The NFL has completely shaken up, with lots of upsets, letdowns, and big performances that gives the power rankings a major shakeup.
It was bound to happen, though.
A shorthanded Packers team dealt the last undefeated team their first loss of the season. A similarly shorthanded Cowboys team came back against the Vikings. The Steelers sent the struggling Browns to the bottom of the AFC North. The one-win Jets stunned the Bengals.
And that’s not to mention a pair of playoff contenders who won in Week 8 but may have lost their season because of catastrophic injuries.
Buckle up, as we have a new last place team and a familiar face as the first place team.
#32: Detroit Lions
Week 8 vs. PHI: L, 6-44 | Record: 0-8
Previous Rank: #30
In Week 7, the Lions gave Rams all they can handle. In Week 8, the Lions lied down and died. Offensively, they could not get anything going against an Eagles defense that was shredded by the Raiders. They had just 228 total yards of offense, averaging a pitiful 3.9 yards per play, and did not score until the game was out of hand. Defensively, they were gashed on the ground by an Eagles offense down their lead running back that struggled mightily this season. They had a whopping 236 yards of rushing offense, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, and had three players top at least 57 rushing yards. So much for the idea that they would be a competitive team—the lack of talent is clearly showing. For a team that has shown fight in recent losses, this was a hideous all-around effort. Now they are 0-8 for the first time since their infamous winless season in 2008. Their performance in this game makes you especially concerned about everyone involved in Detroit. Pass protection, especially, has reached a crisis point with Taylor Decker and Frank Ragnow sidelined with injuries. Jared Goff was sacked five times, including four in the first half alone. He’s not one who can escape the pocket and make something out of nothing, but he has practically no chance when the Lions are getting worked up front. The only positive in Week 9 is that they won’t lose, only because they have a bye week. It’s hard to see them possibly getting a W, given their remaining schedule.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
RB: D’Andre Swift
WR: Kalif Raymond, Amon-Ra St. Brown, KhaDarel Hodge
TE: TJ Hockenson
OL: Penei Sewell (LT), Jonah Jenkins (LG), Evan Brown (C), Halapoulivaati Vaitai (RG), Matt Nelson (RT)
DL: Michael Brockers (LDE), Alim McNeill (NT), Da’Shawn Hand (RDE)
EDGE: Trey Flowers (WLB), Charles Harris (SLB)
ILB: Alex Anzalone (LILB), Jalen Reeves-Maybin (RILB)
CB: Amani Oruwariye (LCB), Bobby Price (RCB)
S: Will Harris (SS), Tracy Walker III (FS)
ST: Austin Seibert (K), Jack Fox (P), Scott Daly (LS)
RS: Godwin Igwebuike (KR), Kalif Raymond (PR)
#31: Houston Texans
Week 8 vs. LAR: L, 22-38 | Record: 1-7
Previous Rank: #32
Another week, another loss for the Texans. Depending on how you look at their game against the Rams, there were some positives, such as pulling off 22 unanswered points against one of the best teams in the NFL. Davis Mills threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns with a passer rating of 106.3. There’s one problem, however. That doesn’t matter, because it all happened after the Rams went up by 38 in the Texans’ 7th straight loss. The defense was once again outmatched by a vastly superior offense. But the loss was not the biggest story around them. Deshaun Watson was not moved by the trade deadline. Trading him would have been a positive development for them, but since he is not moved, they’re going to have to address this situation in the coming months. This means that Tyrod Taylor, who practiced last week and could be ready for Week 9, could be back on the lineup. Head coach David Culley needs to decide if the veteran should go back to the lineup, or if Mills has shown enough potential to start the rest of the season as a potential long-term option. As for the talent on the field, they are getting outclassed by their opponents every time they step onto the field. Years of bad drafting and questionable roster moves have haunted the franchise. The upcoming offseason will be the most important in franchise history.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Tyrod Taylor
RB: David Johnson
WR: Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins, Danny Amendola
TE: Jordan Akins
OL: Geron Christian Sr. (LT), Tytus Howard (LG), Justin McCray (C), Max Scharping (RG), Charlie Heck (RT)
DE: Jonathan Greenard (LDE), Jacob Martin (RDE)
DT: Maliek Collins (LDT), DeMarcus Walker (RDT)
LB: Zach Cunningham (WLB), Christian Kirksey (MLB), Kevin Pierre-Louis (SLB)
CB: Desmond King II (LCB), Terrance Mitchell (RCB)
S: Eric Murray (SS), Justin Reid (FS)
ST: Ka’imi Fairbairn (K), Cameron Johnston (P), Jon Weeks (LS)
RS: Tremon Smith (KR), Desmond King III (PR)
#30: Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 8 @ SEA: L, 7-31 | Record: 1-6
Previous Rank: #28
In a season that has been all lows for the Jaguars, they went past rock-bottom and found an even rockier bottom. Getting beat on the road is one thing, but getting blown out by a Seahawks team where they made Geno Smith look like Joe Montana is another. Trevor Lawrence struggled in what is perhaps his worst game as a professional QB, but it is hard to imagine many QBs finding immediate success with the supporting cast that he has as the 1st overall pick, whether it be from James Robinson getting hurt or the passing game being limited in terms of wideout production. They were basically back to playing sloppy football. The gameplan was awful. The execution was even worse. The in-game adjustments were comprised of Urban Meyer looking totally lost. The Seahawks’ return on an onside kick attempt for a touchdown at the end of the game summarized the Jags’ 2021 season: A complete disaster. Getting some playmakers to help Lawrence has to be a top priority for the Jags this offseason when they assess the next step for the organization.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Trevor Lawrence
RB: Carlos Hyde, Jamal Agnew (RB/WR)
WR: Marvin Jones Jr., Laviska Shenault Jr.
TE: Dan Arnold
OL: Cam Robinson (LT), Andrew Norwell (LG), Tyler Shatley (C), Ben Bartch (RG), Jawaan Taylor (RT)
DL: Malcom Brown (LDE), DaVon Hamilton (NT), Dawuane Smoot (RDE)
EDGE: Josh Allen (WLB), Jihad Ward (SLB)
ILB: Damien Wilson (LILB), Myles Jack (RILB)
CB: Tyson Campbell (LCB), Shaquill Griffin (RCB)
S: Rayshawn Jenkins (SS), Andrew Wingard (FS)
ST: Matthew Wright (K), Logan Cooke (P), Ross Matiscik (LS)
RS: Jamal Agnew
#29: Miami Dolphins
Week 8 @ BUF: L, 11-26 | Record: 1-7
Previous Rank: #29
Normally, seven would be a lucky number, but if you’re the Dolphins, the opposite is true. When rumors were circulating about the Desahun Watson trade rumors, Dolphins head coach Brian Flores made it clear that Tua Tagovailoa will be the starter. But after the loss to the Bills, he may want to reconsider his statement. Granted, it wasn’t all Tua’s fault that the Fins lost their 7th straight contest. Or even mostly his fault. But he didn’t do much to help his team, either, passing for just 205 yards with an interception and a passer rating of just 58.2. The loss was a listless performance from the offense, and Flores waited longer than usual before answering to reporters and then acknowledged he took that extra time to contemplate on a season that has not gone as expected. Now that the trade deadline has come and gone, questions about Tua’s future in the short-term have quieted down. But if they keep losing games, the crowd that says that he is not their long-term answer will only get louder. Their season-opening win over the Patriots now feels like it happened in the Upside Down.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Tua Tagovailoa
RB: Myles Gaskin
WR: DeVante Parker, Jaylen Waddle, Preston Williams
TE: Mike Gesicki
OL: Liam Eichenberg (LT), Austin Jackson (LG), Greg Mancz (C), Robert Hunt (RG), Jesse Davis (RT)
DL: Christian Wilkins (LDL), Emmanuel Ogbah (RDL)
EDGE: Andrew Van Ginkel (WLB), Brennan Scarlett (SLB)
ILB: Elandon Roberts (LILB), Jerome Baker (RILB)
CB: Xavien Howard (LCB), Byron Jones (RCB), Justin Coleman (NB)
S: Eric Rowe (SS), Jevon Holland (FS)
ST: Jason Sanders (K), Michael Palardy (P), Blake Ferguson (LS)
RS: Jaylen Waddle
#28: Washington Football Team
Week 8 @ DEN: L, 10-17 | Record: 2-6
Previous Rank: #27
