NFL Week 8 Best Highlights of the Games 2009

The NFL in week 8 saw some of the best highlights and 2009 will long be remembered for a week full action packed teams going head to head. The games may be over but the plays and highlights will long live on. You have to agree this was a week to be remembered. Come along with me and take a closer look at the week that was! As always thanks to NFL.com for the best pictures of all the games.

Denver Broncos 7

Baltimore Ravens 30

One of the biggest story going into this game is that Baltimore's defense has been starting to come up big against a passing offense and today they proved that.

Bronco Elvis Dumervil led the NFL with 10 sacks going into this game, today he did not sack Flacco once.

Baltimore's best chance in catching Denver's speedy defense off guard was in Ray Rice, who's averaging 6.0 yards per carry and has a team-high 33 receptions. He caught a career-high 10 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Vikings, and his 766 yards from scrimmage are fourth-most in the NFL. Today Rice had 23 carries rushing for 84 yards and one touchdown.

Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton looked rattled and uncomfortable in the pocket. Baltimore’s pass rush, which has struggled this season, put lots of pressure on Kyle Orton, and the hits obviously impacted his performance. Orton looked rushed in his progressions and he did not make the same quality of throws he’s been making all season. He threw for just 35 yards in the first half.

The Ravens Lardarius Webb returned the opening kick of the second half 95 yards for a touchdown to give his team a 13-0 lead. Webb made one cut and went virtually untouched for the score!

Denver’s defense was solid for much of Sunday’s game, but the offense and special teams were subpar as Josh McDaniels tasted defeat for the first time as an NFL head coach.

Houston Texans 31

Buffalo Bills 10

The Texans have won four of their last five games. With their 5-3 record, Houston is two games above .500 for the first time in franchise history.

The Texans wore the Bills down as they racked up 439 yards of total offense to 204 for the Bills, and made 24 first downs to only nine for the Bills.

Coming into this game Texans LB Brian Cushing led all NFL rookies with 56 tackles, after today you can a few more as well as one interception. Running back Ryan Moats scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Matt Schaub completed 25-of-34 passes for 268 yards but was intercepted twice, while Andre Johnson came up with six catches for 63 yards and Kris Brown kicked in three field goals.

As for the Bills, they took a 10-6 lead into the locker room at halftime, but Buffalo’s offense could not put a sustained drive together in the second half, Ryan Fitzpatrick was an ineffective 15-of-23 for 117 yards. High points for the bills. . Terrel Owens went into the endzone for one touchdown and safety Jairus Byrd had 2 interceptions.

Buffalo goes into a bye week and hopefully they can heal and get ready for their next matchup in week 10 against Tennesee.

Cleveland Browns 6

Chicago Bears 30

After losing 2 straight games the Bears were lucky that the Browns came for a visit today, Jay Cutler went 17-of-30 and threw for 225 yards with an interception and yes it was enough to beat the Browns. As for the Browns Derek Anderson was just 6-of-17 for 76 yards and two interceptions.

The Browns having ranked the worse defense wasnt all bad today as they sacked Cutler four time and pressured numerous others. The Bears were forced to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns three times, and could not convert on a fourth-and-1 attempt. Seems they worked on their defense but where was some offense today. There were three fumbles and they turned the ball over five times -- with the Bears scoring directly off three of those turnovers.

On a high note today, ten years to the day he died, Walter Payton was honored by the Bears with a ceremony at halftime. Payton died from liver disease.

Not to change the subject but is it time for Mangenius to go?

Seatle Seahawks 17

Dallas Cowboys 38

The third-best team in a division that is striving to be halfway decent is how you can describe the Seattle Seahawks. Deion Branch scored his first touchdown of the season in Dallas, grabbing a 23-yard Matt Hasselbeck pass. Hasselbeck was 22 of 39 for 249 yards, with touchdown passes to Branch and Justin Griffith. He was sacked 3 times and I would hate to be in his body tonight. Julius Jones ran 15 times for 56 yards. Looking at the future games that are in store for Seattle, a home game against the Lions in Week 9 (temporary relief they can only hope) And after playing the Lions, the Seahawks play road games against the Cardinals, Vikings and Rams. They also have road games against the Texans and Packers later in the season. All in all it looks like a losing season for a team that has been one of the NFC's better teams for much of this decade. At least they have the Lions next.

