NFL 2018 Week 8 Recap

Hello readers! Another week of the National Football League has passed us by yet again. The week that was week 8 has provided: a team getting its 2nd win on the year, the return of Ryan Fitzpatrick and an unbeaten streak continue. The column will only a recap, I'll explain in a bit.

For those who might not know, I'm a Red Sox fan and those who follow baseball know that tonight (October 28th) is the chance that the Red Sox clinch the World Series title. Long story short, if the Red Sox win there's a possibility that there won't be a recap for this week because I celebrated too hard. If they don't clinch it then its business as usual. I'll make an attempt to finish it by the time the Monday night game is over. No guarantees. Let's get to the recap.

Miami 23, Houston 42: TW: Texans, CV: Texans
The game looked decent on paper as I had mentioned in the picks column. The game would see a return to the Deshaun Watson that we got to know last season. Throwing for five touchdowns with 239 passing yards. Not a bad game. For the Dolphins though, Danny Amendola had more touchdown passes than your starter, Brock Osweiler, which was one. It was a dismantling of epic proportions.

Week 9: Miami: vs Jets; Houston: @ Denver

TW: 1-0; CV: 1-0

Philadelphia 24, Jacksonville 18: TW: Eagles, CV: Jaguars
In a game where the Eagles defense was giving up points, it would be the Eagles leader/king/emperor/etc who would rally his team/country into victory against the opposing team/enemy. Yes, I did include a rather unique outlook to this recap. The Jaguars are still looking for answers on defense as well as some questions on offense. I'm sure Prince Harry was allowed in for a snap or two in this game. ;-)

Week 9: Philadelphia: Bye week; Jacksonville: Bye week

TW: 2-0; CV: 1-1

Baltimore 21, Carolina 36: TW: Panthers, CV: Panthers
In a game that wasn't as close as most people thought it would be, the Panthers put up quite a bit of points in this game. Cam Newton had a stellar game completing 21 out of 29 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns. The Ravens defense looked clueless on a few plays, like a few running plays with DJ Moore. Offensively the Ravens offense couldn't quite get anything going from the air attack as Joe Flacco would throw two interceptions.

Week 9: Baltimore: vs Pittsburgh; Carolina: vs Tampa Bay

TW: 3-0; CV: 2-1

Cleveland 18, Pittsburgh 33: TW: Steelers, CV: Steelers
In a game where a city needed a break from tragedy, the Steelers were more than happy to provide their fans that comfort. The events from the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue on Saturday was still heavily on the minds of the city and certainly, my thoughts and well wishes are to those who were affected in the tragedy. James Conner provided two touchdowns on the ground and Ben Roethlisberger would throw two touchdowns in the game. The Browns had a decent game with Baker Mayfield throwing for two touchdowns of his own but the Browns haven't won in Pittsburgh since 2003 and sadly would continue that trend.

Week 9: Cleveland: vs Kansas City; Pittsburgh: @ Baltimore

TW: 4-0; CV: 3-1

Denver 23, Kansas City 30: TW: Chiefs, CV: Chiefs
The continuing story of Patrick Mahomes II lives on and in this game was stellar. Throwing for four touchdowns and throwing 304 passing yards, he is having a season for the ages. The Broncos wouldn't really recover from it. Denver had a decent game on the ground and Case Keenum had a good game but you would have to play a great, mistake-free game against the Chiefs. The Broncos didn't.

Week 9: Denver: vs Houston; Kansas City: @ Cleveland

TW: 5-0; 4-1

NY Jets 10, Chicago 24: TW: Bears, CV: Bears
In a game that Chicago needed to keep up with the Vikings in the NFC North, they got the job done. Mitch Trubisky had a two-touchdown performance while throwing for 220 yards. The Jets couldn't get anything going on offense to counter the Bears while both quarterbacks would throw for zero interceptions. Not much else to really state in this game.

Week 9: NY Jets: @ Miami; Chicago: @ Buffalo

TW: 6-0; CV: 5-1

Seattle 28, Detroit 14: TW: Lions, CV: Lions
Well in a game where I got wrong, the Seattle Seahawks were practically 100% right. The Seahawks looked great on offense and defense. Russell Wilson had a perfect quarterback rating in the game with 248 passing yards and three touchdowns. The Seahawks defense came up with three turnovers (two fumbles and one interception). The Lions despite all that couldn't get the Seahawks offense off the field. The time of possessions were 35:55 for the Seahawks, 25:05 for the Lions. Tough way to lose.

