Week eight of the NFL delivered several dominant performances as the league’s leading Super Bowl hopefuls continued to strengthen their credentials. The Indianapolis Colts remain the team to beat at 7-1, while the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots extended their winning streaks to five games.
Rodgers Denied Perfect 32 Record
Aaron Rodgers faced his former team for the first time with a chance to join Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Brett Favre as the only quarterbacks to beat all 32 NFL franchises. But the Green Bay Packers had other plans.
Jordan Love produced 20 unanswered fourth-quarter points to secure a 35-25 win — Green Bay’s first in Pittsburgh since 1970. Love completed 20 consecutive passes in the second half, something Rodgers never achieved, and led four scoring drives to silence a Steelers side struggling defensively.
Packers fans will take confidence from omens: Love turns 27 next month — the age when Bart Starr, Brett Favre and Rodgers all lifted the Super Bowl.
Colts Charge Ahead as Pats and Broncos Keep Rolling
Jonathan Taylor continued his MVP-level season with his fourth touchdown hat-trick of the campaign, adding 153 rushing yards from just 12 carries to fuel a 38-14 win over Tennessee. The Colts have now scored 30+ points in six of eight games — a benchmark previously hit only by great Patriots and Broncos sides led by Brady and Manning.
Bo Nix threw four touchdowns in Denver’s 44-24 win over Dallas, while Patriots quarterback Drake Maye overcame five sacks from Myles Garrett to throw three scores in New England’s 32-13 victory over Cleveland.
Barkley Breakout & Jets’ Wild Comeback
Saquon Barkley powered the Eagles to revenge over the Giants with 150 rushing yards and four Jalen Hurts touchdown passes in a 38-20 win. Despite a groin concern, Barkley expects to recover over the bye week.
The New York Jets finally celebrated their first win — a dramatic 39-38 comeback against Cincinnati. Breece Hall ran in two touchdowns and threw the game-winner on a trick play, overturning a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit that snapped a 135-game losing streak for teams in that position.
Elsewhere, Baltimore beat Chicago 30-16 without Lamar Jackson, Miami shocked Atlanta 34-10, and Houston controlled San Francisco 26-15 to earn their third victory of the year.
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