Key events
Ravens 23-16 Bears 5:06, 4th quarter
It’s good! Cairos Santos pulls the Bears back to within a touchdown with five minutes on the clock. Baltimore will be hoping Derrick Henry can kill off the game on this drive. Season saving W for the Ravens? They need to get it first.
TOUCHDOWN! Bengals 38-24 Jets 10:21, 4th quarter
This epic shootout just keeps firing. A lovely mix of run and pass makes swiss cheese of the Jets and on the one-yard line Chase Brown finishes his dinner for the touchdown. Looking like two wins from two for Flacco at the Bengals. What a trade by Cinci! The ageing superstar has 216 yards and two touchdown tosses and one on the ground. Vintage.
TOUCHDOWN! Panthers 9-40 Bills 5:46, 4th quarter
Ah garbage time, where blowouts get that little less disrespect-able. In incredible news for my fantasy team, Chuba Hubbard jogs in for a three-yard touchdown. How are your teams coping with the bye-pocalypse? Having Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St Brown is certainly taking its toll for me.
TOUCHDOWN! Ravens 23-13 Bears 8:13, 4th quarter
TOUCHDOWN! Eagles 31-13 Giants 11:17, 4th quarter
Defenses are tiring now. Dallas Goedert grabs his second score of the day (he is a tight end!!) for Philadelphia while Charlie Kolar, OMG he is a tight end too, gives the Ravens a healthy, if not slightly shocking lead with a 10-yard catch. That Baltimore touchdown set up by a nifty interception from Nate Wiggins.
In slightly less good news I appear to have cursed the Eagles as Saquon Barkley leaves the field on that scoring drive with a leg injury. They don’t need him anymore so rest up, Saquads.
TOUCHDOWN! Bengals 31-24 Jets 14:17, 4th quarter
While the Jets defense is incredibly ropey, the offense is humming along very nicely. Breece Hall bangs home from five yards and they pull off the two-point conversion thanks to the quick feet of quarterback Justin Fields.
Eagles 24-13 Giants 13:57, 4th quarter
The Giants defense cannot handle Philadelphia’s rushing attack. They are being torn apart to the tune of 219 yards on the ground. Saquon Barkley has 150 of them but he is being spotted very well by Tank Bigsby who has 54 on four carries. As a team they are averaging 10 yards per play on the ground. Unstoppable.
TOUCHDOWN! Texans 23-15 49ers 7:01, 3rd quarter
Did I mention it is national tight end day? Well it is national tight end day. And on this special day we can celebrate the other pass catching tight end in San Fran Jake Tonges grabbing a two-yard score for the Niners. They are still in the fight but need to slow down the Texans.
TOUCHDOWN! Bengals 31-16 Jets 2:34, 3rd quarter
The Jets defense is really conspiring to make some fairly average Bengals players look like world beaters. First Flacco looking like prime Peyton Manning, now Samaje Perine aping Barry Sanders. The veteran rumbles for a 32-yard touchdown.
TOUCHDOWN! Patriots 30-7 Browns 0:10, 3rd quarter
Drake Maye is on fire! He hits Kayshon Boutte with a beautiful long spiral into the end zone for 39 yards and his third scoring pass of the game. Out of sight.
TOUCHDOWN! Panthers 3-33 Bills 4:59, 3rd quarter
James Cook is off to the races again. His second touchdown this time is a 21-yard scamper putting the rusher on a frankly insane 214 yards on 18 carries averaging 12 yards per rush. On pace for over 300, wow.
TOUCHDOWN! Ravens 16-13 Bears 12:22, 4th quarter
And we have a close game people! Baltimore’s defense think they have the stop on third down on the goal line but D’Andre Swift just breaks in for the touchdown. Can the Ravens hold on for an unlikely win?
TOUCHDOWN! Texans 23-7 49ers 7:29, 3rd quarter
Apologies 49ers fans but I appear to have provoked CJ Stroud and the Texans. As soon as I say this was our closest game and they march downfield and the quarterback hits Xavier Hutchinson with a 30-yard strike for the touchdown. Sort of close game alert is now Baltimore’s 16-6 lead over Chicago.
TOUCHDOWN! Falcons 3-24 Dolphins 6:05, 3rd quarter
Horrible showing by the Falcons at home today. Jaylen Waddle races through the heart of the field for a 43-yard score on a short pass from Tua. Atlanta are so inconsistent, this version very much the team that were nuked 30-0 by Carolina.
Some very lop-sided matches today, currently zero, I repeat zero of the seven are separated by one score. The closest we have is Houston’s 16-7 lead over San Fran. Beat downs across the board.
TOUCHDOWN! Patriots 23-7 Browns 6:43, 3rd quarter
Drake Maye slings another touchdown, this time a one yarder to Stefon Diggs. Are the Pats officially back? Am I very late to the party with this line of enquiry? Yes and yes, that’s that settled then.
