A sudden shift might happen for various 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 would possibly really feel like every success they’ve constructed up over the previous couple of 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 evening.
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 evening. 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 perfect roster and essentially the most “time on job” with this group of coaches/gamers. I don’t suppose all 4 groups from the division will attain the playoffs, nevertheless it might development that manner within the brief 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 perfect within the league — up to now, there was no hangover from final season’s crushing convention title sport loss. Detroit’s successful precisely how he envisioned: with two of the perfect fronts within the league. And Jared Goff is enjoying like an MVP. This group goes to be a troublesome, robust out within the NFC playoffs.
Howe: Even with out Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions are nonetheless enjoying like the perfect group within the NFC. They’re a drive 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 seemingly all 4 would end the season within the NFC’s high seven of our energy rankings. However they’re going to beat up on one another whereas an East or South group 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 a giant sport nonetheless. What have you ever favored most about Williams and Daniels? What would you wish 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 outfitted 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 wish to see him fare nicely towards good groups. He hasn’t had many probabilities to do this but. The Houston sport was a wrestle.
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 exhibits as much as the constructing every single day. And Washington’s offense has been constructed round what he does nicely with out forcing him to throw it 40 instances 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 nowadays. Backing it up after the bye week towards Washington — which has led the NFC East since Week 3 — says much more.
Howe: Daniels has accomplished all the pieces proper, however I love the way in which the Commanders have constantly put him able to succeed. The teaching has been terrific, and the run sport has helped. Daniels has then accomplished his half to elevate his teammates. I’m unsure how a lot Daniels can enhance upon this subsequent level, however the pre-draft concern was his capability to carry as much as the physicality, and he’s already coping with a rib harm. Williams took a little bit longer to get snug resulting from some line points and accidents on the talent spots, however he by no means appeared to lose his manner or his confidence. He simply saved believing in his capability, 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 group. The discharge could be easy — reduce him and watch his present scheduled 2025 cap cost rise from practically $73 million to almost $119 million. The contract laundering would supply a longer-shot likelihood at mitigating a number of the cap and money penalties. Underneath that situation, the Browns would commerce Watson and draft capital to a group that will settle for the draft capital, tackle a number 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 lifeless cash. It’s a considerable hit (practically $119 million to the 2025 cap) however I believe it’d be the perfect final result for each events in the long term. Cleveland pays 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 group again. There’s no salvaging this. Even when he returns in 2025, Watson can 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.
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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 wrestle in 2023 resulting from greater than $50 million in lifeless cash post-Aaron Rodgers? (I do know, that instance doesn’t maintain up as a result of they performed their manner into the playoffs, however I’m utilizing it to supply perspective.) Effectively, the Browns have already got $23 million in lifeless cap in 2025, and a post-June 1 reduce 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 have been compelled to make cuts after releasing Russell Wilson. The Browns have to cease restructuring Watson’s deal to kick the cap hits down the street. Even when he performed at a Mahomes-ian degree with a $72.9 million cap hit, the Browns would have to be otherworldly with the gamers on their rookie contracts to be a playoff risk. Until they’ve received 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 can be a problem for the Bucs to beat. The Falcons appear able to beating anybody and shedding to anybody. What’s your evaluation of the highest of the NFC South as these two groups put together to satisfy Sunday?
Sando: The Buccaneers have been going to win this division and nonetheless would possibly. The receiver accidents open the door for the Falcons to overhaul them as Kirk Cousins’ surgically repaired Achilles tendon doubtlessly 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 have been my preseason decide to win the NFC South once more — they’ve quietly claimed 4 straight division crowns — however with the latest losses of Evans and Godwin, Atlanta has its opening. A loss Sunday to the Falcons might spell an extended couple of weeks for the Bucs. Earlier than the bye, they’ll face every of final 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl groups — Kansas Metropolis and San Francisco — in consecutive weeks. These aren’t groups you need to play short-handed, although the 49ers are hurting, as nicely.
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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 hold the Bucs in rivalry except the Falcons flip a change. Tampa offensive coordinator Liam Coen has additionally taken the offense to a a lot larger degree, and his ideas will release the lesser-known guys filling in for Evans and Godwin. I’m nonetheless much more involved with the protection that’s given up the fifth-most factors within the league. That’s no technique 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 perfect model of Kirk Cousins this season due to the Achilles restoration, however they’re adequate to win the division whereas preserving 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 evening?
Sando: The 49ers win by working the ball throughout Dallas’ weak run protection to regulate the sport circulate, delivering a straightforward evening for quarterback Brock Purdy. The Cowboys win with a robust 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 in regards to 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 manner. This matchup received’t assist. The 49ers have received three straight over the Cowboys, together with two within the playoffs. And keep in mind final 12 months’s assembly: a 42-10 drubbing by San Francisco that foreshadowed the Cowboys’ playoff embarrassment three months later.
Howe: The 49ers’ accidents are the primary story, however the subplot — and possibly a peek right into a extra detrimental subject — has been giving freely video games. They’d no enterprise shedding to the Rams and Cardinals with the way in which these video games have been performed. Then they made too many errors to reap the benefits of the Chiefs. These are regarding traits for a group with convention championship expectations. I believe the 49ers will beat the Cowboys, however they’ve but to point out they will shut out a sport this season. In the meantime, the Cowboys haven’t persistently run the ball or stopped the run. Till these parts enhance, they received’t be a risk within the NFC.
(High picture of Caleb Williams: Michael Reaves / Getty Pictures)
