NFL Scores Week 8: Results, Standings and Top Fantasy Stars from AFC, NFC Games

The Cincinnati Bengals made history on Sunday, defeating Pittsburgh 16-10 to capture their first 7-0 start in franchise history. 

Few probably noticed, because as they were pulling off that feat, the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants were engaging in one of the craziest football games of all time.

Drew Brees threw a record seven touchdown passes, Eli Manning nearly matched him with six of his own and Kai Forbath nailed a 52-yard field goal as time expired to deliver the Saints a Looney Tunes 52-49 win. ESPN Stats & Info passed along the obvious record set in the contest: 

ESPN's Dan Rafael and New York Magazine's Rembert Browne both lost their lunch as a result of New York's gut-punch loss: 

"

gonna vomit

— Rembert Browne (@rembert) November 1, 2015"

Here are the rest of the results, standings and top fantasy players after Week 8. Top fantasy performers are based on ESPN.com's leaderboard, with precedence given to skill players or defenses over quarterbacks when the point totals are close. 

Away	Score	Home	Top Fantasy Performer
Miami Dolphins	7-36	New England Patriots	Tom Brady (NE): 26-of-38, 356 YDS 4 TD
Detroit Lions	10-45	Kansas City Chiefs	Alex Smith (KC): 18-of-26, 145 YDS, 2 TD; 5 CAR, 78 YDS, 1 TD
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	23-20	Atlanta Falcons	Julio Jones (ATL): 12 REC, 162 YDS, 1 TD, 1 FMBL
Arizona Cardinals	34-20	Cleveland Browns	Carson Palmer (AZ): 23-of-38, 374 YDS, 4 TD, 1 INT
San Francisco 49ers	6-27	St. Louis Rams	Tavon Austin (STL): 3 CAR, 21 YDS, 1 TD; 4 REC, 98 YDS, 1 TD
New York Giants	49-52	New Orleans Saints	Drew Brees (NO): 40-of-50, 511 YDS, 7 TD, 1 INT
Minnesota Vikings	23-20	Chicago Bears	Alshon Jeffery (CHI): 10 REC, 116 YDS, 1 TD
San Diego Chargers	26-29	Baltimore Ravens	Malcom Floyd (SD): 4 REC, 92 YDS, 2 TD
Cincinnati Bengals	16-10	Pittsburgh Steelers	A.J. Green (CIN): 11 REC, 118 YDS, 1 TD
Tennessee Titans	6-20	Houston Texans	Texans D/ST: 1 INT, 2 FR, 7 sacks, 6 PTS allowed
New York Jets	20-34	Oakland Raiders	Derek Carr (OAK): 23-of-36, 333 YDS, 4 TD
Seattle Seahawks	13-12	Dallas Cowboys	Dan Bailey (DAL): 4-of-4 FGM
Green Bay Packers	10-29	Denver Broncos	Ronnie Hillman (DEN): 19 CAR, 60 YDS, 2 TD; 1 REC, -5 YDS

American Football Conference
National Football Conference
AFC East	W	L
New England Patriots	7	0
New York Jets	4	3
Buffalo Bills	3	4
Miami Dolphins	3	4
AFC North
Cincinnati Bengals	7	0
Pittsburgh Steelers	4	4
Cleveland Browns	2	6
Baltimore Ravens	2	6
AFC West
Denver Broncos	7	0
Oakland Raiders	4	3
Kansas City Chiefs	3	5
San Diego Chargers	2	6
AFC South
Indianapolis Colts	3	4
Houston Texans	3	5
Jacksonville Jaguars	2	5
Tennessee Titans	1	6
NFC East	W	L
New York Giants	4	4
Washington Redskins	3	4
Philadelphia Eagles	3	4
Dallas Cowboys	2	4
NFC North
Green Bay Packers	6	1
Minnesota Vikings	5	2
Chicago Bears	2	5
Detroit Lions	1	7
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals	6	2
St. Louis Rams	4	3
Seattle Seahawks	4	4
San Francisco 49ers	2	6
NFC South
Carolina Panthers	6	0
Atlanta Falcons	6	2
New Orleans Saints	4	4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	3	4

Top Players from Early Sunday Slate

Wide Receiver: Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

Week in and week out, Odell Beckham Jr. is a fantasy stud, but the second-year wideout truly outdid himself on Sunday against the New Orleans saints, tallying eight catches for 130 yards and three touchdowns in the season's wackiest game. 

