Sunday of Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season will not go down within the historical past of soccer as one of many best weekends ever. After a 27-point blowout of the Vikings by the Chargers on Thursday night time, all however one in every of Sunday’s video games have been determined by double-digits, with the Jets-Bengals shootout because the lone exception. Together with that Vikings-Chargers recreation, 11 of the 12 video games we have seen to date in Week 8 have been determined by 10 or extra factors. That 92% clip is the best for any week going again by means of 1990.
If the video games felt like they have been lacking one thing, they have been: beginning quarterbacks. Eight of the 24 groups which have performed to date in Week 8 weren’t capable of begin their most popular quarterback. Six of the seven 1 p.m. ET video games had a minimum of one backup QB taking the sector to start out. And Washington’s Marcus Mariota will turn into the ninth backup to start out this week when he takes the sector on “Monday Evening Soccer” towards the Chiefs. Soccer often is not this straightforward, however groups beginning backup quarterbacks dealing with groups beginning their most popular quarterback went 1-5 this week, with Tyler Huntley’s victory towards the Bears because the outlier.
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You get the thought: It wasn’t a really enjoyable weekend of video games to debate. On the similar time, there have been little nuggets and moments to take pleasure in, even when the video games weren’t very aggressive. Let’s discover and have fun the enjoyable items from every of Sunday’s video games. An awesome efficiency? A cool play? A return to type? There’s a minimum of one takeaway to savor from all 11 matchups.
Let’s begin with a man who may be probably the most dominant participant in soccer proper now …
Soar to:
TEN-IND | NYG-PHI | NYJ-CIN
DAL-DEN | CLE-NE | SF-HOU
TB-NO | BUF-CAR | CHI-BAL
MIA-ATL | GB-PIT
Jonathan Taylor goes for 3 touchdowns … once more
Ho-hum. Sure, the efficiency was towards a Titans staff with out star defensive deal with Jeffery Simmons, who may be the one motive individuals outdoors of the Nashville space even activate Tennessee tape most weeks. However when you could have 4 three-touchdown video games by the halfway level of the season and the remainder of the NFL has eight mixed, you are doing one thing proper.
After he torched the Titans for 174 scrimmage yards and three scores on simply 14 touches, Taylor could make the case that he is in the midst of a historic stretch of soccer. He has scored 10 touchdowns over his previous 4 video games. That is the primary time a participant has scored 10 or extra occasions over a four-game span since 2015, and Taylor is simply the fifteenth participant in NFL historical past to make it to 10 scores in 4 weeks of motion.
Along with having 5 extra TDs than anyone else within the NFL (14), Taylor has recorded 3.9% of all of the league’s speeding yardage by operating backs this season (850). Since 2002, that is the sixth-highest price recorded by any again by means of eight weeks. And a league-best 31% of his touches are turning into first downs or touchdowns.
Greater than the numbers, what really signifies a particular season for me is seeing how a participant could make different NFL gamers look silly. Nice backs having spectacular seasons, like Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry a 12 months in the past, have a approach of constructing the angles and calculations in different gamers’ heads go haywire. Defenders are in a panic earlier than they even get to the open subject and soften down as soon as they do get there.
Watch Taylor’s 80-yard landing run from Sunday and also you see the Titans protection virtually get right into a panic as he breaks by means of the primary stage of defenders. The Colts’ offensive line — which has performed a wonderful job of blocking for Taylor throughout all types of various run ideas this season — had no downside making a gap on a pin/pull sweep, with star guard Quenton Nelson attending to the sting and driving cornerback Darrell Baker Jr. all the best way to the sideline. However as soon as Taylor breaks into the open subject, Tennessee’s defenders merely haven’t any hope.
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Jonathan Taylor takes all of it approach for an 80-yard TD
Jonathan Taylor scores his second landing of the sport with the dynamic 80-yard run that has the house followers buzzing.
Security Xavier Woods begins shifting to a spot the place he suppose he’ll have a shot at pushing Taylor out of bounds, solely to seek out that Taylor is about 3 yards previous that spot as soon as he will get there. Bottom security Amani Hooker is the final hope, however even with Taylor slowed down by Woods’ deal with try, the Colts’ operating again is approach too quick and prevents Hooker from getting shut sufficient to aim a diving deal with.
And certain, the Titans’ protection is not going to terrify opposing offenses, however Taylor has been doing this all season. He made famous person security Derwin James Jr. miss on the primary of his three touchdowns towards the Chargers final week after which broke down Tony Jefferson’s angle in the midst of the sector on his third rating. Taylor additionally shook Brandon Jones to the bottom within the open subject on his 68-yard run towards the Broncos. It is one factor for a speedster like peak Tyreek Hill to do that to NFL defensive backs. Taylor is 226 kilos!
Merely put, Taylor is the surest factor in soccer proper now.
