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This week will be the official midseason point for the vast majority of teams, who will have played eight of their sixteen scheduled games by this end of this weekend.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these games for week 8:
NY Jets at Kansas City – Not so long ago, I almost viewed these teams as eerily similar. The Jets had last been to the Super Bowl – and won one – back in January of 1969, their one and only major glorious chapter before the North American sports world. And the Chiefs had won their one and only Super Bowl at the time just the following season. Neither had been to another Super Bowl since. But the Chiefs acquired first Andy Reed, who turned them into perennial playoff contenders, and then eventually got Patrick Mahomes, who revolutionized that offense. He was the NFL MVP in his first season as the starter, and then got Kansas City back into the Super Bowl last season, where he earned that game’s MVP honors and won his first Super Bowl ring. The Chiefs have now looked incredible and dangerous for the past three seasons, and many expect them to be able to win it all again this season, too. In fact, some people are suggesting that the Chiefs have now replaced the Patriots as the new dominant dynasty of this era. And the Jets? Well, they are 0-7, and this season has been disastrous for the Jets, even by their standards. So now, going on the road against possibly the very best team in the league, it is hard to imagine why anyone would think that the Jets are actually going to win this game. Hell, it is almost impossible imagining that they can stay competitive for very long. My pick: Kansas City
Tennessee at Cincinnati – The Titans suffered a brutal loss to the Steelers last week. They mounted a strong comeback, but it fell just shy of pushing them over the top. The Bengals, meanwhile, also lost a heartbreaker, losing to their cross-state division rivals, the Browns, in the final seconds. So both of these teams are looking to recover from stinging losses. And while it is true that the Bengals enjoy home field advantage, it feels like the Titans are just going to be too strong for Cincy in this one. My pick: Tennessee
Minnesota at Green Bay – Last season, these two teams were very serious contenders. This season? The Packers look like they are still playing at an elite level, but the Vikings look just awful, almost like one of the worst teams in the league. The Packers already beat the Vikings in Minnesota earlier this season. But at home, in the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field? It is hard to imagine the Vikings pulling off what would truly be an astounding upset here. They just have now shown enough for anyone making predictions to suggest an upset here. My pick: Green Bay
New England at Buffalo – For many years now, the Patriots were the NFL’s great dynasty, perennially qualifying for Super Bowls, and winning most of the ones that they played in. And their dominance was in large part possible because of the often severe struggles of other teams in the division. New England seemed to own all of those teams, but there was one team that was particularly tormented by them. That would be the Bills, who suffered through a major losing streak during the time when the Pats completely dominated the AFC East. In fact, the Patriots seemed almost to make Orchard Park their home away from home, almost always beating the Bills there. But now, the Patriots look vulnerable, as if they are heading to their first non-winning season in many years. Meanwhile, the Bills are solidly in first place, but they know how important this particular division showdown will be. This game has a ton of potential symbolism, not to mention payback, for the Bills. Should they manage to win, they will place themselves as the obvious favorites to win the division this season, and in so doing, to render the Patriots largely irrelevant this season. What a role reversal that will be, IF the Bills manage to win. This is a big showdown for them, and I do not think that they will disappoint. My pick: Buffalo
Indianapolis at Detroit – Now, this is a difficult game to make a prediction for. Neither team is particularly familiar with the other. The Colts are probably the better all around team between the two, but the Lions have home field advantage, and are probably feeling pretty good, having won three of the last four. Again, it feels like this one could go either way, and whoever wins, it will not exactly be a shock. As difficult as this particular game is to call, I have to do it. So here it is. My pick: Detroit
Pittsburgh at Baltimore – Now, this is surely the game of the week! The big, divisional showdown between the league’s only remaining undefeated team, the Steelers, and the also red hot and elite Baltimore Ravens. The explosive and hugely talented Pittsburgh offense versus the always tough Baltimore defense, which looks like the number one unit in the league thus far. And the Ravens have a very dangerous offense as well, while the Steelers have a solid defense. This should be a hell of a match. Yet, only one team can emerge on top. I have a feeling that both teams will show some highlight material, at least at first. But in the end, I suspect that the Ravens, with home field advantage, pull off the win, even perhaps a very narrow one, in this game. Their defense, and a solid running game and unpredictable offense should prove just a little bit too much for the Steelers, who will likely taste their first defeat of the season this weekend. My pick: Baltimore
