NFL B/R Staff NFL Week 8 Report Card: Dolphins Win in Tua Tagovailoa's Debut

Life comes at you fast. How fast? A recent top-five selection can go from being on the hot seat before ever starting a game to looking like the face of a franchise just a few hours later. 

Some might say the description of Tua Tagovailoa's situation veers toward hyperbolic, yet the NFL is fickle and everyone can see it with each performance. The balance of a season and a team's best-laid plans can change at a moment's notice. 

Tagovailoa's debut is simply a microcosm of bigger league trends. So much is done with an eye toward the future that a franchise can forget about its present.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday morning that the Dolphins decided to start the rookie quarterback over Ryan Fitzpatrick due, in part, to the possibility of being in a position to select a better prospect next offseason thanks to the previous Laremy Tunsil trade. By the end of the day, Miami owned a 4-3 record with Tua not being overwhelmed by the moment. 

Teams must assess where they stand before worrying about issues down the road. 

• Are the Cleveland Browns a playoff team after Sunday's disappointing loss to the Las Vegas Raiders?
• Can the Baltimore Ravens rebound after multiple injuries to key offensive pieces? 
• Is Cam Newton really the answer at quarterback for the New England Patriots?

B/R's panel of NFL writers—Brad Gagnon, Brent Sobleski, Gary Davenport, Kalyn Kahler and Matt Miller—broke down these scenarios and more while assigning grades to each.

Tua Tagovailoa's Debut

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

From an individual perspective, Tua Tagovailoa didn't perform particularly well in his first professional start. Yet the Miami Dolphins secured a 28-17 victory over the Los Angeles Rams and improved to 4-3 overall. 

Tagovailoa completed 12 of his 22 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown. 

"I don't think I played to the standard of what this offense is capable of," the rookie told reporters. 

Aside from a strip-sack on his first offensive series, this year's fifth overall draft pick wasn't completely overwhelmed and didn't make critical mistakes. Miami's defense and special teams did their jobs, and the Dolphins are very much in the playoff picture. 

When taking everything in context, how would each of you assess Tagovailoa's first start?

Brad Gagnon: B

He didn't get in the way in a victory, which is enough for a positive grade for a player making his career debut as a starter under unique circumstances (the hip, the so-so support and the weird offseason).

Brent Sobleski: B

Did Tagovailoa look like a superstar? No. At the same time, glimpses of what made him a top-five selection presented themselves. The rookie's calm demeanor and quick release allowed him to do just enough not to ruin a quality win. The Dolphins should do everything in their power to build around the 22-year-old signal-caller. 

Gary Davenport: C-

The Dolphins stunned the Rams in Week 8 because of defense and special teams, not anything that Tagovailoa did in a ho-hum debut. There will hopefully be better days ahead. Barely completing half your passes and failing to hit 100 passing yards ain't gonna get it done in the long term.

Kalyn Kahler: B-

The story of the game was the Dolphins defense. Tagovailoa was fine in his first NFL game: He got into trouble early when he was strip-sacked by Aaron Donald on his first dropback, but he recovered to lead a touchdown drive later in the first quarter. His stats were nothing special. But Miami didn't need more from him in this game, and the rookie didn't look panicked in the pocket. The Dolphins are in second place in the AFC East. Tua has a lot of room to grow and plenty to build on from his first game.

Matt Miller: A+

The defense and special teams played a huge hand in the Dolphins' win, but for Tua this will always be a win in his first NFL start. The Dolphins were dominant in every phase of the game, taking down a much more hyped Rams team. While Tua didn't have to do much heavy lifting, he was accurate and poised after a strip-sack from Donald on his first attempt of the day. Playing calm and not letting the game be too big for him against a very good defense should encourage Dolphins fans as much as the win does.

Cleveland Browns' Playoff Chances

David Richard/Associated Press

The Cleveland Browns season has been a series of two steps forward and then one step back. One of those negative experiences occurred Sunday with a 16-6 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Still, the Browns own a 5-3 record going into the bye with a postseason berth being a realistic possibility. 

"It should be a lot better," quarterback Baker Mayfield told reporters of the team's current standing. "We believe that, and that's why our locker room's pissed off."

Cleveland couldn't overcome a combination of inclement weather, numerous mental mistakes and a powerful Raiders rushing attack. 

What are the odds Cleveland snaps the NFL's longest playoff drought this season? 

Brad Gagnon: C

All three losses are inside the conference, and they're currently losing tiebreakers to the Ravens and Raiders. The Dolphins and Colts are also in the wild-card equation right now, and Cleveland has some major injuries to overcome. Right now, I'd bet the Browns miss the postseason again.