TOUCHDOWN! Panthers 3-26 Bills 12:38, 3rd quarter
This is getting ugly for Carolina. Bills quarterback Josh Allen finds Khalil Shakir for 54-yard touchdown. He races around to the right leaving defensive backs in his considerable wake. His QB says thank you very much.
Falcons 3-17 Dolphins 11:13, 3rd quarter
So Robinson has been very involved already this half. He pops a nice gain on a short pass for 17 yards, so far, so good. But next coughs up a costly fumble. That level of slop is making Miami’s day very easy indeed.
TOUCHDOWN! Patriots 15-7 Browns 9:10, 3rd quarter
Drake Maye is taking charge now after a slightly shaky first half. The quarterback finds his tight end (happy national tight ends day) Hunter Henry with a seven yard pass for the score. Great bit of trickery to show a jet sweep to the left but toss it the other way to a wide open Henry.
Falcons 3-17 Dolphins 12:42, 3rd quarter
With Andy Dalton getting battered by Buffalo, let’s check in with Kirk Cousins for Atlanta. He is 6/9 for 53 yards, not exactly explosive. What is more alarming for the Falcons is their heavy hitter Bijan Robinson has 19 yards rushing on seven carries. Going down with a whimper to the benign 1-6 Miami Dolphins.
RIP Nick Mangold
Sad, sad news in the football world today as legendary New York Jets center Nick Mangold has died at the age of 41 while waiting for a kidney transplant. Some sweet words from his teammates and coaches here, getting a bit misty eyed.
Half-time
Your scores on the doors.
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Falcons 3-17 Dolphins
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Ravens 10-6 Bears
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Panthers 3-19 Bills
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Bengals 24-13 Jets
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Texans 16-7 49ers
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Patriots 9-7 Browns
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Eagles 21-10 Giants
Defense on top thus far in a lot of these with the notable exception of the 49ers who have allowed CJ Stroud to show his class. The struggling Texans’ QB already has 235 yards and has completed 22 of 28 passes with a TD and just as the clock strikes half-time the Niners pick him off. Consequently that is their first interception since week 11 of last season, weird. Meanwhile his opposite number Mac Jones is 5/11 for 44 yards and a touchdown. San Francisco closed the half well but those half-time adjustments still need to be aggressive from coach Kyle Shanahan, let’s go!
TOUCHDOWN! Eagles 21-10 Giants, half-time
One for UK fans to giggle at as Tom Brady describes Dallas Goedert’s six-yard scoring catch as a “tosser concept”. And precedes to say tosser three more times. Language, Thomas!
TOUCHDOWN! Texans 7-16 49ers 0:25, 2nd quarter
Merry national tight end day! The 49ers find some footing with a George Kittle with a 17-yard grab. Is there anything weirder in sport than national tight end day? Answers on a post card please.
TOUCHDOWN! Panthers 3-19 Bills 0:02, 2nd quarter
AJ Epenesa picks off Andy Dalton and runs it down to the one yard line. Quarterback Josh Allen does the rest with the sneak and score. Big lead for Buffalo with Carolina really struggling with the veteran at QB. He is 6/11 for 73 yards with a pick. As I type this he is sacked by Joey Bosa. Not good.
TOUCHDOWN! Bengals 24-10 Jets 1:15, 2nd quarter
Isn’t the Jets defense supposed to be good? They are currently being vaporised by the Bengals. Chase Brown rumbles for a 19-yard score. Easy peasy.
TOUCHDOWN! Eagles 14-7 Giants 8:11, 2nd quarter
Oh man. This is a real shame as fun-loving speedster Cam Skattebo is carted off the field after a really nasty looking leg injury. That is almost definitely his season over. And what a young season he was having: 398 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Really tough luck for the Giants to lose such a talismanic figure.
TOUCHDOWN! Bengals 17-10 Jets 5:27, 2nd quarter
Tyler Johnson with an unbelievable grab in the corner of the end zone on a 15-yard pass from Justin Fields.
TOUCHDOWN! Panthers 3-12 Bills 7:23, 2nd quarter
James Cook is having a huge day for the Bills. The running back breaks off a 64-yard sprint and score. He has 146 yards already today on 11 carries. Outrageous.
TOUCHDOWN! Texans 13-0 49ers 9:39, 2nd quarter
Houston take a commanding lead after Jayden Higgins snatches up his second touchdown of the season with a 12-yard pass from CJ Stroud.
TOUCHDOWN! Eagles 14-7 Giants 11:38, 2nd quarter
Barkley just keeps on rolling with his second touchdown already today. Excellent response from Philadelphia as they mix it up and get the running back involved in the passing game. Barkley catches one short out to the left and jogs in for an easy nine-yard touchdown.
