NFL Week 8: Young Quarterbacks Duel as Titans, Raiders, Cowboys Win

Week eight of the NFL season gave us some exciting matchups that showcased the future of the game, as a few members of the new school of young, up-and-coming quarterbacks went up against each other on Sunday. Elsewhere, Tom Brady squared off against the Buffalo Bills (the Bills stomped the Brady-less Patriots in week 4), and the Cleveland Browns sought their first win against the New York Jets (Spoiler: They lost. Again.) Well, at least the great state of Ohio still has the Indians.

We’ll start with Thursday night football, where the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans squared off in an AFC South divisional matchup. The game highlighted the matchup between Blake Bortles and Marcus Mariota, two quarterbacks taken in the first round by their respective teams and who were expected to show signs of progression this year.

Oh wow, @Thee_AR15. #Jaguars #TNF https://t.co/kAeeL9pgAy

— NFL (@NFL) October 28, 2016

That catch by Allen Robinson was probably the one bright spot in a terrible game for the Jacksonville Jaguars. We have been watching the regression of Blake Bortles all season, but this game was particularly bad, with the Jaguars quarterback missing wildly on throws he was automatic with last season. Marcus Mariota, on the other hand, seems to finally be getting comfortable in the Titans so-called “exotic smash mouth” offense on the way to a 36-22 victory. NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt gave a rundown of this game, using horror movie references in honor of Halloween (and probably because of how terrifying this game was for the Jaguars):

It’s Friday, which means @KyleBrandt reads #TNF hlights w/ a theme you suggested! This wk: Scary Movies! #GMFB https://t.co/DDsH777wBe

— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) October 28, 2016

In non-divisional action, two promising young quarterbacks went at it in Florida, as Derek Carr’s Oakland Raiders faced Jameis Winston’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After kicker Sebastian Janikowski’s potential game-winning 50-yard field goal missed wide left, a game that had been back and forth went into overtime. In the end Tampa Bay couldn’t get anything going in the extra period, and on fourth-and-three from midfield, Head Coach Jack Del Rio showed his fearlessness yet again, going for it all. The result? Derek Carr-to-Seth Roberts for the 40-yard, game-winning touchdown and a 30-24 victory:

https://twitter.com/HighlightHub/status/792831494658125824

Astoundingly, week 8 featured the second tie-game of the season, something that hasn’t happened in the NFL since 1997. With both teams trading big plays in regulation and neither kicker able to put this game away for good in overtime, the Washington Redskins and Cincinnati Bengals ended their trip to England’s Wembley Stadium with a final score of 27-27. And let’s face it, only the fans lose with a tie:

It's a tie game… #WASvsCIN https://t.co/kYzTTTzBIC

— Crying Jordan (@CryingJordan) October 30, 2016

In a matchup in the AFC East, Tom Brady continued his path of destruction, this time garnering sweet vengeance against the one team that beat his Patriots (while he was still under suspension), the Buffalo Bills. Without LeSean McCoy (out due to injury), the Bills could not withstand New England’s barrage and fell, 41-25. Brady hooked up with star Rob Gronkowski for the 69th touchdown of the tight end’s career, the most in New England Patriots’ history:

Take a bow, @RobGronkowski.

Watch Gronk's record-breaking TD. #NEvsBUF https://t.co/IwFJwcCd2I

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 30, 2016

The San Diego Chargers, who already defeated their division rival the Denver Broncos once this season, tried to make it 2-0 on Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately for them, the Broncos defense intercepted Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers three times and got two fourth down stops late in the fourth quarter to seal the deal, 27-19. The Chargers couldn’t recover from Rivers’ turnovers, including this pick-six by cornerback Bradley Roby:

https://twitter.com/HighlightHub/status/792840919800307712

Finally, the battle of the rookies was in full effect on Sunday Night Football, as 2016 fourth-round pick Dak Prescott led the Dallas Cowboys against 2016 second-overall pick Carson Wentz and the upstart Philadelphia Eagles in a primetime NFC East divisional matchup. The Philly defense gave Prescott fits all night, while veteran, do-it-all running back Darren Sproles provided a spark and took some pressure off of Wentz and the Eagles offense. The second half was a different story though, with the rookie duo of Prescott and the league’s leading rusher Ezekiel Elliot driving the team back to tie the game 23-all at the end of regulation. The overtime bonanza continued with the Cowboys marching their way down the field on their first possession, culminating in the ageless Jason Witten catching the game-winning touchdown and a final score 29-23:

https://twitter.com/CaseyBake16/status/792941189309861888

Here’s the rest of Week eight’s final scores and Fantasy Stars.

Tennessee Titans (4-4) def. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) 36-22
Fantasy Star: Blake Bortles – 33/54 for 337 yards and 3 TDs

Washington Redskins (4-3-1) tie Cincinnati Bengals (3-4-1) 27-27
Fantasy Star: Kirk Cousins – 38/56 for 458 yards and 2 TDs; 1 INT

New England Patriots (7-1) def. Buffalo Bills (4-4) 41-25
Fantasy Star: Tom Brady – 22/33 for 315 yards and 4 TDs; 1 carry for 15 yards

Carolina Panthers (2-5) def. Arizona Cardinals (3-4-1) 30-20
Fantasy Star: Carson Palmer – 35/46 for 363 yards and 3 TDs;1 INT

New York Jets (3-5) def. Cleveland Browns (0-8) 31-28
Fantasy Star: Matt Forte – 25 rushes, 82 yards, 2 TDs; 2 catches, 16 receiving yards

Houston Texans (5-3) def. Detroit Lions (4-4) 20-13
Fantasy Star: C.J. Fiedorowicz – 5 catches, 43 yards, 1 TD

Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) def. Indianapolis Colts (3-5) 30-14
Fantasy Star: Nick Foles – 16/22 for 223 yards and 2 TDs

New Orleans Saints (3-4) def. Seattle Seahawks (4-2-1) 25-20
Fantasy Star: Drew Brees – 27/35 for 265 yards and 1 TD; 1 carry, 1 yard, 1 TD

Oakland Raiders (6-2) def. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4) 30-24
Fantasy Star: Derek Carr – 40/59 for 513 yards and 4 TDs; 1 carry, 13 yards

Denver Broncos (3-4) def. San Diego Chargers (3-4) 27-19
Fantasy Star: Denver Defense – 1 sack, 2 fumbles, 3 INTs, 1 TD

Atlanta Falcons (5-3) def. Green Bay Packers (4-3) 33-32
Fantasy Star: Aaron Rodgers – 28/38 for 246 yards and 4 TDs; 6 carries, 60 yards

Dallas Cowboys (6-1) def. Philadelphia Eagles (4-3) 29-23
Fantasy Star: Dak Prescott – 19/39 for 287 yards and 2 TDs; 1 INT; 7 carries, 38 yards, 1 TD

Chicago Bears (2-6) def. Minnesota Vikings (5-2) 20-10
Fantasy Star: Jordan Howard – 26 rushes, 153 yards, 1 TD; 4 catches, 49 yards