Week eight was nothing short of a wild ride with upsets, last-second victories, and blowouts.
As we approach the midway point of the 2024 NFL season, we know who the contenders are, while some teams took a step back and worked on their identified glitches before week nine. Other teams need to get their heads out of the gutter and get back on track if they want a somewhat respectable 2024 NFL season.
Those riding high need to stay on course, but anything can happen in the coming weeks. Also, a shoutout to tight ends who performed very well on National Tight End’s Day in a wild week eight.
Here are the grades for all 32 NFL teams after week eight.
Which NFL teams had the highest grades after week 8?
Arizona Cardinals: B+
The Cardinals traveled to South Beach and left with a very nice 28-27 last-second win thanks to Chad Ryland kicking the game-winning field goal. Kyler Murray threw two touchdowns against no interceptions, James Conner scored a rushing touchdown, Trey McBride had 124 receiving yards, and Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson each scored a touchdown. On defense, the Redbirds had a sack but no defensive turnovers. A nice afternoon for the Cardinals as they came back from 7-13 down at halftime and won a thriller in the end.
Atlanta Falcons: A-
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The Falcons played a very nice game on the road as they defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-26. Kirk Cousins threw four touchdowns against no interceptions, Bijan Robinson rushed for 63 yards and scored a receiving touchdown, Darnell Mooney scored a touchdown, and Kyle Pitts scored two touchdowns. On defense, the Falcons had two interceptions and a fumble recovery but no sacks. A nice afternoon for the Falcons, as they maintain control of the NFC South, for now.
Baltimore Ravens: B-
The Ravens played a very tough game against the Cleveland Browns and fell short in a 24-29 loss via a failed comeback attempt. Lamar Jackson threw two touchdowns against no interceptions, Derrick Henry scored a rushing touchdown, and Nelson Agholor and Mark Andrews both scored touchdowns. On defense, the Ravens had two sacks and a fumble recovery. Divisional games are certainly challenging. This was the case with the Ravens swarmed by the Browns’ defense, who played very well and intensely throughout the afternoon. The Ravens return home and get prepared to host the Denver Broncos in week nine.
Buffalo Bills: A-
The Bills had a tremendous afternoon in the Pacific Northwest as they defeated the Seattle Seahawks 31-10. Josh Allen threw two touchdowns against his first interception of the 2024 season, James Cook scored two rushing touchdowns, and Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid both scored touchdowns. On defense, the Bills had a sack and interception. The Bills looked very strong on the road as they now return home for a week nine showdown against their AFC East rivals, the Miami Dolphins.
Carolina Panthers: D
The Panthers had a tough afternoon as they fell to the Denver Broncos 28-14. With Andy Dalton out after being in a car accident, Bryce Young threw two touchdowns against two interceptions. Chuba Hubbard rushed for 56 yards, and Jalen Cooker and Xavier Legette both scored touchdowns. On defense, the Panthers had two sacks and two fumble recoveries but no interceptions. The Panthers played slightly better than expected, but the offensive line had a rough afternoon against the Broncos’ defense.
Chicago Bears: C-
The Bears played a decent battle against the Washington Commanders but lost 15-18 in walk-off fashion. Caleb Williams didn’t throw any touchdowns or interceptions and lost a fumble. D’Andre Swift had a very nice afternoon, scoring a rushing touchdown. Roschon Johnson scored a rushing touchdown, and Rome Odunze had 41 receiving yards. On defense, the Bears had two sacks and no interceptions. Despite the excellent performance from D’Andre Swift, the Bears were undone when Jayden Daniels threw his walk-off touchdown, as the ball was tipped into the hands of Noah Brown. The Bears travel west to the desert and will square off against the Arizona Cardinals in week nine.
Cincinnati Bengals: D+
The Bengals started their afternoon with a bang with a Ja’Marr Chase touchdown but unfortunately lost a tough 17-37 showdown at home against the Philadelphia Eagles. Joe Burrow threw a touchdown against an interception, Chase Brown scored a rushing touchdown, and Chase scored a touchdown in the beginning of the game. On defense, the Bengals had no sacks or any defensive turnovers. A rough afternoon for the Bengals as they now return to practice and get prepared for their week nine matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders coming to town.
Also Read: Grading All 32 NFL Teams’ Head Coaches After Week 7 Games Of The 2024 Season
Cleveland Browns: B+
What a difference a week makes, right? The Browns turned things around and earned their second win of the season with a 29-24 upset victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Jameis Winston threw three touchdowns against no interceptions, Nick Chubb rushed for 52 yards, Cedric Tillman scored two touchdowns, and David Njoku scored a touchdown. On defense, the Browns had three sacks but no interceptions. A very good afternoon for this NFL team as they stunned an elite Ravens squad. Now, it is up to them to build upon the momentum as they get set to host the Los Angeles Chargers in week nine.
