By Matthew DelDonna, PSO Director of Football Development
Nov 02, 2020



NFL Week 8 featured a number of surprising upsets and games that came down to the wire, including an amazing comeback win by the Broncos while the Vikings, Bengals, and Dolphins pulled off major upsets. Two AFC heavyweights in the Steelers and Ravens slugged it out until the final seconds where Pittsburgh remained undefeated, giving NFL fans a preview of what may be to come in January, while the Patriots loss and subsequent 2-5 record might have them on the outside looking in for the first time in over a decade. The Eagles-Cowboys Sunday Night game capped off an interesting week of football games that shifted the landscape of the NFL in 2020.

Enjoy PSO’s Premium Review for every NFL Week 8 game:

Key Fact: Chase Claypool has tied the NFL record for the most TDs (7) through a player’s 1st 7 career games 

Best Highlights:

  • Roethlisberger hits Claypool for GW-TD

  • PIT hit the early pick-6

  • Steelers D made a huge stop on 4th down inside 2 min

Most Valuable Intel: PIT-BAL had playoff football written all over it

This matchup gave fans a good preview of what may be to come in January as the Steelers and Ravens had another classic AFC North showdown. Pittsburgh has the look of a legit contender after taking down the reigning MVP and his squad in a back-and-forth battle, coming up with major key stops on defense late in the game and creating multiple turnovers. Baltimore will surely bounce back, but PIT is going to make it tough for them going forward as they remain the last undefeated team in the league at 7-0 and will face the Ravens again before the postseason begins.

Final Results: PIT (+175) d. BAL (-205) 28-24 [PIT +4 | o44]

Key Fact: Since 2003, there had been 284 losing streaks of 4+ games entering today & NE was the only team without a single 1 until now

Best Highlights:

  • Cam coughed up the game

  • Moss gets some help for the TD

  • Damien Harris burst into the end zone

Most Valuable Intel: BUF is now the team to beat in the AFC East

After spending several years in the shadow of the Patriots’ dynasty, the Bills have now emerged as the leaders of the AFC East. Cam and the Pats put on a much better showing than last week, but costly errors proved to be their downfall as they dropped their third straight game and are faced with a daunting 2-5 record as opposed to the Bills’ 6-2 season so far. While there is a lot of season still left, Bill Belichick will need to work miracles to pull off a playoff spot, and even its biggest hardcore fans are beginning to turn their attention to next year and just consider this an “asterisk season.”

Final Results: BUF (-205) d. NE (+175) 24-21 [NE +4 | o55]

Key Fact: Dalvin Cook became the 1st player in Vikings franchise history with 200 YScm & 4 TD in a game

Best Highlights:

  • Dalvin Cook had a monster day scoring 4 TD 

  • Adams repeats big Week 7 performance with a hat trick

Most Valuable Intel: Green Bay’s run defense could be its downfall

After being shredded and battered by Dalvin Cook, the Packers looked like a team with a glaring flaw that could prove to be detrimental to their success if it isn’t fixed: the run defense. GB could have won this game easily had it simply contained Cook and held him to half his production (which still would’ve been 100+ yards & 2 TDs). This isn’t a new issue, however; while the Packers did have some injuries on the defensive side, stopping the run has been an issue for them since Matt Lafleur has been the HC and they need to add defensive reinforcements before the deadline to ensure this doesn’t unravel their championship aspirations in January/February. 

Final Results: MIN (+215) d. GB (-255) 28-22 [MIN +5.5 | o47]

Key Fact: This was 1st time TEN lost a game when Derrick Henry had 100+ RUSH YDS, previously 16-0

Best Highlights:

  • Higgins made a fantastic toe-tap sideline catch

  • Burrow was NOT going down

  • AJ Brown shook off multiple tackles for 4th Qtr TD

Most Valuable Intel: Joe Burrow is turning it around in Cincinnati

Joe Burrow got the biggest win of his young career so far and the Bengals finally put together a winning performance in a big upset victory over the Titans. Burrow continues to show a ton of poise under center despite having a terrible O-Line and certainly has the look of a winner that is infectious around him. If Cincy can protect him better in the future, the team has a real chance of being a threat in the AFC with a promising young QB and solid weapons around him for years to come.

Final Results: CIN (+280) d. TEN (-335) 31-20 [CIN +7.5 | o49.5]

Key Fact: Dolphins are the 3rd team ever to win despite being outgained by 300+ yards 

Best Highlights:

  • Tua Time officially begins in Miami with 1st career TD 

  • Tua got rocked & stripped on his 1st drive

  • Dolphins defense was causing havoc

  • Grant scores the 1st PR-TD of 2020 NFL season

Most Valuable Intel: Dolphins don’t need Tua to be elite with this defense

As ‘Tua Time’ officially began in Miami, the Dolphins got a big win over the Rams thanks to a stellar performance on defense. Tua didn’t have a fantastic performance by any means, but he took a small step forward in becoming the full-time starter for MIA. His next two games will be good challenges as he will go up against a hot Cardinals team coming off a big win over SEA and a bye week, followed by a matchup with the Chargers and fellow rookie QB and offensive ROY contender Justin Herbert. It’s unlikely the Dolphins can create turnovers at this rate again, so Miami will likely need more from Tua to get wins in the future.

