NFL Week 8 roundup: 49ers get Buckner back, Seahawks add Nelson before Bears visit (Oct. 31)
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Atlanta handed the 49ers their first loss, 29-20, by forcing four turnovers. San Francisco (6-1) is on its bye and traded for former Oregon Duck DeForest Buckner, the team's 2016 first-round pick.
Seattle beat Kansas City 20-3 on Sunday night behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba's 150 receiving yards, then traded for eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson, who starts Monday.
The Bears (5-2) visit the Seahawks (4-3) on Monday Night Football at 5:15 p.m. PT on ESPN/ABC, days after Chicago traded two first-round picks for All-Pro DT Jeffery Simmons.
Dallas beat Philadelphia 38-21 on Monday night, Green Bay beat Carolina 27-19 on Thursday night, and Minnesota (6-0) visits Detroit on Sunday as the league's last unbeaten team.
The 49ers' unbeaten run ended in Atlanta, and by Monday they had brought home a familiar face from Eugene. The Seahawks, meanwhile, played their best game of the season, made a big trade of their own and get a prime-time home game against one of the NFC's hottest teams.
Here is our weekly look around the league: the 49ers and Seahawks, the rest of Week 7, both prime-time games, the Players of the Week, trades and injuries, and the Week 8 games worth your Sunday and Monday.
49ers: first loss, then Buckner comes home
Atlanta beat San Francisco 29-20 on Oct. 25, forcing four turnovers and scoring 13 points off them, the AP reported. Michael Penix Jr. was 25 of 34 for 213 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Brock Purdy was 27 of 40 for 288 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. The 49ers fell to 6-1 and the Falcons improved to 3-4.
The 49ers led 14-3 early in the second quarter before Atlanta scored 23 straight points, starting with a Kaelon Black fumble forced by Maason Smith. San Francisco outgained the Falcons 400 yards to 295 and reached Atlanta's side of the field on all nine of its drives but scored only 20 points, NFL.com noted. Christian McCaffrey dominated the opening drive, then was slowed by a thigh injury.
Rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels had 11 tackles, a fourth-quarter interception and recovered the fumble Jessie Bates forced from George Kittle to seal it, the AP reported.
Two days later the 49ers traded a 2027 fourth-round pick to Indianapolis for defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, 49ers.com announced. San Francisco took Buckner seventh overall in 2016 out of the University of Oregon, where he played from 2012 to 2015 and was the 2015 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and an AP second-team All-America. The 32-year-old Honolulu native has 75.5 career sacks and had 31 tackles and four sacks for the Colts this season.
The 49ers are off this week. They lead the NFC West by 2 1/2 games over Seattle and hold the head-to-head edge from their 32-29 win at Lumen Field on Oct. 11, NFL.com noted.
Seahawks: a statement win, and Nelson arrives
Seattle beat Kansas City 20-3 on Sunday Night Football, handing the Chiefs their first loss and snapping a two-game skid, the AP reported. Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught nine passes for 150 yards, 129 of them in the first half, including a 28-yard touchdown on third-and-9. Sam Darnold was 20 of 28 for 257 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and Emanuel Wilson ran 24 times for 100 yards, with a 21-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The defense was the story. Kenneth Walker III, back in Seattle with the Chiefs, was held to 36 yards on 14 carries. Patrick Mahomes was 19 of 33 for 165 yards and threw an interception to Ty Okada after Nick Emmanwori hit him. Kansas City managed 213 yards and went 3 of 11 on third down, and it was the first time the Chiefs were held out of the red zone in a game Mahomes started, Seahawks.com reported. Seattle (4-3) ran up 410 yards, converted 11 of 16 third downs and held the ball for 35:51.
Smith-Njigba has 867 receiving yards and a league-leading eight touchdown catches. He joined Jerry Rice (1986) and Cooper Kupp (2021) as the only players with at least 800 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches through seven games, according to Seahawks.com.
On Oct. 27 the Seahawks acquired guard Quenton Nelson from Indianapolis for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. Nelson, 30, is an eight-time Pro Bowler in the final year of a four-year, $80 million deal, NFL.com reported. Coach Mike Macdonald said Nelson will start at left guard Monday, with Grey Zabel moving to right guard and Anthony Bradford going to a backup role, Seahawks Wire reported.
Seattle's Friday injury report had seven players who did not practice: Bradford (knee), left tackle Charles Cross (ankle), running back Velus Jones Jr. (hamstring), receiver Rashid Shaheed (knee), linebackers Uchenna Nwosu (ankle) and Patrick O'Connell (toe), and defensive tackle Brandon Pili (back). Zach Charbonnet (knee), linebacker Tyrice Knight (hip), backup quarterback Drew Lock (right elbow) and defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (back) were limited. Rookie running back Jadarian Price, eligible to come off injured reserve, practiced fully. Nelson was a full participant.