Washington further nosedived this season, which the season was not supposed to be like at all. After winning the NFC East last year, they were supposed to take the next step this year. Ryan Fitzpatrick and one of the league’s best defenses, on paper, were going to make noise and help defend their division title. Instead, Fitzpatrick got injured, the defense flopped to the tune of 27th in yards allowed and 26th in points allowed, and Taylor Heinicke has been mostly awful. Week 8 brought in another uninspiring effort in their 17-10 loss to the Broncos, their 4th straight loss to fall to 2-6 on the season. Even though the defense has been a huge disappointment, the offensive struggles should not be overlooked. They have came away empty-handed on 10 of their last 13 trips inside their opponents’ 30-yard line. That included two interceptions, three blocked field goals, and five turnovers on downs. This is historic inefficiency for a team that was expected to contend for the NFC East crown. Playoffs are a lost cause now, but if they still were to compete to be a middle-of-the-pack team, they desperately need Fitzpatrick, Logan Thomas, Curtis Samuel, Sam Cosmi, Brandon Scherff, and Antonio Gibson all healthy after the bye week.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Taylor Heinicke
RB: Antonio Gibson
WR: Terry McLaurin, Cam Sims, Adam Humphries
TE: Ricky Seals-Jones
OL: Charles Leno Jr. (LT), Ereck Flowers (LG), Chase Roullier (C), Brandon Scherff (RG), Sam Cosmi (RT)
DE: Chase Young (LDE), Casey Toohill (RDE)
DT: Da’Ron Payne (LDT), Jonathan Allen (RDT)
LB: Cole Holcomb (WLB), Jamin Davis (MLB), Khaleke Hudson (SLB)
CB: Kendall Fuller (LCB), William Jackson III (RCB)
S: Landon Collins (SS), Kamren Curl (FS)
ST: Chris Blewitt (K), Tress Way (P), Camaron Cheeseman (LS)
RS: DeAndre Carter
#27: New York Jets
Week 8 vs. CIN: W, 34-31 | Record: 2-5
Previous Rank: #31
There is no doubt that the Jets’ win over the Bengals is the most surprising result of Week 8. They literally got BLASTED by the Patriots the previous week to the tune of allowing 54 points. Not many expected a one-win Jets team to put up a fight against the Bengals. They had MIKE WHITE, a QB who was released FOUR times before he made his first career start, starting at QB. Apparently, the Jets didn’t get the memo. White had the game of his life against the Bengals, with just 8 incompletions on 45 attempts, 405 passing yards—the most passing yards for a QB making his first career start since Cam Newton—and three touchdowns. Rookie running back Michael Carter had a day too, with 172 total yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Before this game, the Jets were dead last in AFC total offense at just 272.3 yards per game. They had a jaw-dropping 511 yards of offense. To look back at their last true feel-good win, you have to go back to the 2015 season, when they had Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB. This is what makes White’s performance much sweeter. He has become the first Jets QB in over 20 years to pass for 400 yards in a game. The Titans and Bengals are a combined 11-3 in the rest of their games, which makes this win very special for the Jets. This win indicates that their win over the Titans was not a fluke. The defense continues to get better, especially against the pass. This team is not a great team, but Robert Saleh and Mike LaFleur are definitely long-term keepers with Gang Green. After the win, Saleh left the door open for White to continue as the starter even after Zach Wilson continues to recover from his knee injury.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Mike White
RB: Michael Carter
WR: Keelan Cole, Elijah Moore, Jamison Crowder
TE: Tyler Kroft
OL: George Fant (LT), Alijah Vera-Tucker (LG), Connor McGovern (C), Greg Van Roten (RG), Morgan Moses (RT)
DE: John Franklin-Myers (LDE), Shaq Lawson (RDE)
DT: Sheldon Rankins (LDT), Quinnen Williams (RDT)
LB: Del’Shawn Phillips (WLB), CJ Mosley (MLB), Quincy Williams (SLB)
CB: Brandin Echols (LCB), Bryce Hall (RCB)
S: Ashtyn Davis (SS), Marcus Maye (FS)
ST: Matt Ammendola (K), Thomas Morstead (P), Thomas Hennessy (LS)
RS: Braxton Berrios
#26: New York Giants
Week 8 @ KC: L, 17-20 | Record: 2-6
Previous Rank: #25
The Giants gave everything they can handle to the Chiefs. But good teams find ways to close out games, and the Giants are not a good team. They forced a pair of turnovers but could have had several more. They led with less than 10 minutes left, but they could not hold on to the lead. They played well enough to win. But they didn’t. There’s no easy answer to fix what is hurting the Giants, and there are some factors with their struggles. One is that they are so injury plagued. They were already missing Saquon Barkley (ankle) and Kenny Golladay (hip). By the 4th quarter, they were without Sterling Shepard (quad) and Dante Pettis (shoulder). Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham’s defense kept the Giants in the game, but if you’re going to beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, especially one that is struggling and is bouncing around .500, you’re going to have to score more than just 17 points. The Giants will get a lot of their key players back, but they dug a hole that is difficult to escape. And because the NFL is a “What have you done for me lately?” business, it’s not a matter on if they will blow it up. It’s a matter of when.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Daniel Jones
RB: Devontae Booker
WR: Darius Slayton, Kadarius Toney, Collin Johnson
TE: Evan Engram
OL: Matt Peart (LT), Matt Skura (LG), Billy Price (C), Will Hernandez (RG), Nate Solder (RT)
DL: Dexter Lawrence (LDE), Austin Johnson (NT), Leonard Williams (RDE)
EDGE: Lorenzo Carter (WLB), Azeez Ojulari (SLB)
ILB: Tae Crowder (LILB), Reggie Ragland (RILB)
CB: James Bradberry (LCB), Adoree’ Jackson (RCB)
S: Julian Love (SS), Logan Ryan (FS)
ST: Graham Gano (K), Riley Dixon (P), Casey Kreiter (LS)
RS: Adoree’ Jackson
#25: Chicago Bears
Week 8 vs. SF: L, 22-33 | Record: 3-5
Previous Rank: #24
The bad news for the Bears is that they lost their 3rd straight game, losing to the 49ers while giving up the lead in the 2nd half. The good news it that they saw some positive signs from Justin Fields. Playing without head coach Matt Nagy, who is on the COVID list, Fields had his best game as a pro QB, completing 19 of 27 passes for 175 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also had 103 yards on the ground in just 10 carries. Acting head coach Chris Tabor praised the rookie QB. “No. 1 improved today,” said Tabor. “I thought you saw he made plays with his legs. He led our team. I thought he threw the ball well. He gave us a chance, and obviously, he’s a special player.” The defense, however, left something to be desired. With no Khalil Mack on the field, the Bears gave up seven straight scoring drives to the Niners, including three touchdowns in the 2nd half. Some Bears fans have fantasized what a Bears team not coached by Nagy looks like. Fields having his best game of the season without Nagy is not a good look for the head coach. But they were not entirely impressive, either. The problems on the team go beyond the coaching, which includes a bad O-line. Don’t expect the Bears to make it back to the playoffs, especially with efforts like these.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Justin Fields
RB: David Montgomery
WR: Allen Robinson II, Darnell Mooney, Marquise Goodwin
TE: Cole Kmet
OL: Jason Peters (LT), Cody Whitehair (LG), Sam Mustipher (C), James Daniels (RG), Larry Borom (RT)
DL: Akiem Hicks (LDE), Eddie Goldman (NT), Bilal Nichols (RDE)
EDGE: Cassius Marsh (WLB), Robert Quinn (SLB)
ILB: Roquan Smith (LILB), Danny Trevathan (RILB)
CB: Jaylon Johnson (LCB), Kindle Vildor (RCB)
S: Tashaun Gipson Sr. (SS), DeAndre Houston-Carson FS)
ST: Cairo Santos (K), Pat O’Donnell (P), Patrick Scales (LS)
RS: Jakeem Grant
#24: Philadelphia Eagles
Week 8 @ DET: W, 44-6 | Record: 3-5
Previous Rank: #26
By looking at the final score, you may think that the Eagles fixed a lot of the issues that have bothered the team. The reality is that this blowout says more about how bad the Lions are than how good the Eagles are. That’s not to say that there were not any positives for the Eagles. Finding ways to take the pressure off of Jalen Hurts should be an every-week goal for them. It may already have been, but the bright spots are that Eagles running backs rushed 39 times for 165 yards, with Jordan Howard and Boston Scott getting 117 of those yards on 24 of the carries, scoring two touchdowns each. The defense completely stymied the Lions, giving up just 228 yards and sacking Jared Goff five times. But the Eagles offense managed just 350 yards of offense, with Hurts completing just 9 of 14 passes for 103 yards before Gardner Minshew took over in the 4th quarter. Hurts getting pulled had to do more with the score than his stats, but with some thinking about a change under center, Hurts cannot have any more performances like this for the rest of the season. But this blowout win was especially important for head coach Nick Sirianni, who would have been bashed countlessly by Eagles fans had they lost this game. The Cowboys are already running away with the NFC East, but the Eagles can keep up pace in the playoff picture with a win over the Chargers.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Jalen Hurts
