Patrick Mahomes Eyeing History as Kansas City Chiefs Face Denver Broncos in NFL Week 8
Week 8 of the NFL season starts with an epic comeback victory by the Buffalo Bills over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers The action continues with thrilling matchups including Los Angeles Rams vs Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars vs Pittsburgh Steelers, and Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos Don't miss the excitement!
Week 8 of the NFL season commenced on Thursday as the Buffalo Bills staged an impressive comeback to secure a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The excitement persists with a collection of enthralling matchups taking place throughout the league on Sunday. Here's what to anticipate.
Los Angeles Rams @ Dallas Cowboys, 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX
In an exhilarating NFC showdown, the Dallas Cowboys are set to make their triumphant return to their home turf as they prepare to take on their formidable rivals, the Los Angeles Rams. The Cowboys, fuelled by their relentless determination, are poised to continue their astounding 10-game winning streak at home. On the other hand, the Rams, fervently seeking redemption after a controversial defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers, are prepared to unleash their full might in this captivating encounter.
With two minutes and 24 seconds left on the clock, the Steelers were leading by a touchdown. Quarterback Kenny Pickett decided to attempt a sneak on fourth-and-one, but it seemed like he fell short. If the Rams defense had indeed stopped Pickett, they would have regained possession of the ball and had the chance to possibly tie or win the game. However, the officials determined that Pickett had just barely made it past the line to gain.
This ruling ultimately secured the victory for Pittsburgh, as they were able to take a knee three times and effectively run out the remaining time on the clock.
Los Angeles, with no timeouts left, was unable to have head coach Sean McVay use a challenge flag to reassess the penalty.
Despite outwardly expressing his frustrations on the sidelines following the ruling, McVay shared with reporters after the game that he maintains optimism.
"The NFL challenges are truly what drive me," expressed McVay, "and I'm eagerly looking forward to tackling this particular challenge. Despite these setbacks, I perceive them as growth opportunities and I am determined to respond effectively."
The Cowboys enjoyed a bye in Week 7.
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
The Cowboys come into this week's conference matchup well-rested and focused following their Week 7 bye. Head coach Mike McCarthy stressed the significance of taking time off and recuperating during his recent conversation with reporters.
"The players' ability to mentally and emotionally disconnect is paramount," McCarthy stated. "Physically, it benefits all of them. It's evident from having a complete roster available for practice, which showcases the physical advantages of a bye week. My approach to the bye week has always been consistent – I try to give the players as much time off as possible."
This weekend's game is the first of five home games in a stretch of seven weeks for Dallas. If Dallas wins on Sunday, it will equal the franchise record for most consecutive wins at home. The last time Dallas accomplished an 11-game streak was in 1991-92 at Texas Stadium, almost two decades before the opening of AT&T Stadium.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Pittsburgh Steelers, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Trevor Lawrence looks to pass during the first half against the New Orleans Saints on October 19, 2023.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon in a matchup between two potential AFC playoff contenders. With similar records and showing strong performances, both teams have found their rhythm as the season progresses.
After the Steelers narrowly secured a contentious victory against the Rams in Week 7, head coach Mike Tomlin commended his team for their remarkable efforts, especially in the latter part of the game.
"As the game progressed, I observed our team adapting to the style of play we strive for. We successfully conquered crucial moments on both offense and defense," expressed Tomlin.
Tomlin's described late efforts have played a vital role in the Steelers' season-long success. Throughout six games, Pittsburgh has managed to score just two touchdowns in the first quarter, failing to generate any points during their initial and subsequent drives.
Recently, quarterback Kenny Pickett was questioned regarding his thoughts on the team's sluggish start.
"I cannot provide you with a definitive answer," Pickett responded. "There is some uncertainty surrounding the issue. It may be due to occasional misplacements, penalties, sacks, or runs with negative yardage that hinder our progress, and we deviate from our pre-planned plays."
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave warms up before the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on October 15, 2023.
Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Chris Olave, an NFL wide receiver, was recently arrested and charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle. Despite a challenging start to the season with a 1-2 record, the Jacksonville team has turned their fortunes around by winning their last four consecutive games. A notable factor in their recent winning streak is the exceptional performance of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who played a pivotal role in their hard-fought Thursday Night Football triumph against the Saints.
Lawrence's latest performance showcased his skill as he threw for 204 yards, completing 20 of his 29 passing attempts. Over the course of seven weeks, he has been consistently delivering with an average of 234.7 yards per game, along with eight touchdown passes and only three interceptions. Notably, Lawrence's impressive QB rating of 60.6 surpasses that of Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett by almost double (35.5).
Expressing his enthusiasm earlier this week, Lawrence eagerly awaits the upcoming game on Sunday, as it will mark his debut in Pittsburgh.
"I'm thrilled! It's a definite must-do to play in impressive stadiums, historic locations, and of course, Pittsburgh - their entire organization radiates a fascinating vibe," Lawrence expressed to journalists.
"You can always count on Pittsburgh to have a formidable team every year, known for their physicality, stellar defense, and impressive offensive performance. That's simply what you can expect from them."
Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS
Patrick Mahomes high fives fans as he leaves the field after the game against the Los Angeles Chargers on October 22, 2023.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
The Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos will go head-to-head in a rematch during the late afternoon slate. This will be their second encounter within a span of 18 days, as they previously faced off on Thursday Night Football in Week 6.
In their last match, the Chiefs emerged victorious, extending their impressive winning streak against their AFC West rivals to 16 consecutive victories. The Broncos, on the other hand, have not been able to defeat the Chiefs since 2015 and have never tasted victory over Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
If Mahomes triumphs once more on Sunday, he will be remembered for etching his name in history as the inaugural quarterback to have an unbeaten record of 13-0 against a particular adversary.
The Broncos are determined to put an end to this potentially historic run at Empower Field at Mile High. Riding high on their recent heart-stopping win against the Green Bay Packers, which also stood as their first home triumph in the Sean Payton era.
Denver will not only face the usual challenges of playing against a divisional rival but will also have to deal with the absence of star safety Kareem Jackson, who has been suspended for unnecessary roughness violations. As a result, P.J. Locke will fill in as the Broncos' starting safety. Locke's contribution was crucial in the team's victory against the Packers last week, as he made a crucial interception that secured the eventual win.
Schedule
SundayÂ
Houston Texans @ Carolina Panthers, 1:00 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Rams @ Dallas Cowboys, 1:00 p.m. ET
Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers, 1:00 p.m. ET
New Orleans Saints @ Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 p.m. ET
New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins, 1:00 p.m. ET
New York Jets @ New York Giants, 1:00 p.m. ET
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Pittsburgh Steelers, 1:00 p.m. ET
Atlanta Falcons @ Tennessee Titans, 1:00 p.m. ET
Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Commanders, 1:00 p.m. ET
Cleveland Browns @ Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. ET
Baltimore Ravens @ Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET
Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET
Cincinnati Bengals @ San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET
Chicago Bears @ Los Angeles Chargers, 8:20 p.m. ET
Monday
Las Vegas Raiders @ Detroit Lions, 7.15 p.m. ET
How to Watch
Heres how to catch these teams in action, from wherever you are.
Australia: NFL+, ESPN, 7Plus
Brazil: NFL+, ESPN
Canada: NFL+, CTV, TSN, RDS
Germany: NFL+, ProSieben MAXX, DAZN
Mexico: NFL+, TUDN, ESPN, Fox Sports, We
UK: NFL+, We, ITV, Channel 5
US: NFL+, CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN, Amazon Prime
