NFL Week 8 gave us another week of the unexpected. We have the first game-winning Hail Mary touchdown since the “Hail Murray” all the way back in 2020. The Eagles found something, or someone, to rally around, and the Ravens’ win streak is ended by… the Browns? 

We have a game-winning Hail Mary!

For the first time since the “Hail Murray” in 2020, when Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray threw a walk-off Hail Mary to DeAndre Hopkins, who outleaped three Bills defenders to win Arizona the game, we have another one, which brings us to the Washington Commanders, who were losing on Sunday by three points to the Chicago Bears. 

The game was a hard-fought battle, with the teams combining for just 27 points before the final play. Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels completed a 13-yard pass to wide receiver Terry McClaurin that set Washington up for a 52-yard Hail Mary attempt. But before the Commanders’ last gasp, two things happened. 

On the CBS broadcast, color analyst Tony Romo made a comment about Daniels’ recent rib injury.

“I might bring in [Marcus] Mariota because [Daniels’] ball doesn’t have quite the velocity he’s had in the previous weeks because of the rib injury,” Romo said.

While there is some merit to that, NFL fans ripped Romo for suggesting Washington take the ball out of the hand of its rookie QB.  

The second thing that occurred pre-snap was Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson taunting Commanders fans. But that’s not all. A video went viral on social media showing Stevenson continuing to tease fans for more than four seconds AFTER the ball was snapped.

Stevenson eventually scrambled to his assignment, which happened to be the Commanders’ wide receiver, Noah Brown. That’s the same Noah Brown who pulled in the game-winning touchdown after the ball was deflected by, yes, Tyrique Stevenson, who no doubt had much to ponder on the flight home after the 18-15 loss to Washington.

Undefeated in the “Baldianni” Era 

Nick Sirianni and the Philadelphia Eagles are now undefeated over their last three games since the head coach had infamously shaved his head before facing the Browns in Week 6. During that game, Sirianni had been chirping with Eagles fans in the stands. He later apologized for his actions but a majority of NFL fans assumed that the Eagles were in even more disarray after their mediocre 2-2 start. But that’s not the case. 

In what some Philly fans have been dubbing the “Baldianni Era,” the Eagles surprisingly turned things around during the last three weeks. So what changed?

First, the defense is looking better. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and his unit have held teams to 17 points or less in each of the last three games. That includes Week 7 when the Eagles held the New York Giants to just three points. Sure, it was the hapless Giants. But a near-shutout deserves praise regardless of the opponent. 

On offense, Pro Bowl wide receiver for Philadelphia AJ Brown returned from injury and has at least five receptions and 80 receiving yards in each of his last three games. That includes a pair of touchdowns, restoring balance to the Eagles offense.

Before Brown returned, offensive coordinator Kellen Moore had been relying too much on running back Saquon Barkley. Now that the Eagles’ offense is whole again, look for quarterback Jalen Hurts to put up some big numbers and keep the Birds on schedule, beginning with Sunday’s home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

Jameis Winston spoils Ravens win-streak

The Cleveland Browns entered their Week 8 clash against the Baltimore Ravens with little momentum and little hope. Cleveland had lost its last five games, traded away star receiver Amari Cooper, and lost starting quarterback Deshaun Watson to a season-ending Achilles tear. A pretty dismal set of circumstances, especially when facing the best team in your division. 

On the flip side, the Ravens brought a five-game winning streak with them to Cleveland. Baltimore boasted the best offense in the NFL and the Ravens were 30-6 when quarterback Lamar Jackson threw at least two touchdown passes, which he accomplished Sunday against the Browns.

Enter Jameis Winston, who had something to say about Baltimore’s great expectations. Now on his third NFL team and his second as a backup quarterback, Winston was supposed to sit behind Watson and had been demoted to emergency QB, taking the field in Week 7 only after No. 2 QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson went down with an injury.

No one doubts Winston has talent. But his turnover-prone style of play has cost him dearly.

Winston is the only quarterback to ever throw 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in the same season. But that didn’t matter Sunday as the former Buccaneer threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Browns to a stunning 29-24 win over the Ravens.

What was so impressive about Winston’s performance was that he outplayed Watson while taking the field with a less talented receiving core. Winston will be the team’s starter moving forward but the question has to be asked, why didn’t Cleveland start him sooner?

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