RB: Boston Scott
WR: DeVonta Smith, Jalen Reagor, Quez Watkins
TE: Dallas Goedert
OL: Jordan Mailata (LT), Landon Dickerson (LG), Jason Kelce (C), Nate Herbig (RG), Lane Johnson (RT)
DE: Josh Sweat (LDE), Derek Barnett (RDE)
DT: Javon Hargrave (LDT), Fletcher Cox (RDT)
LB: Alex Singleton (WLB), TJ Edwards (MLB), Genard Avery (SLB)
CB: Darius Slay Jr. (LCB), Steven Nelson (RCB)
S: K’Von Wallace (SS), Marcus Epps (FS)
ST: Jake Elliott (K), Arryn Siposs (P), Rick Lovato (FS)
RS: Jalen Reagor
#23: Atlanta Falcons
Week 8 vs. CAR: L, 13-19 | Record: 3-4
Previous Rank: #20
So much for thinking the Falcons will be getting momentum on offense. Before the game, it was announced that they would be without Calvin Ridley for the second time in his past three games so that he can focus on a personal matter. Then it was announced that he would be out indefinitely. “These past few weeks have been very challenging and as much as I’d like to be on the field competing with my teammates, I need to step away from football at this time and focus on my mental wellbeing,” Ridley said in a statement on Twitter. “This will help me be the best version of myself now and in the future.” There are more important things than football. However, the Falcons were already struggling to gain traction, and without Ridley, the offense imploded, with just 213 total yards. Matt Ryan had one of the worst games he had in his career, passing for just 146 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions and suffered a gash to his left hand when he was accidentally stepped on in the 2nd quarter. The Falcons’ wide receivers combined for just 70 yards against the Panthers, and most of the production came from journeyman Tajae Sharpe. Now they sit at last place in the NFC South with a 3-4 record. Ridley’s absence leaves a huge void in the lineup. No other wide receiver on the roster has more than 15 receptions thus far. They don’t have all the pieces necessary to be competitive. They seriously need to find offensive pieces outside of Kyle Pitts and Cordarrelle Patterson.
On a serious note, mental health can affect athletes, too. While Calvin Ridley, like other guys playing in the NFL, is a professional football player, he is human, like the rest of us. Mental health is not something to joke about. Be respectful for his decision. Remember: It’s okay to not be okay. We wish Ridley the best in his recovery.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Matt Ryan
RB: Mike Davis, Cordarrelle Patterson (RB/WR)
WR: Russell Gage, Tajae Sharpe
TE: Kyle Pitts
OL: Jake Matthews (LT), Jalen Mayfield (LG), Matt Hennessy (C), Chris Lindstrom (RG), Kaleb McGary (RT)
DL: Jonathan Bullard (LDE), Tyeler Davison (NT), Grady Jarrett (RDT)
EDGE: Steven Means (WLB), Adetokunbo Ogundeji (SLB)
ILB: Deion Jones (LILB), Foyesade Oluokun (RILB)
CB: AJ Terrell (LCB), Fabian Moreau (RCB)
S: Duron Harmon (SS), Erik Harris (FS)
ST: Younghoe Koo (K), Dustin Colquitt (P), Josh Harris (LS)
RS: Cordarrelle Patterson (KR), Avery Williams (PR)
#22: Denver Broncos
Week 8 vs. WSH: W, 17-10 | Record: 4-4
Previous Rank: #21
The Broncos came into Week 8 looking to stop the bleeding. After an easy ride to 3-0, the Broncos lost four straight to fall to last place in the AFC West. They may have stopped said bleeding. For now. On a game when the Broncos struggled to get the ground game going, they rode an efficient showing from Teddy Bridgewater and solid defensive effort for a seven-point win that got the team back to .500. The Broncos sacked Taylor Heinicke five times, and Justin Simmons snagged a pair of interceptions, including one with 49 seconds left that sealed the win. While they are 4-4, they are not a good team. With a trip to face the one-loss Cowboys next, getting back above .500 in Week 9 is not likely. There is more than enough evidence that they are the worst team in the AFC West, not the Chiefs. The offense is continuing to stumble despite the defense doing most of the work. They’re going to have to throw better. This win, though, wasn’t enough to convince them that they are a contender. Rightfully so. They traded the longtime face of their defense to the Rams for 2nd and 3rd round picks in 2022. It’s a modest return, but it’s understandable to trade Von Miller away. He is 32 years old on a large contract. His age means that he is not likely to be part of the next contending Broncos team, but if you’re a Broncos fan, it is still sad that his tenure with the franchise ends with a trade deadline transaction involving middle round picks.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Teddy Bridgewater
RB: Melvin Gordon III
WR: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick
TE: Albert Okwuegbunam
OL: Calvin Anderson (LT), Dalton Risner (LG), Lloyd Cushenberry III (C), Graham Glasgow (RG), Bobby Massie (RT)
DL: Shelby Harris (LDL), Mike Purcell (NT), Dre’Mont Jones (RDL)
EDGE: Malik Reed (WLB), Stephen Weatherly (SLB)
ILB: Kenny Young (LILB), Justin Strnad (RILB)
CB: Ronald Darby (LCB), Pat Surtain II (RCB)
S: Kareem Jackson (SS), Justin Simmons (FS)
ST: Brandon McManus (K), Sam Martin (P), Jacob Bobenmoyer (LS)
RS: Diontae Spencer
#21: Seattle Seahawks
Week 8 vs. JAX: W, 31-7 | Record: 3-5
Previous Rank: #22
Not a lot has gone right for the Seahawks as of late. With Russell Wilson sidelined because of a broken finger, the Seahawks lost two straight games with Geno Smith starting under center to fall to 2-5 on the season. They needed a break. They needed to have something go right. Enter the Jaguars, the opponent that makes struggling teams look great. Pounding an overmatched Jags team that lost James Robinson isn’t really a remedy for the Seahawks defense. This speaks more about how terrible the Jags are, and the Seahawks averaged 2.8 yards per carry. But Geno Smith began the game with 14 straight completions and two touchdown passes. They not only got the win, but they got some great news, too. Head coach Pete Carroll indicated that Wilson’s rehab is ahead of schedule. Wilson also revealed via social media that the pin used to stabilize his fractured middle finger has been removed. They not only got a season-saving victory, but they’re potentially getting their longtime franchise QB back after their bye week.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Russell Wilson
RB: Alex Collins
WR: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Freddie Swain
TE: Gerald Everett
OL: Duane Brown (LT), Damien Lewis (LG), Kyle Fuller (C), Gabe Jackson (RG), Brandon Shell (RT)
DE: Rasheem Green (LDE), Kerry Hyder Jr. (RDE)
DT: Poona Ford (LDT), Al Woods (RDT)
LB: Jordyn Brooks (WLB), Bobby Wagner (MLB), Benson Mayowa (SLB)
CB: DJ Reed (LCB), Sidney Jones IV (RCB)
S: Jamal Adams (SS), Quandre Diggs (FS)
ST: Jason Myers (K), Michael Dickson (P), Tyler Ott (LS)
RS: DeeJay Dallas (KR), Freddie Swain (PR)
#20: Carolina Panthers
Week 8 @ ATL: W, 19-13 | Record: 4-4
Previous Rank: #23
A six-point win over the Falcons does not fix the Panthers’ problems. But after losing four straight after a 3-0 start, the Panthers will take a win any day of the week. It wasn’t all that pretty—Sam Darnold threw for just 129 yards with a passer rating below 69.6. But the Panthers held the Falcons to just 213 yards of offense and put up 203 rushing yards on 47 carries. Not only did they win to get back to .500, but there is also a reason for optimism that the struggling offense is getting the boost they desperately need: Christian McCaffrey is eligible to return from injured reserve. His status is always perplexing, even if you don’t own him in fantasy. The hope is that he can play in Week 9 or in Week 10. But his hamstring injury is the same one that didn’t warrant an immediate trip to the IR, so there are doubts about the team’s ability to properly monitor the situation. If they were to make a playoff run, though, they need him in the lineup, but they know one more setback that could wipe out a second straight year of his prime. In the case that he doesn’t play, the Panthers are really going to need their defense to come up big again, as they are dealing with the possibility that Darnold doesn’t play because of a concussion. PJ Walker is going to face a challenge in the Pats if he starts.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Sam Darnold
RB: Christian McCaffrey
WR: DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Terrace Marshall Jr.
