Week 8 could bring sudden changes for some NFL teams.
The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will meet in the second of two NFC South showdowns. The loser of the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cincinnati Bengals game may feel like all the good fortune they've built over the past few weeks is gone. The AFC South could get even tighter when the Houston Texans host the Indianapolis Colts. The Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers, two struggling teams in the NFC, will face off on Sunday night.
What storylines are Mike Sand, Zack Keefer and Jeff Howe interested in for Week 8? Read on for Sunday's primer.
The Vikings (now 5-2) lost to the Rams on Thursday night. The Bears (against the Commanders), Lions (against the Titans) and Packers (against the Jaguars) will all be played on Sunday. Who will win the NFC North right now? Do you envision all four teams making the playoffs?
sand: Detroit has already won in Minnesota, has the best roster, and is arguably the team with the most coach/player “on-duty time” in this group. I don't think all four teams in the division will make the playoffs, but given the Bears' next three games against Washington (without Jaden Daniels), Arizona, and New England, that could be the trend in the short term. There is. The teams in the NFC North are going to beat each other up until the very end.
Kiefer: Who are the Lions in the NFC North? Dan Campbell's job continues to be on par with the best players in the league. So far, there is no hangover from last season's disappointing loss in the conference title game. Detroit won exactly how he envisioned. And that's with two of the best front lines in the league. And Jared Goff is playing like an MVP. This team will have a very tough battle in the NFC playoffs.
Howe: Even without Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions are still playing like the best team in the NFC. They will be a force on both sides of the ball, especially if Goff remains an MVP candidate. As for the playoffs, I think all four teams are good enough to advance and all four teams will likely finish the season within the top seven of the NFC power rankings. But they'll likely end up beating each other up while teams from the East or South could use their better position to sneak into the final wild-card spot.
The NFC North is making a case for the league's toughest division in 2024. The Minnesota Vikings fell to 5-2 on Thursday, while Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. (Jeffrey Becker/Imagine Images)
A rib injury may rule him out of Caleb Williams vs. Jayden Daniels, but Bears vs. Commanders is still a big game. What do you like most about Williams and Daniels? What would you like to see that each rookie QB hasn't shown or proven yet?
sand: I like the way both quarterbacks started in Week 1 without the game being too fast for them or the job (franchise quarterback) being too big. From what we've seen, they both seem capable of handling the job on and off the field. Daniels needs to prove he can stay on the field for a full season. That's part of a franchise quarterback's job. There were concerns about his durability entering the season. He is already suffering from an injury that has put him on the verge of being sidelined. As for Williams, I want to see him do well against a good team. He hasn't had much of a chance to do that yet. The game against Houston was a tough one.
Kiefer: I spent time with Daniels in Washington last week, and as the story goes, his preparation is what sets him apart. His teammates are surprised that he shows up in the building early every day. And Washington's offense is built around what he does best without forcing him to throw 40 times a game. In Chicago, Williams has improved visibly as of late, but the challenge now is against tougher competition. Beating Carolina and Jacksonville doesn't mean much these days. That confirmation after the bye week against Washington, which has led the NFC East since Week 3, is even more telling.
Howe: Daniels has done everything right, and I admire the way his coaches have continued to put him in positions to succeed. The coaching was great and the run game helped. Afterwards, Daniels did his part to cheer up his teammates. We don't know how much Daniels can improve next, but a pre-draft concern was his ability to stay physical, and he's already dealing with a rib injury. Williams took some time to get comfortable due to some line issues and injuries at skill spots, but never seemed to lose track or confidence. He continued to believe in his abilities, but it's clear his game has slowed down in recent weeks. He's tracking to play with more confidence in the future, and I think there's a chance that Williams can help the Bears move forward.
Judging by eye and probability, the Browns' woes are likely to get even worse Sunday against the Ravens. Step into the GM chair in Cleveland. What do you do with Deshaun Watson and his contract?
sand: If a deal to launder Watson's contract through another team doesn't work out, I would release him after June 1st. Release is simple and straightforward. Just waive him and watch his current cap bill rise from about $73 million to about $119 million in 2025. Contract laundering could offer the potential to reduce some of the cap and cash impact in the long run. Under that scenario, the Browns would trade Watson and draft capital to a team that accepts draft capital, assumes some of the cap/cash burden, and releases Watson as part of their own exit strategy. As such, he will likely waive his no-trade clause. .
