NFL 2025 Week 8 Recap
Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Chargers was the Thursday night game. A pair of talented but inconsistent teams faced off in a one-sided affair. The Chargers began facing 3rd and 13 at their own 14. Justin Herbert hit keenan Allen for 17. On 3rd and 2 from their own 39Patterson gained 3. Herbert hit Gadsden for 13. On 3rd and 1 from the Minnesota 32 Herbert hit Ladd McConkey for 15 with 9 more added on for roughing the passer. On 3rd and goal at the 8 Herbert hit Gadsden for the touchdown to cap the 14 play, 83 yard, 7 1/2 minute drive and make it 7-0 Chargers. The Chargers got it back at their own 41. Runs and short passes led to Vidal running for a 3 yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Chargers in the second quarter. The Vikings managed a field goal, but this game was never a contest. With 4 minutes left in the half, the Chargers took over at their own 6. On 3rd and 5 Herbert hit Allen for 6. Herbert went to McConkey for 17. Herbert ran for 18. Herbert went back to McConkey for 15 and one more time deep to McConkey for a 27 yard touchdown. The 94 yard drive had the chargers cruising up 21-3 at the half. Both kickers missed second quarter field goals. An uneventful second half saw the Chargers tack on a third quarter field goal. The Vikings did reach the end zone, but in the fourth quarter the Chargers buried the Vikings. A 12 play, 73 yard, 7 minute drive culminated in a 6 yard Herbert touchdown pass to Harris for a 31-10 Chargers lead. Cameron Dicker tacked on two late field goals to complete the blowout. 37-10 Chargers
New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals — The Bengals had 10 days to rest after an emotional win over Pittsburgh. Now all they had to do was beat the winless Jets. The Bengals made it look easy early on. They stalled inside the Jets 10 yard line as Evan Mcpherson hit a 26 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Bengals. Aaron Glenn gambled on 4th and 1 from his own 37. An end around got blown up for a 2 yard loss. Joe Flacco went to Fant for 16. On 3rd and 2 from the Jets 11 Samaji Perine gained 10. Flacco got the last yard for a 10-0 Bengals lead after the first quarter. The Jets managed a second quarter field goal but the Bengals from their own 31 kept coming. Flacco went to Jamarr Chase for 17. Flacco went deep to Tee Higgins for a 44 yard touchdown as the Bengals lead 17-3.
The Jets took over at their own 22. Breece Hall gained 10. On 3rd and 1 from their own 41, Justin Fields gained 2. Fields went to Johnson for 34 yards. Aaron Glenn gambled on 4th and 2 from the Cincinnati 15. Fields went to Johnson for the touchdown to have the Jets within 17-10. The Bengals took over at their own 35. Flacco went to Chase for 7 and 6. Brown gained 11. On 3rd and 7 from the Jets 38, Flacco went to Chase for just enough. On 3rd and 4 from the Jets 25, the defense jumped into the neutral zone. Flacco went to Brown for a 19 yard touchdown to make it 24-10 Bengals. Twice the Jets moved inside the Cincinnati 10 yard line but had to settle for Nick Folk field goals of 25 in the second quarter and 24 in the third quarter to have the Jets within 24-16. The Bengals soon faced 3rd and 12 from their own 33. Old Man Flacco ran for 13. Perine ran for 9 and 2. Flacco hit Fant for 11. Perine ran for a 32 yard touchdown. The Bengals led 31-16 after three quarters.
The Jets took over at their own 34. Fields went to Taylor for 15. Hall ran for a 35 yard gain. On 3rd and 2 from the Cincinnati 5 to start the fourth quarter, Hall ran for the touchdown. Aaron Glenn went for 2 and Fields got in successfully to have the Jets within 31-24. The Bengals took over at their own 27. Perine gained 21 and 11. Flacco went to Chase for 7 and 16. Brown ran for 12, 5, and the one yard touchdown. Every time the Jets tried to make a game of it, the Bengals pulled away. For the fourth time on the day, the Bengals led by at least 14 points. The Bengals led 38-24 with 10 1/2 minutes left in regulation. The Jets were game, but this game was over for the hapless Jets.
