NFL Week 8: Biggest questions, takeaways for every game

week 8 of 2025 nfl season Started in Los Angeles on Thursday night with quarterback Justin Herbert And the Chargers are headed to a win over the Vikings. Herbert threw three touchdown passes and ran for 62 yards while the rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II Continued his hot start with 77 yards and a touchdown.

Sunday morning, running back James Cook III Led the Bills to blowout win over the Panthers. He finished with 216 rushing yards through three quarters, the most by any NFL player since 2018. The Eagles also got a vintage performance from the running backs. Saquon BarkleyWhich led him to a big win over his former team the Giants.

Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answered long-running questions coming from each game and broke down everything you need to know for each team. Let’s do that.

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Patriot

What move did the quarterback make? drake may Is he continuing to build on his MVP candidacy? May was under constant pressure in the first half miles garrett and the Browns defense, which led to Mayes’ first interception since Week 3. But he didn’t back down and then took over the game after halftime with the mix that has made him so powerful this season – running, making plays in the pocket and focusing on passing plays downfield. Despite being sacked six times, Maye finished with 171 passing yards on throws for more than 15 air yards, three touchdowns and 50 rushing yards on seven carries.

turn: The entire third quarter. The Patriots led 9-7 at halftime and Garrett was wreaking havoc, but after an early stop on defense in the third quarter, New England exploded for three touchdowns in a 21-point quarter as the Patriots found the key to neutralizing Garrett. All three touchdowns were thrown by Mays, who became the first Patriots quarterback to throw three touchdowns in a game since Tom Brady at Miami on December 9, 2018. –Mike Rees

Next game: vs. Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

game

Drake Mays throws a perfect TD pass to Kayshon Boutte

Dray Mays threw a 39-yard pass to Kayshon Boutte for a touchdown to put the Patriots on top 30–7.

Browns

How long will the Browns last? dillon gabriel At quarterback? Finally, a week after giving up 17 points, Cleveland’s offense returned to its old form, scoring two touchdowns in a loss at New England. Gabriel also couldn’t take care of the ball – something the coaches consistently praised him for – with two interceptions. backup quarterback shadure sanders was inactive due to back injuryBut the demands on his playing time will only intensify after the Browns’ Week 9 bye, which should give Sanders even more time to recover. And if Gabriel continues to struggle, Cleveland may have to consider a move soon.

Statistics to know: With his first of five sacks, Garrett passed Reggie White for most sacks by a player (108.5) before turning 30 since sacks became official in 1982. Garrett’s first two sacks came in the red zone on third down and forced the Patriots to settle for a field goal. The five-sack total is a franchise record and a career high for a single game for Garrett. –Daniel Oyefusi

Next game: On Jets (45970, 1 p.m. ET)

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eagles

This is the version of Saquon Barkley here to stay? We have to look at his health first: He limped off after a 28-yard run late in the third quarter and did not return with a groin injury. The Eagles definitely found something in the ground game against New York that was missing all season. Barkley rushed for 100 yards for the first time all year. It looked exactly like 2024 when he reached speed of over 21 mph during a 65-yard run on the second play from scrimmage, the play was well-planned and well-blocked. Barkley said he felt like he was the same player this week, and he looked that way on Sunday thanks to a variety of run calls by offensive coordinator Kevin Petullo and good execution up front.

Most Amazing Performance: reserve running back tank bigsby Had 87 yards rushing on eight carries in the win. it was acquired Traded from the Jaguars in September for a pair of draft picks and primarily used as a kick returner for the first handful of games. It didn’t go as expected, but he’s started getting more work in the backfield lately and he’s taken advantage of it with some short runs. The Eagles have a good running back rotation right now with Barkley, Bigsby and Will ShipleyWith Bigsby becoming more active, AJ Dillon Has dropped to fourth on the depth chart. –Tim McManus

Next game: at Packers (Nov. 10, 8:15 p.m. ET)

game

Live on Fox: Hurts finds Goedert for 6-yard TD

Jalen Hurts throws a quick pass to Dallas Goedert, who finds the end zone to increase the Eagles’ lead over the Giants.

veteran

What now for the Giants offense after RB cam skatebowinjury? Losing Skatabo for the season is a huge blow. His severe ankle injury Teammates looked very upset in the second quarter. Skatabo was becoming a playmaker for the Giants and fellow rookie jackson dartHe scored his seventh touchdown in the first quarter of Sunday’s contest. The absence of Skatabo makes the giants even more aggressive, as Dart is already working Without star receiver malik naborsThe offense struggled even without him, totaling less than 200 yards until the final two drives when the game got out of hand.

