NFL Week 8 highlights: Chargers best Bears; Eagles, Vikings, Seahawks, Jets win
Week 8 of the NFL came with some all-important matchups Sunday as we close in on the halfway mark of the 2023 season.
Highlighting the early window on FOX, football fans got to see Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud — the top two picks in this year's draft — face off for the first time when Carolina beat Houston for its first win of the season. Here's what was to expect. Elsewhere, Jacksonville beat Pittsburgh on the road, as Trevor Lawrence experienced "the little yellow towels" for the first time.
Closing out the evening, Los Angeles Chargers topped the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football behind three TDs from Justin Herbert.
Here are the top moments!
FINAL: Los Angeles Chargers 30, Chicago Bears 13
Droppin' dimes
Tyson Bagent's first throw of the game was a beauty to Darnell Mooney down the right sideline.
Mr. Touchdown
Since 2021, no player has found the end zone more often than Austin Ekeler. This catch-and-run marked his 40th in the past three seasons.
What a time!
Simi Fehoko hadn't played an offensive snap before Sunday's contest, and he, of all receivers, pulled in Justin Herbert's second TD pass to put L.A. up 14-0. Herbert completed his first 11 passes for 120 yards and the two scores to open the game.
Stolen goods
The Chargers defense got their Kodak moment after Ja'Sir Taylor swiped a Tyson Bagent throw. The pick led to a field goal for L.A.
Hit the outside
Darrynton Evans burst to the outside with a blazing speed on this dart to score the Bears first TD. His scamper capped a 14-play, 75-yard drive for Chicago that lasted seven minutes and three seconds.
He's unconscious!
This Herbert guy, huh? With the help of another impactful screen to Ekeler, the Chargers went right back down the field following Chicago's first TD, taking a 24-7 edge before the half.
Not gonna happen
Desperate for answers late in the third, the Bears opted to go for it on fourth down. But the Chargers defense did not budge, as the Joey Bosa came up with an enormous stop to return the ball to his offense.
Bolt!
The Chargers kept their voltage high in the fourth. Derwin James got in on the defensive party by thwarting this 4th-and-3 try with an interception.
Lost baggage
The Chargers were sure-handed all night, but mishandled the ball midway through the fourth, relinquishing possession to Chicago. The Bears capitalized on the fumble by turning it into a TD, courtesy of this tush push.
FINAL: Seattle Seahawks 24, Cleveland Browns 20
Seahawks score first
Wide receiver Jake Bobo got the call on the run and slammed in a 3-yard Seahawks score.
Seahawks capitalize
Six plays after the Seahawks recovered a fumble, Geno Smith got out of a sack and hit wide receiver Tyler Lockett in the back of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown.
Browns arrive
P.J. Wallker got the ball out to David Njoku, and the tight end thundered into the end zone for an 18-yard Browns score.
Power football
Kareem Hunt powered in a one-yard score on the ground, pulling the Browns to within three.
Late lead change!
Five plays after Seahawks safety Julian Love came down with an interception, Smith hit wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who ran into the end zone for a go-ahead, 9-yard touchdown with 38 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
FINAL: Denver Broncos 24, Kansas City Chiefs 9
Running it in
Russell Wilson got the ball out to Javonte Williams near the goal line, and the running back got into the end zone for the early Broncos score.
Broncos grooving
Three plays after the Broncos recovered a fumble, Wilson hit wide receiver Jerry Jeudy in the back of the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown.
Let Russ cook
Wilson found wide receiver Courtland Sutton in the back of the end zone for a 6-yard score, giving the Broncos a 21-9 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Broncos D closes it out
Faced with a fourth-and-27, Patrick Mahomes was intercepted by Broncos safety Justin Simmons. Denver later got a field goal.
FINAL: Cincinnati Bengals 31, San Francisco 49ers 17
On a line
Joe Burrow hit wide receiver Tyler Boyd for a 7-yard Bengals touchdown.
Guess who?
Eight plays later, Christian McCaffrey got the 49ers on the board with a 2-yard rushing score.
Making a play
Trying to buy time, Burrow, going to his right, hit wide receiver Andrei Iosivas on the right side of the end zone for another Bengals score.
The bank is open
One play after Brock Purdy threw his second interception in as many passes, Burrow hooked up with wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase for a 17-yard touchdown.
