There were a few notable debuts and comebacks in Week 8 of the NFL season.
Are the Cowboys back after they cruised against the Rams? I wouldn’t necessarily say they’re fully back when it comes to being a Super Bowl contender, but that was an impressive performance Sunday.
Will Levis’s debut for the Titans will be remembered for a long time because he might soon be the full-time starter in Tennessee. That’s how impressive the rookie from Kentucky was against the Falcons.
Jalen Ramsey also had a notable debut with the Dolphins. Not many expected him to play this soon after having knee surgery in the summer. Does Ramsey’s presence make the Dolphins the front-runners in the AFC East? Let’s answer that and a few other questions in this week’s “Fact or Fiction.”
Cowboys are back to being Super Bowl contenders
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Manzano’s view: Fiction
The Cowboys gaining back-to-back wins against two subpar Los Angeles teams (Rams and Chargers) doesn’t mean much besides keeping this team on track for the postseason. I’m not ready to overlook how poorly the Cowboys played during their embarrassing 42–10 loss to the 49ers in Week 5. Dallas has bigger goals than just advancing to the playoffs, and they haven’t proven that they can hang with the 49ers and Eagles in the NFC. Dak Prescott and Co. can prove the doubters wrong by defeating the Eagles next week. Prescott and CeeDee Lamb picked apart the Rams, and Micah Parsons and his defensive teammates made Sunday miserable for Matthew Stafford, who exited early with a thumb injury. The Cowboys handled business against the L.A. squad. Now go beat a contender next weekend.
Eagles’ Brown needs MVP consideration
Manzano’s view: Fact
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer got it right when he tweeted that A.J. Brown likely wouldn’t win MVP, but deserves consideration for how clutch he’s been for the Eagles this season. Brown’s touchdown grabs, which were two of the best catches of the season, helped the Eagles erase an 11-point deficit in the win against the Commanders. He also recorded his sixth consecutive game with more than 125 receiving yards, the longest streak in NFL history. Before Dolphins fans get upset with me, Tyreek Hill should also be in the mix for MVP. Hill is on track to surpass 2,000 receiving yards this season. But let’s face it, quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa have better odds to win the award because MVP usually goes to a signal-caller. Brown and Hill will likely battle for Offensive Player of the Year.
Ramsey’s return makes Dolphins the AFC East favorite
Manzano’s view: Fact
The Dolphins were missing an element of toughness during their loss to the Eagles last week. That’s what cornerback Ramsey provided during his Dolphins debut in Sunday’s 31–17 win vs. the Patriots. Ramsey also supplied stellar coverage and ball skills—two traits that made him a three-time first-team All-Pro with the Jaguars and Rams. Ramsey, who recorded an interception, had a memorable first game in Miami, but the Dolphins are also going to need a healthy Xavien Howard, who missed his second consecutive game due to a groin injury. If both cornerbacks are healthy come the postseason, the Dolphins are going to be tough to beat. But first they'll need to win the AFC East. The Bills will likely push the Dolphins, but they had another uneven performance in the win against the Buccaneers Thursday night.
Titans need to make Levis the full-time starting QB
Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports
Manzano’s view: Fact
It’s time to start a new era in Tennessee after Levis’s sensational starting debut vs. the Falcons. Levis threw four touchdowns, including three to DeAndre Hopkins, in the 28–23 victory. In the first half alone, Levis matched Ryan Tannehill’s passing touchdown total for the season—the rookie second-round pick threw two touchdowns to Hopkins. It was probably a dream come true for Levis to connect with the five-time Pro Bowler for his first three career touchdowns. But Levis got many playmakers involved, displaying accuracy and a strong command of the offense. He completed 19-of-29 passes for 238 yards and no interceptions. Some teams might have asked themselves why they didn’t draft Levis in the first round earlier this season. It was just one game, but the Titans need to move on from Tannehill and see what they have in Levis for the rest of the season. Here’s another indicator of how good Levis was in his debut: second-year quarterback Malik Willis didn’t attempt a pass against the Falcons. Titans coach Mike Vrabel hinted earlier in the week of possibly using Levis and Willis against the Falcons.
Buccaneers need to trade Evans before deadline
There hasn’t been much chatter about the Buccaneers possibly shopping wide receiver Mike Evans, a pending free agent on a 3–4 team. It wouldn’t make sense for Tampa Bay to shop Evans because the team resides in a winnable NFC South. The Buccaneers probably wouldn’t get far in the postseason if they advance, but Evans has proven he still has plenty left in the tank. Evans, 30, can help the Buccaneers this year, and probably two or three more years after that. Sure, Tampa Bay could land a few high draft picks from a contending team in need of a wide receiver as good as Evans. But the Buccaneers don’t appear to be a team in need of a full rebuild. Let Evans continue being a No. 1 target for Baker Mayfield, though Tampa Bay might need a QB change next season if Mayfield doesn’t improve. Evans has 33 catches for 507 yards and five touchdowns this season. The four-time Pro Bowler is on his way to another 1,000-yard season, and might soon cash in with another long-term contract extension.
