Mark Eckel’s Week 8 takeaways: All you need to know about the NFL right now
(What I think now and going forward after week 8 of the NFL season)
Some teams/organizations know quarterbacks and some don’t.
How else can you explain the quarterback-rich Green Bay Packers acquiring Malik Willis from the quarterback-needy Tennessee Titans for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick?
Willis, who cost the Titans a third-round pick in 2022, came in relief for an injured Jordan Love and led the Packers to three second-half scoring drives including the game-winning one as time expired.
It’s the third time already this season Willis has had to sub for an injured Love and Green Bay is 3-0 in those games. Willis started in victories over Indianapolis and his old team, Tennessee, before his relief work against Jacksonville. Kind of ironic, that all three were teams from the AFC South.
On the flip side the Titans are the second-worst team in the league, have won just once in eight games and are deciding between career backup Mason Rudolph and turnover machine Will Levis for their quarterback job.
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I told anyone who would listen and some who wouldn’t Washington would be one of the most-improved teams in the league this year. I tried to stay away from the Houston Texans comparisons that stared you in the face.
Rookie quarterback taken with the No. 2 overall pick, who should hav gone No. 1; a new defensive-minded head coach, some young talent thanks to good drafts.
Honestly, I thought Washington was better, but a year away from actually making noise. That noise was heard loud and clear Sunday when Jayden Daniels connected on a Hail Mary to beat the Bears and make Dan Quinn’s team 6-2 on the season.
You could say Sunday’s win was lucky. And that’s the scary part, a good team with some luck can go a long way.
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When the Eagles were 2-2 after getting blown out by Tampa Bay (again) it didn’t look good. Even after a narrow win over Cleveland, the fans in Philly were angry. Now, the Eagles are 5-2 and host Jacksonville Sunday, which should be their fourth straight win.
The Giants, Browns, Bengals and now Jaguars came at the right time for Nick Sirianni and Co. It wasn’t a stretch to think they would be 6-2. Then it toughens.
After the Jags, Sunday, the Eagles go to Dallas, host Washington on Thursday Night Football, go to Los Angeles to face the Rams and go to Baltimore. Three road games in four weeks and a home game against your chief NFC East rival. The Eagles are good after those four games we’ll know just how good.
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As we stand today, three teams sit atop the NFC West at a pedestrian 4-4, while the Rams are 3-4 because they’re the only team to have already had the bye. The Cardinals, who have wins over both the Rams and 49ers, own the current tie breakers.
Could you imagine Arizona actually winning the division? Hey a team goes from worst to first ever year it seems, maybe it’s in the Cards.
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Marc Ross, of NFL Network, told rantsports.com readers how bad the Jets were. He was being kind.
Since the story appeared the Jets have lost two more games. Sunday’s loss to New England, the last team they beat, was the worst yet.
Obviously head coach Robert Saleh wasn’t the problem. Or at least not the only problem. This is just a really bad team. And has been for years.
