Welcome back to Five Hot Takes From Week 8. This is a weekly feature where I take a look five takes from each week in the NFL that I consider being hot, then counter it with an argument of my own. I never think these takes are right, but damn they are hot.
Five Hot Takes From Week 8
So let’s get down to business. It’s the Five Hot Takes from Week 8.
1. The Raiders Are Contenders
Can they make the playoffs? Absolutely, as they have one of the most stacked offenses in the league. Can they contend for the Super Bowl? That would involve getting past Denver and New England, and at this moment I don’t see it happening yet.
Everyone knows that the defense is not close to being a good unit, but the team itself has beaten weaker defenses and has lucked out on many instances. While the offense is indeed loaded, the weak defenses have allowed them to get past several key mistakes, such as the record 23 penalties set against the Buccaneers. In that same game, Derek Carr nearly threw a game-ending interception and misfired on 4th down (which was offset by a holding penalty on the defense, giving Oakland new life).
Carr has been inconsistent this season, showing polished highs and ugly lows. With the schedule heating up tougher opponents in the 2nd half of the season, he’ll need to be more refined for the Raiders to really make a statement.
2. Dak Prescott Won When It Mattered Against The Eagles
Sure, his game-winning touchdown was a great play, but Prescott nearly snapped Dallas’ winning streak on a dropped interception on the game-tying drive. Earlier he had also thrown a near pick that was saved by Terrance Williams‘ offensive pass interference.
This type of analysis always bugs me because no one tries to investigate the situation. To me, saying “he is a winner” is saying that the player sucks, but that’s okay because when they need him most he will always deliver. You have to get to that position to even have that opportunity in the first place.
This is not to say Prescott is bad; he has mostly played well in his rookie season. I just wish people would analyze the quarterback position with more effort.
3. The Cleveland Browns Do Not Have A Good Offensive Line
This is the talk of the devil. For a while, the Browns have had one of the top offensive lines in the league but nothing worth protecting. This season, that has changed thanks to the high-quality backfield, featuring Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell, but the quarterback position is still bad, as Josh McCown was poor against the Jets.
Nevertheless, against the Jets the Browns offensive line had a great game, giving the passing game plenty of time (to screw up on their own) and the run game plenty of gaps. I have no idea where this noise is coming from or why. Even with the departures of Alex Mack and Mitchell Schwartz, as well as the injury to star guard Joel Bitonio, the Browns OL has actually held up quite well in a season that’s basically a preseason for 2017.
4. Tom Brady Can’t Be An MVP Candidate
Well, considering the quality of the candidate’s changes every week, and Brady’s play this season, I think differently. Sure, the Patriots offense, for the most part, was fine without him, and that can hurt his case in the eyes of many people, but he deserves to be a candidate.
Brady’s overall efficiency, smarts, accuracy, and command are at their usual highs, but now he’s doing it with fewer mistakes and a higher level of consistency than what we’ve seen from him in recent years. Brady has always been a smart quarterback, and in this instance, he understands when to get rid of the football, where the best matchups are, and how to handle his footwork in the pocket.
He’s an MVP candidate.
5. Brock Osweiler Rebounded Last Week
Really hard not to against what many consider the worst pass defense in the league in Detroit.
Even in the win, Osweiler had a bad game, constantly throwing behind his receivers and missing spectacularly like he has for most of the season, and did his best to help blow the lead (as an Indians fan these words are painful to type) in the 4th quarter.
What’s even more spectacular is that the Texans are 5-0 at home and 0-3 on the road. It’s not clear how much this effects the team, but it seems to make Osweiler a bit luckier.
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