Final Results: MIA (+160) d. LAR (-180) 28-17 [MIA +3.5 | u46.5]

Key Fact: Detroit Lions are now 5-14 at home since 2018 (T-worst record in NFL)

Best Highlights:

  • Hines scored 2x, shows off impressive moves on celebrations

  • Pick-6 puts IND further ahead of DET

  • Blocked punt leads to 6 for DET

  • Stafford launched a huge bomb to Hall for 73 yds

Most Valuable Intel: Indy’s defense/rushing attack combo is tough to beat

With Marlon Mack going down for the season, Philip Rivers showing his age early-on, and star WR T.Y. Hilton basically being a nonfactor, most would think the Colts would be far worse off than 5-2. IND continues to find ways to win games thanks to a stout defense and emerging RB duo in Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines. Rivers isn’t really a Pro Bowl-caliber QB anymore, but if he can stay efficient, this Colts team is capable of making a playoff run with a formidable rushing attack/defense that can win games.

Final Results: IND (-180) d. DET (+160) 41-21 [IND -3.5 | o49]

Key Fact: Patrick Mahomes had more PASS TD (5) in this game than the Jets have all season (4)

Best Highlights:

  • Fake punt pays off, leads to a TD strike to Cheetah 

  • No one was catching Hardman on this TD 

  • Mahomes underhanded TD looks simple

  • MVPat keeps dealing and throws his 5th TD strike

Most Valuable IntelThe best team in the league vs. the worst team

A game projected to be a blowout by most lived up to that standard as the Chiefs took apart a hapless Jets team 35-9. In a game featuring the reigning Super Bowl Champion and the upcoming owners of the No.1 draft pick, the best team vs. the worst team played out exactly how it should’ve with Mahomes regaining his MVP form, tossing more TDs against the Jets than NYJ has all season combined. This serves as a tune-up for the champs on their path to back-to-back titles while the Jets are hoping to #TankForTrevor

Final Results: KC (-5000) d. NYJ (+1500) 35-9 [KC -20 | u49]

Key Fact: Josh Jacobs has the most career RUSH YDS (1,672) & YScm (1,960) among any player drafted in 2019

Best Highlights:

  • Jarvis made an incredible 1-handed grab 

  • Carr finds Renfrow for the game’s only TD

Most Valuable Intel: OBJ is severely missed by CLE’s offense

After going down with a torn ACL last week, Odell Beckham Jr. will miss the rest of the 2020 season and some believed Baker Mayfield and the Browns offense could be better without him since Mayfield shined after his departure vs. CIN. However, OBJ’s absence was felt against the Raiders, as Cleveland was only able to muster up 6 points. It’s going to be an uphill battle going forward for the Browns who need to figure out a new winning formula without OBJ. Getting Kareem Hunt the ball will be key to moving the sticks and Jarvis Landry will have to step up as he becomes the new WR1.

Final Results: LVR (+103) d. CLE (-123) 16-6 [LVR +1 | u48]

Key Fact: Chargers have tied the 2003 Falcons for the most consecutive losses (3) after leading by 17+ points in NFL history

Best Highlights:

  • Broncos complete stunning comeback with TD at the buzzer

  • Lock’s strike to Hamilton jumpstarted the comeback

  • Lindsay went 55 yds to the house

  • Williams made a pair of unreal grabs

Most Valuable Intel: Chargers are the AFC’s version of the Falcons

Well, another week meant another blown lead by the Atlanta Falcons Los Angeles Chargers. This loss was especially tough considering the Chargers were up by as many as 3 TDs and looking like they’d run away with a division-win. Despite sliding to a 2-5 record, LA has a chance to bounce back with a rather soft schedule coming up, and realistically a few plays away from sporting a 5-2 or even a 6-1 record this season.

Final Results: DEN (+130) d. LAC (-150) 31-30 [DEN +3 | o44.5]

Key Fact: Alvin Kamara has the most REC (55) & REC YDS (556) by a RB ever through the team’s 1st 7 games 

Best Highlights:

  • Lutz hit the GW 35-yd FG in OT 

  • Santos sent the game to OT on a clutch 51-yd FG

  • Brees hit fellow QB Hill for a 4th Qtr score

  • CHI got a big 4th down conversion to keep the game alive

  • Foles was dropping dimes early

Most Valuable Intel: Saints have the best 2-min offense in the NFL

While New Orleans has had far from a smooth season thus far with their best player missing every game after Week 1, the Saints still sit at 5-2 halfway into the season with a monumental game against the Bucs coming up. Drew Brees has started to settle in after a rough few weeks in September, but the defense still gives up big plays and undisciplined penalties in crucial situations. However, NOLA has still earned one of the best records in the league because of the most efficient 2-minute offense in the league. At the end of halves, games, and OT’s, Drew Brees dices up defenses for 3, 5, & 10yd completions over and over again to slowly drive down and put points on the board, as consistently as anyone in the league. 