A strong kickoff return had the Jets taking over at their own 40. With 8 1/2 minutes left, the Jets had to go for it on 4th and 1 just shy of midfield. One stop would end things. Instead, Flacco hit Ruckert for 24. For the Bengals, this was FCO1. On the next play Hall got around the end for a 27 yard touchdown. This was FCO2. Aaron Glenn then went for an unnecessary 2 point conversion. This is the new trendy thing where teams down by1 4 cut the gap to 6 under the illusion they will win later. It never works. Fields did go to Davis to have the Jets within 38-32 midway through the fourth quarter. The Bengals could have ground down clock. Instead Flacco threw a pair of incompletions and on 3rd and 10 was sacked. For the Bengals this was FCO3.
A 21 yard punt return had the Jets at their own 41. Fields went to Smith for 23. Hall gained 10. On 3rd and 1 from the Cincinnati 16, Fields got the yard. On 3rd and 2 from the Cincinnati 7, Fields hit Taylor for 3. Hall then hit Taylor for a 4 yard touchdown. The extra point was good as Aaron Glenn’s earlier 2 point conversions actually worked. With 1:54 to play, this was more than FCO4 for the Bengals. The Jets led by a point. The Bengals took over at their own 25 needing only a field goal to win. On 3rd and 9 from their own 45, Flacco threw incomplete twice. The Jets scored 23 fourth quarter points to turn a blowout loss into a shocking win. The 1976 Buccaneers popped the champagne corks. The Jets won their first game and Aaron Glenn got his first win as an NFL head coach. 39-38 Bengals
Chicago Bears at Baltimore Ravens — The Bears came in winners of 4 straight while the Ravens came in having lost 4 straight. Again, Tyler Huntley started in place of the injured Lamar Jackson. in the first quarter Cairo Santos hit field goals of 32 and 39 to have the Bears up 6-0. The Ravens began the second quarter at their own 38. Derrick Henry ran for 2 and 8. Huntley went to Bay Flowers for 20. On 3rd and 7 from the Chicago 29, Huntley hit Flowers for just enough. Henry ran for 10 and then for the 2 yard touchdown to have the Ravens up 7-6. With one minute left in the half Tyler Loop hit a 42 yard field goal to make it 10-6 Ravens. Santos missed from 58 to end the half. Loop hit third quarter field goals of 28 and 32 to make it 16-6 Ravens.
The Bears took over at their own 17. Deandre Swift ran for 5 and 13. On 3rd and 6 from their own 39, Caleb Williams went to Odunze for 27. On 3rd and 6 from the Baltimore 30, Williams found Swift for 25. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Swift got in to get the Bears within 16-13 with 12 1/2 minutes left in regulation. The Bears got it back at their own 4 yard lien looking to tie the game, Williams was intercepted by Wiggins to give the Ravens gift field position at the Chicago 9. Huntley went to Kolar for a 10 yard touchdown to make it 23-13 Ravens. Needing 2 scores, Santos hit from 47 to have the Bears within 23-16 with 5 minutes left. The Ravens took over at their own 34. On 3rd and 7 from their own 48, Huntley went to Deandre Hopkins for 14. Mitchell got around the end for 13 more. Huntley gained 11. Henry got the final 2 yards just before the 2 minute warning to seal the win. 30-16 Ravens
Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons — The Falcons have been inconsistent all year but they were at home against a miserably bad Dolphins team that had appeared to quit on their head coach. The Dolphins took over at their own 21. Tua Tagovailoa went to Washington for 17. On 3rd and 2 from their own 46 Gordon gained 3. On 3rd and 1 from the Altanta 21 Gordon gained 4. Mike MacDaniel gambled on 4th and 1 from the Atlanta 8. Gordon got the yard, barely. Tgovailoa went to Devon Achane for a 3 yard touchdown to cap the 13 play, 7 9 yard, 8 1/2 minute drive and make it 7-0 Dolphins. The Falcons managed a second quarter field goal but Riley Patterson answered from 34 to make it 10-3 Dolphins. The Dolphins got it back at their own 18 and Tagovailoa hit Westbrook for 18. On 3rd and 3 from their own 43 Gordon gained 11. A defensive facemask at the 2 minute warning gave the Dolphins 15 more yards. On 3rd and 10 from the Atlanta 19, Tagovailoa found Waddle for just enough. Tagovailoa went to Washington for a 9 yard touchdown with 11 seconds left in the half for a 17-3 Dolphins lead. In the third quarter the Falcons fumbled and the Dolphins took over at their own 16. Achane ran for 10. Tagovailoa went deep to Waddle for a 43 yard touchdown to have the Dolphins dominating 24-3 after three quarters. The Falcons turned it over on downs in the fourth quarter and the Dolphins took over at the Atlanta 41. Tagovailoa went to Gordon for a 20 yard touchdown to make it 31-3 Dolphins. Patterson tacked on a 36 yard field goal to make it 34-3 Dolphins. The Falcons managed one garbage touchdown but in an absolute shocker, the Dolphins showed there is no quit on their team. 34-10 Dolphins
