Week 8 in the NFL was a disappointing week for many former USC Trojans. However, not only did Caleb Williams outplay Sam Darnold on Monday night, he is also entering conversations about being one of the best players in the league. He is putting the USC football program on his back.
Here is my breakdown of how some former USC football players fared in the eighth week of the NFL season:
Marshawn Lloyd
Marshawn Lloyd's production took its biggest hit in Week 8. Lloyd had 3 carries for 7 yards and 1 catch for 9 yards. As Josh Jacobs gets fully in the swing of things, Lloyd will get completely phased out.
Ja'Kobi Lane
There is a common theme now for Lane and his rookie season. When Lamar is not out there, Lane tends to be a nonfactor. That theme played out in Week 8. Lane had
only 1 catch for 13 yards. With Jacoby Brissett coming into the fold, hopefully that will open the door for Lane to start making a big impact.
Jordan Addison
The Minnesota Vikings offense has been very disappointing, and in their first loss, it came down solely to the offense not being able to keep up with the Detroit Lions offense. The bright side, however, was that Jordan Addison was making plays. Addison led the Vikings in receiving with 3 catches for 66 yards. He still came up short at times, as he had 8 total targets.
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Amon-Ra St. Brown found his success against a dominant force: the Minnesota Vikings' defense. St. Brown had 7 catches for 46 yards and 1 carry for 10 yards.
Drake London
The weather for the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a literal monsoon. That directly impacted the passing game, and as a result, Drake London finished the game with 6 targets for 1 catch for 8 yards.
Tuli Tuipulotu
Things have continued to look ugly for the Los Angeles Chargers, but it was still an impressive showing for Tuli Tuipulotu. Tuipulotu had 4 tackles and a sack against the Los Angeles Rams. This season has been a down year individually for Tuipulotu, but there is still time for him to get things back on the right track. Week 8 was a good start for that.
Chris Roland-Wallace
Chris Roland-Wallace remains a key piece on the Trojans' defense. In a game for the AFC West division, Chris Roland-Wallace got very key snaps. Roland-Wallace had an impactful 4 tackles and a pass deflection against the Denver Broncos.
Makai Lemon
Makai Lemon was the leading receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles for a second straight week. His production is seeing an uptick even within the chaos. That could be the case moving forward with Joe Milton now taking over at quarterback. Lemon posted 6 catches for 57 yards and a 9.5-yard-per-catch average.
Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams looked spectacular against the best defense in the NFL. The confidence he has been building has made him an unstoppable force. Seattle did some things well, but it did not matter because Caleb Williams always had the answer. He is seeing the game differently in year 3, and things are beginning to look easy for him. The Bears are fully behind him, and his impact since his return has gone deeper than just his play. His play, however, has been very comparable to the best in the NFL. Caleb Williams had 247 yards, the most against Seattle all season long, by a wide margin, and a passing touchdown. His play on Monday night was a lot better than the numbers suggest.
Leonard Williams
The Bears' elite offensive line did their best to hold Leonard Williams in check. For the most part, they did, as Caleb Williams had enough time to shine and the Bears' run game got the job done. Williams still managed to have 3 tackles on the day. It is hard to take a player that dominant out of the game.
Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold did not play terribly, but it was clear he was not on the same level as his fellow Trojan alum quarterback Caleb Williams. Darnold was under pressure consistently from the Bears' pass rush, and there was just not a lot going the Seahawks' way in this game. Darnold still did his best to keep the game close with 188 yards passing and 2 touchdowns. It was revealed he suffered a rib injury on the second play of the game, and coach Mike Macdonald didn't learn about it until after the game. It helps explain his performance. Darnold showed guts playing through pain. It just wasn't enough against Caleb and the in-form Bears.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC NFL report - aftermath of Caleb Williams' win versus Sam Darnold
