A sudden shift might happen for various NFL groups in Week 8.
The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers meet within the second of two NFC South showdowns. The Philadelphia Eagles–Cincinnati Bengals loser would possibly really feel like every luck they’ve constructed up over the previous couple of weeks will vanish. The AFC South might get tighter when the Houston Texans host the Indianapolis Colts. Two struggling NFC powers within the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers meet on Sunday night time.
What Week 8 storylines curiosity our trio of NFL writers in Mike Sando, Zak Keefer and Jeff Howe? Learn extra for a Sunday primer.
The Vikings (now 5-2) fell to the Rams on Thursday night time. The Bears (at Commanders), Lions (vs. Titans) and Packers (at Jaguars) are all in motion Sunday. Who’s your decide to win the NFC North proper now? Do you envision all 4 groups making the playoffs?
Sando: Detroit is a transparent favourite with a victory at Minnesota already, the most effective roster and probably the most “time on activity” with this group of coaches/gamers. I don’t assume all 4 groups from the division will attain the playoffs, nevertheless it might pattern that means within the brief time period based mostly on the Bears’ subsequent three video games towards Washington (with out Jayden Daniels), Arizona and New England. NFC North groups will beat up on one another down the stretch.
Keefer: Give me the Lions within the NFC North. The job Dan Campbell continues to do ranks proper up there with the most effective within the league — to this point, there was no hangover from final season’s crushing convention title recreation loss. Detroit’s successful precisely how he envisioned: with two of the most effective fronts within the league. And Jared Goff is enjoying like an MVP. This staff goes to be a troublesome, robust out within the NFC playoffs.
Howe: Even with out Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions are nonetheless enjoying like the most effective staff within the NFC. They’re a drive on either side of the ball, particularly if Goff stays within the MVP dialog. As for the playoffs, all 4 groups are ok to make it, and I might say it’s greater than possible all 4 would end the season within the NFC’s prime seven of our energy rankings. However they’re going to beat up on one another whereas an East or South staff might use a extra advantageous slate to sneak into the ultimate wild-card spot.
The NFC North has a case for the league’s hardest division in 2024. The Minnesota Vikings fell to 5-2 on Thursday, whereas Jared Goff (16) and the Detroit Lions will host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. (Jeffrey Becker / Imagn Photographs)
A rib harm might rob us of Caleb Williams vs. Jayden Daniels, however Bears-Commanders is a giant recreation nonetheless. What have you ever preferred most about Williams and Daniels? What would you wish to see that every rookie QB hasn’t proven or proved but?
Sando: I like the best way each quarterbacks have began from Week 1 with out the sport seeming too quick for them and with out the job (franchise quarterback) seeming too huge for them. They each appear geared up to deal with the job on and off the sector, based mostly on what we’ve seen. Daniels must show he can keep on the sector a full season. That can be a part of the job of a franchise quarterback. His sturdiness was a priority getting into the season. He’s already managing an harm that’s threatening to sideline him. For Williams, I’d wish to see him fare properly towards good groups. He hasn’t had many probabilities to try this but. The Houston recreation was a battle.
Keefer: I hung out with Daniels final week in Washington and — because the story lays out — his preparation is what’s setting him aside. His teammates marvel at how early he reveals as much as the constructing day by day. And Washington’s offense has been constructed round what he does properly with out forcing him to throw it 40 instances a recreation. In Chicago, Williams has been noticeably higher of late, however the problem now’s proving it towards stiffer competitors. Beating up on Carolina and Jacksonville doesn’t imply an entire lot today. Backing it up after the bye week towards Washington — which has led the NFC East since Week 3 — says much more.
Howe: Daniels has completed the whole lot proper, however I love the best way the Commanders have constantly put him ready to succeed. The teaching has been terrific, and the run recreation has helped. Daniels has then completed his half to carry his teammates. I’m unsure how a lot Daniels can enhance upon this subsequent level, however the pre-draft concern was his skill to carry as much as the physicality, and he’s already coping with a rib harm. Williams took slightly longer to get snug because of some line points and accidents on the ability spots, however he by no means appeared to lose his means or his confidence. He simply stored believing in his skill, and it’s very apparent the sport has slowed down for him over the previous few weeks. He’s monitoring to play with much more confidence down the stretch, and I believe the potential exists for Williams to assist the Bears make a run.
Going by eyes and the percentages, the Browns’ woes are about to worsen towards the Ravens on Sunday. Step within the GM’s chair in Cleveland. What would you do with Deshaun Watson and his contract?
Sando: I’d launch Watson after June 1 within the absence of a deal to launder Watson’s contract by one other staff. The discharge can be simple — reduce him and watch his present scheduled 2025 cap cost rise from practically $73 million to just about $119 million. The contract laundering would supply a longer-shot probability at mitigating a number of the cap and money penalties. Below that situation, the Browns would commerce Watson and draft capital to a staff that may settle for the draft capital, tackle a number of the cap/money burden and launch Watson, who would waive his no-trade clause as a part of his personal exit technique.