TE: Ian Thomas
OL: Cam Erving (LT), Michael Jordan (LG), Matt Paradis (C), Trent Scott (RG), Taylor Moton (RT)
DE: Brian Burns (LDE), Morgan Fox (RDE)
DT: Derrick Brown (LDT), DaQuan Jones (RDT)
LB: Shaq Thompson (WLB), Jermaine Carter Jr. (MLB), Haason Reddick (RILB)
CB: Donte Jackson (LCB), Stephon Gilmore (RCB)
S: Sean Chandler (SS), Jeremy Chinn (FS)
ST: Zane Gonzalez (K), Lachlan Edwards (P), JJ Jansen (LS)
RS: Ameer Abdullah (KR), Alex Erickson (PR)
#19: Minnesota Vikings
Week 8 vs. DAL: L, 16-20 | Record: 3-4
Previous Rank: #18
This was a game the Vikings needed to win. Beat the Dak Prescott-less Cowboys, and the Vikings would move to 4-3 and in the thick of the NFC playoff picture. Lose, and it’s back to mediocrity again. When Kirk Cousins led the Vikings on an immediate touchdown drive, it looked like the Cowboys were in for a long night at a haunted house while the Vikings were seemingly in for a four-hour Halloween party. Except they weren’t. The Cowboys defense took over from that point, and the Vikings defense collapsed against Cooper Rush in the final minutes. Giving up 325 passing yards to a 27-year-old backup QB making his first career start is bad enough. To make matters worse, Rush outplayed Kirk Cousins. It wasn’t even close. Cousins completed just 23 of 35 passes for 184 yards and just one touchdown pass. It did not help that he was being held back by Mike Zimmer’s terrible play calling. After the Cowboys came back to score the game-winning touchdown, a visibly frustrated Adam Thielen lamented the team’s inability to close out games. “Every game we just hang around, hang around, hang around, let the team hang around, instead of just putting our foot on the gas and going,” said Thielen. This marks the 4th time this season the Vikings lost by one score. With a brutal stretch of schedule that features trips to Baltimore and Los Angeles to face the Ravens and Chargers and a visit from the Packers, this is a defeat that signifies the beginning of the end for the Vikings this season. And possibly Zimmer too.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Kirk Cousins
RB: Dalvin Cook
WR: Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, KJ Osborn
TE: Tyler Conklin
OL: Christian Darrisaw (LT), Ezra Cleveland (LG), Mason Cole (C), Oli Udoh (RG), Brian O’Neill (RT)
DE: DJ Wonnum (LDE), Everson Griffen (RDE)
DT: Michael Pierce (LDT), Dalvin Tomlinson (RDT)
LB: Nick Vigil (WLB), Eric Kendricks (MLB), Anthony Barr (SLB)
CB: Mackensie Alexander (LCB), Patrick Peterson (RCB)
S: Harrison Smith (SS), Xavier Woods (FS)
ST: Greg Joseph (K), Jordan Berry (P), Andrew DePaola (LS)
RS: Ihmir Smith-Marsette (KR), Dede Westbrook (PR)
#18: San Francisco 49ers
Week 8 @ CHI: W, 33-22 | Record: 3-4
Previous Rank: #19
It’s odd that a game in the first half of the season be considered must-win, but if the 49ers have to have any real hope of staying relevant in the NFC West, they’re going to have to beat the Bears in Chicago. Thanks to 137 rushing yards from rookie running back Elijah Mitchell and almost 30 yards per catch from Deebo Samuel, the Niners snagged an 11-point win over the Bears. It was a homecoming for Jimmy Garoppolo, who played college football at Eastern Illinois. He didn’t throw a touchdown pass, but after topping 300 passing yards with a passer rating of 100.6, head coach Kyle Shanahan praised him in his postgame presser. “Coming back home, in front of his fans, his back was against the wall, just like everybody else in the building,” said Shanahan. “For him to step up and play they way he did today was huge.” You’d also have to wonder where the Niners would be without Samuel. With George Kittle on the IR and Brandon Aiyuk having a sophomore slump, Samuel has been consistent on an offense that has been otherwise inconsistent. When we talk about the best wide receivers in the league, his production is often overlooked. He is the only wide receiver with three 150-yard receiving games this season, passing Jerry Rice to set a franchise record for the most receiving yards (819) in the first seven games of a season. The Niners also scored on their final seven possessions against the Bears, and Samuel was the center of everything. Now they have their first positive momentum in a month, snapping their four-game losing streak. Keeping it won’t be easy, however—their next two games are against the Cardinals and Rams, who are a combined 14-2 so far.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Jimmy Garoppolo
RB: Elijah Mitchell
WR: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Mohamed Sanu Sr.
TE: George Kittle
OL: Trent Williams (LT), Laken Tomlinson (LG), Alex Mack (C), Daniel Brunskill (RG), Mike McGlinchey (RT)
DE: Arik Armstead (LDE), Nick Bosa (RDE)
DT: Kentavius Street (LDT), DJ Jones (RDT)
LB: Fred Warner (LILB), Azeez Al-Shaair (RILB)
CB: Josh Norman (LCB), Emmanuel Moseley (RCB), K’Waun Williams (NB)
S: Tavon Wilson (SS), Jimmie Ward (FS)
ST: Joey Slye (K), Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
RS: Trenton Cannon (KR), Brandon Aiyuk (PR)
#17: Indianapolis Colts
Week 8 vs. TEN: L, 31-34 (OT) | Record: 3-5
Previous Rank: #16
If the Colts were going to miss the playoffs this season, they may be looking back at this loss when things went sideways. This is a game where they jumped out to a 14-0 lead and had a 24-21 lead late in the 3rd quarter. But after four straight games with multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions, Carson Wentz threw two brutal interceptions in the final 7:30 of play, including a pick six that will live in infamy. While Wentz threw just one pick entering Week 8, his meltdown in the 4th quarter and overtime of this game has to be troubling for Frank Reich and the Colts front office. Wentz admitted to reporters that his 4th quarter pick six was a terrible decision from the get-go. “Terrible play, terrible play,” said Wentz. “I was about to go down and was thinking just throw it, don’t force it. That one I’m so mad at myself for, I’m beating myself up.” An even bigger problem is that this loss puts the Colts three games behind the Titans with two head-to-head losses. Wentz could not afford to make those mistakes. While Derrick Henry’s foot injury keeps the door slightly ajar for the AFC South, the Colts have put themselves in a deep hole. Currently, 10 teams are ahead of the Colts in the standings. Wentz hasn’t truly been the solution under center, and they’re on their way to surrendering a top 10 pick to the Eagles should he continue to play.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Carson Wentz
RB: Jonathan Taylor
WR: Michael Pittman Jr., Ashton Dulin, Zach Pascal
TE: Jack Doyle
OL: Eric Fisher (LT), Quenton Nelson (LG), Ryan Kelly (C), Mark Glowinski (RG), Braden Smith (RT)
DE: Kwity Paye (LDE), Al-Quadin Muhammad (RDE)
DT: DeForest Buckner (LDT), Grover Stewart (RDT)
LB: Darius Leonard (LILB), Bobby Okereke (RILB)
CB: Rock Ya-Sin (LCB), Xavier Rhodes (RCB), Kenny Moore II (NB)
S: George Odum (SS), Andrew Sendejo (FS)
ST: Michael Badgley (K), Rigoberto Sanchez (P), Luke Rhodes (LS)
RS: Isaiah Rodgers (KR), Nyheim Hines (PR)
#16: Cleveland Browns
Week 8 vs. PIT: L, 10-15 | Record: 4-4
Previous Rank: #13