Brent Sobleski: C+

One can easily point to the injuries suffered by Odell Beckham Jr. last week and Myles Garrett this week. Yet the issue isn't about surviving a brutal season. The Browns have enough on offense to overcome as long as the defense can make a stop every now and again. Therein lies the problem. Cleveland's defense is putrid beyond Garrett and cornerback Denzel Ward. 

Gary Davenport: B

Cleveland still has to play both New York teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans, and that soft schedule will go a long way toward getting the Browns into the postseason—at which point Cleveland's equally soft defense will get it blasted in the Wild Card Round.

Kalyn Kahler: B

The Browns have a soft schedule ahead, so there's a chance they grab a wild-card spot. It could definitely happen, but I don't expect them to go far in the postseason.

Matt Miller: B-

Even with the NFL adopting an expanded playoff rule starting this season, with seven teams from each conference, the Browns have to worry about each loss given their existing division schedule in a very tough AFC North. The Steelers are the best team in football, and the Ravens are always a tough out. A 5-3 start is awesome for Cleveland, but the schedule the rest of the way doesn't make a playoff berth—even as a No. 7 seed—a sure thing.

J.K. Dobbins' Chances of Supplanting Mark Ingram for Rest of Year

Terrance Williams/Associated Press

Mark Ingram II didn't play for the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday because of a high ankle sprain and could miss multiple weeks, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. 

In Ingram's stead, rookie J.K. Dobbins carried the ball 15 times for 113 yards as one of the top rushers from Sunday's slate. 

The Ravens posted massive offensive numbers and outgained the Pittsburgh Steelers by 243 yards. Yet Baltimore lost 28-24, mainly due to turnovers. The Steelers are clearly the best team in the AFC North and the league's only undefeated squad. 

The Ravens must rebound, but they'll likely be forced to do so without the hammer in their potent ground-and-pound attack. After watching Dobbins' performance, what is the likelihood the second-round draft pick supplants Ingram as the unit's lead back? 

Brad Gagnon: A

He's now averaging 6.7 yards per carry, so the platoon is likely to shift its weight toward Dobbins even when Ingram returns. Gotta keep in mind nobody waits to throw running backs a full load, and Ingram is nearly 31.

Brent Sobleski: B

While Dobbins is an ideal fit for the scheme, he lacks the same physicality in his running style that Ingram brings, which is vital to how the Baltimore offense operates. Dobbins can certainly take over his share of carries, but more of a running back-by-committee approach should be expected once the veteran back returns to the lineup. 

Gary Davenport: C

Should the Ravens make Dobbins the lead back after he topped 100 yards on just 15 carries against Pittsburgh's league-leading run defense? Yes. But while we may see Dobbins get some more work, once Ingram is healthy I think we'll see the same three-headed committee with Ingram, Dobbins and Gus Edwards from before Ingram's injury. Gotta keep the backs fresh or whatever.

Kalyn Kahler: A-

With Ingram out, the Ravens rushing attack was all Dobbins and Edwards. The two split the carries pretty evenly, and the balance worked well. The rookie Dobbins had never had more than nine carries this season, and he got 15 Sunday, for 113 yards. His previous rushing high was 48 yards. Ingram might miss next week as well, and the more games he misses, the more of a lead Dobbins will take.

Matt Miller: A+

With Dobbins on the roster, the Ravens shouldn't make Ingram's carries a priority for the rest of the season. Getting Dobbins involved as both a runner and a receiver will only help open up an offense that finds itself sorely limited thanks to the passing game struggles of Lamar Jackson. Baltimore's one-dimensional option offense isn't getting it done. Dobbins' talent as a runner and receiver will give them the boost they need.

Cam Newton's First Game Back After Being Benched

John Munson/Associated Press

The New England Patriots had an opportunity to big-brother the Buffalo Bills, but Cam Newton fumbled away a chance for a game-winning touchdown or a game-tying field goal with 37 seconds left to play. 

"It's unacceptable. I've got to protect the ball," Newton told reporters after the 24-21 loss.   

Before the fumble, the Patriots quarterback gained 54 yards on nine carries. Newton also threw for 174 yards. 

However, the massive blunder came a week after the Patriots sat Newton late in last week's 33-6 drubbing at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. 

As a whole, how did Newton perform against the Bills, and can the Patriots move forward with him as their starting quarterback? 