Keefer: I’d beg my bosses — particularly proprietor Jimmy Haslam — to launch Watson after June 1 and eat the useless cash. It’s a considerable hit (practically $119 million to the 2025 cap) however I believe it’d be the most effective end result for each events in the long term. Cleveland can pay dearly for its mistake, particularly that $230 million, absolutely assured contract it handed him in 2022, but additionally has the possibility to maneuver on with out Watson’s scenario lingering for years, consuming up headlines and holding this staff again. There’s no salvaging this. Even when he returns in 2025, Watson shall be a $46 million quarterback coming off a significant harm who hasn’t appeared proper in 4 years. It’s time for logic to prevail, not stubbornness.
GO DEEPER
Deshaun Watson and a Browns escape plan (as soon as they lastly admit it’s over): Sando’s Decide Six
Howe: The injury is finished. Bear in mind when the prevailing perception was the Packers would battle in 2023 because of greater than $50 million in useless cash post-Aaron Rodgers? (I do know, that instance doesn’t maintain up as a result of they performed their means into the playoffs, however I’m utilizing it to supply perspective.) Effectively, the Browns have already got $23 million in useless cap in 2025, and a post-June 1 reduce would add one other $119 million to that. That may create catastrophic ripple results with the remainder of the roster — a lot worse than the best way the Broncos have been pressured to make cuts after releasing Russell Wilson. The Browns must cease restructuring Watson’s deal to kick the cap hits down the street. Even when he performed at a Mahomes-ian degree with a $72.9 million cap hit, the Browns would must be otherworldly with the gamers on their rookie contracts to be a playoff menace. Until they’ve acquired a plan to unfold Watson’s cap hits by void years for many years a la Bobby Bonilla, it’s time to face actuality and acknowledge the contract has sabotaged their roster constructing for the foreseeable future.
The Mike Evans and Chris Godwin accidents shall be a problem for the Bucs to beat. The Falcons appear able to beating anybody and dropping to anybody. What’s your evaluation of the highest of the NFC South as these two groups put together to fulfill Sunday?
Sando: The Buccaneers have been going to win this division and nonetheless would possibly. The receiver accidents open the door for the Falcons to overhaul them as Kirk Cousins’ surgically repaired Achilles tendon doubtlessly rounds into stronger kind late within the season.
Keefer: That’s a fairly good synopsis and one of many causes I don’t really feel like anybody can belief the Falcons proper now. The Bucs have been my preseason decide to win the NFC South once more — they’ve quietly claimed 4 straight division crowns — however with the current losses of Evans and Godwin, Atlanta has its opening. A loss Sunday to the Falcons might spell an extended couple of weeks for the Bucs. Earlier than the bye, they’ll face every of final 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl groups — Kansas Metropolis and San Francisco — in consecutive weeks. These usually are not groups you wish to play short-handed, though the 49ers are hurting, as properly.
GO DEEPER
Bucs’ Chris Godwin to have surgical procedure; Mike Evans to overlook a number of weeks
Howe: Excluding a few troubling stretches when Baker Mayfield has gotten turnover-prone, the QB has performed properly sufficient to be a fringe MVP candidate. I believe he can nonetheless maintain the Bucs in competition except the Falcons flip a swap. Tampa offensive coordinator Liam Coen has additionally taken the offense to a a lot greater degree, and his ideas will liberate the lesser-known guys filling in for Evans and Godwin. I’m nonetheless much more involved with the protection that’s given up the fifth-most factors within the league. That’s no method to construct a successful streak with troubles on offense. The Falcons had been fairly good till the blowout loss to the Seahawks. I don’t assume we’re going to see the most effective model of Kirk Cousins this season due to the Achilles restoration, however they’re ok to win the division whereas retaining video games shut.
The Cowboys and 49ers cross paths as soon as once more in one of many league’s nice rivalries. However each groups are struggling. What must occur for the 49ers to win? What must occur for a Dallas win on Sunday night time?
Sando: The 49ers win by working the ball throughout Dallas’ weak run protection to regulate the sport circulate, delivering a straightforward night time for quarterback Brock Purdy. The Cowboys win with a robust recreation from Dak Prescott and a game-changing play on particular groups, the place Dallas has been stronger than San Francisco this season.
Keefer: Personally, I really feel like this recreation is far more concerning the Cowboys than the 49ers. San Francisco’s not proper — too many accidents — however I don’t see Seattle working away with the division. The 49ers simply want to remain within the hunt till Christian McCaffrey returns. A December run isn’t out of the query, not for a veteran group like this. However as for Sunday, it feels just like the Cowboys’ season is teetering getting ready to collapse. Dallas can’t win at house, can’t beat anybody first rate and may’t cease getting in its personal means. This matchup received’t assist. The 49ers have received three straight over the Cowboys, together with two within the playoffs. And bear in mind final 12 months’s assembly: a 42-10 drubbing by San Francisco that foreshadowed the Cowboys’ playoff embarrassment three months later.
Howe: The 49ers’ accidents are the primary story, however the subplot — and possibly a peek right into a extra detrimental challenge — has been gifting away video games. They’d no enterprise dropping to the Rams and Cardinals with the best way these video games have been performed. Then they made too many errors to benefit from the Chiefs. These are regarding developments for a staff with convention championship expectations. I believe the 49ers will beat the Cowboys, however they’ve but to indicate they will shut out a recreation this season. In the meantime, the Cowboys haven’t persistently run the ball or stopped the run. Till these components enhance, they received’t be a menace within the NFC.
(High picture of Caleb Williams: Michael Reaves / Getty Photographs)