Buffalo Bills at Carolina Panthers — The Panthers came in surprising winners of 3 straight games. Red Rifle Andy Dalton started in place of the injured Bryce Young. The Bills had struggled to beat some of the worst teams in the league despite a stacked roster with sky high expectations. Matt Prater hit field goals of 45 in the first quarter and 43 in the second quarter to make it 6-0 Bills. The latter kick was set up by a Carolina fumble. The Panthers managed a field goal, but the Bills then carpet-bombed them into oblivion. The Bills took over at their own 23. James Cook raced for a 64 yard touchdown to make it 12-3 Bills. An interception of Dalton was returned by Espenesa 24 yards down to the Carolina 1. One play later Allen got n to make it 19-3 Bills. The Panthers missed a field goal to end the half. In the third quarter the Bills faced 3rd and 7 at their own 38. Allen threw incomplete but defensive holding meant a new set of downs. Allen then connected with Shakir for a 54 yard touchdown to make it 26-3 Bills. The Bills got it back at their own 12 and James Cook ran for 8, 7 and 12. Allen hit Coleman for 14. On 3rd and 2 from the Carolina 39, Allen went to Coleman for 8. Cook ran for 10 and then for the 21 yard touchdown to make it 33-3 Bills. One play later Dalton was sacked and fumbled to set up the Bills at the Carolina 19. On 3rd and 7 Allen went to Hawes for 12. On 3rd and goal at the one Allen got in as the Bills were winning a 40-3 blowout. The Panthers managed one fourth quarter garbage touchdown but this was the Bills team the league expected to see all year. 40-9 Bills
San Francisco 49ers at Houston Texans — The 5-2 49ers were not expected to have much difficulty with a Texans team struggling to win. Kaimi Fairbairn hit field goals of 33 yards in the first quarter and 34 yards in the second quarter for a 6-0 Texans lead. The first one was set up by a staggering 16 play drive that took 9 1/2 minutes off the clock. The Texans got it back at their own 18. On 3rd and 4, CJ Stroud hit noel for 7. Stroud went deep to Noel for 44. On 3rd and 5 from the San Francisco 18, Stroud went to Berrios for 6. Stroud hit Higgins for a 12 yard touchdown to make it 13-0 49ers. Fairbairn hit another field goal from 37 as the Texans were dominating 16-0.
The 49ers managed a touchdown before the half, but the Texans defense was tough all day. I the third quarter the Texans took over at their own 6 yard line. Stroud went to Higgins for 10. On 3rd and 5 from their own 25, Stroud hit Noel for 8. On 3rd and 8 from their own 33, Stroud hit Dalton Schultz for 17. and Wayne for 17 more. On 3rd and 7 from the San Francisco 30, Stroud went to Hutchinson for the touchdown and the 23-7 Texans lead. The third quarter ended with Mac Jones hitting Tonges for a 25 yard touchdown to cap a 76 yard drive/ Jones hit Robinson for a 2 point conversion as the 49ers only trailed 23-15 after three quarters, Fairbairn hit his fourth field goal from 30 to give the Texans breathing room with 9 1/2 minutes left in regulation. Just before the 2 minute warning on 1st and 10 from the Houston 29, Jones was intercepted. 26-15 Texans
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles — The Giants shocked the defending champions by crushing them in New York. The Eagles were burning for revenge and to restore order in the NFC East. On the second play from scrimmage, Saquon Barkley torched his former team for a 65 yard touchdown run to make it 7-0 Eagles. A 58 yard field goal try by Jake Elliott to extend the lead was no good. The Giants soon faced 3rd and 8 at midfield. Jaxson Dart ran for just enough. Dart went to Darrius Slayton for 19 and to Cam Skattebo for an 18yard touchdown to make it 7-7.