This was the second time in three years the Browns were hyped up as the offseason darlings of the NFL. Both times, they didn’t even come close to living up to the hype. It’s not time to panic in Cleveland, however. But after falling to Big Brother in Week 8, they now sit at the AFC North basement once again. They badly needed a playmaker to step up and win this game. Baker Mayfield? He couldn’t do it. Jarvis Landry? He couldn’t do it. Austin Hooper? He couldn’t do it. Odell Beckham Jr.? Oh no, he wouldn’t do it with Cleveland. In fact, not anymore, since he got released by the team. Not with people complaining about him being targeted less and less. The run game? They got shut down by the Steelers defense. They managed just 96 yards on 23 carries. The receivers dropped multiple catchable passes. Landry lost a fumble with the team driving in the 4th quarter. The Browns often looked the part of an ordinary offense, and they were vulnerable when Chubb got neutralized. Mayfield’s left shoulder injury might be a playing role in the passing game’s ineffectiveness, but there are no excuses for this. The expectation was that the Browns be a top team in the AFC. That has not happened. The defense performed well, but they allowed just enough plays in crucial moments to come up short. Given that injuries are continuing to plague the Browns and the sorry state of the passing game, their chances of playoffs are not great even if they beat the Bengals.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Baker Mayfield
RB: Nick Chubb
WR: Jarvis Landry, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Rashard Higgins
TE: Austin Hooper
OL: Jedrick Wills Jr. (LT), Joel Bitonio (LG), JC Tretter (C), Wyatt Teller (RG), Blake Hance (RT)
DE: Myles Garrett (LDE), Jadeveon Clowney (RDE)
DT: Malik Jackson (LDT), Malik McDowell (RDT)
LB: Mack Wilson (WLB), Anthony Walker Jr. (MLB), Sione Takitaki (SLB)
CB: Denzel Ward (LCB), Greg Newsome II (RCB)
S: Ronnie Harrison Jr. (SS), John Johnson III (FS)
ST: Chase McLaughlin (K), Jamie Gillan (P), Charley Hughlett (LS)
RS: Anthony Schwartz (KR), Demetric Felton (PR)
#15: Kansas City Chiefs
Week 8 vs. NYG: W, 20-17 | Record: 4-4
Previous Rank: #14
The good news is that the Chiefs escaped with a three-point win to get back to .500. That’s the only good news. Let’s put it here: The 2021 Chiefs are not a good team. Offensively, teams are confusing the Chiefs by taking away the deep game with two deep safeties. That led to Patrick Mahomes pushing it, and it came back to bite him again. He threw another interception against the Giants and he could have had several more. Defensively, the Chiefs have been ABYSMAL. When they make a stand, there seems to always be a penalty at the most inopportune time. They are a mistake-riddled team on offense, and lots of penalties kept an inferior Giants team in the game until the end. Struggles in the red zone can no longer be seen as an abnormality. Mahomes feeling his way through games remains an unsettling viewing experience. This is not the team that has dominated the AFC West the past few years or the team that was one Tom Brady drive away in overtime from three straight AFC titles. This is a sloppy team that might not even make the playoffs this year. Emphasize that with their next three games coming against first-place teams.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Patrick Mahomes II
RB: Darrel Williams
WR: Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson
TE: Travis Kelce
OL: Orlando Brown Jr. (LT), Joe Thuney (LG), Creed Humphrey (C), Trey Smith (RG), Mike Remmers (RT)
DE: Chris Jones (LDE), Frank Clark (RDE)
DT: Jarran Reed (LDT), Derrick Nnadi (RDT)
LB: Nick Bolton (WLB), Anthony Hitchens (MLB), Willie Gay (SLB)
CB: Rashad Fenton (LCB), L’Jarius Sneed (RCB)
S: Tyrann Mathieu (SS), Juan Thornhill (FS)
ST: Harrison Butker (K), Tommy Townsend (P), James Winchester (LS)
RS: Byron Pringle (KR), Mecole Hardman (PR)
#14: New England Patriots
Week 8 @ LAC: @, 27-24 | Record: 4-4
Previous Rank: #17
The Patriots dropped a 50-burger on the Jets in Week 7. But given that their three wins came against the lowly Jets twice and the Texans, it was hard to take them seriously in the AFC race. They needed a statement win so that people don’t count them out. They got that win in Los Angeles. It’s one of the lesser-known traditions in the NFL, but Bill Belichick manages to coach his team to wins over the Chargers. While Mac Jones struggled to get anything going, where he was just 18 for 35 passing, and with the Pats averaging 3.6 yards per carry on the ground, they stayed after it with the run game, making just enough plays defensively to snag an upset victory to get back to .500 for the first time since Week 2. The 27-24 win over them was a textbook Classic Pats victory: Keep the game close, make an impact play, and then chew off the final minutes with smart and efficient execution. The biggest moment was Adrian Phillips’ pick six with 10:11 left, but the game was won on a 14-play, 54-yard drive that took nearly half of the 4th quarter and led to Nick Folk’s game-sealing field goal. “All in all, we made the plays that we needed to make in the fourth quarter, which is something we hadn’t done as well early in the year,” said Belichick. The Pats need this positive momentum as they head into a stretch of schedule that will define their 2021 season. Their bye week doesn’t come until Week 14, and before their bye comes a five-game stretch that has four games against teams that are .500 or better, including the first of two meetings with the AFC East-leading Bills.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Mac Jones
RB: Damien Harris
WR: Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne
TE: Hunter Henry
OL: Isaiah Wynn (LT), Ted Karras (LG), David Andrews (C), Shaq Mason (RG), Mike Onwenu (RT)
DE: Deatrich Wise Jr. (LDE), Matt Judon (RDE)
DT: Lawrence Guy (LDT), Davon Godchaux (RDT)
LB: Ja’Whaun Bentley (WLB), Dont’a Hightower (MLB), Kyle Van Noy (SLB)
CB: JC Jackson (LCB), Jalen Mills (RCB)
S: Kyle Dugger (SS), Devin McCourty (FS)
ST: Nick Folk (K), Jake Bailey (P), Joe Cardona (LS)
RS: Gunner Olszewski
#13: Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 8 @ CLE: W, 15-10 | Record: 4-3
Previous Rank: #15
Pretend that our take on the Steelers in Week 4 never happened. After their 1-3 start, many people, ourselves included, wrote them off. Their days as a perennial AFC contender were supposedly over. Now it is still fair to wonder if they can make a deep playoff run. They’re not piling the style points of late. But what they’re pulling off is wins. After getting their revenge on the Browns for the wild card defeat, they have won three straight to get over .500 for the first time since upsetting the Bills in Week 1. This Steelers team is becoming a throwback to the Steelers teams of the 70s, relying on defense and the run game. The former allowed just 306 yards of offense and 10 points. The latter averaged 3.6 yards per carry against a stout Browns defense, but put up 115 rushing yards total and made key plays when necessary. With Najee Harris on the rise, they have rebounded and are only improving from here. The defense still needs no introduction. With home games against the struggling Bears and the winless Lions, there is a good chance the Steelers will be 6-3 and catching up to the Ravens and Bengals in the AFC North race before they face them and the Chargers in a three-game stretch. The Steelers could have a chance at snagging a wild card spot and sneak into the playoffs.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Ben Roethlisberger
RB: Najee Harris
WR: Diontae Johnson, James Washington, Chase Claypool
TE: Pat Freiermuth
OL: Dan Moore Jr. (LT), Kevin Dotson (LG), Kendrick Green (C), Trai Turner (RG), Chukwuma Okorafor (RT)
DL: Chris Wormley (LDL), Cameron Heyward (RDL)
EDGE: TJ Watt (WLB), Alex Highsmith (SLB)
ILB: Devin Bush Jr. (LILB), Joe Schobert (RILB)