Saquon Barkley will get again on monitor (earlier than getting injured)
There has by no means actually been a motive to suppose one thing was lacking or missing in Barkley’s recreation that was main the reigning Offensive Participant of the 12 months to wrestle in 2025. Whereas Barkley did not have a single 20-yard run earlier than Sunday, he did have a 47-yard landing catch towards Denver, so it was clear there wasn’t some difficulty together with his explosiveness. The Eagles’ offensive line has been banged up and hasn’t been almost as dominant because it was in 2024, however the true rationalization was most likely simply variance. Barkley ran extremely scorching in 2024 and had perhaps been somewhat unfortunate to not have the fitting gap open up on the proper time to date in 2025.
Because it turned out, all it took was a recreation towards his former employer, who has the league’s worst EPA per play towards designed runs this season, to get Barkley going. He racked up his first two explosive rushes of the season. The one that may persist with Eagles followers as hope that the true Barkley is coming again is the 65-yarder on the opening possession of the sport.
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Saquon Barkley takes it 65 yards for a TD
Saquon Barkley finds a gap and breaks free for a 65-yard landing to provide the Eagles a 7-0 lead.
The Eagles are operating duo right here, the place they’re hoping to get double-teams on the line of scrimmage, climb to the second stage and get Barkley one-on-one towards a defender. The road does an immaculate job of blocking this up towards an overmatched Giants entrance; Barkley has to determine whether or not he desires to hit this into the open hole immediately in entrance of his face or sneak out the bottom to tackle security Tyler Nubin.
With Jordan Mailata sealing off Kayvon Thibodeaux and Landon Dickerson climbing to remove Darius Muasau, Barkley does not even want to handle a Giants defender till he will get to Nubin, who has had halfbacks run away from him for large positive aspects a number of occasions this season. It is not a good combat. DeVonta Smith has his arms as much as have fun earlier than Barkley even makes it previous Nubin and hits midfield. This was the operating recreation the Eagles anticipated to have in 2025 after all the pieces they confirmed in 2024, a minimum of for one play.
Barkley then added a 28-yard run on a counter play later within the day, although that was his remaining carry of the sport, as he felt a groin difficulty begin to pop up on the finish of the run. The three-time Professional Bowler stated after the win that he would have been capable of come again in and play if the rating had been nearer. The Eagles have been seemingly smart to take a seat their star again, particularly with Tank Bigsby additionally becoming a member of the 100-yard membership on 9 carries as Barkley’s major backup.
As a lot as this was about Barkley reestablishing his confidence, this may also have been about convincing the offensive line that it may be the identical dominant unit we noticed a 12 months in the past. Earlier than Sunday, carries by Eagles backs have been anticipated to achieve a mean of solely 3.5 yards per run by NFL Subsequent Gen Stats’ mannequin, the third-worst mark within the league. Solely the Texans and Browns have been worse. Final season, carries by Eagles operating backs anticipated to supply 4.2 yards per carry, which was ninth finest across the NFL.
The Eagles have been up at 4.0 anticipated yards per keep it up Sunday, their second-best single-game mark of the season. Amid widespread frustrations and considerations in Philadelphia that the Eagles could not reestablish their id on offense after the loss to the Giants two weeks in the past, Nick Sirianni’s staff confirmed that it’s able to being nice in back-to-back video games. Final week towards the Vikings, Jalen Hurts and the passing recreation led the best way with large performs, averaging greater than 14 yards per cross try and throwing three landing passes.
This Sunday, Hurts handed for 4 extra scores, however the operating recreation carried the majority of the load. This was the second-best efficiency by EPA per snap on offense the Eagles have had since Sirianni took over, trailing solely the win over the Commanders within the NFC Championship Recreation final season. Instantly, because the Eagles attain their bye week, they seem like hitting their stride on offense.
Breece Corridor has maybe his final nice recreation for the Jets
We’ll see if the Jets truly do commerce Corridor, who’s a free agent after the season and a draftee from the now-departed Joe Douglas regime. Sunday gave either side of a possible Corridor commerce debate ammunition. Jets operating again Isaiah Davis has seemed explosive at occasions over his first 40 professional carries and turned 12 touches on Sunday into 109 yards, together with a 50-yard rush the place he ran by means of a Barrett Carter deal with try within the third quarter. Buying and selling Corridor would open up extra alternatives for gamers like Davis over the remainder of a season that is not going wherever, and the Jets would have an opportunity to seek out one other again or two subsequent offseason.
And but, on a day the place the Jets did not have Garrett Wilson or Josh Reynolds and have been beginning an embattled quarterback in Justin Fields (who had been publicly dismissed by his staff’s proprietor), it is not possible to think about this staff scoring 39 factors to win its first recreation of the season with out Corridor being the focus of the offense. Corridor ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns earlier than throwing the 4-yard landing cross that gained the sport on a trick play.
