In the NFL, sometimes all it takes is one win.
One victory to quiet the naysayers, build some momentum and get a team’s season back on track.
Just ask the Los Angeles Rams, who may have done exactly that with Thursday’s win over the Minnesota Vikings.
So, as we take a look at the biggest storylines heading into Week 8 of the NFL season, we start with two teams in desperate need of a win.
49ers-Cowboys in similar spots
The San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys both need a victory in the worst way in Week 8.
There’s just one problem: They play each other in a Sunday night showdown.
Looking at the bright side, one team is going to get that win. The flip side? Well, you can do the math.
No one saw the 49ers (3-4) being at the bottom of the NFC West division heading into Week 8, but that’s exactly where last year’s NFC representative in the Super Bowl currently finds themselves.
Injuries have been a major issue all season, and got even worse this week as star WR Brandon Aiyuk was lost for the season with an ACL injury. The 49ers have always been one of the best teams at seamlessly running with the “next man up” mentality, but at what point do the injuries become too much for even the great Kyle Shanahan to overcome?
Thankfully for the 49ers, they get a Cowboys (3-3) team that is still licking its wounds from a 47-9 shellacking at the hands of the Detroit Lions.
A .500 record may make it seem like the Cowboys don’t have as much pressure on them as the 49ers. But it was the way they lost to the Lions, one of the NFC favourites, that has ratcheted up the heat.
Dallas is also coming off a bye so head coach Mike McCarthy will have no excuse not to have his team prepared.
It will be a fascinating matchup with the winner possibly kick-starting their run to the playoffs, and the loser facing questions they might not have the answers to.
All eyes on Tua
Speaking of teams that need to gain some momentum, look no further than the Miami Dolphins.
Since losing starting pivot Tua Tagovailoa to a serious concussion in Week 2, the Miami offence has looked like a shell of its former self. With backup Tyler Huntley under centre, the Dolphins have ranked 30th in EPA per pass play since Week 3.
Tagovailoa is expected to make his return in Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Star WR Tyreek Hill hasn’t had more than 70 yards receiving in a game since Week 1, and told reporters this week he’s very happy “the band is back.”
The only question is, should it be?
Tagovailoa’s injury in Week 3, the third concussion of his NFL career, led many to question whether he should hang up the cleats. Both Tagovailoa and head coach Mike McDaniel said medical experts deemed it safe for the quarterback to play again.
“Just got to be smart,” the Dolphins QB said this week of his return to play.
He’s making the right promises, but it probably won’t stop us all from holding our breath every time he takes a hit on Sunday.
Jameis Winston time in Cleveland
When a team loses their $230 million quarterback, it’s usually a bad thing.
But the Cleveland Browns needed a change, and Deshaun Watson’s season-ending Achilles injury will give them just that.
No one roots for injury, but for weeks it’s been puzzling why the Browns were sticking with Watson at QB. Especially because waiting in the wings was former No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston.
Now, Winston isn’t going to suddenly change this team into a Super Bowl contender. But he will at least shift the team’s offensive identity and give the team a much-needed spark.
Trying to predict whether he throws five touchdowns or five interceptions is a fool’s errand. But one thing Winston certainly does is make things interesting and exciting, which is an improvement Browns fans will certainly take.
Unfortunately for Winston, his return as a starter comes against a Ravens team that has looked like one of the best teams in football the past few weeks.
But with Winston playing, they at least have a fighting chance. Something we wouldn’t have said if it was still Watson.
Game of the Week: Eagles (4-2) @ Bengals (3-4) — Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Don’t look now, but here come the Cincinnati Bengals.
After starting the season 0-3, the Bengals have won three of their last four and have looked more like the AFC contender many predicted them to be this season.
Joe Burrow is playing as good as any QB in the league right now and has made eight big-time throws to just one turnover-worthy play over the past four weeks, per Pro Football Focus.
In Week 8, the Bengals host a Philadelphia Eagles team that has also built a little momentum after a precarious start to the season. The Eagles have won two straight, albeit against the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants.
Can the Eagles continue their form against a better opponent? Or will the Bengals prove once and for all that they should once again be considered an AFC threat?
Forrest’s Favourites (Season record: 11-7 — All odds courtesy of BetMGM):
Bengals @ Eagles — Pick: Bengals -2.5 (-110): Burrow has been playing too well to bet against, especially at home. Take the Bengals to win by a field goal.
Ravens @ Browns — Pick: Browns +8.5 (-110): Not often is a team expected to get a boost after their starting QB goes down. But here we are. Take the Browns plus the points at home.
Cardinals @ Dolphins — Pick: Over 46 total points (-110): With Tagovailoa back calling the shots, the Dolphins will surely want to prove their offence is back. The Cardinals and Kyler Murray have the offence to match.
Thursday, Oct. 24
Los Angeles Rams 30, Minnesota Vikings 20
Sunday, Oct. 27
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET
Tennessee Titans at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. ET
Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET
Green Bay Packers at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET
Arizona Cardinals at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET
New York Jets at New England Patriots, 1 p.m. ET
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET
Philadelphia Eagles at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET
New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m. ET
Buffalo Bills at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. ET
Carolina Panthers at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET
Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 p.m. ET
Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders, 4:25 p.m. ET
Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers, 8:20 p.m. ET
Monday, Oct. 28
New York Giants at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:15 p.m. ET