Kiefer: I would beg my boss, owner Jimmy Haslam, to release Watson after June 1st and let him eat his dead money. This is quite a hit (about $119 million before the 2025 cap), but I think it will be the best outcome for both parties in the long run. Cleveland will likely pay for that mistake, namely the $230 million fully guaranteed contract they handed him in 2022, but it will also allow Watson's situation to drag on for years, hogging headlines and hurting the team. There is also a chance to move forward without being pulled down. There is no way to save this. Even if he returns in 2025, Watson will be a $46 million quarterback who hasn't played well in four years since a major injury. It's time for logic to win, not stubbornness.

even deeper
Deshaun Watson and the Browns' escape plan (if they finally admit it's over): Sand's pick-six
Howe: The damage has been done. Remember when the general idea was that the Packers would struggle in 2023 because they had over $50 million in dead money after Aaron Rodgers? (They made the playoffs) (I know that example doesn't apply, but I'm using it to provide perspective.) Well, the Browns already have $23 million in dead cap for 2025, starting in June. A reduction of 1 would result in an additional $119 million increase. That would have a devastating ripple effect on the rest of the roster — much worse than the situation the Broncos had to make cuts after releasing Russell Wilson. The Browns need to stop trying to restructure Watson's contract to kick in his upcoming cap hit. Even if he played at a Mahomes-like level with a $72.9 million cap hit, the Browns would need to be in a different world with players on their rookie contracts to be a playoff threat. Unless you plan to spread Watson's cap hit over the intervening decades, like Bobby Bonilla did, it's time to face reality and realize that the contract is hurting roster construction for the time being. .
Injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin will be challenges for the Bucks to overcome. It seems like the Falcons can beat anyone and lose to anyone. As these teams prepare for Sunday's matchup, what's your assessment of the top of the NFC South?
sand: The Buccaneers were going to win this division, and they still have a chance. The receiver injury opens the door for the Falcons to catch up, as Kirk Cousins' surgically repaired Achilles tendon could come back stronger later in the season.
Kiefer: This is a very good overview and one of the reasons why I feel no one can trust the Falcons right now. The Bucks were my preseason pick to win the NFC South again — they've quietly won four straight division titles — but with the recent losses of Evans and Godwin, Atlanta I decided to open my mouth. A loss to the Falcons on Sunday could mean a long few weeks for the Bucks. Before the bye, they will play each of last year's Super Bowl teams, Kansas City and San Francisco, in back-to-back weeks. Even though the 49ers have had injuries as well, these are not teams you want to play shorthanded.

even deeper
Bucks' Chris Godwin undergoes surgery. Mike Evans to be out for several weeks
Howe: Other than a few awkward stretches where Baker Mayfield became turnover-prone, the QB performed well enough to be considered an MVP candidate. I think he can still stay in contention with the Bucks unless the Falcons flip a switch. Tampa offensive coordinator Liam Cohen has also taken the offense to a higher level, and his concepts will free up lesser-known players to replace Evans and Godwin. What I'm still concerned about is the defense, which has given up the fifth-most points in the league. There's no way they can build a winning streak if they have problems offensively. The Falcons were doing pretty well until their blowout loss to the Seahawks. I don't think we'll see the best version of Kirk Cousins ​​this season due to his Achilles recovery, but he's good enough to keep it close and win the district.
The Cowboys and 49ers meet once again in one of the league's greatest rivalries. However, both teams are struggling. What needs to happen for the 49ers to win? What needs to happen for Dallas to win on Sunday night?
sand: The 49ers controlled the flow of the game by running the ball over Dallas' weak run defense, making it an easy night for quarterback Brock Purdy and winning. Dallas was better than San Francisco this season, with the Cowboys winning on Dak Prescott's strong game and game-changing plays on special teams.
Kiefer: Personally, I feel this game is more about the Cowboys than the 49ers. San Francisco has too many injuries to be right, but I don't see Seattle running away from the division. The 49ers will need to continue acquiring Christian McCaffrey until he returns. A December run isn't impossible for such a veteran group. But as of Sunday, it feels like the Cowboys' season is on the verge of collapse. Dallas can't win at home, can't beat any decent opponents, and can't stop getting in their own way. This matchup is useless. The 49ers have won three straight against the Cowboys, including two in the playoffs. And I want you to remember last year's match. San Francisco's 42-10 loss foreshadowed the Cowboys' humiliation in the playoffs three months later.
Howe: While the 49ers' injuries are the main storyline, the subplot is a glimpse into a perhaps more pernicious problem that is giving up the game. There was no way they would have lost to the Rams and Cardinals the way they played that game. After that, there were too many mistakes for the Chiefs to take advantage of. These are worrying trends for a team expected to win the conference. I think the 49ers will beat the Cowboys, but they haven't shown they can shut out games yet this season. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have not been able to consistently run the ball or stop the run. Until these factors are improved, NFC poses no threat.
(Top photo of Caleb Williams: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)