CB: Joe Haden (LCB), Cam Sutton (RCB), Tre Norwood (NB)
S: Terrell Edmunds (SS), Minkah Fitzpatrick (FS)
ST: Chris Boswell (K), Pressley Harvin III (P), Christian Kuntz (LS)
RS: Ray-Ray McCloud
#12: Los Angeles Chargers
Week 8 vs. NE: L, 24-27 | Record: 4-3
Previous Rank: #9
After the Ravens blasted the Chargers before their bye week, the Chargers took the week to think about what went wrong against the Ravens and fix it against their home match against the Patriots. Maybe they did too much thinking and not enough fixing. After a mistake-filled effort against the Pats, they have now lost two straight and lost the division lead in the AFC West. The ceiling of the offense is high, but the surprising part of the offense is how low the floor is for them. They were held in check for the second consecutive game, a 27-24 loss to the Pats that raises questions on where they fit in the AFC ladder. There were bright spots, though, with improved defensive play against the run. Head coach Brandon Staley singled out the defense as a plus that the team can build on. “I felt like our run defense actually took an incredible step forward today,” said Staley. “A huge step forward, I thought we tackled extremely well, I thought we were really physical. I thought getting Justin Jones back was important. I felt like the way we played on defense today gave us a real chance to win.” However, Justin Herbert threw for just 143 yards before a garbage-time scoring drive in the final minutes. Issues with pass protection and early-down efficiency were glaring. The defense was having its way with Jones and gave the offense every chance to take control. Herbert and co. couldn’t do it. After back-to-back losses, the pressure on the Chargers is mounting to get back on track against the Eagles, especially since three of their four games afterward come against teams .500 or better.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Justin Herbert
RB: Austin Ekeler
WR: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Jalen Guyton
TE: Jared Cook
OL: Rashawn Slater (LT), Matt Feiler (LG), Corey Linsley (C), Michael Schofield III (RG), Storm Norton (RT)
DL: Jerry Tillery (LDL), Christian Covington (RDL)
EDGE: Joey Bosa (WLB), Uchenna Nwosu (SLB)
ILB: Drue Tranquill (LILB), Kyzir White (RILB)
CB: Chris Harris Jr. (LCB), Michael Davis (RCB), Asante Samuel Jr. (NB)
S: Derwin James Jr. (SS), Nasir Adderley (FS)
ST: Dustin Hopkins (K), Ty Long (P), Matt Overton (LS)
RS: Andre Roberts (KR), Jalen Guyton (PR)
#11: New Orleans Saints
Week 8 vs. TB: W, 36-27 | Record: 5-2
Previous Rank: #12
The Saints earned perhaps the biggest win of Week 8 with their 9-point win over Tom Brady and the visiting Buccaneers. The win gave them a crucial head-to-head win over the division leaders. But the win came at a steep cost. Jameis Winston suffered a torn ACL and PCL on his left knee in the win and is out for the season. However, they did everything they can to hold off a Brady-led rally. That’s a statement win. Losing Winston is a huge blow to the team. Trevor Siemian is the definition of a career backup, while Taysom Hill has to establish himself as a true QB. They may be 5-2, but holding on to their record will not be easy. Sean Payton deserves credit for the 5-2 start, but at the same time, the team will not be the same with Hill or anyone else under center. But they still have impact players on both sides of the ball and one of the best coaching staffs in the league. This is a hard team to figure out, but they’re not dead yet.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Trevor Siemian
RB: Alvin Kamara
WR: Marquez Callaway, Tre’Quan Smith, Deonte Harris
TE: Adam Trautman
OL: Terron Armstead (LT), Calvin Throckmorton (LG), Erik McCoy (C), Cesar Ruiz (RG), Ryan Ramczyk (RT)
DE: Cameron Jordan (LDE), Marcus Davenport (RDE)
DT: Christian Ringo (LDT), Shy Tuttle (RDT)
LB: Kwon Alexander (LILB), Demario Davis (RILB)
CB: Paulson Adebo (LCB), Marshon Lattimore (RCB), CJ Gardner-Johnson (NB)
S: Malcolm Jenkins (SS), Marcus Williams (FS)
ST: Brian Johnson (K), Blake Gillikin (P), Zach Wood (LS)
RS: Deonte Harris
#10: Cincinnati Bengals
Week 8 @ NYJ: L, 31-34 | Record: 5-3
Previous Rank: #7
Just when we all began to buy in the Bengals as a legit team, they had the biggest letdown out of any team in Week 8 this season. It’s hard to understand what exactly led this same Bengals team to blast the Ravens in Week 7 just to lose to a one-win Jets team that gave up 54 points to the Patriots. Maybe the Bengals were looking ahead to focus on their Week 9 showdown against the Browns? Whatever the reason, this was an embarrassing effort from the defense. Facing a Jets offense that ranked dead last in AFC yards per game and last in NFL in points per game entering Week 8, they gave up 511 total yards and 34 points. They could not get anything going on the ground either, with just 41 yards on 16 carries. The Jets had Mike White, who was making his first career NFL start, at QB. This is an outcome that only the most emotionally broken of Bengals fans could have predicted. He became the first Jets QB to throw for 400 yards in two decades and the first QB to throw for over 400 yards in his first career start since Cam Newton. The Jets had 32 first downs, the most in a game since 1988. The Bengals offense isn’t out of this, either. They squandered opportunities early on and let the game slip away following a Joe Burrow interception in the 4th quarter. Ja’Marr Chase, the favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year, was held in check by Bryce Hall. BRYCE HALL. That’s not to mention the blown 11-point lead in the 4th quarter. It’s the kind of loss that prompts a closer look at what the Bengals truly are. They’re still 5-3, but people should hold their horses before including them as one of the top teams in the AFC.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Joe Burrow
RB: Joe Mixon
WR: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd
TE: CJ Uzomah
OL: Jonah Williams (LT), Quinton Spain (LG), Trey Hopkins (C), Trey Hill (RG), Riley Reiff (RT)
DE: Sam Hubbard (LDE), Trey Hendrickson (RDE)
DT: DJ Reader (LDT), Larry Ogunjobi (RDT)
LB: Logan Wilson (LILB), Germaine Pratt (RILB)
CB: Eli Apple (LCB), Chidobe Awuzie (RCB), Mike Hilton (NB)
S: Vonn Bell (SS), Jessie Bates III (FS)
ST: Evan McPherson (K), Kevin Huber (P), Clark Harris (LS)
RS: Brandon Wilson (KR), Darius Phillips (PR)
#9: Las Vegas Raiders
Week 8 Bye | Record: 5-2
Previous Rank: #11
The Raiders are arguably the biggest surprise team this season. After blasting the Eagles, they headed into their bye week in a position nobody expected: Leading the AFC West. Not even Jon Gruden’s resignation can slow them down. They have not lost a game ever since Gruden left. Derek Carr has played a huge role in the success of the Raiders this season, and he told reporters that he is doing his best to fill in any leadership void left behind by Gruden’s departure. But they will need his leadership after the bye. After a winnable game in New York against the Giants, they will go through a five-game stretch that includes two matchups against the Chiefs, a home date with the Bengals, and a trip to Dallas to face the Cowboys. But they should make the playoffs this year. One can argue that they can come away with the division, given that the Chargers are vulnerable, the Chiefs are a mess, and the Broncos are going full rebuild mode after trading away the face of their defense. This Raiders team feels different than the Gruden-led teams coming before them. However, the true test for them is going to begin.