I am unsure there is a single Bengals defender who did not whiff on an try to deal with Corridor at one level or one other throughout this recreation. Cincinnati got here in with 81 missed tackles, 25 greater than every other staff within the league, and added to these totals Sunday. Corridor ran away from Carter after which flew previous Jordan Battle for a 35-yard run within the third quarter. Geno Stone could not get him down on a 5-yard rating to finish that drive. With the Jets operating a dart learn idea, pulling a deal with and asking Fields to find out whether or not he would hand the ball to Corridor or hold it himself, Corridor outran edge rusher Shemar Stewart earlier than hitting DJ Turner with the traditional Lamar Jackson sideline hesitation and scoring from 27 yards out. That obtained the Jets again into the sport with 8:01 to go.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn additionally deserves credit score for being somewhat extra practical together with his recreation administration after some ill-advised selections most likely price his staff a win over the Broncos in London two weeks in the past. The Jets tried a fourth-and-1 early and did not get it, however Glenn did not shrink back from an aggressive name later within the recreation. With the Jets happening by eight after that rating on the eight-minute mark, Glenn went for 2 — a call supported by the info, as ESPN’s Seth Walder broke down right here. The Jets (narrowly) made the 2-pointer on a cross to Davis, and when Corridor threw a landing cross to Mason Taylor, the additional level gained the sport.
The Jets have been by no means going to be a superb staff this season. They don’t seem to be going to be within the playoff hunt. Beating a Bengals staff that’s beginning Joe Flacco, cannot deal with and misplaced Trey Hendrickson in the course of the recreation to a hip damage is not proof that they are about to go on a successful streak. If it weren’t for Tyrod Taylor struggling a knee damage, Fields would have seemingly been on the bench, a spot he is nonetheless prone to find yourself later this season.
For the Jets, although, this has to really feel like some kind of proof of idea. They have been capable of run the ball constantly and successfully, and so they even hit a number of large performs within the passing recreation with out their star receiver. Their coach made what should have felt like an aggressive choice on the sideline, and it labored. The protection allowed 38 factors with out Sauce Gardner on the sector, however it got here up with a three-and-out and obtained the Bengals off the sector on downs on the ultimate two drives.
After per week when it felt just like the Jets have been basically giving up on 2025, they abruptly began on track. And perhaps that encourages the Jets to carry onto Corridor in spite of everything.
Guard Quinn Meinerz has a double stack
One week after the Broncos waited three quarters earlier than sparking to life on offense towards the Giants, they did not take as lengthy to get going towards the hapless Cowboys protection. After a tough interception on the opening drive, Bo Nix did nearly no matter he needed for the remainder of the day. The Broncos scored touchdowns on six of their subsequent eight significant drives, not often being threatened alongside the best way. Rookie RJ Harvey had his finest recreation as a professional, scoring three touchdowns.
Harvey obtained some assistance on his 40-yard rating to open the landing floodgates from his All-Professional guard. Meinerz is a wonderful run blocker, however I often take into consideration his work at or across the line of scrimmage because the place the place he excels. I would distinction that to somebody like Quenton Nelson, who has been unbelievable pulling and getting out in house to bury linebackers and defensive backs.
Nicely, issues are totally different now.
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RJ Harvey takes off for a 40-yard TD
RJ Harvey dashes in for a 40-yard Broncos speeding landing vs. the Cowboys.
Meinerz will get issues began early by merely obliterating linebacker Shemar James, who had a goal on his again for a lot of the recreation. However Meinerz then climbs to the third stage and sees security Alijah Clark, who tries to take the approaching hit on and will get pushed into the bottom. Clark most likely wasn’t catching Harvey if he stayed upright, however the security wasn’t going wherever as soon as he bumped into Meinerz. In a recreation which felt like each Broncos offensive participant had a giant day, Meinerz might need had the play of the afternoon.
I am going to throw in a single unfavorable right here: We missed out on a possible NFL report. Brandon Aubrey has arguably the strongest leg we have ever seen from an NFL kicker, having made 5 kicks from 60-plus yards over the previous two-plus seasons. It is clear that the Cowboys belief him to hit kicks from nearly wherever in that vary, and former coach Mike McCarthy despatched him out for a 70-yarder final season, although the kick wasn’t shut.
That try got here in Carolina, although. The Cowboys have been taking part in in Denver on Sunday, the place the skinny air helps kicks journey additional and expands kickers’ ranges. The climate was heat and the sector was in nice form. This was seemingly Aubrey’s solely probability to kick in the very best situations a mile excessive for a record-setting subject purpose for as many as eight years, given how the league’s scheduling course of works. He would possibly find yourself on a unique staff or play a house recreation in Mexico Metropolis, however this was our probability to see one thing really spectacular. Might he have hit from 75 yards out?
