For the first time in NFL history, there are four tears - yes, four! - that sport an undefeated, 7-0 record. Never before have so many teams remained unbeaten this late into the year. Folks, it's going to be well into November, and we still have four teams (that's one in eight teams) who remain perfect, with undefeated, unblemished records, at least for the time being.
The Panthers became the fourth team to secure that achievement, although they did not do it easily. They seemed well on their way to a convincing victory against the Colts, but Indy stormed back late in the fourth quarter with 17 unanswered points, and then even took the lead in overtime with an early field goal. Carolina's defenders looked positively deflated, and it was all too easy to picture them going down in defeat.
But the Panthers responded. They drove for a field goal to tie it in overtime, and keep the game going. Then, the Colts committed a huge, very costly turnover with an interception, and the Panthers were given their chance. They nailed it with a long field goal to secure the win, once and for all, and remained unbeaten with a 7-0 record, easily the best in the NFC.
Here is where it will get interesting, because next week, they host the Green Bay Packers, the team with the second best record in the NFC, and that is where I will begin my Week 8 preview and predictions:
(Thursday) Cleveland at Cincinnati - The Bengals are already off to the best start in franchise history. They should be able to add to that, with a home game against the struggling Browns. Then again, this is the kind of game where they have to guard against a letdown..But, barring that scenario, the Bengals should be the first team this season to reach 8-0. I suspect that the Bengals know just how important it is to win precisely these kinds of games, especially art home. They should win, and then benefit from that extra time off before their next game a week and a half later. With a three and a half game lead in the AFC North race, the Bengals look like the team to beat, and may already be looking for home field advantage in throughout the AFC playoffs. For the Browns, an increasingly long and frustrating season will likely grow worse.
Green Bay at Carolina - This will be another good game! The Packers want to rebound after the tough loss at Mile High last weekend, while the Panthers want to remain hot and unbeaten! If the Panthers win, they have fully a two-game lead over every other team in the NFC in the race for home field advantage, and that surely has to be enticing! I will go ahead and predict that they will indeed grind out another tough win, although they showed some vulnerabilities in this last MNF contest against the Colts. Certainly, they cannot afford to do that against a team of the caliber of Green Bay, but I am assuming that they will not. One way or another, this should be an excellent contest, and either team could conceivably win it.
Oakland at Pittsburgh - The Raiders are improving, but the Steelers are reeling, and desperately in need of a win after two tough losses in a row have, for all intents and purposes, knocked them out of the AFC North divisional race, barring some kind of a miracle in their favor. Still, the Steelers are a good team, they have their starting quarterback back, and have a realistic chance at making the playoffs. A showdown against the surprising Raiders then becomes crucial, and West Coast teams traditionally struggle on the East Coast. My prediction is that the Steelers have enough to win this one.
Miami at Buffalo - Tough game to call! The Dolphins are hard to predict this season, But in recent seasons, the Dolphins have always struggled at Buffalo, and it's getting cold out now. The Dolphins were routed in New England last week, and the Bills are coming off a bye. My suspicions are that the Bills take this game with a well-planned approach and defensive toughness.
Washington at New England - Yes, Washington is an improved team. No, that does not mean that they are ready to pull off a huge upset win at Foxboro yet. The Patriots are running on all cylinders, and with the victory over the Jets and Dolphins, both division rivals, in consecutive weeks, and owning a three-game advantage in the race for the AFC East title, New England is the kind of team that capitalizes on these kinds of opportunities. No upsets this week, as the Patriots go up early, and add to that lead often, en route to a blowout win against an over-matched Washington squad, improved or not.
Tennessee at New Orleans - The Saints are really coming alive now! Remember how dead they looked following an 0-3 start? Well, don't look now, but they are 4-4. Still, in a division with one undefeated team, and another 6-2 team, the Saints have to be virtually perfect the rest of the way, and can ill afford to lose any games, let alone one that should be a lock heading into it, such as this one. Saints in a romp.
St. Louis at Minnesota - Another tough game, although home field gives the Vikings a decided advantage here. I like the way that the Rams are playing, but winning on the road in Minnesota would be a tall order for anyone right now. My prediction is that the Vikings take another step in their march to the playoffs here.
Jacksonville at NY Jets - The Jets have had two disappointing losses in a row, and that tough defense has looked vulnerable the last two contests. Along come the Jaguars, who should help the Jets to snap out of their funk, and return to their formerly winning ways from earlier this season.
Atlanta at San Francisco - The 49ers probably had the most tumultuous offseason of any NFL team that I have ever seen, and with the benching of Colin Kaepernick, that trend has continued into this season. San Francisco is sporting a 2-6 record, and have lost all but one game since their opening weekend win. Yes, this is a home game, but the Falcons should be wide awake after being stunned by a weaker team in that OT loss to the Bucs. I see the Falcons managing a win here, and the 49ers will continue to struggle. Two years ago at this point, the 49ers were the defending NFC Champs, and considered by most to be a very serious title contender. Who could have foreseen such a quick change of fortunes, with so many departures and an incredible loss of talent on both sides of the ball? With Kaepernick's benching, and now with the additional departure of TE Vernon Davis to the Broncos (just hours ago before my writing this), you have to wonder if this is the final signal of the end of a nearly magnificent era for the 49ers, who came close to winning Super Bowl XLVII, and played very tough in the NFC Championship Games against the Giants the season before that, and against Seattle in the season after that. For Atlanta, they need this win to keep the panthers from completely pulling away with the NFC South, especially if they manage to beat Green Bay this coming weekend.
Denver at Indianapolis - This one is another tough, tough game to call. The Broncos are on a high after an exhilarating win against the previously unbeaten Packers, while the Colts are on a low after the latest of several disappointing losses this year. if it were not for the fact that they are in the weak AFC South, and thus likely to take the division title, you might say that they are one of the biggest disappointments of the season to date. Denver's defense should keep them in this game and, by now, they know how to win close games. That should give them an advantage here in this contest, too, and that is why I will pick the Broncos to win and remain unbeaten.
NY Giants at Tampa Bay - Tampa just won a huge contest at Atlanta, while the Giants lost a crushing, hugely disappointing game at New Orleans. But the Giants offense looked sharp, while the defense will have something to prove. Look for a crucial road win for the Giants to remain on top in the NFC East.
Philadelphia at Dallas - Without Romo, the Cowboys are increasingly desperate simply to win a contest. The Eagles are coming off a bye, and they should be well rested, and looking for revenge for the pasting that they received by Dallas earlier in the season. While the 'Boys are looking to end their dreadful five game losing streak, Philly is playing for a potential first place spot in the division. My suspicion is that the Eagles find a way to win this one, and even out the series by handing Dallas a home loss in much the same manner as the Cowboys managed to beat the Eagles in Philadelphia in September.
(MNF) - Chicago at San Diego - Not exactly one of the most enticing Monday Night Football contests, is it? The Bears have been struggling, but the Chargers have, too. However, San Diego is overdue for another win, and the Bears are a good team to end a losing streak against. I predict that the Chargers will finally end their four game losing streak, and get back to being the team that they are capable of being, at least for this one game.
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