NFL Week 8 prime storylines: Tua and Bryce Younger are again; DeAndre Hopkins makes Chiefs debut

And similar to that, the NFL has nearly reached the midpoint of the 2024 season.

By now, the pecking orders amongst each conferences have largely been established. You might have the elites just like the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens within the AFC and the Detroit Lions within the NFC, and one other cluster of intriguing front-runners (for now) just like the Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Payments, Inexperienced Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders.

There’s a gaggle of projected playoff groups just like the Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons, who nonetheless have some issues to type out. There are groups just like the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who’re combating to beat accidents whereas hoping to maintain playoff hopes alive. After which there’s everyone else: A cluster of groups hovering round .500 and praying for improved fortunes, or basement-dwellers who can already start planning for roster overhauls.

The motion kicked off Thursday in Los Angeles, the place the Vikings misplaced 30-20 to the Los Angeles Rams, who bought extensive receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua again from accidents and 4 touchdowns from Matthew Stafford.

Sunday’s slate options eight early video games, 5 late-afternoon contests after which the Sunday night time showdown between the determined Cowboys and host 49ers. Monday night time’s Giants-Steelers matchup (who thought New York deserved a prime-time slot?) wraps all of it up.

Listed below are 5 of probably the most intriguing storylines throughout the league in Week 8. (Discover the total schedule right here.)

1. Eagles, Bengals momentum shifts

After sluggish and troubling begins to the season, the Eagles and Bengals lastly appear to be trending in the fitting path. Philadelphia has overcome early accidents, and the revamped offensive and defensive items appear to be discovering their identities. The Eagles have improved to 4-2 and Sunday search their first win streak of a minimum of three video games since 2023, after they gained 5 in a row from Weeks 7 to 12. The Bengals have improved to 3-4 after a 1-4 injury-plagued and disjointed begin to the season. Is it a coincidence that each groups’ two-game win streaks got here towards the Browns and Giants?

The Bengals and Eagles are about to search out out if the spike in offensive firepower and improved resistance on protection stem from cohesion and execution, or if the issues that plagued them in the course of the first month of the season stay. A Philadelphia victory would assist nudge Nick Sirianni’s staff additional up the NFC East standings, the place they path Washington (5-2). Cincinnati hopes to climb above the .500 mark earlier than a Week 10 rematch at Baltimore. (Eagles at Bengals, 1 p.m. ET Sunday.)

Tua Tagovailoa hasn’t performed since struggling a concussion in Week 2. (Sam Navarro / Imagn Photographs)

Six weeks after he suffered the third identified concussion of his NFL profession, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returns to motion Sunday at house towards the Arizona Cardinals. The Dolphins have missed their franchise quarterback within the worst approach, shedding three of their final 4 video games, or 4 of 5 in case you depend the Week 2 first half through which Tagovailoa was injured. Their offense, so high-powered in Mike McDaniel’s first two seasons as coach, has averaged simply 10 factors a recreation with out Tagovailoa. Tyreek Hill, thought to be probably the most harmful weapons in soccer, has only one landing catch and 294 receiving yards in six video games.

Tagovailoa dismissed outdoors considerations about subjecting himself to a different concussion and the way such an damage would impression him. He professed an timeless love for the sport, and dedication to his teammates. If the Dolphins can hold Tagovailoa on the sector, their hopes of rivalry would seemingly return. Though 2-4, they rank second within the AFC East behind 5-2 Buffalo, and so they maintain the tenth spot in a convention that presently options solely seven groups with successful data.

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Hill advised reporters earlier this week, “We’re again, child! Strike up the f—ing band!” However is it sensible to anticipate Tagovailoa to immediately ignite his staff towards the 3-4 Cardinals, or will he have some rust to knock off? Hill is questionable for Sunday with a foot damage. And once more, query No. 1 is whether or not Tagovailoa can stay on the sector. (Cardinals at Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET Sunday.)