Dallas Cowboys: C-
After a slow start, the Cowboys attempted a comeback, which ended up falling short in their 24-30 loss on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. Dak Prescott threw two touchdowns against two interceptions, Ezekiel Elliot scored a rushing touchdown while the Cowboys rushing attack was held to 56 yards, and CeeDee Lamb scored two touchdowns. On defense, the Cowboys had two sacks and no interceptions. A rough loss for the Cowboys despite a comeback attempt and CeeDee Lamb’s performance as they fly east for a week nine road matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
Denver Broncos: B+
The Broncos are continuing to find their groove as they defeated the Carolina Panthers 28-14. Bo Nix threw three touchdowns against no interceptions and scored a rushing touchdown, Jaleel McLaughlin had 47 rushing yards and scored a receiving touchdown, and Nate Adkins and Adam Trautman both scored touchdowns. On defense, the Broncos had two interceptions and two sacks. A good showcasing for the Broncos, as Nix looked great for the majority of the month. They currently have the second-place spot in the AFC West… for now.
Detroit Lions: A
The Lions started slow but then accelerated with their foot on the gas pedal and crushed the Tennessee Titans 52-14. Jared Goff threw three touchdowns against no interceptions, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery both scored rushing touchdowns while Montgomery threw a touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta with 2:18 left in the first half, and Kalif Raymond, Brock Wright, and Amon-Ra St. Brown all scored touchdowns. On defense, the Lions had two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and a sack all afternoon. The Lions were aggressive on all sides of the ball, as they decimated the Titans with ease. The Lions return to the road and square off against their NFC North rivals, the Green Bay Packers, in week nine.
Green Bay Packers: B
The Packers emerged from Duval County as winners, as they defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-27. Jordan Love threw an interception against no touchdowns but left the game with a groin injury as Malik Willis stepped in to save the day. Willis threw a touchdown to Tucker Kraft, Josh Jacobs scored two rushing touchdowns, and Romeo Doubs had 72 receiving yards. On defense, the Packers had a sack, fumble recovery, and interception. Losing Love to a groin injury is going to sting, but the Packers have a talented backup quarterback in Willis ready to lead the Packers to victory, along with Brandon McManus kicking the game-winning field goal as time expired.
Houston Texans: B
The Texans won another very close game, as they defeated the Indianapolis Colts in a very tight 23-20 victory. C.J. Stroud played well as he threw a touchdown against no interceptions, Joe Mixon scored a rushing touchdown, Tank Dell scored a touchdown, and Stefon Diggs had 81 receiving yards but left the game with a non-contact knee injury. On defense, the Texans had five sacks, a fumble recovery, and an interception. Despite the close score, the Texans played well and fast, even though losing Diggs is a sign of concern. The Texans have to get prepared to travel east for a Halloween road matchup against the New York Jets to open week nine up.
Indianapolis Colts: D+
The Colts had ample opportunities to win against their AFC South rivals, the Houston Texans, as they fell short 20-23 on the road. Anthony Richardson threw a touchdown against an interception, Jonathan Taylor scored a rushing touchdown, and Josh Downs scored a touchdown. On defense, the Colts had two sacks and a fumble recovery but no interceptions. Richardson played an awful game, while the rest of this NFL team fought decently enough despite losing a very tight battle in the end.
Jacksonville Jaguars: B-
The Jaguars suffered another painful loss at home as they lost 27-30 in the last seconds of the game against the Green Bay Packers. Trevor Lawrence threw two touchdowns against an interception and scored a rushing touchdown, Tank Bigsby had 78 rushing yards, and Brian Thomas Jr. and Evan Engram both scored touchdowns. On defense, the Jaguars had a sack and an interception. The Jaguars also lost six starters to injuries: Corner Back Ronald Darby suffered a hip injury, Wide Receiver Gabe Davis suffered a shoulder injury, Right Guard Brandon Scheff suffered a knee injury, Left Guard Erza Cleveland suffered an ankle injury, Thomas Jr. suffered a chest injury, and Christian Kirk suffered a season-ending-collarbone injury. These injuries are going to have tough implications for this NFL team in the long term.
Kansas City Chiefs: B+
The Chiefs had a nice afternoon as they narrowly defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 27-20. Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdowns against an interception, Kareem Hunt scored a rushing touchdown, and Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy both scored touchdowns. On defense, the Chiefs had five sacks against Gardner Minshew but no interceptions against the Raiders. Kelce had a nice game for the Chiefs, as well as getting some newly acquired DeAndre Hopkins reps. The Chiefs’ defense, coached by Steve Spagnuolo, continues to be the heart and soul of this NFL team.