Beckham again proved himself as a big-play machine, possession receiver and red-zone threat. His first two scores were one and two yards, respectively, while his third of the game came on a 50-yard bomb. The NFL has a look at the long touchdown: 

ESPN's Tristan H. Cockcroft noted that fantasy-wise, Beckham's had a better start to his career than any player since 1960, which is before Bill Winkenbach and company dreamed up the stat-obsessive pastime: 

Beckham has dealt with a hamstring injury at times this season, but it's only hindered him or kept him off the field for portions of a couple of games. He looked in tip-top shape on Sunday and undoubtedly holds the title of the best young wide receiver in the game. Best overall is still up for debate, but Beckham is closing in.

Quarterback: Drew Brees, New Orleans

Brees' first half alone would've been plenty good enough for most fantasy owners. The longtime Saints signal-caller threw for 300 yards and four touchdowns in the first two quarters, en route to one of the great all-time passing games. Brees racked up 511 passing yards, the second 500-yard game of his career. He's the only QB to do it twice.

Willie Snead and Brandin Cooks each reeled in two touchdowns, while Marques Colston looked like his old self for a day with 114 receiving yards and one score. Here is Brees starting the fun with a flea-flicker TD pass (via the NFL): 

At the end of the third quarter, Brees had as many touchdowns (six) as incompletions. For beleaguered fantasy owners who kept the faith in Brees, it was an unbelievably rewarding performance to say the least.

NFL Network's Shaun O'Hara noted early that Brees had plenty of time to sit back, relax and pick apart the secondary: 

ESPN's Matthew Berry had a nice, succinct quip for Brees' day on the gridiron: 

It's been a relatively slow season for Brees compared to his usual standard of quarterbacking excellence. His previous best game was 359 yards and two touchdowns against Dallas on October 4.

A shoulder injury kept him out of one game and visibly limited him in others. Jimmy Graham's departure to Seattle certainly hasn't helped and neither has 32-year-old Colston's steep decline. Cooks, once thought to be an unorthodox No. 1 due to his small stature, hasn't been quite as good as advertised.

The latter two saw plenty of success running through the Giants' papier-mache secondary. Fantasy owners will hope that this is the game that elevates Brees to his normally lofty plane of existence. 

Running Back: Todd Gurley, St. Louis Rams

Todd Gurley again showed off his penchant for the big play in St. Louis' 27-6 win over San Francisco. The first-year back did the bulk of his work on a 71-yard touchdown run, as seen here in all its glory (via the NFL on Twitter):  

Gurley finished with 133 rushing yards in total, marking his fourth straight game with more than 125 yards on the ground. He joined rare company with this mini-streak, per ESPN Stats & Info: 

Somehow, Sunday's total is only the third-best of his nascent career.

The University of Georgia product's ability to rip off long runs shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. NFL draft expert Mike Mayock compared him favorably to two of the league's best backs (via Steve Serby of the New York Post):

"

Adrian Peterson was the most angry ball carrier I’ve ever seen coming out of college, and Marshawn Lynch was similar. I think this kid is a little bit more elegant. I think he’s faster. He can drop his pad level and go when he has to, but I think he’s faster than those guys, but I’m not sure if he’s going to be a 25-carry-a-game guy like them.

"

He's quickly established himself as the presumptive favorite for NFL Rookie of the Year, as well as one of the game's top fantasy players. He hasn't yet had a bad game as a starter. Barring catastrophe, St. Louis (or Los Angeles) fans should be enjoying his breathtaking combination of speed and strength for years to come.