Week 8 of the NFL season delivered a series of stunning upsets and jaw-dropping performances that left fans reeling. From the Cleveland Browns’ shocking win over the Baltimore Ravens to the Detroit Lions’ demolition of the Tennessee Titans, here’s a look at the biggest surprises and most thrilling moments of the week.
Browns Stun Ravens Without Deshaun Watson
In a matchup few saw coming, backup quarterback Jameis Winston led the Cleveland Browns to a thrilling 29-24 victory over the high-flying Baltimore Ravens. With starter Deshaun Watson sidelined by injury, Winston threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner to rookie receiver Cedric Tillman with just 59 seconds left on the clock.
The win snapped a five-game losing streak for the 2-6 Browns and marked their highest-scoring output of the season. Winston’s performance eclipsed anything Watson has managed in his 19 starts with Cleveland over three seasons. The loss dropped the Ravens to 5-3, tightening the race in the competitive AFC North.
Lions Roar Past Helpless Titans
In another shocker, the Detroit Lions steamrolled the Tennessee Titans 52-14 behind a dominant offensive display. Quarterback Jared Goff threw three touchdown passes as the Lions scored the game’s first five touchdowns en route to improving their record to an NFC-best 6-1.
The Lions have now won five straight, averaging over 40 points per game during that stretch. The 52 points marked Detroit’s highest-scoring effort since putting up 55 against the Bears in 1997. Tennessee, meanwhile, dropped to a dismal 1-6 and looked utterly lost on both sides of the ball.
Eagles Soar, Bengals Stumble
The Philadelphia Eagles continued their impressive season, pounding the Cincinnati Bengals 37-17 behind four total touchdowns from dynamic quarterback Jalen Hurts. The Eagles have now won four of their last five to improve to 5-2, while the slumping Bengals fell to 3-5.
Hurts rushed for three scores and threw for another, racking up 273 total yards. The Eagles defense held the Bengals to just 58 rushing yards, an ongoing problem for Cincinnati. Philly has now won three straight and looks like a force in the NFC.
Patriots Stun Jets with Last-Second TD
The New England Patriots broke the New York Jets’ hearts, scoring the winning touchdown with just 22 seconds left to emerge with a 25-22 victory. Backup-turned-starter-turned-backup-again Jacoby Brissett led two fourth-quarter scoring drives after rookie Drake Maye left with a concussion.
Both the 2-6 Patriots and Jets look out of the playoff hunt, but New England at least ended its six-game skid. The Jets and future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Rodgers have now dropped five straight after a promising 2-1 start to the season.
Other Notable Results
- CJ Stroud threw for 285 yards and a TD to lead the Texans over the Colts
- Kyler Murray engineered a last-second game-winning drive to lift the Cardinals over the Dolphins
- Kirk Cousins threw four TD passes as the Falcons topped the Bucs
- Backup Malik Willis’ 51-yard pass set up the Packers’ winning field goal over the Jags
All told, it was a wild, upset-filled Week 8 in the NFL. With the season officially at its midpoint, the playoff races are starting to come into focus. But if this week proved anything, it’s to always expect the unexpected in this league. Any given Sunday, as they say.