Las Vegas Raiders: C
The Raiders played well but fell just short in their 20-27 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs. Gardner Minshew threw two touchdowns against no interceptions, the Raiders’ rushing attack was held to a mere 33 yards on the ground, and Jakobi Meyers and DJ Turner both scored touchdowns. On defense, the Raiders had a sack and an interception. Unfortunately, the Chiefs’ offense slowly picked apart the Raiders’ defense and were able to earn a close win against the Silver and Black, but the offense couldn’t get enough going as Minshew was sacked five times.
Los Angeles Chargers: B
The Chargers rebounded from their week seven loss and earned a nice 26-8 dominating win over the New Orleans Saints at home. Justin Herbert threw two touchdowns against no interceptions, J.K. Dobbins scored a rushing touchdown, and Ladd McConkey scored two touchdowns. On defense, the Chargers had five sacks against both Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener but no interceptions. The Chargers needed this rebound win as they continue to try to keep their season on track. The Chargers have to get prepared for their week nine road trip east for a showdown against the Cleveland Browns.
Los Angeles Rams: B
The Rams had a very nice Thursday night as they defeated the Minnesota Vikings 30-20. Matthew Stafford threw four touchdowns against an interception, Kyren Williams rushed for 97 yards and scored a receiving touchdown, Cooper Kupp returned to action and scored a touchdown, Demarcus Robinson scored two touchdowns, and Puka Nacua had 106 receiving yards. On defense, the Rams had three sacks. With Kupp and Nacua back in the lineup, the Rams get a massive boost back on offense as they look to get back on track in a very competitive NFC West.
Miami Dolphins: D+
Tua Tagovailoa returned to action and led the Dolphins to a 13-7 halftime lead, but the Dolphins couldn’t maintain the lead and lost 27-28 in the final seconds against the Arizona Cardinals at home. Tagovailoa threw a touchdown against no interceptions, De’Von Achane rushed for 97 yards and scored a receiving touchdown, Raheem Mostert scored two rushing touchdowns, and Tyreek Hill had 72 receiving yards. On defense, the Dolphins had no sacks or interceptions all game long. Even though Tagovailoa revitalized the Dolphins’ offense, the Dolphins’ defense had a brutally bad afternoon against the Cardinals’ offense.
Minnesota Vikings: C-
The Vikings tried to put up a fight against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night but were kept out of the end zone for the second, third, and fourth quarters and lost 20-30 in a controversial game. Sam Darnold threw two touchdowns against no interceptions, Aaron Jones rushed for 58 yards, Justin Jefferson had 115 receiving yards, and Trent Sherfield Sr. and Josh Oliver both scored touchdowns. On defense, the Vikings had an interception from Brandon Powell and no sacks. A rough night for the Vikings as the referees also missed a clear facemask penalty when Byron Young grabbed Darnold’s facemask and dragged him down with 1:38 left in the game, resulting in a safety for the Rams. Hopefully, the Vikings will bounce back as they return home and host the Indianapolis Colts in week nine.
New England Patriots: C+
The Patriots played a very gritty football game against the New York Jets and emerged on top 25-22, which ended their six-game losing streak. Drake Maye scored a rushing touchdown but left the game with a concussion while Jacoby Brissett stepped in. Brissett threw no touchdowns or interceptions, Rhamondre Stevenson scored two rushing touchdowns, and Kayshon Boutte had 46 receiving yards. On defense, the Pats had a sack and no defensive turnovers. A nice win for the Patriots, but they still have a long way to go if they want to have a somewhat respectable season.
New Orleans Saints: D-
The Saints had a rough afternoon, as they failed to score a single touchdown in their 8-26 loss on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers. Blake Grupe kept this NFL team afloat by making two field goals. Spencer Rattler threw no touchdowns or interceptions, was sacked three times, and was benched in favor of Jake Haener, who didn’t fare much better against the Chargers. Alvin Kamara rushed for 67 yards, and Chris Olave had 107 receiving yards. On defense, the Saints generated three sacks and had no interceptions as an average Chargers team demolished them. A very bad look for the Saints, who started the season 2-0 in dominating fashion and continue to fall apart right before our very eyes due to injuries and bad luck.
New York Giants: D
The Giants played poorly despite having a couple of bright spots in their 18-26 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road, as the first half was a field goal battle. Daniel Jones threw an interception against no touchdowns and lost a fumble. Tyrone Tracy Jr. scored the Giants’ only touchdown on the night, Darius Slayton had 108 receiving yards, and Malik Nabers had 71 receiving yards. On defense, the Giants had four sacks and a fumble recovery but no interceptions. Despite the solid play on defense and solid running from Tracy Jr., the rest of the Giants couldn’t get it going as they fell flat on the road. The Giants return home and will host the Washington Commanders coming to town.