The Eagles took over at their own 41. Nick Sirianni gambled on 4th and 3. Jalen Hurts gained 5. The second quarter began with Hurts hitting Devonta Smith for 26. On 4th and 1 from the Giants 11, Nick Sirianni gambled again. The entire football world knew the tush push was coming, but the issue was trying to stop it. Hurts gained 2. Hurts went to Barkley for a 9 yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Eagles. Graham Gano hit a 47 yard field goal to get the Giants within 14-10, but the Eagles kept coming. The Eagles took over at there own 42. Barkley ran for 10, 6 and 5. Hurts went to Smith for 11 and 12. Hurts found Dallas Goedert for a 6 yard touchdown to make it 21-10 Eagles. Elliott hit a 40 yard field goal in the third quarter to have the Eagles up 24-10.
The Giants mounted a 15 play, 59 yard, 7 minute drive, but they bogged down in the red zone. Gano hit from 24 to get the Giants within 24-13. The Eagles then turned out the lights. Barkley ran for 28. A sack of Hurts meant 2nd and 26. Bigsby ripped off a 29 yard run. Hurts found Goedert for a 17 yard touchdown to make it 31-13 Eagles. The Eagles got it back at their own 27. Bigsby ran for 10, 7 and 12. Hurts went deep to Dotson for a 40 yard touchdown to make it 38-13 Eagles. The Giants got a garbage touchdown but nothing more. The Eagles gashed the Giants defense for 276 yards rushing on 33 carries, led by Barkley’s 150 yards on only 14 carries. 38-20 Eagles
Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots — Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye have revitalized the Patriots. The Browns have the top defense in the league but no offense. Borregales hit a 36 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Browns. The Browns soon faced 3rd and 11 at their own 29. Dillon Gabriel went to Fannin for 19. Corley ran for 31. Gabriel went to Fannin for an 18 yard touchdown to have the Browns up 7-3. A 47 yard field goal try in the second quarter by Szmyt to try and extend the lead was no good. Borregales hit second quarter field goals of 32 and 42 to have the Patriots up 9-7 at the intermission. In the third quarter the Patriots offense exploded and buried the Browns.
The Patriots took over at their own 23. Henderson gained 6 and then 27. Drake Maye went to Mack Hollins for 19. Maye went to Hunter Henry for a 7 yard touchdown to make it 16-7 Patriots. An interception of Gabriel was returned by Robert Spillane for 33 yards to the Cleveland 6. On 3rd and goal at the one, Maye went to Stefan Diggs for the touchdown to make it 23-7 Patriots. Another interception of Gabriel led to an 81 yard drive by the Patriots. Maye went to Boutte for a 32 yard touchdown to make it 30-7 Patriots. In the fourth quarter the Browns managed one garbage touchdown. The Patriots defense added a safety to complete the scoring. An enraged Miles Garrett exploded on the sidelines. He had a Hall of Fame effort with 5 sacks. Yet it was all for naught. 32-13 Patriots
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints — The Buccaneers are very good. The Saints are very bad. The Saints defense fought hard but their offense turned the ball over repeatedly. After a scoreless first quarter, in the second quarter Spencer Rattler was intercepted by Nelson. Nelson glided 3 yards the other way for a 7-0 Buccaneers lead. Blake Grupe hit a 48 yard field goal for the Saints to end the half, but in the second half the Buccaneers defense clamped down hard. The Buccaneers began the third quarter at their own 27. Baker Mayfield went to Johnson for 16, to White for 17, and back to Johnson for 12. Mayfield went to Cade Otton for 22 down to the one. Todd Bowles went for it on 4th and goal at the one. Tucker got in to make it 14-3 Buccaneers. Chase McLaughlin did the rest on 3 straight drives, hitting from 55 in the third quarter and from 52 and 54 in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring. 23-3 Buccaneers
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts — The Titans are awful. The Colts are a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Sometimes a bad team can go on the road and shock a good team in an upset for the ages. This was not that game. Goliath beat up David and stole his lunch money. The Colts began with a 43 yard Mike Badgley field goal to make it 3-0 Colts. The Colts got it back and soon face 3rd and 1 at their own 36. Jonathan Taylor gained 2. Taylor then ran for 15. Daniel Jones went to Warren for 15. Taylor ran for 11 and then for an 18 yard touchdown to make it 10-0 Colts. The Titans took over in the second quarter at their own 31. Cam Ward went to Dike for 18. On 3rd and 6 from the Indianapolis 42, Spears got around the end for a 41 yard gain down to the one. Ward found Helm for the one yard touchdown to get the Titans within 10-7.
