🐺 Wolf Sports Weekly

Week 8 of the NFL season was probably the worst of the year, with just one game ending within one possession.

🏈 A week of blowouts

A game not living up to the hype was Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers facing the Packers for the first time—with Pittsburgh controlling the first half before Green Bay exploded in the second half of a 35-25 victory. Packers QB Jordan Love completed 20 consecutive passes in the win, and TE Tucker Kraft went off for seven receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns to cap off National Tight Ends Day.

Now winners of five consecutive games, the Broncos stayed hot and coasted with a 44-24 win over Cowboys as Bo Nix recorded four touchdowns again—including two to WR Troy Franklin—while rookie RB RJ Harvey scored three times. HC Sean Payton bluntly called it a “pretty one-sided game” and sounds extremely confident in his squad.

The Texans made a statement by beating the 49ers, 26-15, while racking up 475 yards of offense compared to San Francisco’s 223. The result was even more shocking with WR Nico Collins out, as C.J. Stroud still had an excellent outing and hit receivers for chunk gains against the tough Niners defense. Houston is now at 3-4 ahead of a matchup with the Broncos this Sunday.

The Eagles flew in their Kelly Green uniforms, as RB Saquon Barkley started the scoring with a 65-yard touchdown run and QB Jalen Hurts threw four touchdowns—without apparently disgruntled WR A.J. Brown (hamstring) in the lineup—in a major bounce-back effort from their loss to the Giants a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, New York lost energetic rookie RB Cam Skattebo for the season to a dislocated ankle as they hit 2-6.

And the Jets are on the board with a win, pulling off a huge comeback to stun the Bengals in a 39-38 shootout. Jets QB Justin Fields responded well to criticism from team owner Woody Johnson about his play, but RB Breece Hall was the big star with 18 carries for 133 yards and two touchdowns—plus the game-winning TD throw on a trick play to TE Mason Taylor.

Other Week 8 results:

• Colts 38, Titans 14: Superstar RB Jonathan Taylor already scored three TD for fourth time this season, as the Colts continue to look like a juggernaut while Taylor and QB Daniel Jones both have a case for current MVP leader.

• Chiefs 28, Commanders 7 (MNF): Washington played to a 7-7 tie in the first half, but Kansas City dominated the final 30 minutes and put up 432 yards of offense with WR Rashee Rice scoring again.

• Chargers 37, Vikings 10 (TNF): Los Angeles totally dominated a Minnesota squad looking for answers—with second-year QB J.J. McCarthy set to take back over for a matchup this week at… Detroit.

• Ravens 30, Bears 16: RB Derrick Henry scored twice and QB Tyler Huntley (17/22, 186 yards, one TD) did a nice job and took care of the ball to help Baltimore improve to 2-5 with QB Lamar Jackson (hamstring) finally expected back for this Thursday night.

• Bills 40, Panthers 9: Buffalo took the bye week to apparently get right, as they looked a lot more like the team that typically dominates in games they’re supposed to; RB James Cook led the way with 216 yards and two TD on the ground.

• Patriots 32, Browns 13: Despite five sacks by Myles Garrett, the Browns were not match for a Patriots group that’s won five consecutive games and has a second-year QB in Drake Maye who leads the league in completion percentage (75.2%).

• Dolphins 34, Falcons 10: In probably the most shocking result of the week, a banged-up Atlanta team gave RB Bijan Robinson just nine carries against a Miami run defense that’s been gashed—but the Dolphins offense rode a balanced attack as Tua Tagovailoa threw TDs to four different players.

• Buccaneers 23, Saints 3: The Tampa Bay defense (led by OLB Anthony Nelson’s two sacks, forced fumble, and a pick-six) was the star of this one, with neither offense looking great—but New Orleans in particular struggled, with QB Spencer Rattler benched for Tyler Shough.

🧐 Player news as the trade deadline looms

The first trade in 19 days was made, with the Rams acquiring CB Roger McCreary from the Titans in a deal that includes a swap of a fifth and a sixth.

