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NFL Week 8 Recap

Rob Woodfork | rwoodfork@wtop.com

November 2, 2015, 3:37 AM

Indianapolis Colts' Andrew Luck (12) fumbles the ball after being hit by Carolina Panthers' Kony Ealy (94) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Nov. 2, 2015. The Colts recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Colts 26 Panthers 29 (OT) To quote my colleague Noah Frank’s tweet, “a close game does not equal a good game.” Considering we had seven combined turnovers and neither quarterback could complete even half his throws, I’d call this game a televised dumpster fire. Yet not as awful as Indy has been all season. Andrew Luck is incapable of protecting the ball, can’t win outside his division, and continues to underwhelm. Given he’s now lumped in with the likes of Doug Martin, Alfred Morris, and RG3rd String, perhaps it’s time we reassess the 2012 NFL Draft… (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
AP Photo/Mike McCarn
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver De'Anthony Thomas (13), right, celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the NFL football game between Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
Lions 10
Chiefs 45 If you’re a KC fan who made the trip to London, good for you. You got some free booze, a blowout victory and you beat up on a guy proud of the name Jim Bob Cooter. If you’re a Detroit fan who made the trip, cheer up! Your coach still thinks you have a shot at the playoffs! (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
AP Photo/Tim Ireland
Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians celebrates after the Cardinals defeated the Cleveland Browns 34-20 in an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cardinals 34 Browns 20 Last week, Bruce Arians said he would have liked to coach the Browns. This week — and every week henceforth — he’s really happy he’s coaching in the literal desert and not the proverbial sports one. (AP Photo/David Richard)
AP Photo/David Richard
in overtime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Georgia Dome on November 1, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Buccaneers 23 Falcons 20 (OT) Forget Tampa blew another big lead. Forget how unsettling this loss is for Atlanta. Kwon Alexander’s resilience is the best thing you’ll see all week. (Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
Scott Cunningham/Getty Images
St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley scores on a 71-yard run during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Billy Hurst)
49ers 6 Rams 27 Colin Kaepernick thinks he gets along with his teammates, but I doubt he will for much longer if he keeps playing like this. Just ask RGIII … Todd Gurley, on the other hand, is making a lot of friends and a lot of history: he’s the first rookie to post four straight 125+ yard rushing games and his 566 yards is the most rush yardage in a rookie’s first four starts since 1970. To further put his season perspective — if you just sum up Gurley’s longest runs (52, 55, 48, 71), he would have as many or more yards than 19 other rookie RBs in 2015. So yeah. He’s pretty good. (AP Photo/Billy Hurst)
AP Photo/Billy Hurst
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 01: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints looks to pass during the first quarter of a game against the New York Giants at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Giants 49 Saints 52 Naturally, Drew Brees goes for 511 yards and an NFL-record 7 TDs three weeks after I eulogized him and the Saints. Considering they haven’t lost since that column … you’re welcome, New Orleans. It was fitting this was an Arena League score … because these two teams seem to have Arena League defenses. The 101 combined points are the 3rd most in NFL history. The record? 113. When the Redskins beat the Giants 72-41 in 1966. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 01: Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the football against LaRoy Reynolds #52 and Jarvis Jenkins #96 of the Chicago Bears in the second quarter at Soldier Field on November 1, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Vikings 23 Bears 20 Let me help put this game in perspective: Adrian Peterson was a rookie last time Minnesota won at Soldier Field. It’s only their second win there since Brian Urlacher was a rookie (2000). It’s almost like the NFC North’s version of Trading Places, but without the happy ending. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (26) is helped by a team doctor after injuring his right knee in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015 in Pittsburgh. Bell was driven off the field, and did not return to the game. (AP Photo/Gene Puskar)
Bengals 16 Steelers 10 Cincy is a virtual lock to win the AFC North thanks to their first-ever 7-0 start, but the story here is Pittsburgh: on the day they get Ben Roethlisberger back, they lose Le’Veon Bell again. Their chances of grabbing a wild-card playoff spot just dropped dramatically. And for the love of all things aesthetically pleasing … can we do away with these bumblebee jail throwbacks once and for all?? (AP Photo/Gene Puskar)
AP Photo/Gene Puskar
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Charles Woodson #24 of the Oakland Raiders intercepts a pass intended for Brandon Marshall #15 of the New York Jets during their NFL game at O.co Coliseum on November 1, 2015 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Jets 20 Raiders 34 Darrelle Revis answered whether he could check Amari Cooper, but it’s hard not to think “same old Jets” when Gang Green goes West and gives up season highs in points (34) and yards (451) a week after playing the rival Patriots pretty tight. Even better, Charles Woodson helped Oakland get over .500 (I know!) by picking up a big check after picking off Geno Smith. The Black Hole might actually be a tough place to play again … (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Seattle Seahawks' Michael Bennett (72) walks by as Dallas Cowboys' Chris Jones (6) and Dan Bailey (5) celebrate a field goal kicked by Bailey in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Seahawks 13 Cowboys 12 If you think Michael Bennett hates Dallas now, just imagine if his Seahawks choked this game way … And I’d better never hear a Cowboys fan complain about Tony Romo ever again. After five straight losses with the likes of Brandon Weeden and Matt Cassel under center, Romo might win MVP without even playing. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) meet at midfield after an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in Denver. The Broncos won 29-10 to improve to 7-0. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Packers 10 Broncos 29 This was just the 4th game in NFL history between teams 6-0 or better … and I expected better. Both QBs had utterly forgettable games — Aaron Rodgers was held to 77 passing yards (his fewest in a game in which he had at least 20 pass attempts), and Peyton Manning remains the only QB to start every game this season and throw a pick in each. Yet Peyton ties Brett Favre for the most wins by a starting QB (186) and Denver’s D has announced itself as the league’s best by a rather wide margin. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
AP Photo/Jack Dempsey
https://vine.co/v/eYY0u7zDjnP
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Indianapolis Colts' Andrew Luck (12) fumbles the ball after being hit by Carolina Panthers' Kony Ealy (94) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Nov. 2, 2015. The Colts recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver De'Anthony Thomas (13), right, celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the NFL football game between Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians celebrates after the Cardinals defeated the Cleveland Browns 34-20 in an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
in overtime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Georgia Dome on November 1, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.
St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley scores on a 71-yard run during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Billy Hurst)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 01: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints looks to pass during the first quarter of a game against the New York Giants at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 01: Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the football against LaRoy Reynolds #52 and Jarvis Jenkins #96 of the Chicago Bears in the second quarter at Soldier Field on November 1, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (26) is helped by a team doctor after injuring his right knee in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015 in Pittsburgh. Bell was driven off the field, and did not return to the game. (AP Photo/Gene Puskar)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Charles Woodson #24 of the Oakland Raiders intercepts a pass intended for Brandon Marshall #15 of the New York Jets during their NFL game at O.co Coliseum on November 1, 2015 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Seattle Seahawks' Michael Bennett (72) walks by as Dallas Cowboys' Chris Jones (6) and Dan Bailey (5) celebrate a field goal kicked by Bailey in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) meet at midfield after an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in Denver. The Broncos won 29-10 to improve to 7-0. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Rob Woodfork

Rob Woodfork is WTOP's Senior Sports Content Producer, which includes duties as producer and host of the DC Sports Huddle, nightside sports anchor and sports columnist on WTOP.com.

rwoodfork@wtop.com

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