There are some bad teams right now -- teams struggling for offensive identity and competent quarterback play. When you see teams giving up multiple first-round picks for quarterbacks (which will happen again next offseason if Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers change teams, and perhaps sooner if Deshaun Watson does) think of the play the Panthers and some other teams are getting at the position, and you won't be surprised.
Panthers at Giants: The Sam Darnold era came to an end quickly. Matt Rhule says Darnold is still his starting quarterback (after benching him), but that's likely only because his only other option is P.J. Walker. And he's not the answer, either. This game was actually 5-3 until late in the third quarter -- the Giants aren't good either -- before New York put up a couple of touchdowns and pulled away. Carolina still has a good defense and some nice offensive skill guys, but McCaffrey's on IR and their quarterback's confidence is shot.
Jets at Patriots: Yeah this was a good one. Had Zach Wilson not got hurt early on, perhaps the Patriots might have only won 47-20. Perhaps. Just a good old-fashioned woodshed game in which Damien Harris could have scored 4 TDs and which you should be glad for the touchdown you got from Corey Davis if you started him since he seemed to get away with a push off. They threw a flag but changed their mind, perhaps out of pity. Michael Carter gave you serviceable numbers for his receiving. Given the way the game went you'd think they might draw up a play to get Jakobi Meyers his first touchdown catch, but instead they let Kendrick Bourne throw one to Nelson Agholor; two guys nobody started. Hopefully the low point of the season for the Jets, although we'll see what the Wilson medical report says.
Kansas City at Titans: So the people who've been saying all along that Kansas City isn't that good right now...appear to be right. We knew their defense was bad, but clearly their offense has problems, too. One thing I was thinking all August was that a lot of people were talking about how good they'd be because they'd overhauled their offensive line. I don't recall thinking they had a bad line a year ago; yes they got overrun in the Super Bowl, but part of that was due to Eric Fisher getting hurt prior to that. Not having any continuity from a year ago isn't necessarily a good thing. Kansas City gave up 4 sacks and watching the game it felt more like 10. Mahomes probably should have been pulled long before he got knocked out on an ugly-looking hit. Not to excuse his own poor play and inaccurate passes, mind you. Offense looks broken. Kansas City contained Derrick Henry somewhat, so there's that. Nice game for A.J. Brown, though.
Football Team at Packers: So Green Bay losing would have knocked a whole bunch of people out of my survivor pool. Which made for a frustrating game to watch, because Washington moved the ball all game but kept shooting themselves in the foot near the goal line. Worst was Taylor Heinicke scrambling near the goal line, could have waltzed in virtually untouched, but to made sure he wasn't touched he dove. And on the dive his knee was down just short of the goal line, and apparently a recent rule change says that when a quarterback dives the play is over when his knee hits the ground, even if he's not touched (he wasn't). So there's Heinicke doing a Lambeau Leap (he grew up a Packers and Brett Favre fan, hence the No. 4 jersey), and meanwhile instant replay is taking what should have been an easy no-doubt touchdown off the board. Another drive ended when Ricky Seals-Jones got held in the end zone but it wasn't called. Whatever, Washington wasn't winning this game anyway, but it should have been a little more tense. Easy win for the Packers. Report yesterday that Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't close to returning, so it's Heinicke's show for a while (and he also threw a bad end-zone interception and lost a fumble, so it's not like he's playing super out there).
Falcons at Dolphins: I had been weighing Tua or Jimmy G as fill-in quarterbacks, and opted for Tua because I was worried about the weather in San Francisco. So one of those times when paying attention to the weather paid off. Tua had a big game not because he's so good (there was a bad interception in there too) but because the Atlanta defense isn't, but it was a pretty solid game for the guy. Coaching-wise, I'm not exactly sure why the Dolphins are using players like Adam Shaheen and Durham Smythe, who collectively dropped a couple of Tua's incompletions. But I'm also not sure why they're using a three-back committee or really doing any of the things they're doing out there. Huge game for Kyle Pitts (a one-handed 39-yard sideline grab that most tight ends don't make), another score for Cordarrelle Patterson, and a good week to pick up Younghoe Koo.
