Here are my five takeaway from Week 8 of the NFL season.
1. The story wasn’t Peyton Manning
To an extent I get it — it’s Peyton Manning. But he was a supporting character in the rank of importance with the Denver Broncos win over the Green Bay Packers on “Sunday Night Football.” Anyone who is paying attention knows the Broncos defense is elite, the question was could they get any aspect of their offense to give it any help? The answer in this game was yes, and it was Denver’s running game. C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman ran for 161 yards on 33 carries and three touchdowns. The Broncos averaged 85 yards per game on the ground in their first six games. If head coach Gary Kubiak got the Broncos running game right and this wasn’t a one game thing — Denver is the favorite to win the Super Bowl no matter what happens with Manning.
2. Sloppy Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals beat the Cleveland Browns by two touchdowns, but a concerning pattern has developed that needs to change. Arizona had four turnovers they were able to overcome. Each week it seems to be something else with the Cards, who should really by 8-0 right now. They have 14 turnovers in eight games, which is tied for sixth most across the NFL. To beat the Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers or whoever else you consider to be in the running the Cardinals have to play cleaner football.
3. Going back to college
Did the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints take place on Saturday? Was it Baylor versus TCU? Drew Brees and Eli Manning combined to throw for 855 yards and 13 touchdowns. Kudos to the quarterbacks, but how about a semblance of defense in a football game? The Giants couldn’t cover Benjamin Watson and Marques Colston. They do know it’s not 2007, right? At least New Orleans struggled to stop Odell Beckham Jr. The Giants are still in first place in the NFC East at 4-4 and that’s remarkable.
4. Are the Seattle Seahawks just not good?
At what point does the idea this team isn’t good comes into play? They’re 4-4 and the Seahawks have wins over the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions by a combined four points. Seattle can’t protect Russell Wilson and the defense hasn’t played to the same level it has in the past. They take on the Cardinals after a bye week on “Sunday Night Football” at home on November 15th. If they lose this game I’d have a hard time seeing the Seahawks make the playoffs.
5. Divisions a wrap.
Three of the four divisions in the AFC have already been decided. All three of the New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos are 7-0 and locks to win their respective divisions. The only one that hasn’t been decided is the pathetic AFC South. The Indianapolis Colts fell to 3-5 with a loss to the Carolina Panthers on “Monday Night Football.” They’re tied with the Houston Texans, who are also 3-5. All four teams in the AFC South have at least a -30 point differential or worse. It’s the only division in the NFL with all four teams having a negative point differential.