Back in it
Purdy helped orchestrate a 10-play touchdown drive, ending with him hitting McCaffrey for a 4-yard score. San Francisco trailed 24-17 with 8:12 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Cincinnati gets it back
On the 10th play of the following possession, Joe Mixon ran in a 5-yard touchdown, getting the Bengals back up two scores.
FINAL: Baltimore Ravens 31, Arizona Cardinals 24
Smack it in
On the 12th play of the opening possession, Joshua Dobbs snuck in a goal-line score for the Cardinals.
The connection
On the 10th play of the following possession, Lamar Jackson found tight end Mark Andrews in the back of the end zone for a 5-yard score.
Ravens punch it in
Six plays after defensive back Brandon Stephens picked off Dobbs, running back Gus Edwards knocked in a goal-line score for the Ravens, giving them a 14-7 lead at halftime.
The Gus train
Three plays after safety Geno Stone intercepted Dobbs, Edwards ran in a 7-yard score, his second of the game. Baltimore led 21-7.
You WILL reach the end zone!
Cardinals tight end Trey McBride came down with a reception near the goal line, and his teammates were determined to get him in the end zone. Arizona then converted a two-point attempt.
FINAL: Philadelphia Eagles 38, Washington Commanders 31
Commanders strike
On the third play of Washington's second possession, Sam Howell connected with wide receiver Terry McLaurin for a 26-yard touchdown.
Commanders O rolling
After holding Philadelphia to a field goal, Washington got its second touchdown. On the 10th play of the drive, Howell connected with wide receiver Jahan Dotson on a 21-yard touchdown.
Absurd TD grab!
Shortly before halftime, Jalen Hurts threw it up for A.J. Brown near the pylon, and the wide receiver pulled off a sensational one-handed touchdown grab for Philadelphia's first touchdown.
From DEEP!
Joey Slye drained a 61-yard field goal for the Commanders before halftime.
Just throw it up
Hurts threw it up for Brown, and the star wideout came down with another touchdown, this one going for 25 yards.
Commanders respond
Washington got the lead back on the ensuing possession. On the 14th play of the drive, Howell hooked up with tight end Logan Thomas for a 7-yard touchdown.
Back and forth
On the seventh play of the ensuing possession, Hurts found an open DeVonta Smith for a 38-yard touchdown.
Lead change
Two plays after safety Reed Blankenship intercepted Howell, the Eagles took their first lead of the game as Hurts hit wide receiver Julio Jones for an 8-yard touchdown.
FINAL: Minnesota Vikings 24, Green Bay Packers 10
Vikings break the ice
Minnesota scored the first points of the game late in the first quarter when Cam Akers ran in a 6-yard score.
TJ TD
The Vikings stretched their lead to two scores when Kirk Cousins hit tight end T.J. Hockenson in the back of the end zone for a two-yard touchdown.
Taking control
One play after Vikings safety Josh Metellus intercepted Jordan Love, Cousins hit wide receiver Jordan Addison for a 20-yard score. The Vikings led 24-3.
Cousins out
Minnesota's quarterback left the game early in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury and was ruled out. Jaren Hall came in at quarterback.
FINAL: Dallas Cowboys 43, Los Angeles Rams 20
A dime
On the 10th play of the opening possession, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott hit tight end Jake Ferguson for an 18-yard touchdown.
Pick-six!
Cowboys cornerback Daron Bland stepped in front of Matthew Stafford's pass and ran it back 30 yards for a pick-six.
All Cowboys early on
Two plays after blocking a punt out of the end zone for a safety, the Cowboys took a 26-3 lead when Prescott hit wide receiver CeeDee Lamb for a 10-yard touchdown.
It's a rout
Prescott hit Lamb for a 22-yard touchdown, giving the Cowboys a 33-3 lead.
Life!
After putting together a 12-play touchdown drive before halftime, the Rams reached the end zone again to open the second half when Stafford hit wide receiver Puka Nacua for a 20-yard score. They trailed 33-17.
Cowboys regain control
Prescott hit wide receiver Brandin Cooks for a 25-yard touchdown, giving the Cowboys a 43-17 lead.
FINAL: New Orleans Saints 38, Indianapolis Colts 27
Colts take advantage
An illegal formation on Brian Bresee extended the Colts' second possession, and they capitalized one play later when Gardner Minshew hit wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. for a 10-yard touchdown.