In other news, the team released Henry Ruggs III after he got charged with a DUI for being twice the legal limit for BAC, driving 156 mph in a high-speed crash, killing a 23-year-old woman and a dog. This is both a sad and avoidable situation here. You have to feel bad not only for the woman and her family, but also for Ruggs and his family too. But it goes to show that if you want to drink, please drink responsibly. If you are not in a condition to drive, please ask or call someone to take you where you need to go.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Derek Carr
RB: Josh Jacobs
WR: Bryan Edwards, Hunter Renfrow
TE: Darren Waller, Foster Moreau
OL: Kolton Miller (LT), John Simpson (LG), Andre James (C), Alex Leatherwood (RG), Brandon Parker (RT)
DE: Maxx Crosby (LDE), Yannick Ngakoue (RDE)
DT: Johnathan Hankins (LDT), Quinton Jefferson (RDT)
LB: Cory Littleton (WLB), Denzel Perryman (MLB), KJ Wright (SLB)
CB: Nate Hobbs (LCB), Casey Hayward Jr. (RCB)
S: Johnathan Abram (SS), Tre’von Moehrig (FS)
ST: Daniel Carlson (K), AJ Cole III (P), Trent Sieg (LS)
RS: Kenyan Drake (KR), Hunter Renfrow (PR)
#8: Baltimore Ravens
Week 8 Bye | Record: 5-2
Previous Rank: #10
In a utopian world, NFL teams hit the bye in the middle frame of the season fresh off a huge win. The Ravens are one(ish) of two teams. The timing of their Week 8 bye is good, but the last time we saw them, they were smacked at home against the Bengals. It was an ugly loss, but Calais Campbell told reporters that the team can’t dwell on it. “We can’t let this beat us twice,” said Campbell. “It’s one game. It hurts. It’s going to burn. [It was a] division game, but at the end of the day, [we have] a whole lot of football left to play. It’s as simple as that. In the second half of the season, we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with, that’s for sure.” The Ravens are a successful team despite being ravaged by injuries. Their ability to keep their head above water goes back directly to their best and most valuable player. Lamar Jackson has been great through seven games. You can argue he is a better QB now than his MVP year in 2019. He has made gains as a passer without losing any of the ground-game excellence that has defined his game. He is currently on pace to throw for over 4,700 yards and run for nearly 1,200. The schedule affords the Ravens a bit of a break coming out of the bye. They won’t face a team with a record of .500 or above until facing the rival Browns in Week 12. But that game is followed by two more division games: At Pittsburgh and then at Cleveland. But as long as Jackson remains healthy, the Ravens will remain playoff contenders.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Lamar Jackson
RB: Devonta Freeman
WR: Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins, Rashod Bateman
TE: Mark Andrews
OL: Alejandro Villanueva (LT), Ben Powers (LG), Bradley Bozeman (C), Kevin Zeitler (RG), Patrick Mekari (RT)
DL: Justin Madubuike (LDE), Brandon Williams (NT), Calais Campbell (RDE)
EDGE: Tyus Bowser (WLB), Justin Houston (SLB)
ILB: Josh Bynes (LILB), Patrick Queen (RILB)
CB: Anthony Averett (LCB), Marlon Humphrey (RCB)
S: Chuck Clark (SS), DeShon Elliott (FS)
ST: Justin Tucker (K), Sam Koch (P), Nick Moore (LS)
RS: Devin Duvernay
#7: Tennessee Titans
Week 8 @ IND: W, 34-31 (OT) | Record: 6-2
Previous Rank: #8
The 2021 season isn’t even over, but everything is over but the crying in the AFC South. After storming back to beat the rival Colts in overtime in Indianapolis, the Titans now have a massive lead in the AFC South. They are now three games ahead of the Colts, plus the tiebreaker by way of a head-to-head sweep. It wasn’t the prettiest of wins, though. The Titans spotted the Colts a 14-0 lead and had just 18 first downs in the game. But while Derrick Henry was held to just 2.4 yards per carry, AJ Brown had 10 receptions for 155 yards and one touchdown, while the defense forced three turnovers, including one interception in overtime to set up Randy Bullock’s game-winning field goal. But then… disaster struck. While they won the battle, they lost the war. Derrick Henry will be sidelined for 6 to 10 weeks after foot surgery. He was on his way to shatter the single-season carries record before his injury. His importance to the Titans should not be taken for granted. Everything they do drives through him. Now the emphasis shifts on to Ryan Tannehill, Brown, and Julio Jones as the passing games is now the focal point of the Titans. There are going to be questions about his extreme usage and how it could have possibly played a role to his injury. Can they still win the AFC South without Henry? Given the supporting cast they have, yes. Will they be a Super Bowl contender from that point forward? It’s hard to believe so. With the loss of the Titans’ best and most valuable player, they’re going to have to shake up their identity.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Ryan Tannehill
RB: Jeremy McNichols
WR: AJ Brown, Julio Jones, Chester Rogers
TE: Anthony Firkser
OL: Taylor Lewan (LT), Rodger Saffold III (LG), Ben Jones (C), Nate Davis (RG), David Quessenberry (RT)
DL: Jeffery Simmons (LDE), Teair Tart (NT), Denico Autry (RDE)
EDGE: Harold Landry (WLB), Bud Dupree (SLB)
ILB: David Long Jr. (LILB), Rashaan Evans (RILB)
CB: Janoris Jenkins (LCB), Elijah Molden (RCB)
S: Amani Hooker (SS), Kevin Byard (FS)
ST: Randy Bullock (K), Brett Kern (P), Morgan Cox (LS)
RS: Chester Rogers
#6: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 8 @ NO: L, 27-36 | Record: 6-2
Previous Rank: #2
As it showed in this game, Tom Brady is mortal. Up against a Saints team down Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill, Brady and the Bucs were atypically mistake-prone. Brady threw two picks and lost a fumble, and the Saints turned the Bucs’ turnovers into 16 points, including a pick six at the end of the game. It’s fair to wonder this: Is Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen Brady’s kryptonite? While Brady has shredded about every team in the NFC since his arrival to the conference last season, the Saints continue to give the GOAT problems. When you count his two picks in this game, he is now at seven interceptions in his four games when the Bucs played the Saints, playoffs included. In his other 24 games with Tampa Bay, he has thrown 13 picks. The defense continues to struggle against the pass, largely because the secondary is being held together with Elmer’s glue. They are still the team to beat in the NFC even after the loss to the Winston-less Saints. They enter their bye week at 6-2, but if they can’t close out a game in which Trevor Siemian led an anemic Saints pass attack to a win, lord help them against teams with dynamic offenses. This is not optimal for them. But let’s not forget about Brady elevating his play in the playoffs. It’s what happened last year, remember?
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Tom Brady
RB: Leonard Fournette
WR: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown
TE: Rob Gronkowski
OL: Donovan Smith (LT), Ali Marpet (LG), Ryan Jensen (C), Alex Cappa (RG), Tristan Wirfs (RT)
DL: Ndamukong Suh (LDE), Vita Vea (NT), William Gholston (RDE)
EDGE: Jason Pierre-Paul (WLB), Shaquil Barrett (SLB)
ILB: Devin White (LILB), Lavonte David (RILB)
CB: Jamel Dean (LCB), Richard Sherman (RCB)
S: Antoine Winfield Jr. (SS), Jordan Whitehead (FS)
ST: Ryan Succop (K), Bradley Pinion (P), Zach Triner (LS)
RS: Jaelon Darden
#5: Arizona Cardinals
Week 8 vs. GB: L, 21-24 | Record: 7-1
Previous Rank: #1
And then there were none. The 1972 Dolphins can pop the champagne bottles once again after the Cardinals lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Packers. The loss will be remembered for the miscommunication between Kyler Murray and AJ Green that resulted in the game-sealing interception by Rasul Douglas, who was on the Cardinals’ practice squad at the start of the year. They also lost because they had no answers for a Packers ground game they knew the Packers would lean heavily on. They lost because the weak run defense was exposed with the absence of JJ Watt. And they lost because of three costly turnovers, including two that set the Packers up deep in Cardinals territory. They didn’t play well. Because of this, they lose their top spot in the rankings. To make matters worse, Murray exited State Farm Stadium in a walking boot. The longer runway ahead of their next game will help their chances of being ready for their division matchup against the 49ers, but you have to think if they are going to take the cautious route that the Cowboys took with Dak Prescott, when they opted to give him more time to heal his calf injury. Taking the cautious route with Murray could be the key for the team being successful come January.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Colt McCoy
RB: Chase Edmonds