Viewing Trends: The Giants were 31st in the NFL allowing 5.2 yards per carry entering Sunday. It only got worse when Barkley and the Eagles ran up 277 rushing yards on him. Barkley averaged 10.7 yards per carry in this contest. The Eagles averaged 8.4 per carry. Run defense, for the third consecutive season, continues to be a real problem for New York. Even on second-and-26 in the fourth quarter, the Giants allowed a quick 29-yard run. It is difficult for them to overcome this deficiency. –Jordan Raanan

Next game: vs. 49ers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

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Bills

Can the Bills’ defense use this game as a starting point? Buffalo’s defense came out of the bye in total command, allowing nine points, sacks andy dalton forcing seven takeaways and three takeaways after not recording more than one in any of the last six games. The Panthers were held to one of their lowest rushing totals of the season (114 yards). These are promising signs for a unit that has struggled to find consistency, but the long-term picture from the defensive tackle position is murky ed oliverwhich was early ruled out Left with a biceps injury in the first half.

Most Amazing Performance: running back James Cook IIIIt’s no surprise that Cook had a big day; He has been strong all season. But this was the level of Sunday’s performance. He had a career-high 216 yards on 19 carries and scored two touchdowns against a defense that had allowed over 100 rushing yards in only three of his first seven games. Cook broke several records on Sunday, including the record for most rushing yards by a player in a single game against the Panthers. — Alaina Getzenberg

Next game: vs. Chiefs (Sunday, 4:25 PM ET)

panthers

What happened to run defense? This looked like the NFL’s worst defense in 2024, not to mention eighth in the league against the run on Sunday. But the blowout loss to the Bills was a complete disaster, filled with poor management and lackluster control. Carolina had allowed only 131 yards rushing combined in the previous three games, but Cook had rushed for 130 yards before contact. in the first partThis was a shameful attempt.

What is meant by QB performance: As bryce young‘S replacementDalton was just as bad as the Carolina run defense. The 37-year-old’s interception and two fumbles led to Buffalo’s 17 points. He took sacks that he shouldn’t have taken. He is 1–6 as a starter in his three seasons with Carolina. It’s time for the Panthers to develop another backup. –David Newton

Next game: at Packers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

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chargers

Can the Chargers survive another injury storm? This was the game in which the Chargers finally got back to full health: Offensive Tackle joe alt And Trey Pipkins III Was both active and linebacker khalil mack And denzel perryman Came back together for the second game too. But the Chargers suffered more injuries Thursday. Security derwin james jr(ankle), corner bench still good (knee) and right guard Mekhi Becton (Knee) The game is not over. Coach Jim Harbaugh did not receive any updates on their injuries after the game, but losing three impact players could be a big blow to the Chargers moving forward.

Most Amazing Performance: quarterback Justin Herbert Have a new favorite target: newbie Oronde Gadsden IIThe fifth-round pick caught five passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, becoming the first rookie tight end since Mike Ditka in 1961 with 240 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in a two-game span. More importantly, Gadsden caught every pass targeted at him. — Chris Rimm

Next game: On Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

vikings

it is JJ McCarthy Time? It has to be, right? carson wentz Has served as an average backup quarterback, winning two of five starts, but has given no indication he is ready to be the coach’s next veteran recapture. Kevin O’ConnellMcCarthy has hit the highest level of timetable for his treatment right high ankle sprain (six weeks). McCarthy played poorly in his first two NFL starts and finished with a QBR (20.3), which ranked second-to-last in the NFL at the time, but he needed to play. This is the Vikings’ top organizational priority, and if it doesn’t happen next week, when?

Most Amazing Performance: The Chargers crushed the Vikings’ defense in every way possible. Few opponents have managed to pile up yards against them this season, but before Thursday night, the Vikings had at least limited scoring. He entered the game tied for No. 10 in the NFL with 20 points allowed per game. But they had no answer for Herbert, who carried his offense rushing for 62 yards and also threw three touchdown passes. The Chargers faced little resistance, gathering 419 total yards and 29 first downs. –Kevin Seifert

Next game: At Lions (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)