Monday night: Bears at Seahawks
Chicago (5-2) leads the NFL in rushing offense at 154.3 yards a game. Seattle leads the league in pass defense, allowing 144.4 yards a game, and is sixth against the run at 89.4. The NFL says the Seahawks are the third team since 1990 to allow fewer than 150 passing yards and 90 rushing yards a game through seven games. Smith-Njigba needs 133 receiving yards to become the sixth player with 1,000 in his team's first eight games, according to the league's Week 8 preview.
The Bears average 40 points in the games Caleb Williams has played start to finish, NFL.com noted. Chicago will be without running back Kyle Monangai (thumb, toe), who was ruled out for a fourth straight game, NBC Sports reported, and tight end Colston Loveland (neck) was limited Friday.
The Bears also went all in on defense. On Oct. 29 they acquired defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from Tennessee for first-round picks in 2027 and 2028 and a 2027 fourth-rounder, and they get a 2028 fifth-round pick back, ChicagoBears.com announced. Simmons was a first-team AP All-Pro in 2025 with 11 sacks. Off the field, Chicago's stadium search has been moving prediction markets; see our market pulse on that.
Kickoff: Monday, 5:15 p.m. PT, ESPN/ABC, at Lumen Field.
Week 7 around the league
Record drama. The NFL counted 64 one-score games through Week 7 and 34 games with a game-winning score in the final five minutes or overtime, both the most ever at this point. Cleveland, Detroit and the New York Giants all won on the final play.
Vikings stay perfect. Minnesota beat Indianapolis 16-10 to reach 6-0 for the first time since 2009, NFL.com reported. The Vikings blitzed on 85.2% of dropbacks, the highest rate of the Next Gen Stats era, and Justin Jefferson passed Calvin Johnson on the receiving list for a player's first 100 games.
Walk-offs. Detroit beat Green Bay 20-17 when D.J. Wonnum blocked a field goal and Jake Bates kicked a 22-yarder as time expired. Jared Goff threw for 303 yards and Amon-Ra St. Brown caught nine passes for 153. Cleveland's Andre Szmyt hit a walk-off field goal for the second straight week in a 27-24 win over Tennessee, and the Browns are 5-2. The Giants won 27-21 in overtime at Houston on Devin Singletary's 30-yard touchdown in J.J. McCarthy's first start for New York. Cam Skattebo ran for 124 yards and Malik Nabers had seven catches for 111 yards, his fourth straight game with at least 110.
Milestones. Pittsburgh beat New Orleans 16-10 in Paris, and Aaron Rodgers' touchdown pass was his 540th in the regular season, passing Peyton Manning for third all-time. Matthew Stafford threw three touchdowns in the Rams' 35-21 win at Las Vegas and became the first quarterback to lead two franchises in career touchdown passes. Arizona's Trey McBride caught 10 passes for 111 yards and became the second-fastest tight end to 400 career catches.
Elsewhere. Joe Burrow threw four touchdown passes in Cincinnati's 35-13 win at Baltimore. Denver beat Arizona 30-16 as Bo Nix threw a 52-yard touchdown and ran for a 62-yarder, and Alex Singleton made 19 tackles. Tampa Bay routed Carolina 43-13, and Miami beat the New York Jets 28-25 for its first win under Jeff Hafley.
Monday night. Dallas beat Philadelphia 38-21 as Javonte Williams ran for a career-high 155 yards and Dak Prescott threw for 212 yards and three touchdowns, two to CeeDee Lamb, DallasCowboys.com reported. DeMarvion Overshown intercepted Tanner McKee. The Cowboys are 3-4, and the Eagles (2-5) have lost five straight, the AP reported. Our full recap is here.
Thursday night. Week 8 opened with Green Bay beating Carolina 27-19 at Lambeau Field. Jordan Love was 30 of 41 for 288 yards and three touchdowns with an interception, and Josh Jacobs scored twice. The Packers sacked Bryce Young six times. "It was just the relentless pressure," coach Matt LaFleur said, according to the AP recap on ESPN. Christian Watson broke a rib, went to a hospital and came back to finish with 113 receiving yards, Packers.com reported. Green Bay is 5-3 and Carolina 3-4. Our pregame look is here.
Week 7 Players of the Week
AFC offense: Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, four touchdown passes at Baltimore. It was his ninth weekly award, tying Boomer Esiason for the most in Bengals history.
AFC defense: Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton, 19 tackles and a sack at Arizona. His 87 tackles lead the NFL.
AFC special teams: Bengals punter Ryan Rehkow, four punts inside the 20 with a 46.0-yard net average.
NFC offense: Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., three touchdown passes against the 49ers. It is his first weekly award, and he is the sixth former University of Washington quarterback to win one, according to NFL Communications.
NFC defense: Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman, 12 tackles, four passes defensed and two sacks against the Colts, the first player with that stat line in a game since at least 2000.
NFC special teams: Lions defensive end D.J. Wonnum, whose blocked field goal set up Detroit's walk-off win over Green Bay.
