The 7th Report Weekly Recap: NFL Regular Season Week 8

NFL regular season
JuJu Smith-Schuster torches the Lions defense for a 97-yard touchdown in the Steelers vs. Lions week eight NFL regular season matchup (Rick Osentoski/AP Photo)

Did you miss me last week? No worries! Grab a cup of coffee and hang on.

The NFL regular season is roughly halfway through and we can agree that the 2017 season has started strangely, yes? Injuries, uncertainties, and bad teams winning continue to confuse us. Let me remind you that the NFL is still “any given Sunday”.

Get your NFL fill here. The “one-stop shop” for all things that interest you around the league (except for fantasy football because that’s dumb luck anyway, right?)

Let’s take a look at this week’s recap.

NFL Week Eight Injuries

This week is no different as the gruesome injuries continue to stockpile. Read about every major injury from week eight here.

Here is an update on Zach Miller’s knee:

Stay posted for more updates.

Week Eight Awards

Offensive Player of the Week: Russell Wilson – QB – Seattle Seahawks

Russell Wilson played out of his mind on Sunday. Also factored in this award is his game-winning touchdown drive with time winding down.

Defensive Player of the Week: Joe Schobert – MLB – Cleveland Browns

The Browns didn’t play well defensively, but this young man recorded 11 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble.

Offensive Honorable Mentions:
DeAndre Hopkins – WR – Houston Texans (8 catches for 224 yards and 1 touchdown)
JuJu Smith-Schuster – WR – Pittsburgh Steelers (7 catches for 193 yards and 1 touchdown)
LeSean McCoy – RB – Buffalo Bills (27 rushes for 151 yards and 1 touchdown; 6 catches for 22 yards)

Defensive Honorable Mentions:
Jadeveon Clowney – OLB – Houston Texans (4 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble)
Carlos Dunlap – DE –Cincinnati Bengals (3 tackles, 1 interception, 1 touchdown, 1 sack)
Marcus Peters – CB – Kansas City Chiefs (2 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery)

Best Plays from the Weekend

Here are the best plays from week eight.

And they say that defensive back’s can’t catch a football…

You are about to watch the longest play in Steelers history.

Russell Wilson sure does throw a pretty long-ball.

DeAndre Hopkins left every Seahawks defender in the dust.

Melvin Gordon takes it 82 yards to the house!

What fantastic body awareness by Andre Holmes.

Carlos Dunlap is a big, big man.

I don’t know which is better – the catch or the celebration.

Phenomenal ball placement by Matt Ryan and equally impressive hand strength by Mohamed Sanu Sr. on this touchdown reception.

According to the NFL, here are their best plays of the weekend.

Updated Divisional Standings

Here are the current NFL divisional standings.

AFC East

  1. New England Patriots (6-2)
  2. Buffalo Bills (5-2)
  3. Miami Dolphins (4-3)
  4. New York Jets (3-5)

AFC West

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (6-2)
  2. Denver Broncos (3-4)
  3. Los Angeles Chargers (3-5)
  4. Oakland Raiders (3-5)

AFC North

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
  2. Baltimore Ravens (4-4)
  3. Cincinnati Bengals (3-4)
  4. Cleveland Browns (0-8)

AFC South

  1. Tennessee Titans (4-3)
  2. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3)
  3. Houston Texans (3-4)
  4. Indianapolis Colts (2-6)

NFC East

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (7-1)
  2. Dallas Cowboys (4-3)
  3. Washington Redskins (3-4)
  4. New York Giants (1-6)

NFC West

  1. Seattle Seahawks (5-2)
  2. Los Angeles Rams (5-2)
  3. Arizona Cardinals (3-4)
  4. San Francisco 49ers (0-8)

NFC North

  1. Minnesota Vikings (6-2)
  2. Green Bay Packers (4-3)
  3. Detroit Lions (3-4)
  4. Chicago Bears (3-5)

NFC South

  1. New Orleans Saints (5-2)
  2. Carolina Panthers (5-3)
  3. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
  4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-5)

News Around the NFL

Bob McNair’s Shameful Comments

Last week, the Texans owner had a few choice words when discussing kneeling in the NFL. Once Jerry Jones was through giving his thoughts on why it should be mandated that players stand for the National Anthem, Bob McNair was quoted saying “We can’t have inmates running the prison”.