Brad Gagnon: D

It wasn't a horrible performance, but he just isn't a game-changer through the air anymore. He attempted just one pass that traveled 15-plus yards. And then there was that brutal fumble.

Brent Sobleski: D

A failing grade would entail a pending quarterback switch. Did Newton play well in recent weeks? No. At the same time, the Patriots don't have a better option on the roster. Bill Belichick and his staff simply have to ride the roller coaster that is having Newton as their starting quarterback for the rest of the season. 

Gary Davenport: D+

Newton was neither great nor terrible for most of Sunday's loss to the Bills, accounting for 228 total yards and a score. But the fumble that put a stop to New England's comeback attempt was beyond brutal, and the Patriots are a 2-5 hot mess of a football team that's going to be starting over under center in the offseason.

Kalyn Kahler: F

This has to be an 'F' just because of Newton's last play of the game. With a chance to get in field-goal range to tie up the game, Newton got the ball punched out. Game over. For a quarterback whose game really relies on his rushing attack, and against the team leading the division, that type of mistake is inexcusable.

Matt Miller: F

Newton isn't the answer—that has to be obvious at this stage. Even accepting that the talent around him is not ideal, Newton is struggling to make the right decisions and putting the ball into the hands of the defense far too often. This isn't to say Jarrett Stidham is the answer, either, but more so that the Patriots' future at quarterback isn't on the roster right now.

New York Jets' Effort Against Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Chiefs

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

The 0-8 New York Jets have all but given up on their season. They've lost their last four games by a combined score of 107-29. A 35-9 loss Sunday to the Kansas City Chiefs is the latest step in the Jets' march toward the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. 

Right now, the Jets are banking on getting healthy to save some semblance of an already lost season. 

"When we get starters healthy, which we should have some guys coming back, that's always going to help stretch the field a little bit," head coach Adam Gase told reporters. 

Jamison Crowder and Breshad Perriman's return will help, but their potential returns can't overlook the fact the Jets aren't even competitive. 

How should the team's effort be perceived after watching Sunday's thrashing? 

Brad Gagnon: F

I mean, they trailed by double digits most of the day and they handed off more than the Chiefs and attempted just four deep passes.

Brent Sobleski: D

Why a D instead of an F when it comes to my grade? The D stands for, "Don't screw this up Jets by trying to win games. Embrace the tank and get the No. 1 overall pick. Then you can take whichever of the top quarterback prospects—Clemson's Trevor Lawrence or Ohio State's Justin Fields—you prefer and replace Sam Darnold." 

Gary Davenport: F

The Jets had just 128 passing yards, averaged 3.7 yards per carry, got outgained by a margin of two-to-one and then some, gave up over seven yards a play and got blown out to remain winless. This may well be the worst single-season team of the Super Bowl era. Worse than the 2008 Lions and the 2017 Browns. It takes a lot of effort to be that bad.

Kalyn Kahler: D

A sad stat: The Jets had more rushing attempts than the Chiefs in the 35-9 blowout loss, 25 to 20. They also opted for field goals in the first half instead of going for it on fourth down, and went 2-of-12 on third down. Conservative play-calling is not the way to beat a high-scoring team when trailing by multiple scores. This 0-8 team might never win a game.

Matt Miller: LOL

The Jets, outside of Quinnen Williams, Denzel Mims and a handful of other young players, looked like they're ready to forfeit the season.

Denver Broncos' Offensive Potential with Drew Lock Back

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

The Denver Broncos made an improbable comeback for a 31-30 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers after trailing by 21 points in the third quarter.

The Chargers' inability to hold leads aside, Denver features an exciting young cast of offensive weapons in quarterback Drew Lock, running back Phillip Lindsay, wide receivers Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler and DaeSean Hamilton and tight ends Noah Fant and Albert Okwuegbunam. 

Denver managed 351 yards against the Chargers and finally established a rhythm during the second half.

"We've had three full games with this offense with normal personnel...maybe we're just starting to click," Lock told reporters. "Maybe people had opinions of us based off six games with multiple different quarterbacks."

How good can the Broncos offense be with Lock and his full complement of weapons finally on the field together? 

Brad Gagnon: C

The Chargers Chargered again, and that can't be discounted here. Lock's inconsistent play continues to be concerning, and that offense is too short-handed to sustain this against less Chargery opponents.

Brent Sobleski: B

Legitimate playmaking potential exists within Denver's young group of skill-position performers. As long as Lock stays healthy and continues to grow as their triggerman, the Broncos could feature one of the league's most explosive offenses. Obviously, the unit has yet to reach that point, but the pieces are in place to make it happen. 