WR: Rondale Moore, Christian Kirk, Antoine Wesley
TE: Zach Ertz
OL: DJ Humphries (LT), Justin Pugh (LG), Sean Harlow (C), Josh Jones (RG), Kelvin Beachum (RT)
DL: Michael Dogbe (LDE), Corey Peters (NT), Zach Allen (RDE)
EDGE: Chandler Jones (WLB), Markus Golden (SLB)
ILB: Jordan Hicks (LILB), Isaiah Simmons (RILB)
CB: Byron Murphy Jr. (LCB), Robert Alford (RCB)
S: Jalen Thompson (SS), Budda Baker (FS)
ST: Matt Prater (K), Andy Lee (P), Aaron Brewer (LS)
RS: Rondale Moore (KR), Christian Kirk (PR)
#4: Green Bay Packers
Week 8 @ ARZ: W, 24-21 | Record: 7-1
Previous Rank: #6
The Packers traveled to Arizona in the midst of turmoil. Because of a COVID outbreak, defensive coordinator Joe Barry and wide receivers Davante Adams and Allen Lazard missed the game against the undefeated Cardinals. They left the desert with the top spot in the NFC after stunning the Cardinals. While it’s not a miracle win, what they did was special. They battled for four quarters against them and came out on top. They emphasized the ground game, with Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon combining for 137 yards. The defense played a large part of this game as well, holding the Cardinals well below their season averages in both yardage and points, and Rasul Douglas sealed the deal with his end zone interception in the closing seconds of the game. Aaron Rodgers was beaming during his postgame interview with Erin Andrews after the Thursday Night match. It’s understandable why. For all the offseason drama about the perceived disrespect in the organization, he now sees what the Packers truly are: A hungry and well-coached team. While I don’t see them being over the Rams by this point in the power rankings, beating the Cardinals given the circumstances is impressive. If they can run the ball and play defense consistently, they are capable of making it to the Super Bowl. But this win came at a heavy cost. Not only did Robert Tonyan tear his ACL, but Rodgers tested positive for COVID. He didn’t actually say he was vaccinated; he said he was “immunized.” In other words, he believed himself to be protected against COVID without explicitly saying he was vaccinated. Because of this, Jordan Love will get the start against the Chiefs.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Jordan Love
RB: Aaron Jones
WR: Randall Cobb, Equanimeous St. Brown, Allen Lazard
TE: Marcedes Lewis
OL: Elgton Jenkins (LT), Jon Runyan (LG), Lucas Patrick (C), Royce Newman (RG), Billy Turner (RT)
DL: Dean Lowry (LDE), Kenny Clark (NT), Kingsley Keke (RDE)
EDGE: Preston Smith (WLB), Rashan Gary (SLB)
ILB: De’Vondre Campbell (LILB), Krys Barnes (RILB)
CB: Eric Stokes (LCB), Kevin King (RCB)
S: Adrian Amos (SS), Darnell Savage Jr. (FS)
ST: Mason Crosby (K), Corey Bojorquez (P), Steven Wirtel (LS)
RS: Amari Rodgers
#3: Buffalo Bills
Week 8 vs. MIA: W, 26-11 | Record: 6-2
Previous Rank: #3
The last time the Bills and Dolphins met, the Bills destroyed the Dolphins 35-0. It wasn’t as easy this time around in the rematch. The Bills led by just six points midway in the 4th quarter. But thanks to a late interception by Jordan Poyer and nine unanswered points to end the game, the Bills ran away with a 15-point win to solidify their lead in the AFC East. They had to have a bye week to get through it, but they finally put their painful Monday Night loss against the Titans behind them. It wasn’t their best game of the season, but on a day where the offense took more time to find their footing, scoring 23 points over their final four possessions, the defense stepped up and carried the Bills to the W. It’s this kind of balance that makes the Bills the team to beat in the AFC this season. Expect it to continue to be that way. But you can’t let the offense look lethargic against good teams. The good news is that their schedule softens with a Week 9 match against the lowly Jaguars.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Josh Allen
RB: Zack Moss
WR: Stefon Diggs, Emmanuel Sanders, Gabriel Davis
TE: Tommy Sweeney
OL: Dion Dawkins (LT), Ike Boettger (LG), Mitch Morse (C), Daryl Williams (RG), Spencer Brown (RT)
DE: Gregory Rousseau (LDE), Jerry Hughes (RDE)
DT: Star Lotulelei (LDT), Ed Oliver (RDT)
LB: Matt Milano (LILB), Tremaine Edmunds (RILB)
CB: Tre’Davious White (LCB), Levi Wallace (RCB), Taron Johnson (NB)
S: Jordan Poyer (SS), Micah Hyde (FS)
ST: Tyler Bass (K), Matt Haack (P), Reid Ferguson (LS)
RS: Isaiah McKenzie
#2: Dallas Cowboys
Week 8 @ MIN: W, 20-16 | Record: 6-1
Previous Rank: #5
The Cowboys hit a bump on the road coming out of the bye week. Because of Dak Prescott’s calf strain he suffered on his game-winning touchdown pass to CeeDee Lamb, they were without him on Sunday Night. Enter Cooper Rush. He stepped in for Prescott and made a serious of big throws in their 20-16 win over the Vikings in Minneapolis. He deserves credit for the win that strengthened their stranglehold over the rest of the NFC East. The longtime backup threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner to Amari Cooper with under a minute left. But the real story of the day was the defense. Led by a monster effort from Micah Parsons, the Cowboys held the Vikings offense to just 278 total yards and just one touchdown. Kirk Cousins threw for just 184 yards, and Justin Jefferson was shut down. This win showed that the Cowboys can survive, in the short-term, without their franchise QB, while showing how much their defense improved under Dan Quinn’s scheme. The Cowboys used to be a top-heavy team, but this is not the case. They are loaded offensively, but it’s not the only reason why they are a Super Bowl contender. They have an elite defense that can complement the offensive weapons. They are for real.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Dak Prescott
RB: Ezekiel Elliott
WR: Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Cedrick Wilson
TE: Dalton Schultz
OL: Terence Steele (LT), Connor Williams (LG), Tyler Biadasz (C), Zack Martin (RG), La’el Collins (RT)
DE: Tarell Basham (LDE), Randy Gregory (RDE)
DT: Osa Odighizuwa (LDT), Carlos Watkins (RDT)
LB: Leighton Vander Esch (WLB), Keanu Neal (MLB), Micah Parsons (SLB)
CB: Anthony Brown (LCB), Trevon Diggs (RCB)
S: Donovan Wilson (SS), Damontae Kazee (FS)
ST: Greg Zuerlein (K), Bryan Anger (P), Jake McQuaide (LS)
RS: Tony Pollard (KR), CeeDee Lamb (PR)
#1: Los Angeles Rams
Week 8 @ HOU: W, 38-22 | Record: 7-1
Previous Rank: #4
After outlasting the Lions in Week 7, they continued to storm their league in Wek 8 with their trip to Houston. But whereas the Lions stayed close, the Texans’ meeting was not as close as the final score. Offensively, the Rams racked up 305 passing yards and three touchdowns from Matt Stafford, 93 total yards and two scores from Darrell Henderson Jr., and another big game from Cooper Kupp—7 receptions for 115 yards and a score. Defensively, they gave up just 323 total yards, and most of the yards came in the final quarter when the game was all but sealed. They sacked Davis Mills five times and allowed just four 3rd down conversions in 12 attempts. This was a complete effort from them. An all-around beating. Yes, the Rams can be beaten, and evidence of that is with their 37-20 loss to the Cardinals, but since then, the Rams pulled off four straight wins by an average of more than two touchdowns per game. Six of their seven wins came by two or more scores. They are making it look easy. Yes, their schedule is soft, but they beat the defending Super Bowl champions by 10 points in Week 3, and they have the talent to land the top seed in the NFC. But they’re going all in. On Monday, they pulled the trigger on a blockbuster that hauled in three-time All-Pro edge rusher and Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller to a defense that leads the league in sacks. While his play has dropped off since winning Super Bowl MVP, adding him to a front seven already featuring Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd could bring out lingering greatness in him in the way that Stafford has revitalized on his side of the ball. Smart front offices make smart moves, and this is what general manager Les Snead has done here. The goal is simple: Super Bowl or bust.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Matt Stafford
RB: Darrell Henderson Jr.
WR: Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Robert Woods
TE: Tyler Higbee
OL: Andrew Whitworth (LT), David Edwards (LG), Brian Allen (C), Austin Corbett (RG), Rob Havenstein (RT)
DL: A’Shawn Robinson (LDE), Sebastian Joseph-Day (NT), Aaron Donald (RDE)
EDGE: Terrell Lewis (WLB), Leonard Floyd (SLB)
ILB: Ernest Jones (LILB), Troy Reeder (RILB)
CB: Robert Rochell (LCB), Jalen Ramsey (RCB)
S: Jordan Fuller (SS), Taylor Rapp (FS)
ST: Matt Gay (K), Johnny Hekker (P), Matt Orzech (LS)
RS: Ben Skowronek (KR), Cooper Kupp (PR)
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