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With one other compelling and stunning NFL weekend within the books, it’s time for our NFL Week 8 2023 evaluation. A number of the matchups in Week 8 of the 2023 NFL season went as anticipated, however not all of them. Most significantly, we discovered from what occurred – effectively, we expect we discovered so much about what occurred in Week 8.
Evaluation and takeaways from Week 8
It’s not simply that there have been some stunning ends in Week 8, however the best way we received to these outcomes was stunning. In different circumstances, the occasions of the previous weekend helped to verify what we thought beforehand about sure groups and their win totals or playoff hopes. With that in thoughts, right here is our NFL Week 8 2023 evaluation with our greatest takeaways from the weekend.
The Bengals are again
Understandably, there have been some considerations concerning the Bengals after one more sluggish begin to the season. Remember the fact that harm considerations lingered about Joe Burrow throughout the early portion of the season. However after a 31-17 win over the 49ers on Sunday, it’s protected to say that the Bengals are on their solution to being the Tremendous Bowl contender we anticipated them to be in the beginning of the season.
Burrow wasn’t simply good, he was distinctive. He accomplished 28 of his 32 passes with three landing passes. He additionally ran the ball six occasions for 43 yards, exhibiting that his legs are wholesome.
The kicker is that Burrow and the Bengals did that on the highway in opposition to one of many best defenses within the NFL. Beating the 49ers on the highway isn’t any straightforward feat. That was San Francisco’s first dwelling loss since Week 7 of the final season when the Chiefs received at Levi’s Discipline. That was an announcement win from the Bengals and an indication that they’re poised to compete to be the perfect workforce within the AFC.
The 49ers have some issues to repair
On the opposite aspect of the coin, the 49ers got here out of their loss to the Bengals with some issues that should be addressed. We are able to forgive a loss to a Cincinnati workforce that’s heating up, however it was San Francisco’s third straight loss. Whereas the opposite two have been shut losses on the highway, it’s nonetheless regarding for the 49ers, who now path Seattle within the NFC West.
Brock Purdy has out of the blue turn into turnover-prone, throwing 5 interceptions throughout the workforce’s three-game dropping streak. These turnovers have helped to restrict the 49ers to only 17 factors in every of their three losses regardless of nonetheless averaging higher than 27 factors per recreation. Three of their subsequent 4 video games are on the highway in opposition to the Jags, Seahawks, and Eagles, so it doesn’t get any simpler for the 49ers, who’re approaching a crossroads of their season the place the rubber meets the highway.
Dallas is able to large issues
In case you can determine the Cowboys, be at liberty to provide us a name. They’ve been frustratingly inconsistent this season. When the Cowboys lose, they lose large, getting embarrassed by the Cardinals and blown out by the 49ers of their two defeats in 2023.
Alternatively, Dallas is 5-2 with 4 of these wins coming by no less than 20 factors. They dominated on either side of the ball in opposition to the Rams in Week 8, exhibiting how good they are often when the whole lot is clicking. This workforce clearly has some promise however doesn’t deliver their greatest effort each week. In fact, we’ll be taught so much subsequent week after they go to the Eagles.
Patrick Mahomes is human
We knew Patrick Mahomes was feeling beneath the climate earlier than Sunday’s loss in Denver. A number of the greats have been in a position to overcome the flu or meals poisoning, however even having one of many greatest tight ends of all time couldn’t save Mahomes and the Chiefs. Kansas Metropolis suffered its first loss in opposition to the Broncos since Mahomes took over because the beginning quarterback.
The excellent news is that the loss isn’t the top of the world. No one else within the AFC West has a successful report, so the Chiefs nonetheless have a cushty lead. On the identical time, it was reminder to the remainder of the league that Mahomes is human and might’t save the day each time, even when it feels that method generally.
Jacksonville is an AFC contender
Given the state of the Steelers, Jacksonville’s 20-10 win isn’t tremendous spectacular. However within the greater image, the Jags at the moment are 6-2 after rattling off 5 straight wins. That features going 4-0 away from dwelling, which isn’t any small feat. After successful a playoff recreation final season, the Jaguars seem like they’re able to take that subsequent step and turn into a bonafide contender within the AFC.
By eight weeks, Jacksonville has a top-10 offense and a top-10 protection. Granted, they’re barely high 10 in each classes. However the Jags look stable all the best way round and are able to successful on the highway. Video games in opposition to the 49ers, Bengals, and Ravens later within the 12 months will inform us extra. However the Jags proceed to reply each query and seem like they are going to be a troublesome out within the playoffs.
The Texans aren’t prepared
Elsewhere within the AFC South, Houston may nonetheless be a 12 months away from mounting a critical problem for Jacksonville contained in the division. C.J. Stroud has provided a number of promise, making us assume the Texans may very well be playoff contenders this 12 months. However that doesn’t look like the case after a Week 8 loss in Carolina.
Within the final three weeks, the Texans have a pair of two-point highway losses to the Falcons and Panthers. Each losses got here on late subject objectives, which hurts. If issues had gone otherwise, we’d be speaking a few workforce with 5 straight wins. But when Houston have been a playoff-caliber workforce, these are video games the Texans would have received, exhibiting they aren’t able to be a playoff contender this 12 months regardless of some constructive strides.
This may very well be it for Kirk Cousins
Sadly, Kirk Cousins’ future is in critical query after struggling an Achilles harm in Week 8. His future in Minnesota past this season was already in query. Sadly, this harm places his profession past this season in critical jeopardy. What are the possibilities a 35-year-old quarterback who isn’t cellular and is simply a tad above common within the first place can come again from this sort of harm and be the identical?
Clearly, you hate to see this occur to somebody like Cousins. It’s even worse after he’s pulled the Vikings out of their 0-3 gap and received them to 4-4, making them part of the playoff image within the NFC. Minnesota’s season and Cousins’ future are each in a state of uncertainty following the harm.
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