Skip to content
PMTPMT DB
PMTPMT DB

Listen & Follow

NFL Week 8 Recap, Fastest 2 Minutes, Kyle Shanahan's New Toy, Are The Vikings Frauds? Plus World Series

Monday, October 31, 202216 takes

Week 8 of the NFL. We start with fastest 2 minutes then recap every game. (-) Broncos 21, Jaguars 17 (-) Patriots 22, Jets 17 (-) Vikings 34, Cardinals 26 (-) Dolphins 31, Lions 27 (-) Cowboys 49, Bears 29 (-) Falcons 37, Panthers 34 (-) Saints 24, Raiders 0 (-) Eagles 35, Steeler 13 (-) Titans 17, Texans 10 (-) Commanders 17, Colts 16 (-) Seahawks 27, Giants 13 (-) 49ers 31, Rams 14 (-) Football guy of the week (-) and who's back of the week (-).

Big Cat (8)PFT Commenter (5)Jake Marsh (1)Billy Football (1)Max (1)

NFL Week 8 Recap: Seahawks Steal the Narrative and the Vikings Fraud Watch

Week 8 of the NFL season is in the books, and we are officially living in a world where the Seattle Seahawks are good, the New York Giants are potentially cooling off, and the NFC North is a beautiful, confusing mess. We kicked things off with the Fastest 2 Minutes, featuring a heavy dose of Halloween puns and a look at the Broncos winning a game in London that absolutely nobody asked for.

Before getting into the nitty-gritty of the games, Big Cat and PFT discussed the current state of quarterback-city relations. While most fans are miserable, Buffalo is currently in a honeymoon phase that doesn't look like it's ending anytime soon.

Void
Oct 31, 2022
#1637
Big CatBig Cat

No NFL quarterback has a closer connection to their city right now than Josh Allen has with Buffalo

I don't think there is a closer connection quarterback to city right now than Josh what Josh Allen has going on in Buffalo. ... I don't think there's anyone right now [above him].

OpinionFootballMildSubjective
Subjective measure of fan-player relationships, but Allen's status in Buffalo remains near-mythological.

The Bust Category and Fraud Alerts

In London, the Broncos beat the Jaguars 21-17, but the real story was Trevor Lawrence. He threw a brutal interception in the red zone and another to seal the game, leading Big Cat to come to a grim realization about the former number one overall pick.

Loss
Oct 31, 2022
#1638
Big CatBig Cat

Trevor Lawrence is officially back in the bust category

Trevor Lawrence is now back officially into the bust category. ... This is as rock bottom as you can be if you're a Jaguars fan because you have the guy that was supposed to be the next Peyton Manning, the surest thing. ... You can't miss and then you might miss. That's as rock bottom as it gets.

Hot TakeFootballHot
While Lawrence struggled in 2022, he eventually led the Jaguars to a playoff win that same season and earned a massive extension, making the 'bust' label incorrect in the long run.

Meanwhile, the Vikings moved to 6-1 after beating the Cardinals, but don't expect the PMT crew to start buying Kirk Cousins stock just yet. Even with the winning record, the "fraud" label is sticking to Minnesota like glue. PFT cited a very specific "study" about Kirk's popularity to explain why the general public might be fooled.

Void
Oct 31, 2022
#28633
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Kirk Cousins is the second most liked player in the NFL

I saw a study that came out that actually addresses this very question. ... And the number one most like player is Kirk Cousins. Oh, and number two, they're outta here. No, no, no, he's, sorry. He's number two. Number one. Russell Wilson.

Fact ClaimFootballMediumSubjective
Likability studies are subjective and vary by methodology, but various 'Q Scores' and fan polls around this time did surprisingly show Wilson and Cousins with high name recognition and neutral/positive ratings among casual fans despite internet memes.

Big Cat isn't ready to let them off the hook either, though PFT is willing to offer a one-week reprieve if they can handle business in their next matchup.

Win
Oct 31, 2022
#1639
Big CatBig Cat

The Vikings are frauds

I guess I have to say now I had this circled on Friday show as this is the game the Vikings will be proven to be frauds. I was wrong. The Vikings won this game... [but] I agree with [PFT], I still think they're frauds.

OpinionFootballHot
The 13-win Vikings famously lost at home in the Wild Card round to the Giants, proving the 'fraud' label was largely accurate in a playoff context.
Win
Oct 31, 2022
#28634
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

If the Vikings beat the Commanders next week, I will stop calling them frauds

If they beat the commanders at home next week, I will, I'll take my foot off the gas calling them frauds. But I just, I I told Jake just set a reminder and the calendar to not believe Kirk Cousins don't believe his lies.

PredictionFootballMedium
The Vikings did beat the Commanders 20-17 on November 6, 2022. PFT did technically have to stop the fraud talk for a week.

The Young QBs and the Belichick Tree

The Patriots handled the Jets 22-17 in a game that featured Zach Wilson doing his best Carson Wentz impression by spinning into danger. Billy tried to defend his guy, but eventually, the allure of a certain Colts backup became too much for him to resist.

Loss
Oct 31, 2022
#1644
Billy FootballBilly Football

I would trade Zach Wilson for Sam Ehlinger right now

I'm in both holes. Very deep. ... Then Sam Ehlinger would probably go to the Jets. Give, let's give Zach. ... As a guy who doesn't throw interceptions, that's the kind of guy you want as your quarterback.

Hot TakeFootballScorching
Sam Ehlinger was benched shortly after and has never been a viable NFL starter; while Wilson was also a bust, swapping him for Ehlinger was not the solution.

In the NFC, the Bears lost to the Cowboys, but Justin Fields actually looked like a franchise quarterback. He was athletic, decisive, and electric, leading Big Cat to wonder what could have been if the previous regime hadn't tried to force him into a pocket-passer mold.