As for the Cowboys, they sure have been on a roll since WR Miles Austin became a starter. Austin is a fourth-year player, who had appeared in 41 games without a start until three weeks ago. In those 41 games, he caught 23 passes for 435 yards and four TDs. In two starts since then, he's caught 16 passes for 421 yards and four TDs

Romo looked great today. He threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns. And maybe more importantly, he did not throw an interception. You gotta say that Romo and Austin really have something going. Romo also connected with Sam Hurd and Roy Williams. Marion Barber added a TD run and Crayton broke open the game with an 82-yard punt return, one week after a game-breaking 73-yarder. One sack for DeMarcus Ware making that 3 straight games with a sack in his column. (Didnt he just cash in on a $20 million signing bonus as part of a $78 million, six-year contract extension.)

The Cowboys meet the Eagles next week . .it is going to be interesting if the last few weeks and the consistency that the Boys are showing continues.

Miami Dolphins 30

NY Jets 25

Miami and the Jets might be the two most evenly matched teams in the AFC, and today they showed just that. It was a heartbreaking lose for the Jets but if you are Jet fan you are used to this kind of lose.

Imagine having to watch the tape of a game in which the Jets out gained Miami 378-104, but lost. Ginn's two touchdowns on kickoff returns, and Jason Taylor's 48-yard return of a fumble for a score made up for a whole bunch of Miami's offensive inefficiency.

Mark Sanchez, threw for three touchdowns. The Jets defense had six sacks and tamed the Wildcat. Their kicker, Jay Feely, against his old team matched his career long with a 55-yard field goal.

The Dolphins defense held strong in the end, and as the Jets drove to the Miami eight yard line in the final moments, it was a sack and a desperate Sanchez pass into the end zone that handed Gang Green their third loss in their last four games, and sending them into their bye week with a disappointing 4-4 record. And Miami a game they really should not have in their win column.

So as the Jets go into their bye week it is hard to define who they are. Maybe Joe Willie can give them a tip or two

San Francisco 49ers 14

Indianapolis Colts 18

San Francisco suffered their third consecutive setback despite a solid showing today and keeping Manning out of the end zone for the first time in 10 games. They sacked Manning three times in three quarters, more than the Colts' previous opponents had managed all season.

There were great sign for the 49ers today, as they showed an impressive team performance by leading the Colts 14-9 at at halftime. Michael Crabtree, who made his NFL debut last week, caught six passes for 81 yards for San Francisco. And then there was Alex Smith, who completed 19-of-32 passes for 198 yards with one score and an interception. But it was the 49ers' inability to convert on key situations hurt their chances to win

Looking at the Colts it was Peyton Manning and his record sixth 300-yard passing game of the season, and it was Joseph Addai's fourth quarter pass that lifted the Colts to their perfect at 7-0 season. Also need to note that Reggie Wayne had his third 100-yard receiving game of 2009 making this a career-high 12 catches for 147 yards. And it was WR Josh Morgan was flagged for 15 yards for his obnoxious celebration on TE Vernon Davis' touchdown. Giving the Colts great field position, which helped them gp down the field for a field goal to end the first half.

So can SF recover from this heartbreaker? Tennesee, Chicago and Green Bay are their next 3. Time will tell.

NY Giants 17

Philadelphia Eagles 40

There are no words

St Louis Rams 17

Detroit Lions 10

St. Loius no longer has to hear about the NFL's longest current losing streak. It is now time for the Steve Spagnuolo era.

This play sums up the Rams: Safety James Butler picks off a pass in the end zone, starts to return it, doubles back to avoid a defender, gets tripped up in the end zone and costs his team two points with a safety. Rams 3, Lions 2

Steve Jackson entered the game as the NFL’s third-leading rusher, but was the only back in the NFL’s top 10 yet to score. So it was pretty appropriate then when his first touchdown of the 2009 season was the game winner in St. Louis’ win in Detroit in week 8.