New York Jets: C
The Jets had a good start to the game as they had a 13-7 halftime lead against the New England Patriots, but they ended up losing 22-25 in the final minutes of the game in Foxborough, MA. Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdowns against no interceptions, Braelon Allen scored a rushing touchdown, Garrett Wilson had 113 receiving yards, and Xavier Gipson and Tyler Conklin both scored touchdowns. On defense, the Jets had two sacks and no interceptions. A tough afternoon for Gang Green as they suffered another loss as acquiring Davante Adams via trade, Haason Reddick ending his holdout, and the firing of Robert Saleh all look bad as they continue to lose close games. The Jets return home and get prepared for a Halloween matchup against the Houston Texans in week nine.
Philadelphia Eagles: B+
The Eagles started their week eight matchup slow until they turned the ignition on in the second quarter and didn’t look back in their 37-17 win on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals. Jalen Hurts threw a touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith with no interceptions and scored three rushing touchdowns, Saquon Barkley rushed for 108 yards, Smith scored a touchdown, and A.J. Brown had 84 receiving yards. On defense, the Eagles had a sack, an interception, and a fumble recovery. So far, the Eagles have gotten back on track to compete for the NFC East crown with their dominant running game and wide receiver duo of Smith and Brown.
Pittsburgh Steelers: B
The Steelers looked good at times in their 26-18 win over the New York Giants, even though the majority of the first half was a field goal battle. Russell Wilson threw a touchdown with no interceptions but lost a fumble, Najee Harris rushed for 114 yards, Calvin Austin III scored a receiving touchdown and had a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown. On defense, the Steelers had four sacks, a fumble recovery courtesy of T.J. Watt, and Beanie Bishop Jr. snagged the game-ending interception. A good night for the Steelers as they earn another win and take first place in the AFC North, for now, and head into a week nine bye.
San Francisco 49ers: B
Despite the team’s injury woes and slow start of their game, the 49ers emerged on top in their 30-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Brock Purdy threw a touchdown against no interceptions and scored a rushing touchdown, Issac Guerenod scored a rushing touchdown, George Kittle scored a touchdown, and Deebo Samuel had 71 receiving yards but left the game with a rib injury. On defense, the 49ers had two interceptions and two sacks. A well-needed win for the 49ers as they look to stay relevant in the ever-so-competitive NFC West.
Seattle Seahawks: D-
The Seahawks looked miserable as they were defeated by the Buffalo Bills 10-31 at home. Geno Smith threw an interception against no touchdowns, and the Seahawks’ rushing attack looked miserable as they were held to a combined 32 yards. Zach Charbonnet scored the only touchdown for this NFL team, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 69 receiving yards. On defense, the Seahawks had a sack and secured Josh Allen’s first interception of the 2024 season. A painful afternoon for the Seahawks as they have to rebound from this loss quickly and get focused on their week nine matchup against the Los Angeles Rams coming to town.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: D+
The Bucs didn’t play their best game, as they lost a close 26-31 battle against the Atlanta Falcons. Baker Mayfield threw three touchdowns against two interceptions, the Bucs’ rushing attack was held to a combined 102 rushing yards all game, Cade Otton stepped up and scored two touchdowns, and Rachaad White scored a touchdown. On defense, the Bucs had two sacks and no interceptions. Not having Mike Evans and Chris Godwin was felt, as the Bucs’ offense struggled without their presence, while the defense couldn’t get the stops they needed as they were swept by their division rivals.
Tennessee Titans: D
The Titans started the game competitively against the Detroit Lions but failed to keep up with them as they lost 14-52. Mason Rudolph threw a touchdown against two interceptions and scored a rushing touchdown, Tony Pollard rushed for 94 yards, Calvin Ridley had 143 receiving yards but lost a fumble, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine scored a touchdown. On defense, the Titans had four sacks and a pass deflection but no interceptions. A rough afternoon for the Titans, as they will now return home and host the New England Patriots for week nine.
Washington Commanders: A-
The Commanders had a wild Sunday, winning 18-15 against the Chicago Bears in walk-off fashion. Jayden Daniels played and threw a touchdown against no interceptions, Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for 65 yards, Terry McLaurin had 125 receiving yards, and Noah Brown scored the walk-off touchdown to seal the deal for the Commanders. On defense, the Commanders had two sacks and a fumble recovery. This Commanders’ team is truly something special, as Daniels looks more and more like an NFL Rookie of the Year candidate and has utilized all of the talent around him to play very effective football.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Defenses From WORST To FIRST After Week 7 Of The 2024 Season
