NFL Weekly Review/Preview: Injuries, Injuries, Injuries

We are now past the halfway point of the NFL regular season. Maybe it was just me, but last week seemed brutal. There were numerous big hits and bad injuries, including Reggie Bush tearing his MCL, Steve Smith tearing his Achilles, Le'Veon Bell tearing his ACL, and Matt Forte injuring his MCL. Numerous other players are banged up and have been all season. Many teams have lost starting quarterbacks, running backs, or wide receivers for periods of time due to injury. Let's hope for less injuries this week.

Week 8 Review

Top Games

3. Buccaneers 23, Falcons 20, OT

The Bucs went into the Superdome and upset the Falcons despite giving up a 17-point lead. Jameis Winston showed great strides, finishing 16-29 passing with 177 yards and a touchdown and adding 3 carries for 24 yards and a touchdown rushing. But the real MVP may have been rookie linebacker Kwon Alexander, who led the team in tackles (11), recovered a fumble, and had an interception just two days after his 17-year-old brother was killed. 

2. Colts 26, Panthers 29, OT

Just like the Bucs, the Panthers gave up a 17-point lead but emerged victorious. They won in overtime on a Graham Gano 52-yard field goal after picking off Andrew Luck. Luck continued to struggle, throwing three interceptions.

1. Giants 49, Saints 52

Drew Brees just threw another touchdown pass as I was typing this. Brees tied an NFL record with seven touchdown passes Sunday (along with 505 yards and two interceptions), while his counterpart, Eli Manning, threw six touchdown passes (along with 350 yards and no interceptions). Odell Beckham Jr. had 130 yards and three touchdown catches. In the end, though, Brees won the touchdown war and the game, thanks to a last-second 50-yard field goal from newly-acquired Kai Forbath.

Top Performances

Saints QB Drew Brees vs. Giants (W 52-49): 39-50, 505 yards, 7 TD, 2 INT

Brees tied an NFL record with seven touchdown passes, continuing a strong season sans Jimmy Graham.

Rams RB Todd Gurley vs. San Francisco (W 27-6): 20 rushes, 133 yards, TD

The rookie cannot be stopped. He is the best running back to enter the league since Adrian Peterson (and may be better). He had his fourth straight triple digit yardage total Sunday.

Panthers LB Luke Kuechly vs. Indianapolis (W 29-26 OT): 14 tackles, INT

Kuechly was his usual self Monday night, amassing tackles and terrorizing offenses. He also had an interception in overtime that led to a game-winning field goal.

Play of the Week

The Bengals were down 10-6 to Pittsburgh with just over five minutes to play, and the Steelers had the ball. Ben Roethlisberger rolled out away from pressure, set his feet, pointed to a receiver, and threw. It was picked by Cincy cornerback Shawn Williams on a great diving play. That helped the Bengals come out with a 16-10 win and remain unbeaten.

Play of the Weak

This just made me laugh. It's Ravens kicker Justin Tucker celebrating after kicking a 39-yard field goal as time expired to beat the Chargers.

Week 9 Preview

Quick Picks (home team listed last)

Last Week: 10-4

Overall: 70-38

Byes: Lions, Chiefs, Cardinals, Seahawks, Ravens, Texans

Browns 21, Bengals 35 (Thursday, 8:25 PM, NFL Network)

Game to Watch: Packers 32, Panthers 27 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)

The Panthers look to stay undefeated against a team looking to bounce back from their first loss last week. The headlines will be the Packers offense vs. the Panthers defense and Aaron Rodgers vs. Cam Newton.

Redskins 14, Patriots 38 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)

Titans 24, Saints 28 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)

Dolphins 30, Bills 28 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)

Rams 26, Vikings 24 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)

Jaguars 28, Jets 24 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)

Raiders 34, Steelers 21 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)

Giants 42, Buccaneers 38 (Sunday, 4:05 PM, FOX)

Falcons 48, 49ers 24 (Sunday, 4:05 PM, FOX)

Broncos 28, Colts 17 (Sunday, 4:25 PM, CBS)

Eagles 38, Cowboys 35 (Sunday, 8:30 PM, NBC)

Bears 23, Chargers 26 (Monday, 8:30 PM, ESPN)

My Fantasy Sleepers

Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston and WR Mike Evans vs. Giants

The improving rookie quarterback and his best receiver face a Giant defense that allowed seven touchdown passes to Drew Brees last week. Winston won't throw seven, but he'll have a very favorable matchup.

Steelers RB DeAngelo Williams vs. Oakland and Titans RB Antonio Andrews @ New Orleans

Williams takes over as Pittsburgh's primary ball carrier once again with Le'Veon Bell out. During Bell's two-game suspension at the beginning of the season, Williams ran for 204 total yards and three touchdowns. After Ken Wisenhunt was fired earlier this week, interim head coach Mike Mularkey said Andrews will be the Titans' workhorse at running back, and he'll go up against the Saints' poor defense Sunday.

Browns WR Travis Benjamin @ Cincinnati and Chargers WR Malcolm Floyd vs. Chicago

Johnny Manziel is starting for the Browns tonight, which is good news for Benjamin owners. In the game Manziel started plus the game he came in for Josh McCown after the first drive in, Benjamin had 204 yards receiving and three touchdowns. In the other six games combined, Benjamin only has one receiving touchdown. Floyd is now Phillip Rivers' top target with Keenan Allen out, and the Bears are not very good at defending the pass.

My Fantasy Busts

Colts Offense vs. Denver

I wouldn't advise starting any Colts offensive players against Denver's stifling defense (a defense that held Aaron Rodgers to 77 yards last week), especially with Andrew Luck struggling.

Browns QB Johnny Manziel @ Cincinnati and 49ers QB Blaine Gabbert vs. Falcons

Don't get cute. I'd love to see these two backups-turned-starters play well, but they will more than likely struggle. Starting one of these two is a shot in the dark.

Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Jacksonville and Jaguars QB Blake Bortles vs. NY Jets

Fitzpatrick has a torn ligament in his thumb, and Bortles faces a dangerous pass defense.