Week 8 Top Dogs & Down and Out Teams

 Week 8 Top Dogs & Down and Out Teams

 By Josh Olson

 

 

                                            Top Dogs

  

San Francisco 49ers- After two weeks of being on the “down and out” list, the San Francisco 49ers make the “Top Dog” list after a dominant win, 31-14, over the Los Angeles Rams. Christian McCaffrey had a game today when he had 183 all-purpose yards! He rushed for 94 yards with a touchdown, threw one pass for thirty-four yards and a touchdown, and eight catches for fifty-five yards and a touchdown. He became the team's first player in team history to record a rushing, throwing, and catching touchdown in the same game. Jimmy Garoppolo had a great game also, throwing for 235 yards and two touchdowns and zero picks. The defense made life miserable for the ram's offences and Matthew Stafford, they sacked him three times for a loss of twelve yards. The 49ers going into their bye week riding a high and hope to get some key players back when they take on the Los Angeles Chargers in week ten. 

 

New Orleans Saints- After a two-game losing streak, the Saints finally got into the win column by defeating the Las Vegas Raiders 24-0. Andy Dalton threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns, but it was Alvin Kamara led the charge. He had sixteen carries for sixty-two yards and one touchdown and added nine catches for ninety-two yards and two touchdowns. This is all amid the trade rumors of him going to the eagles for a first-round pick, but I think after this showing on our day that the price may have gone up. The defense made life hard for Derek Carr, where they got four sacks and a pick. The Saint's next opponent will be the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night. 

 

Dallas Cowboys- The Dallas Cowboys went full throttle and never took their foot off the gas when they defeated the Chicago Bears, 49-29. Dak Prescott threw for 250 yards, two touchdowns and one pick. Ezekiel Elliott missed this game, but Tony Pollard had fourteen Carrie’s for 131 yards and three touchdowns. Ceedee Lamb had five catches for seventy-seven yards and a touchdown. The Cowboy's defense, some saying best in the league, added four more sacks to their tally and made Justin Fields' life hard. The cowboys go into their bye week at 6-2 and will take on the Green Bay Packers in week ten. 

 

 

                                       Down and Out

 

Las Vegas Raiders- The Las Vegas Raiders just can't seem to catch a break. Coming off a win against the Houston Texans in week seven, they took on the New Orleans Saints and I don't think they got off the plane... losing to them 24-0. All three aspects of the raider's games were terrible starting with Derek Carr, who threw for 101 yards and one pick. Josh Jacobs rushed ten times for forty-three yards. Davante Adams had five targets but only caught one ball for three yards. The defense gave up 367 total yards and didn't have an answer to stopping Alvin Kamara. The Las Vegas Raiders look to no one back when they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in week 9.

 

Pittsburgh Steelers- The Pittsburgh Steelers is a wounded animal. Losing a close game against the Miami Dolphins, they went into this week going up against the only undefeated team in the NFL the Philadelphia Eagles and got crushed! They lost 35-13 and had no answer to stop AJ Brown, who torches the defense for six catches for 156 yards and three touchdowns. Kenny Pickett threw for 191 yards and a pick. He also got sacked six times. Najee Harris had eight carries for thirty-two yards. Harris does not look good. This team looks like they are ready to turn the page to this season and start fresh. The Steelers are on the bye this week but on return, they will take on the New Orleans Saints in week 10. 

 

Los Angeles Rams- When it rains, it pours, and I believe the Rams are in the middle of a tsunami! Coming off a win against the Carolina Panthers and their bye week, they took on the San Francisco 49ers in week 8 and lost 31-14. They kept it close until the third quarter when the 49ers put up twenty-one unanswered points on the board. The ram's offence and defense had no answer to stopping the 49ers. The Rams look to bounce back when they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.