Meanwhile, Bengals LB Logan Wilson requested a trade amid his reduced role; teams continue to monitor the status of Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers, but Vegas reportedly wants “at least a Day 2 pick” (which we highly doubt happens); and other players for the Titans are reportedly available.

Vikings QB Carson Wentz, after clearly playing through a ton of pain, is undergoing season-ending surgery on his left shoulder.

Bills DT Ed Oliver tore his bicep and is out “indefinitely” but could return for the playoffs—a crushing blow ahead of this week’s matchup with the Chiefs. Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II will miss a few weeks with a pec strain.

Steelers S DeShon Elliott might be out for the season with a knee injury, Browns rookie LB Carson Schwesinger will miss time with a high-ankle sprain, and Dolphins CB Storm Duck is out for the year with a knee injury.

Players placed on IR ahead of Week 8 and out at least three more games: Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs (knee/concussion), Bears CB Kyler Gordon and OT Braxton Jones, Titans CB L’Jarius Snead (quad), Dolphins TE Darren Waller (pectoral), Bills S Taylor Rapp (knee)

Veteran signings: WR Tyler Lockett (Raiders), WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Steelers) OLB Carl Lawson (Ravens), WR Ray-Ray McCloud (Giants)

📰 More around the NFL

Rest in Peace: Former Jets All-Pro C Nick Mangold passed away at 41 due to complications from kidney disease.

Russell Wilson fired back at his former HC Sean Payton after Payton said he was hoping the Giants wouldn’t have started rookie Jaxson Dart until after they faced the Broncos. Payton walked back his remarks, saying he could see how Wilson would take it that way but that it wasn’t directed at him.

With the NBA hit by an immense betting scandal, the NFL sent a memo with a reminder of the league’s gambling policy.

The Ravens misreported QB Lamar Jackson’s practice status last week, and they reportedly face fines, loss of draft picks, and potential suspensions.

The NFL fined the Giants $200K and HC Brian Daboll $100K for Daboll’s actions while Jaxson Dart was being evaluated for a concussion in Week 6.

Respect: Big Dom visited Cam Skattebo in the hospital and brought him pizza and cheesesteaks as he recovered in Philadelphia.

“I really got no swag.” Drake Maye’s refreshing self-awareness was on full display when discussing HC Mike Vrabel bringing back pre-game intros.

👔 NFL fall league meetings

At last week’s NFL owners meetings, the NFL announced that the Pro Bowl will move to Super Bowl week—with events including flag football taking place on the Tuesday before the Super Bowl.

This season’s Black Friday game between the Bears and the Eagles will be free worldwide on Amazon Prime Video with no subscription required.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 candidates were unveiled:

• Modern-Era Players

• Senior Candidates

• Contributors

New minority owners for the 49ers were approved by the NFL, with Peter Briger Jr. and the Briger family taking a non-controlling interest in the franchise.

Other Sports Updates

🏈 No. 3 Texas A&M dominating No. 20 LSU in Death Valley, 49-25, headlined last weekend’s college football action—with Marcel Reed totaling four touchdowns in a statement game for the Aggies. Earlier in the day, No. 8 Ole Miss defeated No. 13 Oklahoma, 34-26, and No. 10 Vanderbilt escaped versus No. 15 Missouri, 17-10.

🐯 Following the loss to Texas A&M on Saturday night, LSU fired head coach Brian Kelly—opening another massive job with Penn State and Florida among those already available.

🦓 Longtime SEC referee Ken Williamson was “permanently suspended” after controversial officiating in Auburn’s loss to Georgia two weeks ago.

🎮 The NFL and EA Sports have extended the exclusive license to make simulation NFL video games through 2030.

⚾️ MLB managers hired in youth movement: Kurt Suzuki to the Angels, Tony Vitello to the Giants, and Craig Albernaz to the Orioles.

🐺 Found on wolfsports.com

• Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings (🔒)

• Week 9 Waiver Wire Rankings (🔒)

• Week 9 Rest-of-Season Rankings (🔒)

• Week 8 Fantasy Football Awards

• Heisman Watch: Week 10