Trades and injuries
Beyond Buckner, Nelson and Simmons, NFL.com's trade tracker has the full list of moves. The trade deadline is Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. PT.
Washington defensive tackle Daron Payne is out for the season with a Jones fracture in his foot, ESPN reported. In Philadelphia, Saquon Barkley carries no injury designation for Sunday night at Washington after he was limited in practice Friday, ESPN reported. "I would hope so; I believe I'll be able to," Barkley said when asked if he will play. In Baltimore, Lamar Jackson is questionable after missing three games, according to NFL.com.
Also this week, the league named Jay-Z the headliner of the Super Bowl LXI halftime show on Feb. 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium, according to NFL Communications.
Week 8 games to watch
Times are Pacific, from NFL.com. Houston, New Orleans, the New York Giants and San Francisco are on bye, per the league's bye schedule. Both the AFC North and NFC North enter the week with every team above .500, the first time that has happened since 2002, the NFL says.
Vikings at Lions, 10 a.m., FOX. Minnesota (6-0) is the last unbeaten team; Detroit is 4-2. Goff has not thrown an interception this season and needs 212 passing yards to reach 2,000 without one. St. Brown needs seven catches to become the fastest player to 600, and Jefferson plays his 100th game.
Browns at Steelers, 10 a.m., CBS. Both are 5-2 and tied atop the AFC North. Cleveland won the first meeting 27-24 in Week 4.
Ravens at Bills, 10 a.m., CBS. Josh Allen can pass Tom Brady for the third-most quarterback wins in a player's first nine seasons with a win, and needs 39 rushing yards for 5,000 in his career. Derrick Henry has 135 career touchdowns.
Titans at Bengals, 10 a.m., CBS. Tennessee plays its first game without Simmons. With three touchdown passes, Burrow would pass Manning (32) for the third-most games with at least three in a player's first seven seasons.
Chargers at Rams, 1:05 p.m., FOX. Stafford and the Rams host their Los Angeles neighbors at SoFi Stadium.
Chiefs at Broncos, 1:25 p.m., CBS. Kansas City (5-1) visits Denver (5-2) after its first loss. Travis Kelce passed Tony Gonzalez last week for the most receiving yards by a tight end, including the postseason. Singleton needs 13 tackles to reach 100 in Denver's first eight games.
Eagles at Commanders, 5:20 p.m., NBC. Philadelphia tries to end a five-game losing streak against a Washington team that just lost Payne.
Bears at Seahawks, Monday, 5:15 p.m., ESPN/ABC. See above.
Related stories
NFL Week 7 roundup: Kenneth Walker and the 5-0 Chiefs come to Seattle (Oct. 24)
Cowboys beat Eagles 38-21 on Monday Night Football behind Javonte Williams' 155 yards (Oct. 27)
Thursday Night Line: Panthers at Packers, lines and leans for TNF (Oct. 29)
Market pulse: Traders bail on Bears move to Indiana after report of Illinois stadium deal (Oct. 30)
Sources
NFL Communications: Seven From Sunday, Week 7 (Oct. 25, 2026); Super Bowl LXI halftime announcement (Oct. 26); Week 7 AFC and NFC Players of the Week (Oct. 28); Week 8 NFL Preview and What To Look For, Week 8
NFL.com: Week 7, What We Learned from Sunday's games
NFL.com: How to watch Week 8 NFL games, schedule and key matchups
NFL.com: Falcons stun NFL, but not themselves, knocking off previously unbeaten 49ers
NFL.com: Quenton Nelson trade underscores Seahawks' confidence amid bumpy start to 2026
NFL.com: 2026 NFL trade deadline tracker
NFL.com: 2026 NFL bye weeks
AP: Falcons beat 49ers 29-20 (Oct. 25, 2026)
AP: Falcons rookie Kendal Daniels against the 49ers
AP: Seahawks beat Chiefs 20-3 (Oct. 25, 2026)
AP: Cowboys beat Eagles 38-21 (Oct. 26, 2026)
49ers.com: The 49ers acquire DL DeForest Buckner (Oct. 27, 2026)
Seahawks.com: Rapid reactions, Seahawks defense shines in 20-3 victory over Chiefs, by John Boyle
Seahawks.com: Week 8 injury report, Bears at Seahawks, by John Boyle (Oct. 30, 2026)
Seahawks Wire: Quenton Nelson to start at left guard in Week 8 (Oct. 29, 2026)
ChicagoBears.com: Bears acquire All-Pro DL Jeffery Simmons via trade (Oct. 29, 2026)
NBC Sports: Bears RB Kyle Monangai ruled out again (Oct. 31, 2026)
DallasCowboys.com: Game recap, Cowboys run over Eagles 38-21
ESPN: Packers 27, Panthers 19 recap (AP, Oct. 29, 2026)
Packers.com: 5 takeaways from Packers' victory over Panthers
ESPN: Commanders DT Daron Payne suffers season-ending foot injury
ESPN: Saquon Barkley carries no injury designation for Commanders matchup
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