We by no means obtained a possibility to seek out out. The Cowboys had the ball on their very own 48-yard line with 22 seconds left within the second quarter, which might have been a 70-yard try with none further yardage, however Dak Prescott threw a choose into protection to finish the half. After the break, the Cowboys had a fourth-and-6 on their very own 44-yard line, organising a possible attempt from 74 yards out. Coach Brian Schottenheimer opted to punt as an alternative, and there was by no means one other probability to get Aubrey in vary for a report try.
Aubrey maxed out with a 57-yard kick in pregame warmups, however he usually does not attempt to hit something from 60 or extra until it is a recreation state of affairs. Perhaps the previous soccer participant informed Schottenheimer that he could not hit from 70 or extra. However I certain would have appreciated to see Aubrey attempt.
Myles Garrett has a five-sack day
This was a efficiency the place you ponder whether Garrett might need wished that he had caught together with his offseason request to be traded. The protection gave Drake Maye some early bother, however the Browns’ offense misplaced Quinshon Judkins to a shoulder damage and could not do something to remain within the contest. And regardless of getting 5 sacks from Garrett for the primary time in his profession, the protection could not repeatedly decelerate Maye, who ultimately threw for 282 yards, had three landing passes, and ran for 50 extra yards.
To be trustworthy, I’ve truly seen extra unstoppable video games from Garrett this season. His sacks right here weren’t instantaneous wins off the road towards overmatched linemen, partly as a result of the Patriots had a transparent recreation plan and tried to provide their tackles assist. It simply did not work. There have been two sacks the place Garrett was chipped by a decent finish, obtained up towards Will Campbell and easily teleported previous the Patriots’ rookie left deal with. Exterior of a intentionally unblocked sack on a boot idea the place Maye appeared to suppose he might outrun Garrett and came upon in any other case in painful vogue, Garrett needed to work for these sacks.
This was an amazing instance of simply how a lot Garrett or one other nice cross rusher can do to make life simpler for a secondary. Whereas he wasn’t successful instantaneously and fully blowing up performs, the Browns star principally restricted Maye to at least one learn or one look upfield. When Maye held the soccer or did not make a direct choice, his time was up, and Garrett was in place to take him down.
As the sport wore on, the Patriots did a superb job of pulling out all of the tips that good offenses use to decelerate nice cross rushers. They ran at Garrett. They moved Maye round to alter the launch level and keep away from making their QB a sitting duck, with Maye going 5-of-6 for 92 yards outdoors the deal with field. (With out strain, Maye went 15-of-18 for 235 yards and three scores.) They learn Garrett to attempt to take him out of the play with out having to commit a blocker who most likely wasn’t going to win. In addition they took benefit of the moments when Garrett was on the sideline, hitting a 39-yard landing cross to Kayshon Boutte with out Garrett on the sector.
Garrett was noticed slamming his helmet on the sideline in frustration in the course of the recreation. Afterward, he stated what what you would possibly anticipate: “I might throw the entire efficiency away for the win.” I do not blame Garrett for taking what he was supplied this offseason. And even when he hadn’t signed a brand new deal, I am unsure the Browns have been going to maneuver a future Corridor of Famer with two years left on his present contract this spring. It might’t be enjoyable to know, although, that somebody can have what most gamers would take into account the sport of a lifetime and nonetheless not be capable to spur the staff to a minimum of an in depth loss, not to mention a victory.
Each younger Houston playmaker has a minimum of one large play
This was an impressively dominant efficiency by the Texans. Dealing with a 5-2 Niners staff, the Texans managed this recreation from begin to end. Kyle Shanahan’s offense did not handle a primary down till the ultimate drive of the primary half and failed to maneuver the chains even as soon as on six of its 9 possessions. One week after his finest recreation of the season, Christian McCaffrey was held to 25 speeding yards on eight carries, whereas a lot of the star again’s 43 receiving yards got here late within the fourth quarter with the 49ers trailing by double digits. The Texans did not let McCaffrey beat them, and no different 49ers participant was as much as the duty of taking up the sport.
With out their high again in Joe Mixon and their high two veteran receivers in Nico Collins and Christian Kirk, the Texans wanted their younger offensive playmakers to step up. Mission completed. C.J. Stroud delivered his finest efficiency of the season, going 30-of-39 for 318 yards, two landing passes and an interception whereas including 30 speeding yards within the course of. Tight finish Dalton Schultz had solely 24 receiving yards, so the important thing runners and cross catchers for the Texans have been all gamers on rookie offers. They usually all had large performs.