The Colts took over at their own 29. Jones hit Pittman for 11 and again for 14. Jones went to Warren for 20 and back to Pittman for a 21 yard touchdown to make it 17-7 Colts. In the third quarter the Colts delivered the knockout blow when Taylor raced for an 80 yard touchdown to make it 24-7 Colts. The Colts got it back at their own 26. Jones hit Pittman for 18. On 3rd and 13 from their own 38, Jones went deep to Pierce for 50. On 3rd and 8 from the Tennessee 10, Jones went to Downs for the touchdown to make it 31-7 Colts. In the fourth quarter the Colts took over at the Tennessee 46. On 4th and 1 from the Tennessee 37, Taylor gained 4. Jones went to Warren for 14 and to Taylor for a 19 yard touchdown to make it 38-7 Colts. The Titans got one garbage touchdown. The Titans are 1-7 while the 7-1 Colts are playing like a serious Super Bowl contender. 38-14 Colts
Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos — In 1977 the Cowboys won this Super Bowl matchup. This year the Broncos have a great defense and the Cowboys have no defense. An early interception of Bo Nix led to a 24 yard Brandon Aubrey field goal to make it 3-0 Cowboys. After that the Broncos erupted. On 3rd and 7 from their own 29, the Broncos got the Dallas defense to jump offside. On 3rd and 2, Nix went to Franklin for 26. Harvey ran for a 40 yard touchdown to make it 7-3 Broncos. The Broncos got it back at their own 38. Nix went to Bryant for 16 and to Franklin for 10. Nix found Franklin for a 25 yard touchdown to make it 14-3 Broncos.
In the second quarter the Cowboys took over at their own 41. Blue gained 14. On 3rd and 1 from th Denver 31, Luke gained 2. On 3rd and 6 from the Denver 25, Dak Prescott hit George Pickens for 9. Prescott went to Schoonmaker for 14 down to the one. Williams got the yard to have the Cowboys within 14-10. The Cowboys took over at their own 35. Nix hit Franklin for 13. Defensive pass interference on a deep ball meant 32 yard gain. Nix hit Evan Engram for 11. On 3rd and goal at the one, Harvey took the Wildcat snap and got in. A pointless 2 point try failed as the Broncos led 20-10. The Broncos got it back at their own 28. JK Dobbins gained 15. Nix hit Cortland Sutton for 11. Nix found Bryant for a 24 yard touchdown to make it 27-10 Broncos at the half. That was the exact reverse of the Super Bowl in 1977.
In the third quarter the Cowboys mounted a 13 play, 65 yard, 7 minute drive. A one yard touchdown run by Williams got the Cowboys within 27-17. They would get no closer. Wil Lutz hit a 42 yard field goal to make it 30-17 Broncos. The Broncos got it back at their own 16. Nix hit Sutton for 9. Mims gained 9 and Dobbins gained 7. Nix went deep to Sutton for 39. On 3rd and 10 from the Dallas 21, Nix found Engram for just enough. On 3rd and 6 from the Dallas 7, Nix went to Franklin for the touchdown to make it 37-17 Broncos. An interception of Prescott set up the Broncos up at their own 45. Dobbins gained 15 and 5. On 3rd and 4 from the Dallas 22, defensive pass interference added 17 yards. On 3rd and goal at the 5, Nix went to Harvey for the touchdown to make it 44-17 Broncos. The Cowboys managed one garbage touchdown. The 6-2 Broncos lead the AFC West. 44-24 Broncos
Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers was the Sunday night game. Aaron Rodgers faced off against his former team seeking to become the third player in NFL history to defeat all 32 teams along with Tom Brady and Brett Favre. Chris Boswell drilled a 56 yard field goal early on to mow it 3-0 Steelers. The Packers took over at their own 33. Jordan Love went to Romeo Doubs for 24. Love went to Heath for 13 and to Kraft for a 16 yard touchdown to make it 7-3 Packers.
