Week 8 of the 2019 NFL Season has come and gone, and we’re even closer to the midway point of the season. There were some unexpected results, shocking performances, and a little bit of good old-fashioned drama in a weekend of football that didn’t disappoint.
Now, it’s time to take a look at the biggest winners of Week 8 of this NFL season.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles were one of the biggest winners in Week 8 after storming past the Buffalo Bills in a 31-13 blowout on the road on Sunday.
The Eagles’ defense held strong and running back Jordan Howard had a big day, rushing for 96 yards and a touchdown, to take down one of the strongest teams in the league so far this season. It was the first time all season that Buffalo allowed more than 21 points in a game.
Most importantly for the Eagles, they now find themselves back in the midst of the NFC East division race. After looking dead in the water earlier in the season, Philly now only trails the Cowboys by half a game for the division lead.
Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins might not have been expected to be much more than a game manager after being acquired by the Minnesota Vikings over the offseason, but his recent performances including a big day in his team’s 19-9 win over Washington are proving that he’s more than that.
Cousins was nearly perfect on Sunday, completing 23 of 26 passes for 285 yards and zero interceptions. He was able to gain a measure of revenge against the team that gave up on him during the last offseason, and he’s showing himself to be more than capable as the head man of the 6-2 Vikings.
Drew Brees
Another quarterback that came to play on Sunday was Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who put up video game-like numbers in a 31-9 win over the Cardinals.
Brees, who returned from a torn thumb ligament to throw for 374 yards and 3 touchdowns, torched the hapless Cardinals defense that could do little to stop him.
Parts of New Orleans’ fanbase had wondered if Teddy Bridgewater would be the better man for the job after his strong performances during the veteran quarterback’s absence, but he put those doubts to rest on Sunday.
Fans of AFC South Teams
The most wide-open division in the NFL right now, without a doubt, is the AFC South.
After the division’s teams went 4-0 over the weekend, all of the teams now have at least a .500 record and a legitimate shot at both winning the division and making the playoffs.
The “cellar-dwelling” Titans and Jaguars are both 4-4 and find themselves within a game and a half of the division-leading Colts. Hot on Indianapolis’ heels are the Texans, who won in dramatic fashion on Sunday to move to 5-3. These teams’ fans can rejoice in the fact that their playoff dreams are still very much alive.