That begins with Woody Marks, who has performed all the pieces potential to persuade coaches that he must be the lead again in a rotation with Nick Chubb. Marks had a 50-yard scamper on a checkdown when the inexperienced 49ers linebackers thought they might come after Stroud as rushers, just for Marks to slide out uncovered for an enormous acquire. He additionally carried the ball 11 occasions for 62 yards, with the spotlight approaching a duo run within the fourth quarter, when Marks acknowledged that the 49ers had misplaced include outdoors and sprinted across the edge for 23 yards.
Receiver Xavier Hutchinson led the staff with 5 catches for 69 yards, together with a 30-yard rating within the fourth quarter. With the 49ers in single-high protection, he was just too quick for security Ji’Ayir Brown on his crossing route, operating away from Brown and deep security Malik Mustapha with out leaving any viable tackling alternatives earlier than hitting the tip zone. The third-year professional additionally made a troublesome catch on a Stroud floater with nook Upton Stout in his face for an 18-yard completion. This was Hutchinson’s finest recreation as a professional.
Second-round choose Jayden Higgins chipped in with 34 yards, together with a 12-yard landing towards a static 49ers protection in zone protection. The extra thrilling rookie might need been former Iowa State teammate Jaylin Noel, who turned 16 routes into 5 catches and 63 yards, together with a 44-yard catch within the second quarter. The Texans ran a traditional quarters-beater to spring Noel, with Higgins operating a curl to occupy one security whereas Noel ran a deep put up behind him. Stroud’s throw did not give Mustapha any probability to catch up, and Noel got here away with one other large catch after racking up three 20-plus-yard completions final week.
This was one recreation towards a 49ers protection completely torn aside by accidents, however it was additionally an necessary one for the Texans. Staying on monitor to compete for a wild-card spot is essential, after all, however their team-building mannequin has to evolve, too. A lot of the strikes GM Nick Caserio made to remake the offensive line did not work this offseason. The Texans must pour extra sources into fixing issues up entrance in 2026. Plus, Stroud is due for an unlimited increase after the season, and whereas the Texans might wait on that deal, groups usually signal their younger quarterbacks to long-term contracts the primary probability they get. On high of that, Will Anderson Jr. can also be eligible to receives a commission after the 12 months.
Whereas Collins is on the most effective veteran offers in soccer, the Texans are going to wish to make cutbacks and get monetary savings at some spots on their roster. The second and third wideout slots are apparent locations to focus on. It is unclear whether or not Tank Dell will be capable to return to the shape he confirmed in 2023 and 2024, and gamers like Mixon and Schultz most likely aren’t going to be again subsequent fall. The Texans will want a few of these younger cost-controlled gamers to hit to allow them to commit sources elsewhere within the years to come back. Sunday was an indication that the children may be as much as the duty.
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C.J. Stroud finds Xavier Hutchinson for 30-yard TD
Xavier Hutchinson hauls in a cross from C.J. Stroud and takes it to the tip zone for a landing.
The Saints cease the Bucs seven occasions from the 1-yard line
There aren’t going to be many highlights this season for the Saints, who at the moment are 1-7 and dealing with a visit to Los Angeles to face the Rams. Coach Kellen Moore determined to bench Spencer Rattler in the midst of this recreation for second-round choose Tyler Shough, who went 17-of-30 for simply 128 yards and an interception in his first prolonged NFL motion. Rattler hasn’t been good by any means, however he has made some completely good throws this season, even when they have not at all times ended up as completions. He’s most likely not the longer term in New Orleans, however Rattler has been probably the most entertaining a part of Saints video games this 12 months.
The protection has been extra irritating than productive, however Sunday delivered what’s going to seemingly be the unit’s most spectacular stand of the season. Dealing with a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line within the second quarter, the Saints stuffed Sean Tucker for no acquire, just for Carl Granderson to be flagged for offside. Truthful sufficient. However New Orleans then got here up with 4 extra consecutive stops of Tucker and Rachaad White from the 1-yard line, delivering a large momentum-shifting cease in entrance of the house followers. Rattler threw a pick-six into the arms of Anthony Nelson two performs later, which introduced an finish to these vibes, however it was a enjoyable second for the diehards in New Orleans.
On the opening drive of the third quarter, the Bucs once more took the ball to the 1-yard line. This time, they realized their lesson — however it did not appear to assist. Baker Mayfield threw incomplete on first and third down, and in between, Tucker was stuffed once more for no acquire. Dealing with a fourth-and-goal (sure, nonetheless from the 1-yard line), Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles saved the religion together with his offense and was lastly rewarded, as Tucker fought by means of a deal with to attain a short-yardage landing for the Bucs.
The Saints have been near doing one thing no staff has performed in fairly some time. ESPN’s play-by-play information goes again to 2007, and over that point, nobody has ever provide you with eight stops from the 1-yard line in a single recreation, not to mention in a row. No staff had managed seven stops from the 1-yard line in the identical recreation since 2013, when the Titans someway stopped the Broncos, the most effective offenses in NFL historical past. The Bucs aren’t fairly on that stage, particularly with all of their accidents up entrance, however the Saints must be happy with how lengthy they held out earlier than lastly capitulating on fourth-and-goal. And on condition that no different staff has greater than three stops from 1 yard out in a single recreation this season, I might anticipate this to be the most effective goal-line efficiency of the 12 months.