TOUCHDOWN! Bengals 17-3 Jets 10:45, 2nd quarter
Flacco is enjoying himself today. The 40-year-old unleashes a 44-yard bomb to Tee Higgins to put Cincinnati comfortably in the driving seat. Higgins ran an incredible route there with a little stutter to shake his defender enough to catch the ball on the goal line in space. Just the slightest twitch and Flacco does the rest with a perfect pass to seal the touchdown.
TOUCHDOWN! Ravens 7-6 Bears 8:15, 2nd quarter
Snoop Huntley is going well at QB for the Ravens going 6/6 for 59 yards so far. Running back Derrick Henry holds up his end of the bargain by finishing off the 12-play drive with a two-yard dive into the end zone. King Henry’s 111th career touchdown moving him to 5th in the all-time charts for rushers.
Panthers 0-6 Bills 14:09, 2nd quarter
It’s good! But Carolina come out on top as Buffalo settle for a field goal. Josh Allen successfully scrambles around once but on the second effort is sacked on 3rd and 5. Not the end of the world but a cheap penalty forced Allen to put on his dancing shoes after an illegal formation penalty. Matt Prater knocks in the 43-yard field goal.
TOUCHDOWN! Falcons 0-7 Dolphins 2:33, 1st quarter
De’Von Achane catches a short pass from Tua for a three-yard score. Relief for Miami fans as the Dolphins take a lead as they try in their effort to snap a three game losing streak.
TOUCHDOWN! Eagles 7-7 Giants 2:56, 1st quarter
The Giants respond. Cam Skattebo loves scoring against Philadelphia apparently. But I think Skattebo just loves scoring full stop. The rookie QB Jaxson Dart finds his rookie running back with an 18-yard strike for the touchdown. Game on!
Panthers 0-3 Bills 3:40, 1st quarter
On grizzled gunslinger watch Andy Dalton is enduring a rough start to this one. He scrambles to his right but is hunted down by Greg Rousseau who knocks him down. As he falls the ball comes loose with Christian Benford on hand to steal it for Buffalo. Coming off the bye the Bills will hope Josh Allen finds his spark after two successive losses. He is yet to do so going 3/7 for 38 yards. Early days though
TOUCHDOWN! Patriots 3-7 Browns 3:35 1st quarter
Rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel shoots a 18-yard strike to Harold Fannin Jr for the score. Not enough Harolds in sport, are there?
TOUCHDOWN! Bengals 10-0 Jets 5:35, 1st quarter
Maybe skip this post Jets fans. In their own half New York go for it on 4th and 1 and Breece Hall gets knocked back two yards. The Bengals are gifted excellent field position and Joe Flacco marches Cincinnati down field and he even nabs a rushing touchdown. Real head scratcher there. A winless season for the Jets might just be on the cards.
Ravens 0-3 Bears 6:50, 1st quarter
It’s good! Baltimore summon some much-needed might on defense with a great stop in the red zone. Rookie second-round pick Mike Green sacks Caleb Williams on third down to force a 32-yard field goal. Bend but don’t break at its finest.
TOUCHDOWN! Eagles 7-0 Giants 14:51, 1st quarter
Hmmmm remember that time I said it was tough to know how Philadelphia’s offense would perform? Well, about that. After an incomplete pass Saquon Barkley cracks open the big one in the NFC East with a 65-yard touchdown run. The running back has been the missing piece so far this season for Philadelphia so they will be delighted with that start.
Here we go! Lots of old faces in at QB tonight. A pair of 37-year-olds taking the field with Kirk Cousins back in for Atlanta and Andy Dalton subbing in for Carolina. Can the veterans get it done tonight?
Preamble
Good evening football fans, welcome to week eight of the NFL! By far my favourite week of the regular season as the clocks have spun back in the UK giving us a huge lineup of seven matches a whole hour early. What more could you ask for?
Here are the games starting at noon CST/1pm EST/5pm GMT (home teams listed first):
(3-3) Atlanta Falcons v Miami Dolphins (1-6)
(1-5) Baltimore Ravens v Chicago Bears (4-2)
(4-3) Carolina Panthers v Buffalo Bills (4-2)
(3-4) Cincinnati Bengals v New York Jets (0-7)
(2-4) Houston Texans v San Francisco 49ers (5-2)
(5-2) New England Patriots v Cleveland Browns (2-5)
(5-2) Philadelphia Eagles v New York Giants (2-5)
Some very intriguing matchups but it is a big shame Lamar Jackson won’t be suiting up for Baltimore tonight. Snoop Huntley will be deputising as they try and contend with a Chicago Bears team rampaging into town on a four-game winning streak.
Elsewhere top billing has to be over in the NFC East. The Giants whipped the Eagles a couple of weeks ago, thanks to a Cam Skattebo hat-trick, but endured a historic meltdown last week in Denver while Philadelphia finally found some offensive firepower to swat Minnesota aside. Expect a fast start from New York’s young guns to turn the page. For the Eagles it is tough to predict how the offense will look but the team have reportedly made a call on wide receiver AJ Brown’s future. He is staying put in Pennsylvania.