5 Things We Learned About Week 8 In The NFL

By Monte Perez

We are halfway through the Season. When it comes to the NFL…

I will quote Niobe from The Matrix Reloaded…”Because some things change, and some things never do.”

5) The Lions once again picked the wrong coach:

Detroit is ranked 32nd in the NFL, giving up 431 yards per game, and are 32nd in the NFL giving up 32.1 points per contest. Dan Campbell has been horrible at coaching this team. They have no identity, they have no structure, and no game plan week to week. The Lions should have won 3 or 4 games this season. They have taken the lead in several games yet blow it in the 2nd half. He makes no adjustments and the play-calling is head-scratching at times. Campbell is now, 4-19-1 as the team’s head coach. He will be fired this season.

4) Is Geno Smith the MVP of the NFL?

Geno Smith was a part-time starter and backup quarterback for a decade. The Seattle Seahawks are in 1st place in the NFC West. Smith has completed 72% of his passes, 13 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. He has full command of this offense and is playing like an all-pro. We have never seen a quarterback sit for 10 years and come in and play this well. Smith makes accurate passes in tight windows and his players love him. This is not only the feel-good story of the year, it is the feel-good story of the decade. If the Seahawks make the playoffs, Pete Carroll should win Coach of the Year and Smith should get MVP votes. No one saw them winning more than 5 games this season.

3) No one is talking about the Minnesota Vikings:

The Vikings are 6-1. They could win 13 or 14 games this season. The Bears are rebuilding, the Lions are incompetent and the Packers are a ship that is sinking every week. As long as he does not play at night, Kirk Cousins plays well. He is completing 66% of his passes, has 11 touchdowns, and is averaging 247.7 yards per game. As a team they are averaging 4.6 yards per rushing attempt. Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen have  87 catches on the season and they just acquired TJ Hockenson from the Lions. If the Eagles stumble, Minnesota could have the best record in the NFL.

2) The Miami Dolphins offense is scary:

Tua Tagovailoa is 5-0 this season when he starts and finishes a game. He is the only quarterback in the NFL with a QB rating of over 112. Jaylen Waddle has been spectacular and Tyreek Hill is better now than he was in Kansas City. The Dolphins’ running game has been less than average. They are only averaging 88.1 rushing yards per contest. This team is not perfect but they will make the playoffs and no one wants to face Mike McDaniel’s offense. 

1) Are the San Francisco 49ers now the favorite in the NFC?

Christian McCaffrey became the first player since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2005 to throw for, run for, and catch a touchdown in the same game. The 49ers dominated the LA Rams on Sunday 31-14.  When healthy, the 49ers have McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle. Is that enough to get Jimmy Garoppolo a Super Bowl ring?