Final Results: NO (-240) d. CHI (+200) 26-23 [CHI +5.5 | o41]

Key Fact: Only Tom Brady (2007) had more PASS TD through the 1st 7 games of a season than Russell Wilson (26)

Best Highlights:

  • DK torched the Niners’ D for 6

  • Wilson threw his league-leading 26th TD of the season while falling down

  • George Kittle somehow brought this one in

Most Valuable Intel: As good as the NFC West is, Seattle is the cream of the crop

After 8 weeks, the NFC West continues to be the NFL’s best division by far, but the Seahawks have proven to be the clear-cut best team in that division. Russell Wilson added to his MVP season with another fantastic performance that now increases his NFL-leading number of pass TDs to 26. The hyper-competitive NFC West features three teams fighting for wild card spots while the Seahawks are looking to possess the top spot in the whole conference. 

Final Results: SEA (-115) d. SF (+105) 37-27 [SEA -1 | o54.5]

Key Fact: Cowboys have 0 TD in 2 consecutive games & 10 points or fewer in 3 consecutive games (both t-longest in franchise history)

Best Highlights:

  • Eagles FR-TD put the game out of reach

  • Trevon Diggs gets 2 picks on SNF

  •  Zuerlein hooks in an impressive 59-yd FG in the wind

Most Valuable Intel: Expect an under-.500 Philly team hosting a 12-4 Bucs or Saints team in Rd1

It’s hard to believe a team with a 3-4-1 record could lead its division, yet the Eagles are just that. At the pace each NFC East team is going, there is a very good chance that its winner will finish the season with a losing record. They have the best QB in the division and are the only team that looks somewhat functional right now. If Wentz can cut down on the brutal mental mistakes that continue occurring and stops trying to do too much by himself with the ball, PHI could limp into the playoffs where they’ll host a much-better Saints or Bucs team in Rd 1.

Final Results: PHI (-410) d. DAL (+330) 23-9 [PHI -10 | o43]

Key FactJulio Jones (12,709) now trails only Jerry Rice (13,275) for the most REC YDS by a player in his 1st 10 seasons 

Best Highlights:

  • Wreh-Wilson shut down Panthers’ comeback attempt

  • Matty Ice took it in himself for the TD

  • The Panthers fooled everyone on this fake punt

  • Curtis Samuel can score in multiple ways

  • Action Jackson makes an awesome INT

Most Valuable Intel: Julio Jones is still the NFL’s best WR

For years, it was Julio Jones and Antonio Brown that were viewed as 1A & 1B as the league’s top wideout. AB is no longer in the picture, but now young WR’s like Michael Thomas, DeAndre Hopkins, Tyreek Hill, and DK Metcalf have recently challenged the throne. But Jones has been a consistent producer since the day he entered the league and continues to rack up elite production halfway into his 11th career season. Compiling 7 REC for 137 YDS against the Panthers, Jones made history as he passed HOFer Torry Holt for the 2nd-most REC YDS by a player in their first 10 seasons in NFL history, adding on to his already future HOF career. While Julio might not always score the most TDs or finish atop the NFL in receiving yards, there’s no WR a QB rather have out there than Julio Jones, and it was proven once again on Thursday Night. 

Final Results: ATL (-102) d. CAR (-118) 25-17 [ATL +1.5 | u52]

Key FactTom Brady has the most QB wins (30) when trailing by 10+ points in the Super Bowl Era

Best Highlights:

  • Winfield Jr. made the game-saving deflection (no PI)

https://twitter.com/TheAmateursID/status/1323481452525223936?s=20

  • Danny Dimed what could’ve been game-tying TD

Most Valuable Intel: Daniel Jones can win and lose games, sometimes in the same game

It may sound contradictory, but somehow Giants QB Daniel Jones comes up with the biggest plays of the game for his team to put them in a position to win and suddenly erases all that effort with one costly mistake. It’s the equivalent of running a race, leading the entire time, and then tripping and losing right before crossing the finish line (in Jones’ case, this quite literally happened against PHI). Since getting his first NFL win as a starter (against TB, ironically), Jones is 3-17 with all three wins coming against the Washington Football Team. Time is running out for the young signal-caller to eliminate these mistakes from his game. He can be a franchise QB without those brutal decisions/throws, but if he can’t stop turning the ball over, NYG will be looking for a new franchise QB sooner than later.

Full game highlights of every NFL Week 8 game will be posted here once they conclude.



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