2013 NFL Week 8 Recap

Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers had little trouble with Tampa Bay, dominating in all phases in a 31-13 win (their 3rd straight win), improving them to 4-3 and moving above .500 for the first time since 2008. The loss dropped the Bucs to 0-7 and increased fan pressure on embattled head coach Greg Schiano. Carolina’s defense routinely forced Tampa and rookie QB Mike Glennon into three-and-outs.

Big numbers all around were featured in this game, especially from Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Tony Romo and Dez Bryant as Stafford’s QB sneak in the final seconds shocked Dallas, 31-30 after it appeared the Cowboys had victory in hand. The victory keeps the Lions a half-game behind Green Bay in the NFC North.

Colin Kaepernick passed for a score and ran for two more as the 49ers rolled to an easy 42-10 victory over hapless Jacksonville in London. The contest was never in doubt as the ‘Niners rushed for 221 yards and led 28-3 at the half. Frank Gore had two TDs and Kendall Hunter rushed for 84 yards to help San Francisco improve to 6-2.

It wasn’t a runaway, but the NFL’s only remaining undefeated team improved to 8-0 with a 23-17 win at home over Cleveland. Alex Smith’s steady leadership on offense and KC’s swarming defense stymied the Browns (3-5) efforts to pull the upset.

Trailing 17-3 at halftime, the Patriots were dominant in a second-half comeback as New England thrashed Miami 27-17, improving to 6-2 while dealing the 3-4 Dolphins their fourth consecutive loss. Tom Brady was anything but his usual brilliant self (just 116 yards passing), but the injury-riddled Dolphins couldn’t find any rhythm offensively.

Behind Drew Brees’ five TD passes and a suffocating defense, New Orleans pulled away in the second half in a 35-17 victory over Buffalo, upping their W-L mark to 6-1 while dropping the Bills to 3-5. TE Jimmy Graham hauled in two passes for scores while the Saints sacked Buffalo QB Thad Lewis four times.

Despite very little offense, the New York Giants stopped Philadelphia 15-7, with all their points coming from five FGs from K Josh Brown. The Giants won their second straight after dropping their first six games to improve to 2-6. The Eagles dropped to 3-5, and Michael Vick was forced from the game once more with a balky hamstring. Eli Manning had a rare turnover-free game.

Raider QB Terrelle Pryor set an NFL record on the game’s first play with a 93-yard TD run (longest-ever by a QB) to set the tone as Oakland improved to 3-5 with a 21-18 win over Pittsburgh (2-5). The Steelers blew several opportunities to take control, with dropped passes and missed FGs the primary culprit. The Steelers ground game continued to be ineffective, amassing just 35 yards on 19 attempts.

Cincinnati rolled to a 28-3 halftime lead and never looked back in winning their fourth straight with a 49-9 romp over the New York Jets. Andy Dalton tossed five TDs (four of them to Marvin Jones), and the Bengal defense returned two INTs for scores as they improved to 6-2 and dropped the up-and-down Jets to 4-4. Jones’ four TD receptions set a new franchise record.

Matt Ryan and the Falcons’ nightmarish season continued with a decisive 27-13 road loss to Arizona, dropping them to 2-5 while the Cardinals improved to 4-4. Despite the return of RB Steven Jackson, Atlanta could muster only 37 yards rushing and Ryan threw four INTs.

Down 21-7, Denver and QB Peyton Manning exploded for 38 unanswered points to win over visiting Washington 45-21, improving to 7-1 but still a game behind AFC West rival Kansas City. The Redskins intercepted Manning three times and recovered a fumble to gain a two-TD advantage, but the Broncos came roaring back in front of their home crowd.

QB Aaron Rodgers displayed pin-point accuracy (24 of 29 passing) in guiding the 5-2 Packers to a 44-31 NFC North win over the struggling Minnesota Vikings (1-6). Vikings rookie Cordarrelle Patterson set an NFL record by returning the opening kickoff 109 yards for a TD, but a lack of offensive balance and defensive breakdowns doomed Minnesota after that. Adrian Peterson rushed for 60 yards and a TD for the Vikings, who once again started Christian Ponder at QB.

WEEK 8′s TOP PERFORMERS

Calvin Johnson DET- 14 catches, 329 yards

Matthew Stafford DET- 488 yards passing

Sean Lee DAL- Two interceptions

Andy Dalton CIN- 329 yards, five TDs

Marvin Jones CIN- 8 catches, 122 yards, 4 TDs

Andre Ellington ARIZ- 154 yards rushing

Drew Brees New Orleans- 332 yards passing, 5 TDs

Oakland defense- 5 sacks, 2 INTs, held Pittsburgh to 35 yards rushing

Josh Gordon CLE- 5 catches, 132 yards, 1 TD

Harry Douglas ATL- 12 catches, 121 yards

Josh Brown NYG- 5 field goals

Cordarrelle Patterson MIN- 109-yard KO return (NFL record)

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