LA Rams at Miami – The Rams are not the most consistent team this season, and they are not perhaps as good – at least not yet - as they were two seasons ago, when they qualified for the Super Bowl. But overall, they have proven to be a tough team thus far, recovering from their disappointing season last year, when they failed to make the playoffs. But the Dolphins are improving, and could prove a tough challenge, especially on the road. This is not the same Fins team that we were used to seeing flop, season after season. They are tougher, and potentially a team that can make a run at the playoffs. So, this is a good, solid test for both teams. From my standpoint, this is yet another game where it is kind of a tossup. Either team could pull this off. Yet, in the end, I suspect that the Dolphins pull off the home win. My pick: Miami
Las Vegas at Cleveland – A battle of two teams that have hardly been models of consistency this season. Nor have these two teams been among the winningest teams in recent seasons, either. True, the Raiders had that one season where they finished 12-4, but that hardly feels relevant anymore, since they have had three losing seasons since, and are desperately trying to improve. So far, they have managed just a .500 record at 3-3. The Browns, meanwhile, have quietly produced one of the better records in the AFC at 5-2. They keep winning, and have won each of their games at home to this point in the season, as well. I suspect that the offense catches fire again, and produces win number six at the expense of the Raiders. My pick: Cleveland
LA Chargers at Denver – The Chargers just earned only their second win of the season last weekend against the weak Jaguars. The Broncos, meanwhile, saw their winning streak abruptly end as the defending champion Chiefs came to town and effectively wiped the field with an overwhelmed Denver team. But the Broncos are at home and should be able to handle a seriously flawed Chargers team going nowhere this season. My pick: Denver
San Francisco at Seattle – A big NFC West showdown. The 5-1 Seahawks were handed their first and (so far) only loss of the season last weekend. Yet already, they are feeling the pressure of their pursuers in the NFC West. And since that is such a good quality division, that literally means every team in the division. The Cardinals and Rams are each half a game behind at 5-2, and the 49ers are 4-3, and can close the margin significantly with a win here. They also seem to have found their footing a bit better, after struggling earlier this season. Not surprisingly, San Francisco has one of the toughest defenses in the league. But Seattle is still tough, and probably should have won at Arizona last weekend. They are also at home, where they usually prove very difficult to beat. Their defense has been a bit more flawed than usual, but their offense is one of the most dangerous and explosive units in the league, behind veteran Russell Wilson, who has been playing such quality football, that he has garnered MVP talk. Look for another wild, wild NFC West showdown, with the Seahawks likely just surviving in the end for the win. My pick: Seattle
New Orleans at Chicago – Here is yet another game where it feels like either team could win. The Saints are not playing the lights out football that many expected from them this season, but they are winning, and they keep winning. Plus, they still have a ton of talent, and one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the league. Meanwhile, the Bears have also mostly been winning, although that loss to the Rams on Monday may have exposed some weaknesses, particularly for the offense. My suspicion is that the Saints are the better of the two teams, overall, but home field advantage still does benefit the Bears here. Yet, it likely will not be the deciding factor, and so I am going with the Saints to pull off a narrow win here. My pick: New Orleans
Sunday Night Football: Dallas at Philadelphia – Just a couple of weeks ago, the Cowboys were alone atop the NFC East, and seemed to be threatening to pull far enough away that they could seemingly emerge as the clear favorites. Then, key injuries, especially with Dak Prescott, have grounded their expected flight, and they have followed that with losses that saw them fall behind Philly, and tied at second with Washington, following a sobering blowout loss there last weekend. Now, they head off to the City of Brotherly Love, and yet another tough divisional contest. The Eagles are at home, are generally healthier than the ‘Boys, and are likely the better of the two teams right now. And those things add up to a convincing win for the home team, as the season continues to spiral out of control for Dallas. My pick: Philadelphia
Monday Night Football: Tampa Bay at NY Giants – My G-Men lost a heartbreaker in Philadelphia last weekend, in a game that it feels they should have won. But they did not, and they now have only one win to their names at the midseason point, as the Buccaneers come to town. Last season, the Giants managed to pull off their first win of the season at Tampa Bay in a thrilled, overcoming an 18-point lead to ultimately win. But this is a different Bucs team, as well as a different Giants team. Tom Brady has more weapons on that offense, and is playing exceptionally well to this point. Look for them to put up a lot of points, and produce another big win. My pick: Tampa Bay
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