NFL Week 8 Preview
We are halfway through the 2009 season and Week 8 hosts three of the best NFC match ups all year. The Philadelphia Eagles play host to rival New York Giants, the Arizona Cardinals get a home game against the Carolina Panthers and, the New Orleans Saints will square off against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night. Big news from last year WEEK 8 was the Titans beating the Indianapolis Colts, going on to post a 13-3 record and winning the AFC South.
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Oh, what a difference a year makes as the Titans are still searching for their first win in 2009. All three of the remaining unbeaten teams – Indianapolis (6-0), New Orleans (6-0), and Denver (6-0) – will be in action this week.
Teams with byes are the Bengals, Chiefs, Patriots, Steelers, Buccaneers and Redskins.
Sunday, November 1 1:00 pm – Seattle Seahawks @ Dallas Cowboys
Line: Dallas -9 ½ (Total 45)
The Seahawks (2-4) are coming off a bye week, losing their last outing 27-3 to the Arizona Cardinals. Seattle ranks 18th overall in passing offense, and has allowed 15 sacks this season. Defensively they are faring no better. The Cowboys’ (4-2) defense was finally able to get to the oppositions quarterback and that resulted in a win against the Falcons on Sunday. They sacked Matt Ryan four times and forced two interceptions. An NFC East division title is suddenly a reality again for the Cowboys as the Giants surrendered their second straight loss in Week 7. The Cowboys D shuts down Seattle while Romo and Barber have solid performances to win this one at home.
Sunday, November 1 1:00 pm – Houston Texans @ Buffalo Bills
Line: Houston –3 ½ (Total 40 1/2)
Houston (4-3) is coming off back-to-back wins, and is really starting to look like a team that could have a winning record by season end. QB Matt Schaub continues to play well and leads the league in passing yards and touchdown passes. The defense is still a bit shaky. The Bills (3-4) were able to pick up their third win of the season against a struggling Carolina Panthers, but still hopeless offensively. Buffalo QB Trent Edwards will make a late turnover costing the Bills a loss in this one.
Sunday, November 1 1:00 pm – Saint Louis Rams @ Detroit Lions
Line: ** (Total **)
The Rams (0-7) have lost 17 consecutive games, and have had four games where they have scored fewer than 10 points this season, being outscored 211-60 overall, including 117-23 after halftime. Enough said. The Lions (1-5) were shut out by the Packers 26-0, in their last outing on Oct. 18. The Lions’ mile long injury list looks a little better after their bye week. QB Matthew Stafford has missed two games and is still listed as questionable. The Lions’ pass rush has been a problem and is allowing opponents to complete 74 percent of their passes–worst in the NFL. They have also allowed eight runs of 20 yards or more, tied for second-worst in the NFL. Two of the leagues ugliest teams go head-to-head. The difference will be at quarterback with the Rams Marc Bulger having a little better outing to notch the Rams first win of the season.
Sunday, November 1 1:00 pm – Denver Broncos @ Baltimore Ravens
Line: Baltimore -3 ½ (Total 41)
Denver (6-0) has won six straight games with their latest coming against the San Diego Chargers on the road, Oct 19. QB Kyle Orton has played well giving up just a single interception thus far in the season, but Orton and the Broncos will have a tough time trying to solve the Ravens defense. The Ravens (3-3) is well rested and should be prepared for their date with the Broncos. If Baltimore can mitigate stupid penalties and play smart football they may be able to hand Denver their first loss of the year. They will need to contain Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, while providing enough protection for Flacco to get things done. Baltimore will force key turnovers and will put up solid rushing yards to win this one at home.
Sunday, November 1 1:00 pm – New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles
Line: Philadelphia –3 (Total 45)
The Eagles (4-2) beat the Redskins in their last outing, but that isn’t saying much against a team that pretty much beat themselves. Philadelphia was far from dominating. Scoring 27 points off of turnovers. The Giants (5-2) beat themselves on Sunday, turning the ball over four times. QB Eli Manning’s per pass completion average was only 9.5 yards, his lowest in a single game this season. New York is still one of the best teams in the NFC and should bounce back. This will be a test for both teams and could prove to be one of the week’s best games. New York will make big plays late and win this one on the road in a classic NFC rivalry game.
Sunday, November 1 1:00 pm – Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets
Line: New York –4 (Total 40)
Miami (2-4) has a 2-0 record in the AFC East division with the hardest part of their schedule behind them. However, Chad Henne is no Pennington and showed his lack of experience with a second half meltdown against the Saints on Sunday. But don’t just blame Henne, the offensive line provided no time for him to throw. RB Ricky Williams ran for three touchdowns in the 46-34 loss. The Jets (4-3) were able to bounce back with a win against the Raiders one week after QB Mark Sanchez’s six-pick implosion. Despite the loss of Leon Washington, the Jets run game stepped up and rushed the ball for over 300 yards. The Jets will need to rely on their run game and just let Sanchez manage the game. This will be a good AFC East divisional contest. The Fins fall behind early and never recover as the Jets work the ground attack and get it done at home.
Sunday, November 1 1:00 pm – Cleveland Browns @ Chicago Bears
Line: Chicago –13 ½ (Total 40)
Browns (1-6) QB Derek Anderson has the worst quarterback rating in the league (40.6), and has gone 23-for-70, with one touchdown and three interceptions in three games. So just how bad is Cleveland? They are giving up 414.9 yards per game–170.6 yards rushing and 244.3 passing. The Bears (3-3) Jay Cutler threw three interceptions on Sunday in a 45-10 loss at Cincinnati, and now has 10 interceptions on the year. Cleveland will struggle on both sides of the ball as Chicago’s D “bears” down. Cutler tosses a couple of TDs, and that should be enough to win.