Void
Oct 31, 2022
#1641
Big CatBig Cat

If Matt Nagy had utilized Justin Fields' running ability, he would still have a coaching job

I'm gonna say something really crazy. If Matt Nagy was smart enough and he had run Justin Fields like they're doing the last few games, he'd probably still have a job.

Hot TakeFootballMediumSubjective
Nagy was fired after a 6-11 season; while Fields excelled as a runner in 2022, it's speculative if that alone could have saved a coach who struggled for years with offense.

Speaking of coaching, the guys took a look at the Raiders getting shut out by the Saints. Josh McDaniels is struggling, which led PFT to dig up the depressing reality of what happens when Bill Belichick’s assistants leave the nest.

Win
Oct 31, 2022
#1643
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Bill Belichick coaching tree has a combined 41% winning percentage as head coaches

If you look at Belichick's former coaches that have gone on to coach in the NFL, their winning percentage is 41%. Not good. They're a combined 225, 319 and one. ... The best head coach that has been a former Bill Belichick assistant coach is Bill O'Brien.

Fact ClaimFootballMild
These numbers were factually accurate at the time of the podcast, reflecting the general failure of Belichick's proteges in lead roles.

Narrative Stealing and Playoff Stakes

The Seahawks went into the bank and beat the Giants 27-13, and in the process, they might have officially taken the crown for the most surprising team in the league. Big Cat is all-in on Seattle being more than just a feel-good story.

Win
Oct 31, 2022
#28635
Big CatBig Cat

The Seahawks have stolen the 'fun surprise team' narrative from the Giants

I'm dubbing this, the narrative stolen game. ... I think the Seahawks are now what the giants were in terms of the fun team that no one saw coming. ... They look for real kind of like, they kind of look for real. And they are the fun team.

OpinionFootballMedium
The Seahawks did continue their surprising run, making the playoffs at 9-8, while the Giants also made it at 9-7-1. Both remained 'fun surprise' stories for the rest of the 2022 season.
Win
Oct 31, 2022
#1645
Big CatBig Cat

Pete Carroll is a legitimate Coach of the Year candidate

Pete Carroll's definitely in the conversation for Coach of the Year. This team was supposed to be one of the worst teams in the NFL. They, I think we quoted it last week, their over under for wins was five and a half. They're five and three right now.

PredictionFootballMedium
Pete Carroll finished 9th in Coach of the Year voting after taking a team projected for 5 wins to the playoffs with a 9-8 record.
Loss
Oct 31, 2022
#28636
Big CatBig Cat

The Seahawks will win at least 10 games this season

I kind of believe in the Seahawks. ... I'm done thinking the Seahawks are like a little nice story. I I think they can, they can absolutely rip off. I'm gonna say 10 wins. Maybe possibility the wins maybe I'm getting ahead of myself.

PredictionFootballHot
The Seahawks finished the regular season 9-8, falling just short of the 10-win mark.

Despite the loss, PFT still thinks the Giants are in a great spot, especially with a soft schedule coming up after the bye week.

Loss
Oct 31, 2022
#28637
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Giants will win 10 games this season

I'm gonna tell some words to Giants fans. That should make everything fine. You're going to win 10 games this year. ... You're definitely going to win.

PredictionFootballMild
The Giants finished 9-7-1. They did not reach 10 wins.

We closed out the show with some World Series talk, where Max is feeling the nerves but still making bold predictions about the Phillies finishing the job in front of the home crowd.

Loss
Oct 31, 2022·Who's Back
#1647
MaxMax

The Phillies will sweep their three home games and win the World Series without returning to Houston

I love my guys. We're gonna win the next three games. We won't even go back to Houston. ... We're gonna score so many runs this week.

PredictionBaseballFire
The Phillies won Game 3 but lost Games 4 and 5 at home, eventually losing the series in 6 games in Houston.

Happy Halloween, watch out for the tricks, and don't let your kicker take his helmet off in the end zone.

nflweek-8seattle-seahawkschicago-bearsminnesota-vikingsfastest-2-minutesworld-series

More Takes

Win
Oct 31, 2022
#1640
Jake MarshJake Marsh

Tua Tagovailoa is having a better season than Justin Herbert

Tua Tagovailoa's having a better year than Justin Herbert right now. He is the guy... I think if Tua didn't get hurt, they would be at the top of the AFC right now.

OpinionFootballHot
Tua led the NFL in passer rating (105.5) in 2022, while Herbert's stats dipped due to injury and coaching, though Herbert is often still ranked higher long-term.
Loss
Oct 31, 2022
#1642
Big CatBig Cat

Mike McCarthy must reach the NFC Championship game to keep his job

I think he needs to get the NFC Championship game. ... Because you're expected to win. ... If he loses in a comically fat fashion, for Mike McCarthy, if he looks where his brain just stops... I could see Jerry Jones firing him.

PredictionFootballMedium
McCarthy lost in the Divisional round in 2022 and 2023, yet Jerry Jones retained him, making this prediction incorrect.
Void
Oct 31, 2022·Who's Back
#28638
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Comedy is officially back on Twitter

My who's back of the week is comedy because comedy is now legal on Twitter. ... Elon Musk took over Twitter and now the reports that he's gonna charge people that have blue check marks $20 a month to keep their blue check.

OpinionPop CultureMediumSubjectiveSarcastic
Whether comedy returned to Twitter is purely subjective, though the platform's moderation policies and atmosphere changed significantly.
PMTDB Comments

This generates your username. Same passphrase = same name. Make it unique and memorable!

Search

Search takes, episodes, and speakers