flag
back Retour
NFL Week 8 winners and losers: Lions tame Vikings, Steelers control AFC North

Here are the best and worst performers from Sunday's Week 8 NFL action.

Split image of Jahmyr Gibbs/Cameron Heyward
Getty Images The Lions and Steelers picked up two of the biggest wins in Week 8.

The first day of November is a sign that meaningful football is here.

Sunday's NFL action proved just that, with several playoff contenders making statements and plenty of stars proving themselves.

Who were the standout teams and players? And who fell flat on the field in Week 8?

Here are the winners and losers from Sunday's games:

WINNER: Lions tame Vikings

Pop the champagne, '72 Miami Dolphins -- the NFL's final unbeaten team has gone down.

The previously 6-0 Minnesota Vikings lost a tight contest 19-15 to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Brian Flores' vaunted defense did its job with four sacks and an interception, but the Vikings' offense was stuck in the mud for most of the game. Kyler Murray's unit was 3 for 10 on third-down and ran 18 fewer plays than the Lions.

Jared Goff, meanwhile, overcame his first interception of the season by orchestrating a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. The seven-play, four-minute possession ended with a beautiful touch pass to Jameson Williams, which put Detroit ahead for good. The Lions are now 5-2, just one game behind the Vikings in a wild NFC North fight between four potential playoff contenders.

LOSER: Ravens' quarterbacks go down

The Baltimore Ravens' injury luck has gone from bad to worse.

In Sunday's 36-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills, both Lamar Jackson (thumb) and Tyler Huntley (toe) exited with injuries. Emergency third quarterback Joe Fagnano, making his NFL debut as an undrafted rookie, didn't stand much of a chance against Josh Allen and Co. He ended up going 10 of 21 for 91 yards and an interception.

Jackson missed the last three games with an ankle sprain, and he only made it one play before the new injury occurred on his first pass attempt. Huntley went down in the second quarter and did not return. With a short week coming before a Thursday game against the Jaguars, the 4-4 Ravens are entering the danger zone.

WINNER: Steelers take control of the North

The Ravens' struggles are a welcome sight for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who now own sole possession of the AFC North lead.

Aaron Rodgers' team took down the Cleveland Browns 27-6 in a battle of 5-2 teams that was never all that close. Pittsburgh jumped out to a 10-0 and lead it 20-6 on a last-second touchdown to end the first half -- coming on a Pat Freiermuth 1-yard tush push. The Steelers finished the game with an impressive 200 rushing yards, eight sacks of Deshaun Watson and two forced fumbles recovered.

Losses by the Browns and Ravens puts the Steelers in control of the division, though the Cincinnati Bengals did survive a scare Sunday. The defending AFC North champions are now heading into their bye week before a key game against the Bengals on NBC's Sunday Night Football in Week 10.

LOSER: Weather woes in Florida

A massive rainstorm across Florida impacted the NFL.

In Tampa, the Buccaneers (3-5) made history in their 16-0 victory over the Atlanta Falcons (3-5). Baker Mayfield had no passing yards in the game, going 0 for 3 -- the first time a team has won a game without a completion since the Bills in 1974. The Bucs' defense actually had more catches than their offense, intercepting Michael Penix Jr. four times. Tampa Bay rushed for 324 yards, including 170 by Bucky Irving and 140 by Kenny Gainwell.

That won't be the only game in Florida with rain, though. The Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots will play in the late window at Hard Rock Stadium, with heavy rain and winds expected throughout the scheduled time.

WINNER: Cardinals and Raiders steal road victories

Two unexpected road teams picked up unlikely wins on Sunday.

In a chaotic back-and-forth game at the Meadowlands, the Las Vegas Raiders held off the New York Jets 38-33. Geno Smith was intercepted in the end zone on the final play of the game, spoiling what was otherwise a dazzling offensive performance by the Jets. New York scored on its first six possessions, but was unable to stop Kirk Cousins (3 TDs, 247 pass yards) and Brock Bowers (2 TDs, 92 receiving yards) down the stretch.

The Dallas Cowboys' 33-30 loss to the Arizona Cardinals was the most improbable of them all. The much-maligned defense surrendered three straight touchdowns in the fourth quarter after the Cardinals benched Jacoby Brissett for Gardner Minshew. Arizona would've won in regulation if not for a missed extra point, but it sealed the deal in overtime with a defense stop and 42-yard field goal by Chad Ryland.

LOSER: Colts surrender

The Indianapolis Colts' season continued to go off the rails, this time with a 42-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The blowout defeat came just days after Indy traded away All-Pro stars Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner. Now, you have to wonder what players could be dealt next. The Colts were uncompetitive from the jump on Sunday, allowing 21 points in the second quarter and ultimately falling behind 35-0 before finally scoring.

For the Jaguars, this matchup came at the perfect time with the Colts in teardown mode and after their bye week. Trevor Lawrence was flawless in the victory (10 for 14, 210 yards, 3 TDs), and Jacksonville hit an impressive 5.5 yards per carry to improve to 5-2.

WINNER: Joe Burrow's historic effort saves Bengals

The Tennessee Titans almost joined the list of improbable road winners, but Joe Burrow wouldn't let that happen.

The Cincinnati Bengals pulled off a 43-36 overtime victory after a wild fourth quarter. The sides traded touchdowns on four straight possessions in the final frame, and the Bengals kept the offense rolling with a Burrow rushing score to open overtime. Cam Ward and the Titans were stopped on their possession to end the game.

Burrow ended the game with a career-high five touchdown passes. He nearly lost his team the game with three interceptions (all to Amani Hooker), but his execution down the stretch and in overtime was enough to push the Bengals to 5-2. The Titans fell to 1-7 with the loss.

You may like

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly From Georgia Tech's 34-11 Loss to Pittsburgh

si.com il y a 26 minutes

T.J. Watt Makes History vs. Browns

aol.com il y a 3 heures

Rams take 10-9 halftime lead with Kyren Williams 1-yard TD

nbcsports.com il y a 55 minutes

2 Winners & 5 Losers During Cowboys Ridiculous Loss to Cardinals in Week 8

si.com il y a 26 minutes

Baker Mayfield made NFL history without completing a single pass against Falcons

sbnation.com il y a 2 heures

Former Texas A&M TE Nate Boerkircher scores second NFL touchdown

aol.com il y a 39 minutes

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly from Colts’ Lopsided Defeat in Jacksonville

si.com il y a 50 minutes

5 NFL quarterbacks who should lose their job after Week 8 — and who should replace them

fansided.com il y a 27 minutes

NFC North Standings: Where Bears Sit After Packers, Lions & Vikings Games in Week 8

si.com il y a 2 heures

Raiders beat Jets despite setting new franchise mark for points allowed

aol.com il y a 46 minutes