Bengals at Ravens: Bengals are for real. C.J. Uzomah played off as a Week 7 sleeper I started in some places, JaMarr Chase had a crazy long touchdown where the Ravens blew a couple of tackles that kind of set the tone for the game, and Joe Burrow outplayed Lamar Jackson. The game was closer most of the way than the final score (after Burrow threw a bad end-zone pick late, Ravens had the ball down 10), but Bengals defense stepped up and then the offense piled it on. Devonta Freeman scored for you, but it's hard for anyone to say a Ravens running back is a good investment right now. I don't understand how the Baltimore defense shut down the Chargers last week and looked so bad yesterday. Looking past Cincinnati?
Eagles at Raiders: The Raiders playing two great games following the departure of Jon Gruden is...interesting. Whatever, they're legit contenders in the AFC, with that all-important great quarterback play and some offensive talent. Josh Jacobs was off to a nice game before leaving early with an injury, but the Raiders have a bye next week which is well-timed. Eagles lost Miles Sanders to an injury which they haven't updated yet, but Kenneth Gainwell should be on rosters (fewer carries than Boston Scott, but Gainwell got more receiving work and seems more likely to be the main back if Sanders misses time). Another productive game for Jalen Hurts.
Lions at Rams: Hats off to the Lions for making things interesting with an onside kick, a couple of fake punts, and a competitive game throughout (until a late interception ended their hopes). Detroit may be 0-7 but I'm comfortable saying they're definitely better than a couple of teams that have some wins. Among other things, they've played 3-4 games against likely playoff teams (and I'm including the Bengals in that group). Another monster game for Cooper Kupp, quite remarkable, and good also for Matthew Stafford. Disappointing for Darrell Henderson, it happens. He'll make it up to you at Houston next week.
Texans at Cardinals: Speaking of the Texans, they had the lead in this one for about a quarter, and almost recovered a Zach Ertz fumble at the goal line to keep the momentum going. But they didn't, and it was all Cardinals after that. I trust there's no more talk of what a fine job David Culley is doing, not that the silliness of the Texans roster this season is his fault. This is the league's worst team, as I suspect we'll see in the rematch with Jacksonville later in the season. But apparently they've got multiple suitors for Deshaun Watson, which should help plug a hole or two (leaving them with only 9-10). Cardinals will get tested against Green Bay this week -- I think they're better, but they've got to prove it.
Bears at Buccaneers: I thought the Bears defense would provide a little more resistance. Didn't tell anyone not to start Brady or Fournette or anything (and I think I already apologized for questioning Mike Evans a few weeks back), but didn't expect this savage beating. Will the Bears turn to Andy Dalton or Nick Foles? Seems like they've got to do something (since developing Justin Fields in a way that takes advantage of his strengths appears to be beyond them). Nice game for Khalil Herbert, at least -- I figured Damien Williams would have a minor role, but didn't guess how minor, and that was a really impressive game by Herbert regardless. Gotta figure he's the lead guy until Montgomery is back, although trusting Chicago's coaching staff to do the right thing might still be a mistake.
Indianapolis at San Francisco: Weather was indeed a factor in this one, with a driving rain affecting kicking and passing games. Not that Jimmy Garoppolo might have been dramatically better in a dome, and Carson Wentz would still have turned in a few head-scratching throws as well, but things would have been a little cleaner. That said, Wentz's talent is obvious, he shows it on the throws that aren't monumentally ill-advised (this game probably shouldn't have been as close as it was). Also obvious, Garoppolo's limitations -- San Francisco is in search of an offensive identity right now, and they better hope they're right on Trey Lance, or that might be the last big move of the Lynch-Shanahan era. Two very impressive Colts are Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman, with Taylor showing great vision and decisiveness, and Pittman quietly emerging, coming into the realization (along with his quarterback) that his size gives him a big advantage in contested situations. Colts host Tennessee next week and I'm expecting a good one...they really should have a couple more wins.
Monday, Monday: Not so long ago this would have been a Drew Brees-Russell Wilson shootout. Instead we've got Jameis Winston for the Saints and Geno Smith for Seattle, and I'm expecting a frequently ugly affair. Saints have the better defense and running game, and that should be enough (although turnovers will probably play a factor in this one). Call it Saints 26, Seahawks 20, and hoping that Marquez Callaway keeps pace with Alvin Kamara (but not with much confidence).