The Buffalo protection roars again to life
James Prepare dinner III ran everywhere in the Panthers for 216 yards and two touchdowns, however I think coach Sean McDermott might need been happiest about what he noticed from his protection. With the Payments putting Taylor Rapp on injured reserve in the course of the week and changing him with 34-year-old Jordan Poyer, a Payments protection that has been lacking starters all season was dealing with one other potential gap within the lineup. Issues solely appeared to worsen when Ed Oliver went down with a biceps damage after 18 snaps, which might price the star defensive deal with vital time if it is a tear.
As a substitute, the Payments comfortably delivered their finest defensive efficiency of the season. Whereas they performed from forward for a lot of the recreation, the Payments’ cross rush sacked Andy Dalton seven occasions, with debuting lineman Michael Hoecht racking up 1.5 sacks and a team-high three fast quarterback pressures. Dalton was pressured on almost 44% of his dropbacks. And whereas Rico Dowdle virtually broke off one other lengthy rating on a 24-yard run within the first quarter, the Payments have been bailed out by a touchdown-saving deal with from rookie security Jordan Hancock, who was taking part in his first defensive snaps of the season. Two performs after the Dowdle run, the Payments obtained the ball again when Greg Rousseau swatted the ball out of a scrambling Dalton’s arms.
The takeaways most likely made McDermott notably delighted. The Payments pressured three turnovers towards the Panthers, with two strip-sacks of Dalton and an interception on a fast display by AJ Epenesa, who got here inside a yard of scoring on the return.
Final week, I wrote about how the Payments protection had relied closely on turnovers in 2023 and 2024 however hadn’t been capable of piece collectively common takeaways in 2025. After 21 multi-takeaway video games over these two seasons, this was the primary time the Payments pressured a number of turnovers in a recreation in 2025. Buffalo is 18-3 when it generates a minimum of two takaways over that span, and you’ll perceive how devastating it should be handy an offense with Prepare dinner and Josh Allen quick fields.
We have seen bye weeks impress defenses up to now, with the 2024 Eagles because the quintessential and most up-to-date instance. I am unsure that kind of bounce is coming for the Payments, however this season-best exhibiting got here with totally different personnel. Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi returned from suspensions and made their presence felt up entrance. First-round choose Maxwell Hairston made his NFL debut and performed 25 snaps, permitting zero catches as the closest defender in protection. Hancock made a essential play to save lots of a landing. And whereas Poyer most likely is not the long-term answer at security on condition that he wasn’t nice for the Dolphins final season and wasn’t on an energetic roster till October, he is aware of the McDermott protection and the place to line up.
I am not satisfied that the Payments have issues fully discovered on this aspect of the ball, however this was a promising return to type.
Keaton Mitchell will get again within the combine at operating again
The Ravens additionally had a defensive return to type of their win over the Bears. Whereas the 17-3 loss to the Rams in Week 6 might need felt like the start of their enhancements, a more in-depth have a look at that recreation recommended that the Rams left a variety of yards and potential scores on the sector with misses from Matthew Stafford. Just like the Payments, the Ravens seemed a lot better after getting back from the bye, though they have been aided by bumbling operations and clock administration from Chicago on the finish of every half, costing the Bears 10 factors within the course of.
As a substitute, I need to have a look at the offensive aspect of the ball, the place I used to be heartened to see a younger participant appear like he was lastly exhibiting indicators of his pre-injury type. Mitchell was a lightning bolt for the Ravens in 2023, turning 9 carries into 138 yards and a landing in his first recreation with a rush try. The Ravens used Mitchell in a part-time function, with the previous East Carolina again averaging greater than 8 yards per carry throughout 47 rush makes an attempt.
Simply because the Ravens appeared keen to broaden Mitchell’s function, although, he tore his ACL in a December 2023 win over the Jaguars. The undrafted free agent missed the remainder of the season, and when the Ravens added Derrick Henry the next offseason, Mitchell’s path to common work disappeared. After lacking most of 2024, Mitchell managed 15 carries for 30 yards down the stretch, serving largely because the staff’s kick returner. He was a wholesome scratch early this season earlier than carrying the ball 3 times within the loss to the Texans.
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Dwell on CBS: Keaton Mitchell breaks off a 25-yard run
Keaton Mitchell will get the Ravens’ offense shifting with a 25-yard rush.