In the second quarter Brandon McManus missed a 57 yard field goal try for the Packers that would have extended the lead. Chris Boswell then hit second quarter field goals of 50 and 48 to have the Steelers up 9-7. The Steelers got the ball back at their own 16. Warren ran for 9 and 17. Gainwell added 14. On 3rd and 9 from the Green Bay 36, defensive pass interference added 21. Rodgers fund DK Metcalf for 10 and again for a 2 yard touchdown. The Steelers had a commanding 16-7 halftime lead. The Packers missed another opportunity at the end of the half when McManus missed again from 44.
The Packers began the third quarter facing 3rd and 5 from their own 15. The key play in the game came when Love went bombs away to Kraft for a 59 yard gain. Matt LaFleur went for it on 4th and 1 from the Pittsburgh 17. Love went to Williams for an 8 yard touchdown to get the Packers within 16-14. Boswell nailed a 56 yard field goal as the Steelers led 19-14 after three quarters.
The Packers took over at their own 22. Love went to Wilson for 14. On 3rd and 7 from the Pittsburgh 40, Love went to Watson for 33. Josh Jacobs ran for a 3 yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. Matt LaFleur went for 2 and Love hit Doubs successfully to have the Packers back on top 22-19. The Packers got it back with a short field at the Pittsburgh 45. Wilson gained 15. On 3rd and 4 at the Pittsburgh 24, Love went to Kraft for the touchdown to make it 29-19 Packers. McManus tacked on short field goals of 28 and 25 as 21 unanswered points had the Packers up 35-19. The Packers managed one garbage touchdown but the Packers changing of he guard was vindicated as Love’s team defeated Rodgers’s new team. 35-25 Packers
Washington Commanders at Kansas City Chiefs was the Monday night game. The 3 time defending AFC Champions are coming into form while the Commanders have regressed. Early on Marcus Mariota was intercepted and so was Patrick Mahomes. The Commanders turned it over on downs and Mahomes was intercepted again. The Commanders turned it over on downs again. After an ugly opening quarter, the Chiefs took over in the second quarter facing 3rd and 2 at their own 36. Mahomes went to Travis Kelce for 11 and again for 31. On 3rd and 1 from the Washington 13, Karim Hunt gained 5. Rasheed Rice gained 7. Hunt got the last yard for a 7-0 Chiefs lead. The Commanders took over at their own 34. Mariota went to Sinnott for 22. On 3rd and 5 from the Kansas City 39, Mariota went to Nichols for 18 and again for 10. Mariota hit Terry McLaurin for an 11 yard touchdown to make it 7-7 at the half.
The Chiefs began in the third quarter at their own 20. Defensive unnecessary roughness gifted the Chiefs 15 yards. Mahomes hit Kelce for a 38 yard gain. On 4th and goal at the 2, Walrus Andy Reid gambled. Mahomes went to Hunt for the touchdown to make it 14-7 Chiefs. The Chiefs got it back at their own 35. Mahomes went to Juju Smith-Schuster for 24. Mahoems went to Rice for 9 and to Kelce for a 10 yard touchdown to make it 21-7 Chiefs. The Chiefs began the fourth quarter at their own 6 yard line. Mahomes went to Xavier Worthy for 9. Hunt gained 11. On 2nd and 17 from their own 19, Mahomes went to Rice for 25. Yet a taunting penalty on the offense moved the Chiefs back 15. Isaiah Pacheco gained 13. On 3rd and 2 from the Washington 31, Mahomes found Rice for 11. Mahomes went to Rice for an 18 yard touchdown. The 13 play, 94 yard, 7 minute drive completed the scoring. 28-7 Chiefs