Sunday, November 1 1:00 pm – San Francisco 49ers @ Indianapolis Colts
Line: Indianapolis -11 (Total 45)
San Francisco (3-3) lost a close game to the Houston Texans 24-21 last Sunday, despite a decent outing from 49ers’ back up QB Alex Smith, who came into the game in the second half. Will Smith start against the Colts on Sunday? San Francisco’s running game has struggled this season. RB Frank Gore returned to the lineup after missing a majority of the past four games with an ankle sprain and has had little success, gaining just 32 yards on 13 rushing attempts. The Colts’ (6-0) Peyton Manning is playing better than he ever has in his entire career. But let’s don’t leave out that Indy’s D is giving up just 12.8 points a game. That’s the second best in the league. The 49ers’ defense will have a long day trying to control the Colts passing attack as well as establishing their running game. Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne will combine for multiple TDs, as the Colts continue their unbeaten streak.
Sunday, November 1 4:05 pm – Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans
Line: Tennessee -3 (Total 45)
The Titans (0-6) are coming off a much needed bye week after losing six consecutive games including getting clobbered 59-0 by the Patriots in their last outing. One question regarding the Titans is whether the team will make the switch from Kerry Collins to Vince Young at quarterback. Collins has completed 108 of 197 passes with five touchdowns and eight interceptions. Tennessee’s is ranked 31st in the league overall and is dead last against the pass, having given up at least 300 yards passing in all but one game this season. The Titans have given up 19 touchdown passes and has surrendered 198 points in six games. Jacksonville (3-3) is coming off a bye week, barely edging out a winless St. Louis Rams team 23-20 in overtime on Oct. 18. The Jaguars beat the Titans, 37-17 earlier this season but the Titans have long been a team that has given them fits. Tennessee holds a 16-12 series edge and also won the only playoff game between the two clubs in 1999. This will be a hard-hitting physical battle. The Titans get a big day from RB Chris Johnson and get their first win.
Sunday, November 1 4:05 pm – Oakland Raiders @ San Diego Chargers
Line: San Diego –16 ½ (Total 41)
Oakland (2-5) fell in the hole early in their last contest against the Jets and eventually came out on the losing end, as they were blanked 38-0. The Jets racked up 316 yards on the ground and 143 yards in the air. Set aside Shane Lechler and Sebastian Janakowski and the Raider are an unsightly lot. San Diego (3-3) dismantled the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium last weekend 37-7, but still hasn’t demonstrated that they can make plays on the defensive side of the ball, as Kansas City rushed for more than 100 yards. The two teams meet in Week 1 on MNF with San Diego coming away with a hard-fought victory. The Raiders will struggle on both sides of the ball as the Chargers dominate them with a balanced offensive attack.
Sunday, November 1 4:15 pm – Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers
Line: Green Bay -3 (Total 47)
The Vikings (6-1) winning steak came to an end in Week 7 when they ran into a very tough Steelers team at Heinz Field. Minnesota turned the ball over several times and committed a season-high 11 penalties. QB Brett Favre completed 34 of 51 passes for 334 yards, but did not have a touchdown and was part of two key turnovers in the fourth quarter. The Vikes D played well, holding the NFL’s second-ranked passing offense to just 175 yards. Green Bay’s (4-2) Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to a 31-3 road victory in their last outing against the Cleveland Browns. Rodgers was 15-of-20 for 246 yards and three touchdowns. The last time these two teams played, Rodgers was sacked eight times. This is probably one of the most anticipated games of the season as Brett Favre returns to Lambeau Field to take on his former team. Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson will have a 100-yard rushing day, as the Vikes tenacious D shuts down the Packers, coming away with the win.
Sunday, November 1 4:15 pm – Carolina Panthers @ Arizona Cardinals
Line: Arizona -9 (Total 42)
Arizona (4-2) got a huge win against New York on Sunday night- their first victory at the Meadowlands since 1999. Running back Beanie Wells had the best game of his career, gaining 67 yards on 14 carries, including a 13-yard touchdown run. It was the first touchdown of his NFL career. Carolina (2-4) was only able to put up 9 points in a loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Panthers QB Jake Delhomme is in the midst of his worst season as a pro with a league-high 13 interceptions, including three to Buffalo in his last appearance. He ranks 32nd in the league in passer rating with a mark of 56.5. He has only four touchdown passes on the season. Carolina ranks second in the league in pass defense and the rushing defense is solid. The Cardinals defense is coming off its best consecutive performances in years, and should have no problem shutting down the Panthers weak offense for the win.
Monday, November 2 8:30 pm – Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints
Line: New Orleans –8 ½ (Total 54)
The Saints (6-0) fell behind, 7-0 in the first quarter to the Miami Dolphins, and eventually dug themselves into a 24-3 hole before rallying for 36 points in one half to come away with 46-34 victory, keeping their unbeaten streak alive. Great teams in the NFL are never out of games and the Saints proved they can come back from any deficit. New Orleans is scoring 39.7 points per game and have scored 238 points so far this season; that is the second most in NFL history through six games. Atlanta (4-2) is allowing over 350 yards per game on defense. One of the main reasons is because of the defensive line’s inability to put pressure on the quarterback. The Falcons need to improve in that area before they take on Drew Brees and the Saints on Monday night or else they are in for a long evening. This will be the game of the week. Big scoring. Back-and-forth shootout. New Orleans gets the win.
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Matt Martz is a sports writer for the Bakersfield Californian located in Central California. Blessed is the gambler who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed.