Week 9: Seattle: vs LA Chargers; Detroit: @ Minnesota

TW: 6-1; CV: 5-2

Tampa Bay 34, Cincinnati 37: TW: Bengals, CV: Bengals
It was an ugly game for both teams. The Bengals would put up 34 points in the first three-quarters of the game, they would only put up three in the 4th quarter. The Buccaneers couldn't get anything going on offense due to Jameis Winston having another four-interception game. Winston would get benched for Ryan Fitzpatrick, the man that had led them to two wins earlier in the season, he would not disappoint. The Bucs would get 18 points in the 4th quarter and unfortunately, the Bengals would get the win off of a Randy Bullock field goal.

Week 9: Tampa Bay: @ Carolina; Cincinnati: Bye week

TW: 7-1; CV: 6-2

Washington 20, NY Giants 13: TW: Redskins, CV: Redskins
The game was highlighted by a defensive unit of the Redskins that looked to shut down the Giants offense. D.J. Swearinger picked off Eli Manning two times in the game. The Redskins running game was great once again with Adrian Peterson going for 149 yards and a touchdown. Not also to mention that Eli Manning was sacked seven times in the game.

Week 9: Washington: vs Atlanta; NY Giants: Bye week

TW: 8-1; CV: 7-2

Indianapolis 42, Oakland 28: TW: Colts, CV: Colts
In a week that would see Amari Cooper gone in Oakland, the Raiders offense held it together for most of the game. Andrew Luck and company would have much more success, however. The game really came down to the Colts running game with Marlon Mack getting two touchdowns from 132 rushing yards. Derek Carr did throw for three touchdowns in the game but in a season where it went from possible Super Bowl contender to a potential #1 draft pick, its looking rough in Oakland.

Week 9: Indianapolis: vs Jacksonville; Oakland: @ 49ers (Thursday night)

TW: 9-1; CV: 8-2

Green Bay 27, LA Rams 29: TW: Packers, CV: Rams
It was a really good game for the most part. Both offenses had good games, Aaron Rodgers had one touchdown, Jared Goff had three. The Packers defense held their own as well. The deciding factor was a late fumble by Ty Montgomery. Hate to see a game like that end that way when you question how would Aaron Rodgers answer back. The ghosts of the 1972 Dolphins remain for another week.

Week 9: Green Bay: @ New England; LA Rams: @ New Orleans

TW: 9-2; CV: 9-2

San Francisco 15, Arizona 18: TW: 49ers, CV: 49ers
It was a game that lived up to the "Toilet Bowl" hype but it wasn't the worst thing that I've ever seen on a television set. The game was a showcase of how good Josh Rosen can be. Rosen had 252 passing yards for two touchdowns in the game. The 2nd touchdown would come with 0:34 left to play in the game and a successful 2-point conversion. Perhaps the Cardinals aren't a lost cause.

Week 9: San Francisco: vs Oakland (Thursday night); Arizona: Bye week

TW: 9-3; CV: 9-3

New Orleans 30, Minnesota 20: TW: Saints, CV: Vikings
The rematch of the "Minneapolis Miracle" the Saints would end up getting the last laugh in the game. The Vikings had a decent game on offense, Kirk Cousins would have a good game throwing for 389 yards for two touchdowns. The Saints, however, had an okay game, Drew Brees only threw for 120 yards for a touchdown. The real story of the game was the Saints defense getting two Vikings turnovers (one fumble, one interception). The Vikings really laid an egg on this one. The Red Sox also won the World Series by the way. I'm a bit tipsy right now. Well worth it.

Week 9: New Orleans: vs LA Rams; Minnesota: vs Detroit

TW: 10-3; CV: 9-4

New England 25, Buffalo 6: TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots
The game was a snoozefest for most of the game. Full of field goals. It was good to see some of the 1990's Bills there in Buffalo in honor of Thurmon Thomas' jersey getting retired. The 4th quarter was kind of interesting as there was a pick-six by Devin McCourty. When was the last time that Tom Brady had no touchdown passes in a game? Still, a 29-3 record vs the Bills is quite extraordinary.

Week 9: New England: vs Green Bay; Buffalo vs Chicago

TW: 11-3; CV: 10-4

2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 12-3
Week 5: 6-9
Week 6: 10-5
Week 7: 10-4
Week 8: 11-3
Overall: 73-46-2

Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 9-6
Week 5: 9-6
Week 6: 6-9
Week 7: 12-2
Week 8: 10-4
Overall: 68-51-2

See you guys on Wednesday/Thursday for the picks/predictions for Week 9!
-Tom