Week 8 NFL Grades: Where Backups Become Heroes and Titans Turn to Toast
Week 8 NFL Grades: Where Backups Become Heroes and Titans Turn to Toast
Alright, let’s talk Week 8! This one had it all: backup QBs showing up, surprise blowouts, and some teams just… well, going through it. Let’s dig into how everyone stacked up this week.
Minnesota Vikings 27, Los Angeles Rams 21
Vikings Grade: A-
Minnesota made the most of their home-field advantage, and it paid off big time. Kirk Cousins was on fire, connecting with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison for big plays. With a defense that’s finding its rhythm, the Vikings are looking like NFC contenders again.
Rams Grade: C
Despite a strong first half, the Rams just couldn’t keep pace. Matthew Stafford was under constant pressure, and the offense struggled to maintain momentum. They’ve got talent, but consistency is a big question mark for LA.
Cleveland Browns 29, Baltimore Ravens 24
Browns Grade: A+
The Browns finally broke the 20-point barrier! Jameis Winston took over for Deshaun Watson and dropped 334 yards and three touchdowns on the Ravens, giving Cleveland fans a glimpse of an offense they can get excited about. Browns might be 2-6, but with Winston out there slinging it, things just got interesting.
Ravens Grade: B-
Baltimore had their chances, but they just couldn’t put it together. Lamar Jackson threw for almost 300 yards but missed some big plays, and the Ravens’ defense had no answers for Winston. Add in a rare Justin Tucker miss, and it’s a tough pill for Ravens fans to swallow.
Philadelphia Eagles 37, Cincinnati Bengals 17
Eagles Grade: A
Jalen Hurts didn’t mess around. After a tight first half, Hurts turned up the heat, throwing for three touchdowns and cruising to a big win. Saquon Barkley added 108 rushing yards, and Philly’s defense showed up big-time in the second half. NFC East, watch out.
Bengals Grade: D
The Bengals completely imploded in the second half. Zac Taylor’s questionable call to go for it on fourth down set the tone, and it was downhill from there. Turnovers started piling up, and at 3-5, the Bengals have a lot of ground to cover.
Indianapolis Colts 23, Houston Texans 20
Colts Grade: B-
The Colts squeezed out a win, but it wasn’t pretty. Anthony Richardson had a rough first half, going 2-for-15, before the Colts finally embraced his running style in the second half. If the Colts can find some consistency at QB, they could be a sneaky playoff team.
Texans Grade: B-
The Texans played tough, with a defense that put constant pressure on Richardson. Danielle Hunter had two sacks, and Jalen Pitre added a huge interception. The Texans’ season might be trending up, especially with a division sweep over the Colts.
Detroit Lions 52, Tennessee Titans 14
Lions Grade: A+
The Lions put on a show! Gibbs and Montgomery were unstoppable, and the defense was just feasting on Titans’ mistakes. Kalif Raymond added a 90-yard punt return touchdown for good measure. Detroit is getting better every week, and the rest of the NFC should be paying attention.
Titans Grade: F
It was a full-on disaster for Tennessee. The defense gave up over 50 points, the offense turned it over left and right, and special teams… well, they weren’t much better. Titans fans, you might want to look away for the rest of the season.
Arizona Cardinals 28, Miami Dolphins 27
Cardinals Grade: A-
Kyler Murray turned it on in the second half, completing 18 of 22 passes and racking up 228 yards. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride each went over 100 yards, and the Cards squeaked out a one-point win. Arizona’s heating up at just the right time.
Dolphins Grade: B-
Tua’s back! And even though the Dolphins didn’t win, the offense finally looked like it had a pulse again. Tua led Miami to early points, but the defense couldn’t close it out. They’ll need to shore up some things, but this wasn’t a total loss.
New England Patriots 25, New York Jets 22
Patriots Grade: B
Jacoby Brissett came in clutch, leading New England to a fourth-quarter comeback and connecting with Rhamondre Stevenson for the game-winning TD. The Patriots might be struggling, but you can never count them out against the Jets.
Jets Grade: D
Another day, another heartbreak. Greg Zuerlein missed some crucial points, and the offense still can’t get it together. If they couldn’t beat New England, it’s tough to see the Jets pulling out a miracle season here.
