Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season began in Los Angeles on Thursday night, with quarterback Justin Herbert and the Chargers cruising to a win over the Vikings. Herbert threw three touchdown passes and rushed for 62 yards, while rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II continued his hot start with 77 yards and a touchdown.
In the early window Sunday, running back James Cook III carried the Bills to a blowout win over the Panthers. He finished with two touchdowns and 216 rushing yards through three quarters, which was the most by any NFL player since 2018.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let's get to it.
Buffalo 40, Carolina 9
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Bills
Can the Bills' defense use this game as a jumping off point? Buffalo's defense came out of the bye in total command, allowing nine points, sacking Andy Dalton seven times and forcing three takeaways after not recording more than one in any of the six previous games. The Panthers were held to one of their lowest rushing totals of the season (114 yards). These are promising signs for a unit that has struggled to find consistency, but the long-term picture is clouded the status of defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who was quickly ruled out with a biceps injury in the first half.
Most surprising performance: Running back James Cook III. It's not a surprise Cook had a big day; he's been strong all season. But it was the level of Sunday's performance. He had a career-high 216 yards on 19 carries and scored two touchdowns against a defense that only allowed more than 100 rushing yards in three of their first seven games. Cook broke countless records Sunday, including the most rushing yards ever by a player against the Panthers. -- Alaina Getzenberg
Next game: vs. Chiefs (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Panthers
What happened to the run defense? This looked more like the NFL's worst defense in 2024, not the one ranked eighth against the run heading into Sunday. But the blowout loss to the Bills was a complete disaster, full of bad tackling and no gap control. Carolina allowed only 131 rushing yards over the previous three games combined, but Cook had 130 yards rushing before contact in the first half. This was an embarrassing effort.
What to make of the QB performance: As Bryce Young's replacement, Dalton was as bad as the Carolina run defense. The 37-year-old's interception and two lost fumbles led to 17 points for Buffalo. He took sacks he shouldn't have. He's 1-6 as a starter in his three seasons with Carolina. It may be time for the Panthers to develop a young backup. -- David Newton
Next game: at Packers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
L.A. Chargers 37, Minnesota 10
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Chargers
Can the Chargers survive another injury storm? This was the game in which the Chargers were finally supposed to be back to full health: offensive tackles Joe Alt and Trey Pipkins III were both active, and linebackers Khalil Mack and Denzel Perryman were also back for a second game together. But the Chargers sustained more injuries Thursday. Safety Derwin James Jr. (ankle), cornerback Tarheeb Still (knee) and right guard Mekhi Becton (knee) didn't finish the game. Coach Jim Harbaugh had no update on their injuries postgame, but losing three impact players could significantly hurt the Chargers moving forward.
Most surprising performance: Quarterback Justin Herbert has a new favorite target: rookie Oronde Gadsden II. The fifth-round pick caught five passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, becoming the first rookie tight end since Mike Ditka in 1961 with 240 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in a two-game span. More important, Gadsden caught all of the passes targeted to him. -- Kris Rhim
Next game: at Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Vikings
Is it J.J. McCarthy time? It has to be, right? Carson Wentz has filled in as an average backup quarterback, winning two of five starts, but has provided no indication that he's ready to be the next veteran reclamation of coach Kevin O'Connell. McCarthy has hit the high end of the timetable for healing his right high ankle sprain (six weeks). McCarthy performed poorly in his first two NFL starts, finishing with a QBR (20.3) that ranked second-to-last in the NFL at the time, but he needs to play. That's the Vikings' top organizational priority, and if it doesn't happen next week, when will it?
Most surprising performance: The Chargers gashed the Vikings' defense in every way imaginable. Some opponents have managed to accumulate yards against them this season, but before Thursday night, the Vikings had at least limited scoring. They entered the game tied for No. 10 in the NFL with 20 points allowed per game. But they had no answers for Herbert, who weaved through their blitzes to rush for 62 yards and also threw three touchdown passes. The Chargers faced little resistance in amassing 419 total yards and 29 first downs. -- Kevin Seifert
Next game: at Lions (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