On Sunday, although, Mitchell obtained 4 carries and turned them into 43 yards. He took a pitch within the third quarter and made it across the edge for a 25-yard acquire, maxing out at 20.3 mph within the course of (per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats). Within the fourth quarter, the Ravens ran a bash learn idea and had quarterback Tyler Huntley hand the ball to Mitchell, who outran Daniel Hardy to the sideline and picked up 13 yards. Once more, Mitchell topped out over 20 mph, which is not straightforward to do on such a brief run.
Mitchell is just not about to take over for Henry, however the Ravens want one thing to spark their run recreation. Even earlier than Lamar Jackson went down together with his hamstring damage, the Ravens have been struggling for consistency on the bottom, regardless of some explosive runs. They’re twenty eighth within the league in success price on carries by their operating backs, which means that they have been struggling to remain on schedule and hold the offense out of third-and-long conditions. Jackson’s sack price had spiked earlier than his damage, and whereas Cooper Rush was operating a sub-2% sack price earlier than he was benched for Huntley, that model of the offense wasn’t shifting the soccer.
Mitchell is extra of a house run hitter than a between-the-tackles runner, however he might need a viable function to play on this offense, particularly with Huntley working the QB run recreation. The Ravens must hold Henry contemporary for a possible postseason run, and whereas he scored twice on Sunday, the legendary again mustered solely 71 yards on 21 carries. The Ravens play the Dolphins in 4 days, and the quick week limits each the period of time Henry has to get better and the possibilities of Jackson returning to the lineup to face one of many league’s worst groups. A handful of Mitchell carries would make sense, and in the event that they appear like what we noticed on Sunday, this might be a pleasant change of tempo for Todd Monken’s offense.
Tua Tagovailoa quiets the critics, a minimum of for one week
Put your self in Tagovailoa’s footwear. Your Dolphins are 1-6, and there have been widespread stories that coach Mike McDaniel — who helped take you to the subsequent stage as a quarterback — is on skinny ice. Your high receiver, Tyreek Hill, is out for the 12 months. You have thrown six interceptions over the previous two video games, and whereas a few these picks towards the Chargers weren’t on you, it might be more durable to make that very same case for the three INTs towards the Browns. There’s a minimum of public conjecture that you may be benched or taking part in in your job in 2026. Oh, and if you wakened Sunday morning, your eye was unexpectedly swollen shut.
Does that sound like a recipe in your finest recreation of the season?
One way or the other, it was simply that. Dealing with the identical Falcons protection that slowed down Josh Allen and the Payments earlier this season, Tagovailoa delivered a classic efficiency. After a three-and-out on the opening drive, the Dolphins had just one extra of these the remainder of the best way, a significant enchancment for a staff that had the fifth-highest three-and-out price (28.2%) of any offense earlier than Week 8.
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Tua Tagovailoa hyperlinks up with De’Von Achane for a TD
Tua Tagovailoa and De’Von Achane join on a 3-yard landing for the Dolphins.
What was placing about Miami’s win is simply how the Dolphins attacked the Falcons with the cross. This recreation plan would not have seemed misplaced for the 2023 Dolphins, even when there was much less expertise round Tagovailoa, Hill and Jaylen Waddle. That staff thrived by working off play-action, shifting linebackers and attacking the center of the sector with in-breaking routes.
Guess what occurred right here? Tagovailoa went 7-of-8 for 66 yards and a rating on play-action. On in-breaking routes, Tagovailoa was good, going 8-of-8 for 134 yards and two landing passes. He posted an ideal passer score on these throws. His finest cross of the day was a 43-yard landing to Waddle, on-time off a pretend pitch and completely weighted to provide Waddle the power to carry it in with out slowing down and create yards after the catch. The cross left Jessie Bates III, who left the sport late with an ankle damage, no probability of getting close to Waddle.
The Falcons might need missed linebacker Divine Deablo, who had been a useful a part of their blitz packages earlier than struggling a fractured forearm final week. Atlanta had gone from being the worst-blitzing staff of the previous decade in 2024 to rating tenth in QBR allowed towards the blitz this season. However on Sunday, Tagovailoa went 8-of-12 for 114 yards and three landing passes versus rushes of 5 defenders or extra.
The opposite issue that made this a classic Tagovailoa efficiency? The timing. Owing each to the velocity of the operation and an try to hold Tagovailoa from being hit, the Dolphins have been lightning-fast at getting the ball out of their quarterback’s hand when their offense was at its finest. Between 2022 and 2023, Tagovailoa’s common cross got here out after simply 2.46 seconds, the quickest price of any QB within the NFL. By seven weeks in 2025, with the offense somewhat slower and groups taking away Tagovailoa’s first reads extra usually, that determine had jumped to 2.67 seconds (to be honest, nonetheless fifth quickest).
