We are almost ready to move on to the start of Week Nine, when the Baltimore Ravens head to South Beach, Florida to take on the Miami Dolphins. Before we turn our attention to Week Nine, let's look back at the hottest takes that came out of Week Eight and determine if they're an overreaction or a proper reaction.
Jonathan Taylor will win the MVP award.
Overreaction
Don't get me wrong, he should absolutely win the NFL's MVP award. The guy has scored 14 total touchdowns in eight games, which means he is on pace to score over 29 scrimmage TDs this year. That would be the second-most touchdowns ever scored in a single season. Unfortunately for JT, the MVP award is almost exclusively given to quarterbacks nowadays. 17 of the last 18 MVP award winners have been QBs. On top of that, it has been 13 years since we last saw a non-quarterback take home the league's Most Valuable Player award. We also can't forget that Taylor's teammate, Danei Jones, will probably take MVP votes away from JT since he has been playing at such a high level this season. If Jonathan Taylor doesn't break the single-season touchdown record, he will not be named the NFL's Most Valuable Player, and even then, it still feels like a long shot.
The Indianapolis Colts are the best team in the NFL.
Proper reaction
Nobody has looked better than them this season. Granted, they haven't played a ton of world-beaters, but they have secured victories over playoff contenders like the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers. Every week, it feels like we are waiting for the Colts to choke away a game so that they can show us their true colors. But these ARE Indy's true colors. They're a great team that has the most balanced offense in the NFL, which would explain why they rank first in yards and points. They also have an excellent defense that is sixth in points per game allowed and tied for third in turnovers forced. Realistically, we are an Adonai Mitchell boneheaded fumble away from this team being 8-0. I guess they'll just have to settle for 7-1 and the best winning percentage in the NFL through the first eight weeks of the season.
The Baltimore Ravens are back.
Overreaction
They earned a much-needed win against the Chicago Bears, and they did it without Lamar Jackson. However, they're still 2-5 and are tied with the Las Vegas Raiders for the third-lowest winning percentage in the AFC. With that being said, the Baltimore Ravens can go on a run and return to .500 before the season ends. Their next five games are against the Miami Dolphins, the Minnesota Vikings, the Cleveland Browns, the New York Jets, and the Cincinnati Bengals. They have a real shot at winning all five of those contests and being 7-7 when Week 14 rolls around. That's when they play the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the real fun begins. But we are going to have to wait and see how the Ravens perform in their next five games before making any declarations about their future.
The Kansas City Chiefs will win the AFC.
Proper reaction
It's worth noting that these are gut reactions to how Week Eight of the NFL season played out. Just because something is labeled a "proper reaction" doesn't necessarily mean that it will come true. It means that fans who think "the Kansas City Chiefs will win the AFC" are reacting properly based on the events that took place last week. Now that we have gone through the semantics of this take, we can all admit to ourselves that the Kansas City Chiefs are playing some of the best football they have played in the last two years. They're 5-1 in their last six games and have convincing victories over the Detroit Lions and the Baltimore Ravens when Lamar Jackson was healthy. Patrick Mahomes is playing like an MVP, and Rashee Rice has been lights out since returning to the field two weeks ago. Everybody in the AFC should be worried about the Chiefs reaching a fourth straight Super Bowl.
The Chicago Bears will miss the playoffs.
Overreaction
As of this writing, the Chicago Bears would miss the playoffs if the regular season ended today. They lost the head-to-head matchup against the Detroit Lions. Plus, they have fewer wins than the San Francisco 49ers and more losses than the Los Angeles Rams. As a result, they're currently positioned to be the eighth seed in the NFC, which means they would just barely miss the cut. The good news for Bears fans is that the season will not end today. Chicago still has ten more games left to show what it's made of. In all likelihood, they'll be able to right the ship over the next two weeks with games against the Cincinnati Bengals and the New York Giants. If they can win both of those matchups, they'll be sitting pretty at 6-3 and will once again be back in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Carson Wentz will retire after this year.
Proper reaction
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz was placed on the injured reserve after it was announced that he would have to undergo season-ending surgery to repair a shoulder injury in his non-throwing arm. According to sources that spoke to ESPN's Kevin Seifert, Wentz suffered the injury on October 5th but still somehow managed to play two and a half more games with a dislocated shoulder, a torn labrum, and a fractured socket. Based on that information, this will probably be the end of the road for Carson Wentz. He grew up a Minnesota Vikings fan and wanted to play for the Vikes his whole life. When he got the chance to start for the team he grew up loving, they chewed him up, spit him out, and used him as a sacrificial lamb to ensure that second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy felt comfortable. That type of disrespect from an organization you care deeply for is enough to make any person want to quit their job. After a ten-year stint in the NFL and over $134 million in career earnings, it seems obvious that Carson Wentz will hang up his cleats when this season ends.