As soon as-prized Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Younger returns to the beginning lineup Sunday towards the host Denver Broncos, six weeks after coach Dave Canales benched him in favor of veteran Andy Dalton. Dalton is nursing a sprained thumb after a automobile accident, besides, it is smart for the Panthers to offer the 2023 prime choose one other shot. Canales initially hoped Younger might be taught from watching a veteran direct an offense whereas Dalton elevated Carolina’s possibilities of competing. However the Panthers have misplaced 4 straight behind Dalton and, at 1-6, devoid of expertise at many key positions and among the many NFL’s worst groups in lots of statistical classes, the rookie head coach can abandon any hope of a dramatic turnaround.

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Andy Dalton is OK. Bryce Younger will get one other begin. Who is aware of what occurs subsequent?

Two video games weren’t sufficient for Younger to actually even settle into a brand new offense after seeing scarce preseason motion. Canales says Younger “has been an absolute stud” in observe since his benching. So, the Panthers want to offer him some motion now to see if he has the flexibility to spearhead this franchise turnaround as they believed after they drafted him over C.J. Stroud final season.

Finest case, Younger, who threw three interceptions, no touchdowns and accomplished simply 56.9 p.c of his passes for a mixed 299 yards in two video games, is available in and shows a greater really feel for the sport and eases considerations that Carolina made a mistake in drafting him. Nevertheless, if staff decision-makers have already determined they erred with Younger, they’d do nicely to play him now on the off probability he exhibits sufficient promise to immediate a commerce provide for him forward of the Nov. 5 deadline. (Panthers at Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday.)

Caleb Williams returns to his native D.C. space to face the Commanders. (Kirby Lee / Imagn Photographs)

Soccer gods keen, the highest two picks of this yr’s draft will meet for the primary time. Caleb Williams leads his Chicago Bears to Washington, the place they are going to lay their three-game win streak on the road towards the 5-2 Commanders and (maybe) quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Daniels, the No. 2 choose, suffered a rib damage early in final week’s win over Carolina and watched the majority of the sport from the sideline. He’s listed as questionable and whereas he didn’t observe Wednesday or Thursday, on Friday he was a restricted participant. He has set the tone for the Commanders, who’re tied with the Ravens for first within the league in scoring (31.1 factors per recreation). Daniels leads the NFL with a completion share of 75.6 and has thrown six touchdowns and simply two interceptions whereas speeding for 4 extra.

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Williams, in the meantime, has began to appear to be the star the Bears thought they had been getting after they chosen him first general. He has accomplished 74.1 p.c of his passes with seven landing passes and only one interception on this three-game win streak and a once-sputtering Bears offense has outscored opponents by a median of 17 factors per recreation.

The Bears are 4-2 in a sizzling NFC North that features Detroit (5-1), Minnesota (5-2) and Inexperienced Bay (5-2). In the meantime, Washington hopes to take care of its edge within the NFC East over a surging Philadelphia. (Bears at Commanders, 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday.)

Few groups have encountered injury-related adversity as a lot because the Chiefs, who this week positioned a 3rd extensive receiver on injured reserve, with a fourth additionally sidelined. But one way or the other, the defending Tremendous Bowl champions stay the NFL’s final undefeated staff at 6-0. Kansas Metropolis at all times has an opportunity with Patrick Mahomes below middle and with its protection ranked among the many finest within the NFL. Nevertheless, the Chiefs badly want reinforcements on offense and simply could have discovered their man in DeAndre Hopkins.

Wednesday, they acquired the five-time Professional Bowl and three-time All-Professional choice from the Tennessee Titans hoping he can staff with Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy to assist restore improved big-play capability and consistency to their offense. After posting the seventh 1,000-yard season of his profession in 2023, Hopkins has endured a attempting begin to the 2024 marketing campaign. Paired with Tennessee quarterback Will Levis, who has handed for simply 699 yards, 5 touchdowns and 7 interceptions this season, Hopkins has 15 catches for 173 yards and a landing. At 32, Hopkins lacks the explosiveness he boasted throughout his prime, however he stays an efficient route-runner and might nonetheless win 50-50 balls as he at all times has.

Hopkins’ information of the Chiefs’ offense might be restricted Sunday when the Chiefs go to the hapless Raiders, but when anybody can rapidly place a participant for achievement, it’s Andy Reid. (Chiefs at Raiders, 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday.)

(Prime picture of Bryce Younger: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Photographs)