Lucky the Rams get to savior this win with a bye next week . .and it gives them more time to get ready for whats ahead. Their schedule only gets tougher from here as they face the Saints in Week 10. Preparations for that one can wait, cant it? The Rams finally won a game. They should get some time to enjoy it. Cause they might not see another one for a while.

Oakland Raiders 16

San Diego Chargers 24

The Raiders won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. And the Chargers went looking for the 13th straight win over Raiders and today they got it. They sacked Russell five times, with the other outside linebacker, Shaun Phillips, also collecting two.

The Chargers out-gained the Raiders 346-180 in total yards.LaDainian Tomlinson gained 56 yards on 18 carries and scored touchdowns in the first and second quarters. Vincent Jackson caught eight passes for 103 yards with one touchdown for the Chargers. And Phillip Rivers was 16 of 25 for 249 yards.

For Oakland, JaMarcus Russell completed 14-of-22 passes for the afternoon for just 109 yards, and just about all coming on short tosses to the tight end or running back coming out of the backfield, there were no touchdowns and one interception.

Interesting Oakland Coach Tom Cable said he liked what he saw from Russell, I'll hold back my comments on Coach Cable today.

Jacksonville Jaguars 13

Tennesee Titans 30

Last week: Both teams were on a bye.

Titans QB Vince Young has an 18-11 record as a starter. Making his first start since Week 1 of 2008. Young played mistake-free and he completed 15 of 18 passes on his way to an clean 125-yard, one-touchdown day. Add 31 yards that he got on the ground.

It must have been a nice change to be in the Titans locker room. I bet there was a whole different feel in that room that hasn't been seen or heard in the last 11 months (the last time they won a game). Winning usually changes things. and I am sure they felt relief, and an air of cautious celebration must have been surrounding them. I bet there were even lots of smiles;)

Minnesota Vikings 38

Green Bay Packers 26

After playing for 16 years in Green Bay, Favre came back to Lambeau Field as an opposing player for the first time. How good it must have felt for him to throw for 244 yards and four touchdowns Cool hand Favre was not be rattled in the least and having  Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin and Sidney Rice by his side only helped matters.

Carolina Panthers 34

Arizona Cardinals 21

When he is good he is very very good and when he is bad he is horrid! 5 turnovers for the Cardinals today and Kurt Warner committed every one of them. Larry Fitzgerald had 66 years in 6 catches. Certainly not the kind of numbers that make for a winning game.

As for the Panthers, they had their best game of the season. Steve Smith finally got his touchdown snapping an eight-game scoreless streak, he had three receptions for 56 yards. Juliue Peppers, DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart all had a great game. And add to that list Sherrod Martin who had two interceptions. Only sour note for the Panthers was when Jack Delhomme had trouble breathing and had to leave the game.

To quote Thomas Davis at the end of the game,  as he went into the locker room “Sweet revenge, baby!”

Atlanta Falcons 35

New Orleans Saints 27

Looks like the Saints are still on their way to perfection! Since joining New Orleans, Brees has beaten Atlanta five out of six times and he did it again on Monday night. He threw for 308 yards, bringing his passing yards total for the season slightly above two grand at 2,006,

It was the Saints most physical game so far and it was the defense that really came through on a night when the offense was playing a bit sloppy. 5 Turnover, 4 fumbles and 7 penalties  for 65 yards. The second half started with the Saints up 28-14 and then for the first 27 minutes into the 3rd quarter the Saints offense pretty much took a nap while Atlanta was starting to put big plays and points on the scoreboard.

The young Matt Ryan completed 19 of 42 passes for 289 yards and a touchdown,  but three of his passes were intercepted. The saddest moment for the Falacons was when Atlanta had a chance to take the lead later in the fourth quarter,  but Ryan was intercepted by cornerback Tracey Porter at the Saints' 2 with 8:30 remaining. And then Brees went 81 yards on 11 plays for a touchdown to make the score 35-24 with 3:03 remaining.