, he tossed it up to a Patriots protective back. I don't wish to panic to one bad choice Ashton Jeanty Jersey, and also Wilson deserves even more time on the work to create, however this is concerning for a team that prepares to : Wilson looked bewildered. He in some way had actually 2 throwaways obstructed. Without newbie running back Breece Hall, the Jets backfield ran 14 times for 49 yards. If the game was more detailed, then perhaps the Jets can be much more angered by Michael Carter's choice 6 that was negated by a borderline roughing-the-passer fine at the end of the 2nd quarter. That would certainly have given the Jets a 17-3 lead, but the Patriots scored the following 19 points to make it look pretty easy. And when Mac Jones can outmaneuver the Jets protection, I'm hesitant the Jets will certainly bend down the DEEPERJets need Zach Wilson to quit making errors on display in loss to PatriotsThe Vikings hung on to beat the Cardinals on Sunday as well as-- perhaps quietly-- enhanced to 6-1. Is Minnesota being ignored as a legitimate Super Dish contender?Howe: I believe they're being properly looked. The Vikings are good, for certain, yet they entered the day placed 13th in factors scored and 12th in points permitted so they aren't yet exclusive in any kind of location like the Expenses, Chiefs and also Eagles. I'm also thrilled with the way they're playing in Kevin O'Connell's very first period, as well as their last five wins have been one-score video games, which reveals a whole lot concerning their capacity to shut. The Vikings can change the narrative in November with back-to-back video games versus the Expenses and Cowboys, but also for currently, I would certainly state they're a good-but-not-great group that can make some sound in the postseason yet probably isn't prepared for a Super Bowl : They're taking advantage of an NFC North in the dumps, and also the Packers might get it with each other in the next few weeks. I would not state the Vikings are a Super Bowl contender, but they can be a solid playoff team. Receiver Justin Jefferson informed NFL Network he seems like they've been rested on since the start of the period, which is probably real from a nationwide perspective, yet I don't see this group as being on the very same level as Buffalo, Kansas City or Philly. They lost to the Eagles and also beat a Miami team that was playing its third-string quarterback. The other groups they have actually beaten: Green Bay, Chicago, New Orleans, Detroit as well as Arizona. Speak with me when they beat somebody : The Vikings aren't a Super Bowl challenger yet. Sunday's victory is their most remarkable so much, which's not stating a lot. They were defeated well by their best opponent, have actually delighted in middling competition and also needs to be favored once more following week versus the Commanders. I'll be impressed with the Vikings if they can hang against the Costs in Orchard DEEPERPatrick Peterson among Vikings veterans bringing a winning edge to group's 6-1 beginning Top photo of Dak Prescott: Tim Heitman/ USA Today).