Poor choice of words on his part.

In response to this comment, Texans’ players chose to kneel during the National Anthem – all but 10 knelt according to John McClain.

49ers Trade for Jimmy Garoppolo

New England traded Jimmy Garoppolo to San Francisco for a 2018 2nd round pick. Now, the Patriots don’t have a backup quarterback on their active roster or on their practice squad. Who will they sign?

According to Will Cain, gives us a great perspective on what NFL GM’s are thinking.

For those that think the Patriots are done making moves, don’t be surprised if they add another wrinkle in before the trade deadline later this afternoon.

Is there a chance they sign Colin Kaepernick?

Martellus Bennett Announces Potential Retirement 

Just two days ago, Bennett pinned an Instagram post that he is ready to be done with football. To read the full post, click here.

Bennett has the potential and talent to continue playing, but it appears his heart is elsewhere. He entered the league in 2008 as a second-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys.

Texans Deal Duane Brown to the Seahawks

The trade deadline hits this afternoon at 4 PM eastern. Last night, the Seahawks traded away CB Jeremy Lane, a 2018 5th round draft pick, and a 2019 2nd round draft pick for Texans OT Duane Brown. Brown has one more year left on his contract after this season.

For those of you who don’t know who Duane Brown his, he held out of training camp and the entire offseason for the Texans. His total holdout was seven weeks and acquired salary fines up to $3.87 million. And that does not include if the team fines him or not.

Regardless, Brown is a major upgrade for this atrocious Seahawks offensive line. If the Seahawks have any hope of sniffing the Super Bowl, they need to establish a run game and protect Russell Wilson.

Ezekiel Elliott Suspension Effective Immediately

This has been an absolute roller coaster.

Late last night, Judge Failla denied the injunction request by Ezekiel Elliott and Elliott has 24 hours before he is suspended immediately. Once the 24 hour time period is over, he will serve his entire six-game suspension.

Here is a video for more clarity.

Unless Elliott’s camp has another trick up their sleeve, the Cowboys are without their star running back for the next six games. Tough sledding for a team that currently sits a game above .500.

Interesting Statistics From Around the League

Want to impress someone with your knowledge? Check these interesting statistics from week eight.

The 7th Report: Mini-Mailbag

What did you have for me regarding week eight?

“Who is the next coach at Florida?” – Justin Hunton via Facebook

HH: Thank you for the question, Justin. Just yesterday, a friend of mine suggested Dan Mullen from Mississippi State and cited his relationship with Scott Stricklin (UF’s new AD; former Miss St AD). I think that would be a great fit as Mullen saw tremendous success at Mississippi State and the resources are much deeper at Florida than State. Another name floating out there is Chip Kelly – and think Gator fans would love this hire. Both coaches are quarterback guru’s, but if I were Scott Stricklin, I would pull the trigger on Chip Kelly. Imagine his team with the athletes that Florida can produce.

“If you’re starting an NFL franchise tomorrow, who do you take at QB: Carson Wentz or Deshaun Watson?” – Ben Hansen via Facebook 

HH: Wow, great question, Ben. Both are fantastic quarterbacks, and if I was starting a franchise today, I would be happy with either. To answer your question, I would take Carson Wentz because of games played in the NFL. I think both players ceilings are tremendously high. When you draft a quarterback, you draft his character. Both Watson and Wentz have impeccable character, but Wentz has the advantage of an extra year under his belt.

Thank you for your questions! If you want your questions answered in next week’s “mini-mailbag”, tweet them to @the7threport. See you at the same time for week nine of the NFL regular season.

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