Saints respond
On the seventh play of the ensuing possession, Saints quarterback Derek Carr hit running back Alvin Kamara, who ran into the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown.
Rushing scores
Six plays after the Colts stripped Carr and recovered the loose ball, Zach Moss punched in a 1-yard rushing score. Then the Saints responded, with Taysom Hill thundering in a 20-yard score on the ground.
Go deep!
Rashid Shaheed got behind the Colts secondary, and Carr hit the wide receiver in stride for a 58-yard Saints touchdown.
Rippin' it up
Kamara sliced through the Indianapolis defense for a 16-yard touchdown.
FINAL: Carolina Panthers 15, Houston Texans 13
Texans TD
It took 17 plays and 9:20, but the Texans reached the end zone when fullback Andrew Beck punched in a goal-line score on the ground.
Panthers score
Young hit tight end Tommy Tremble for a goal-line score. That said, the Panthers missed the extra point.
Another long TD drive
The Texans put together another extensive drive ending in a goal-line touchdown, this time Stroud sneaked in the score.
Panthers win!
Eddy Pineiro made a 29-yard field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter to get the Panthers their first win.
FINAL: Jacksonville Jaguars 20, Pittsburgh Steelers 10
FGs for days
It was a messy first half in Pittsburgh with no touchdowns scored and Jacksonville turning the ball over twice but leading 9-3 at halftime.
Kenny Pickett out
Pittsburgh's starting quarterback left the game and didn't return due to a rib injury. Mitchell Trubisky came in at quarterback.
Jags strike
Lawrence hit running back Travis Etienne in stride for a 56-yard touchdown. The Jaguars then converted a two-point attempt and led 17-3.
Steelers arrive
Pittsburgh scored its first touchdown when Trubisky hit George Pickens and the wide receiver jumped through the Jacksonville defense for a 22-yard score. That said, the Jaguars got a field goal in the fourth quarter and held on to win.
FINAL: Miami Dolphins 31, New England Patriots 17
Pats capitalize
Three plays after Patriots defensive back Kyle Dugger intercepted Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones hit wide receiver Kendrick Bourne for a 24-yard touchdown.
Same ol', same ol'
Tagovailoa threw it up, and wide receiver Tyreek Hill brought it down for a 42-yard Dolphins touchdown.
Get it out fast!
Tagovailoa hit wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. for a goal-line Dolphins touchdown.
Staying in it
Faced with a fourth-and-goal, Jones hit wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster for a 3-yard touchdown. The Patriots trailed 24-17.
Putting it away
Tagovailoa got the ball to a wide-open Jaylen Waddle, who jogged into the end one for a 31-yard Dolphins score.
FINAL: New York Jets 13, New York Giants 10 (OT)
Giants D makes a play
Linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux strip-sacked Jets quarterback Zach Wilson on the opening possession of the game, and Jihad Ward fell on the loose ball for the Giants, who later got a field goal.
Somehow a TD
Wilson got the ball out to Breece Hall, and the running back ran through the Giants defense for a 50-yard touchdown.
Taking it himself
Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito, who came in the game for Tyrod Taylor (ribs), ran in a 6-yard score.
Going to OT!
Graham Gano missed a 35-yard field goal for the Giants, and then Wilson hit Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard for a pair of completions that combined for 58 yards and set up a 35-yard field goal from kicker Greg Zuerlein to tie the game and send it to overtime.
Jets win in overtime!
The Giants went three-and-out to open overtime, and the Jets got into field goal position for Zuerlein, who made the game-winning 33-yard field goal.
FINAL: Tennessee Titans 28, Atlanta Falcons 23
TD No. 1
Titans quarterback Will Levis, who was starting in place of Ryan Tannehill (ankle), recorded his first NFL touchdown when he connected with wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins for a 47-yard score.
They do it again
Levis and Hopkins hooked up for another touchdown, this one going for 16 yards.
ANOTHER ONE
Levis and Hopkins connected on a 61-yard touchdown, their third scoring connection of the game.
Falcons TD
Bijan Robinson ran in a 13-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to get the Falcons within one score.
What a debut!
Levis threw his fourth touchdown of the game midway through the fourth quarter, this one a 33-yard scoring play to wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
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