A sudden shift might happen for quite a lot of 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 may really feel like every luck they’ve constructed up over the previous few 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 very best roster and probably the most “time on activity” with this group of coaches/gamers. I don’t suppose all 4 groups from the division will attain the playoffs, but it surely might development that means within the quick time period primarily based 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 very best within the league — to this point, there was no hangover from final season’s crushing convention title sport loss. Detroit’s successful precisely how he envisioned: with two of the very best fronts within the league. And Jared Goff is taking part in like an MVP. This staff goes to be a tricky, powerful out within the NFC playoffs.
Howe: Even with out Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions are nonetheless taking part in like the very best staff within the NFC. They’re a power on each side of the ball, particularly if Goff stays within the MVP dialog. As for the playoffs, all 4 groups are adequate to make it, and I’d say it’s greater than doubtless 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 Pictures)
A rib harm might rob us of Caleb Williams vs. Jayden Daniels, however Bears-Commanders is an enormous sport nonetheless. What have you ever appreciated most about Williams and Daniels? What would you prefer to see that every rookie QB hasn’t proven or proved but?
Sando: I like the way in which 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 sphere, primarily based on what we’ve seen. Daniels must show he can keep on the sphere a full season. That can be a part of the job of a franchise quarterback. His sturdiness was a priority coming into the season. He’s already managing an harm that’s threatening to sideline him. For Williams, I’d prefer to see him fare nicely towards good groups. He hasn’t had many possibilities to do this but. The Houston sport 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 on daily basis. And Washington’s offense has been constructed round what he does nicely with out forcing him to throw it 40 occasions a sport. In Chicago, Williams has been noticeably higher of late, however the problem now could be proving it towards stiffer competitors. Beating up on Carolina and Jacksonville doesn’t imply a complete lot as of late. Backing it up after the bye week towards Washington — which has led the NFC East since Week 3 — says much more.
Howe: Daniels has carried out all the pieces proper, however I like the way in which the Commanders have repeatedly put him able to succeed. The teaching has been terrific, and the run sport has helped. Daniels has then carried out his half to raise his teammates. I’m undecided how a lot Daniels can enhance upon this subsequent level, however the pre-draft concern was his potential to carry as much as the physicality, and he’s already coping with a rib harm. Williams took a bit longer to get comfy 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 saved believing in his potential, 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 chances, 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 — lower him and watch his present scheduled 2025 cap cost rise from practically $73 million to almost $119 million. The contract laundering would offer a longer-shot probability at mitigating a few of the cap and money penalties. Beneath that state of affairs, the Browns would commerce Watson and draft capital to a staff that will settle for the draft capital, tackle a few 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 very best end result for each events in the long term. Cleveland can pay dearly for its mistake, particularly that $230 million, totally assured contract it handed him in 2022, but in addition 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 might be a $46 million quarterback coming off a serious harm who hasn’t seemed 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 completed. 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 offer perspective.) Effectively, the Browns have already got $23 million in useless cap in 2025, and a post-June 1 lower would add one other $119 million to that. That might create catastrophic ripple results with the remainder of the roster — a lot worse than the way in which the Broncos had been compelled to make cuts after releasing Russell Wilson. The Browns must cease restructuring Watson’s deal to kick the cap hits down the highway. Even when he performed at a Mahomes-ian degree with a $72.9 million cap hit, the Browns would should be otherworldly with the gamers on their rookie contracts to be a playoff risk. 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 might 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 had been going to win this division and nonetheless may. The receiver accidents open the door for the Falcons to overhaul them as Kirk Cousins’ surgically repaired Achilles tendon probably rounds into stronger type 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 had 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 a protracted couple of weeks for the Bucs. Earlier than the bye, they’ll face every of final yr’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 nicely.
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 nicely sufficient to be a fringe MVP candidate. I believe he can nonetheless preserve the Bucs in competition except the Falcons flip a change. Tampa offensive coordinator Liam Coen has additionally taken the offense to a a lot increased degree, and his ideas will unencumber the lesser-known guys filling in for Evans and Godwin. I’m nonetheless way more involved with the protection that’s given up the fifth-most factors within the league. That’s no option 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 suppose we’re going to see the very best model of Kirk Cousins this season due to the Achilles restoration, however they’re adequate to win the division whereas conserving 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 manage the sport stream, delivering a straightforward night time for quarterback Brock Purdy. The Cowboys win with a powerful sport 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 sport 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 residence, can’t beat anybody respectable and might’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 yr’s assembly: a 42-10 drubbing by San Francisco that foreshadowed the Cowboys’ playoff embarrassment three months later.
Howe: The 49ers’ accidents are the principle story, however the subplot — and perhaps a peek right into a extra detrimental situation — has been gifting away video games. They’d no enterprise dropping to the Rams and Cardinals with the way in which these video games had been performed. Then they made too many errors to reap the benefits of 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 sport this season. In the meantime, the Cowboys haven’t constantly run the ball or stopped the run. Till these parts enhance, they received’t be a risk within the NFC.
(High photograph of Caleb Williams: Michael Reaves / Getty Pictures)