Atlanta Falcons 31, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26
Falcons Grade: A-
Kirk Cousins to Kyle Pitts was the theme of the day! Cousins threw for four touchdowns, including two to Pitts, helping the Falcons take control of the NFC South. It’s all looking good in Atlanta.
Buccaneers Grade: C
Tampa Bay had a rough day, starting with a fumble from Rachaad White. Baker Mayfield threw two picks, and without their top receivers, they couldn’t catch up. Things could get ugly fast with a tough schedule on deck.
Green Bay Packers 30, Jacksonville Jaguars 27
Packers Grade: B+
Malik Willis stepped up big-time after Jordan Love’s injury, going 4-for-5 in the fourth quarter and leading a game-winning drive. The Packers might be just fine if Love misses a few games—Willis has been solid.
Jaguars Grade: B-
Jacksonville almost made it happen, but two costly Trevor Lawrence turnovers kept them from pulling off the comeback. The Jaguars are close, but those key mistakes are killing them.
Buffalo Bills 31, Seattle Seahawks 10
Bills Grade: A
The Bills looked unstoppable. Josh Allen threw for 283 yards, James Cook added two rushing touchdowns, and the defense was lights out. Buffalo is looking like one of the AFC’s toughest teams right now.
Seahawks Grade: D-
Seattle was completely out of sync without DK Metcalf, and the defense couldn’t stop Buffalo’s attack. With four losses in five games, the Seahawks are in desperate need of a reset.
Denver Broncos 28, Carolina Panthers 14
Broncos Grade: A
Bo Nix finally had his breakout game, throwing for 284 yards and three touchdowns against the Panthers. Denver’s defense also came to play, intercepting Bryce Young twice and putting the pressure on all day.
Panthers Grade: F
One good drive, and then nothing. Bryce Young threw two picks, and the Panthers’ defense couldn’t stop a rookie QB. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that they’re inching closer to the top draft pick.
Los Angeles Chargers 26, New Orleans Saints 8
Chargers Grade: A-
The Chargers’ defense was a wall, keeping New Orleans out of the end zone while Herbert tossed a 60-yard TD to ice the game. Not flashy, but the Chargers have a winning formula with that defense.
Saints Grade: D-
The Saints just couldn’t get anything going. Dennis Allen had to turn to two quarterbacks, who combined for five sacks and not much else. The season’s slipping away fast for New Orleans.
Washington Commanders 18, Chicago Bears 15
Commanders Grade: B+
Jayden Daniels pulled a rabbit out of the hat with a Hail Mary to Noah Brown for the win. It wasn’t pretty, but sometimes all you need is a little magic.
Bears Grade: B
D’Andre Swift tried to bring them back with a big second half, but they fell just short. A Hail Mary loss stings, but the Bears showed some heart in this one.
Kansas City Chiefs 27, Las Vegas Raiders 20
Chiefs Grade: B-
The Chiefs got it done, but barely. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce did their thing, and the defense stepped up to stop two late red-zone chances for the Raiders. Winning ugly is still winning.
Raiders Grade: C
So close, yet so far. The Raiders had two failed red-zone trips in the second half, and a key fumble from Gardner Minshew sealed it. They’re making progress but need to finish.
San Francisco 49ers 30, Dallas Cowboys 24
49ers Grade: B-
The 49ers nearly blew it but held on thanks to a solid ground game and a monster day from George Kittle. Brock Purdy went perfect in the third quarter, keeping San Francisco in the NFC West race.
Cowboys Grade: C
It was all CeeDee Lamb for the Cowboys, but he couldn’t do it alone. Dak Prescott’s two picks hurt, and the defense collapsed in the third quarter. They’ll need to find balance after the bye.
So, that’s Week 8 in the books! If this week proved anything, it’s that depth is everything—backup quarterbacks came in swinging, and some of them might just have changed the season for their teams. Meanwhile, the Lions are looking more legit every week, and some struggling teams (looking at you, Bengals and Titans) need to figure things out, fast. The AFC and NFC races are still wide open, with plenty of teams making their cases but no clear favorite emerging just yet. As we head into the second half of the season, it’s shaping up to be one wild finish. Catch you next week for more NFL action!