Gary Davenport: C+

Lock played well against the Chargers, especially in the second half. But I don't know how much of that was Lock and how much was L.A.'s determination to lose games in every manner imaginable. The second-year pro is an OK quarterback, but I'm far from convinced that he's going to be more than that.

Kalyn Kahler: B+

I think Lock has a ton of potential. This is still a really young offense, and I think it's going to take time for them all to really jell and hit their stride together. Lock played great in the fourth quarter when it mattered and showed shades of his play during the 4-1 stretch Denver had late last season when Lock got off injured reserve and earned his first five NFL starts.

Sean Payton's Decision to Kick Game-Winning Field Goal on 1st Down

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

For all of the cold rationalization and analytics-driven decisions found in modern football, the game itself is still played by men and emotions get involved, especially in highly stressful situations. 

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton had a decision to make in overtime against the Chicago Bears. The Saints were in field-goal range with 1:40 left on the clock and Chicago had no timeouts. Instead of running the clock down, thus leaving the Bears no time left in case of a botched field-goal attempt, Payton chose to send his kicker onto the field for a first-down field-goal attempt. 

"It was just my gut feeling," Payton told reporters. "... I recognize we could have brought the clock down and all those other things, and had there been a turnover we'd have looked bad. Just went with my gut." 

Wil Lutz converted a game-winning 35-yard field goal. 

Do the ends justify the means in Payton's decision to attempt the kick with so much time left on the clock? 

Brad Gagnon: F

This is a reminder that good decisions can have bad outcomes and bad decisions can have good outcomes. Kicking on an earlier down is fine and leaving some time on the clock is fine, but there was very little risk associated with trying to get a little closer while zapping most of the leftover clock with a safe play or two. Payton's decision actually indicates he lacks trust in his offense, which is concerning.

Brent Sobleski: B

To quote the incomparable Herm Edwards, "You play to win the game. Hello?" Yes, the clock could have been handled better. But Lutz was attempting an extra-point-length kick. He's one of the best specialists in the business. Sure, he missed an earlier kick, but no one should have a problem with a coach instilling confidence in his player to put the game away, and Lutz did. 

Gary Davenport: D

Payton's clock management at the end of Sunday's win over the Chicago Bears was, um, curious. But Lutz put the biscuit in the basket, so no harm done. Maybe he was just trying to get the gaffes out of his system ahead of next week's big tilt with Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Kalyn Kahler: C

I didn't love this decision. Why not run a couple more plays to get a closer field goal or try to score a touchdown? Lutz had already missed one 27-yard field goal in this windy game, so it wasn't a given that he'd make it. However, the Bears offense is so inconsistent that the chances of Chicago scoring if it got the ball back were slim to none.

DK Metcalf’s Likelihood of Becoming NFL's Best WR

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf continues to wow all onlookers with his dominance this season. 

Metcalf posted an exceptional effort with 12 receptions for 161 yards and two touchdowns during a 37-27 victory over the rival San Francisco 49ers. 

"DK had a special, special game," quarterback Russell Wilson told reporters. "I don't think there's anybody better in terms of what he can do. And he's only in his second year."

Metcalf has produced at least 92 receiving yards in six of Seattle's seven games. His seven receiving touchdowns are now tied for the league lead. He's a physically imposing force on the field and getting better every week. 

As Metcalf continues in his development, what's the likelihood he emerges as the game's best wide receiver and standard by which everyone else at the position is compared? 

Brad Gagnon: A

I mean, the numbers already put him there. Throw in his ridiculous ability and the fact the 22-year-old has so much room to grow and it's hard not to predict he'll get there.

Brent Sobleski: B

Get out those pitchforks and torches, because I'm about to make a statement many won't like: Metcalf isn't even the best wide receiver on the Seahawks roster. Tyler Lockett is, and he's criminally underrated as a secret superstar. With that said, Metcalf's overwhelming physical gifts are reminiscent of those of Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens. 

Gary Davenport: B+

Heading into the 2019 draft, I wrote that Metcalf was going to be a bust—something that Seahawks fans love to remind me about on social media every time Metcalf goes off. I get reminded about that rather a lot. Even by my own sky-high standards of wrong-ness, that was, um...yeah.

Oops.

Kalyn Kahler: A

Metcalf was underrated coming out of college because based off his college tape, scouts couldn't project what he would be capable of in an NFL offense. He didn't run a full route tree and missed games with serious injuries. Now we all can see what he can do, and he's well on his way to greatness in just his second season.