In Week 8, although, Tagovailoa held the ball for a mean of simply 2.37 seconds, comfortably his quickest of the season. The Falcons sacked Tagovailoa solely as soon as, and their 28.6% strain price was under their season common. Have been the Falcons curiously conservative in protection, or was this a professional bounce-back from Tagovailoa and the Dolphins offense? We’ll discover out extra towards the Ravens, who need to show that their return to type on protection is actual, on Thursday night time.
Tucker Kraft ascends to the highest of the tight finish charts on nationwide tv
For years, we have questioned which of the younger Packers large receivers would escape and turn into the offense’s high goal. So most of the staff’s draft picks have flashed, however owing to accidents, inconsistency and what was a league-low cross price in impartial recreation scripts earlier than 2025, no person actually grabbed the job for themselves. Josh Jacobs even argued that the Packers wanted to accumulate a No. 1 wideout final offseason.
Nicely, one of many Packers’ younger cross catchers has emerged as a star — however it’s not one of many wideouts. It is Kraft, who wasn’t even seen as the longer term lead receiver at his place when GM Brian Gutekunst chosen him out of South Dakota State within the third spherical of the 2023 draft. The Packers had chosen Luke Musgrave one spherical earlier, and whereas these two completed neck-and-neck throughout their rookie seasons, Musgrave’s 66 receiving yards within the postseason helped draw consideration his approach. Heading into 2024, Musgrave seemed like he may be the extra featured receiver of the 2 within the Packers’ offense.
Since then, Kraft has taken over. Jordan Love accomplished 20 straight passes towards a hapless Steelers protection Sunday night time, and Kraft was his favourite goal. The third-year professional caught seven of the 9 targets thrown his path for 143 yards and two touchdowns. One of many two incompletions was a throw into the bottom by a pressured Love. Kraft dropped the opposite one, however when he is averaging greater than 20 yards per completion, the Packers will take care of one drop.
There simply aren’t many tight ends who’ve Kraft’s means to outmuscle defenders and run away from protection into the open subject for lengthy completions or yards after catch. Kraft’s 59-yard acquire was a lob from a determined Love beneath strain, however he was capable of outmaneuver DeShon Elliott for the soccer, then flip upfield and fend off a flailing Juan Thornhill for further yardage. (Elliott appeared to endure a severe knee damage on the finish of the play.) When the Packers picked struggling linebacker Patrick Queen on a throw to Kraft within the flat, the standout tight finish had the power to chop away from Joey Porter Jr. on the sideline and get again inside for 13 further yards.
Additionally, Kraft’s scores confirmed off totally different abilities. The primary got here on a display the place Kraft had good blocking however nonetheless wanted to get previous Elliott and Cole Holcomb, neither of whom was capable of carry Kraft down earlier than he crossed the purpose line. On the opposite, Kraft gave the impression to be operating a selection route, the place he has the power to interrupt inside or outdoors or quiet down towards zone protection. Right here, he broke inside and ran away from Chuck Clark and Thornhill; neither obtained shut sufficient to aim a deal with till it was too late, and Kraft scored from 24 yards out.
Kraft is in rarified firm amongst receivers. It is one factor to guide all tight ends in yards per route run, as Kraft does by means of eight weeks. It is one other to be up close to the league leaders at large receiver, too. There’s admittedly a giant drop-off from Jaxon Smith-Njigba (4.5 yards per route run) to Puka Nacua (3.5) after which to the remainder of the NFL pack, however Kraft is fourth amongst all cross catchers in YPRR at 2.8. That is forward of superstars reminiscent of CeeDee Lamb, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Justin Jefferson.
Kraft is being thrown shorter passes than them, after all, however Kraft has additionally turn into a yards-after-catch star. Kraft is third amongst all receivers in yards after catch over expectation (YACOE) this season, trailing solely DK Metcalf and Bijan Robinson (NFL Subsequent Gen Stats). The one different tight finish in the identical ballpark is Oronde Gadsden II, who ranks fifteenth in YACOE. And whereas YACOE may be influenced by one lengthy catch, Kraft ranked fourth by this similar metric final season, trailing solely Ja’Marr Chase, Lamb and George Kittle. He had 131 yards after the catch in Sunday’s win, which NFL Subsequent Gen Stats famous have been the third most by a decent finish in any recreation for the reason that begin of the 2016 season.
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Tucker Kraft rumbles into the tip zone for Packers TD
Tucker Kraft gathers a cross from Jordan Love and finds pay grime to place the Packers on the board.
With Travis Kelce falling again to earth after years of elite manufacturing, there was a gap for high tight finish in soccer. Brock Bowers inherited that function virtually by default final 12 months given his manufacturing as a rookie, however the knee damage hampering the Raiders’ star has restricted his output in 2025. Tyler Warren has been wonderful, and Kittle is the most effective all-around tight finish within the recreation, however I am unsure I might argue for anyone apart from Kraft as probably the most impactful receiving tight finish within the NFL proper now.