The Saints-Packers Game Was Half-Great & Other Things We Learned About NFL Week 8
High scores and amazing offensive performances highlighted Week 8 of the 2014 NFL season. Here's what we learned on Sunday:
The Saints-Packers Game Was Half-Great
The Sunday night game between the Saints and Packers seemed destined for greatness when the teams went to their locker rooms tied 16-16 at halftime. Then Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who hadn't thrown an interception since Week 1, threw the first of his two Week 8 picks on the Packers' first drive of the second half and the New Orleans rout was on.
The second half was all Saints (3-4), who remained undefeated at home by stomping the Packers, 44-23. Fueling the big win was New Orleans' quarterback Drew Brees, who threw for 311 yards and three scores, and running back Mark Ingram, who ran for a career-high 172 yards and a touchdown. Green Bay (5-3) fell a game behind Detroit (6-2) in the NFC North standings with the loss.
The Eagles Let A Game Slip Away
The Eagles seemed assured of a victory over the Cardinals in Arizona after Cody Parkey kicked a 20-yard field goal that put Philadelphia up 20-17 with 1:56 to play, but …NOPE. Carson Palmer connected with John Brown on a 75-yard touchdown pass on the next possession, and Arizona beat Philadelphia, 24-20.
The Eagles (5-2) had a chance to win the game even after Brown's long TD, but Nick Foles pass to Jordan Matthews was caught just out of bounds in the end zone. The Cardinals (6-1) remained tied with the Cowboys for the NFC's best record. The teams face each other next week in Dallas
Big Ben Had A Big Day
Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger set franchise records with 522 yards passing and six touchdowns, and Pittsburgh routed the Indianapolis Colts, 51-34, at home on Sunday. Wearing special black and gold-striped throwback uniforms, Pittsburgh (5-3) won its second game in seven days, and Indianapolis (5-3) had its five-game winning streak stopped.
Roethlisberger's astonishing yardage mark was the fourth highest single-game total in NFL history. Colts' QB Andrew Luck passed for 400 yards and three touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions.
Tom Brady Is On An Incredible Run
Tom Brady completed 30 of 35 passes for five touchdowns, and the Patriots crushed the Chicago Bears, 51-23, in Foxborough, Mass. on Sunday. New England (6-2) won its fourth straight game, with Brady throwing for 1,268 yards, 14 touchdowns and no interceptions during that run. It's a big change from his early-season struggles.
Chicago (3-5) lost for the fourth time in five games, and the Bears seem totally defeated. They'll be on bye next week, but will return to face Green Bay on Nov. 9.
Russell Wilson Saved The Seahawks' Season
The defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks were facing their third straight loss on Sunday in Charlotte, but quarterback Russell Wilson led his team on a nine-play, 80-yard drive, culminating with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Luke Willson with 47 seconds remaining that gave Seattle a 13-9 win.
Carolina (3-4-1) dominated the Seahawks for most of the game, but the Panthers only managed three field goals, which wasn't enough to hold off Seattle (4-3).
Other Games
Thursday, Oct. 23
Denver 35, San Diego 21
Sunday, Oct. 26
Detroit 22, Atlanta 21
Kansas City 34, St. Louis 7
Houston 30, Tennessee 16
Minnesota 19, Tampa Bay 13 (OT)
Cincinnati 27, Baltimore 24
Miami 27, Jacksonville 13
Buffalo 43, N.Y. Jets 23
Cleveland 23, Oakland 13
Bye: N.Y. Giants, San Francisco