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| Courtesy of Alika Jenner/Getty Images |
By Sam DeCoste
Eight weeks in, the 2020 NFL season pushes on. With the trade deadline approaching on Tuesday, the 32 teams face a crossroads. Do we trade for that final piece to the puzzle, or is it time for a rebuild? Half the season is over, and the season is beginning to take shape. With midseason approaching, Week 8 is bound to be a defining moment in the season, with 7 divisional matchups on tap, including a first place showdown between the Steelers and Ravens, a battle between the Patriots and Bills, and a barnburner between the Seahawks and 49ers.
Week 7 yielded a one game improvement from my picks. I went 9-5 overall, missing the Titans-Steelers result, the Cowboys loss to Washington, and the Patriots loss to the 49ers among others. But I managed to correctly predict the Panthers-Saints game exactly correct. The Saints won 27-24, and I told you they would in my Week 7 Predix. That is the second scoreline I have correctly predicted this season, which is almost double the value of one win. That's a pat on the back for me.
Now, let's go make Week 8 a legendary week. The road to Week 8 glory begins with Falcons-Panthers. Let's run it back.
Don't forget to vote.
Here are my records from this season:
Week 7 record: 9-5
Regular season record: 68-36-1
Lock of the Week record: 5-2
BYES: Cardinals, Football Team, Jaguars, Texans
Another week, another heartbreaking defeat for the books in Atlanta. After Todd Gurley accidentally scored a touchdown with a minute left and Detroit lacking a single timeout, the Lions sealed a comeback win on the very last play of the game. The 2020 season cannot end soon enough for the Atlanta Falcons. They face the 3-4 Panthers hoping to bounce back mentally after yet another last second defeat. Matt Ryan is having a solid season the air, completing 66 percent of his passes for 12 touchdowns, and the offense averages over 400 yards per contest. But the defense is second to last in yards allowed, and they crumble every fourth quarter. The Falcons have the offensive means to give the Panthers a run for their money, but not on the other side of the ball.
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| Falcons @ Panthers |
Teddy Bridgewater and the Panthers gave the Saints all they had, but it wasn't enough. The Panthers narrowly fell to the Saints by 3 last week, but they can even their record at .500 with a complete offensive performance. As poor as the Falcons record is, they can move the ball and score as well as anyone else. The Panthers will have to match them punch for punch, and move the ball for a full game. Christian McCaffrey may be suit up on Thursday, which is an immense boost to a Panthers offense already surpassing expectations. Mike Davis filled in for McCaffrey very nicely, and Robby Anderson has achieved number one receiver status. Thursday should be a standout performance for the Panthers offense across the board.
NFC South showdowns always produce, and this one should be no different. On the night, the Falcons will not be in a healthy frame of mind mentally to come back out on a short week to hand the Panthers a defeat in Carolina. The Panthers will move to 4-4, and the Falcons will fall to 1-7 for the second consecutive season. This is my Lock of the Week.
Prediction: Falcons 17, Panthers 26
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| Steelers @ Ravens |
Last time we saw the Ravens in action, they clung to a win over the Eagles after the Eagles nearly erased a double-digit deficit. As of late, opposing defenses have done a stellar job of slowing down Lamar Jackson. The reigning MVP has not thrown over 275 yards this season, and has not thrown for more than 200 yards since Week 2. Jackson has gotten away without missing a beat against the likes of Washington and Philly, but Pittsburgh is the number one defense in football. Jackson will need to be plugged in this week, and use his legs to extend plays when his first read isn't there. With Dez Bryant waiting in the wing, it's about time for a Marquise Brown breakout game which lives up to his "Hollywood" nickname, and for the backfield to offload the burden from Jackson. The Steelers are a high scoring offense, and the Ravens will have to keep up.
The Steelers are quietly the NFL's sixth highest scoring offense, averaging 31 points per contest. This team marched into Nashville and put the Titans in a 24-7 deficit in the third quarter. If the Steelers start fast against Baltimore, they will be in prime position to knock Jackson off his game. The Steelers are developing into a high octane, uncontainable offense by the week. When Juju Smith Schuster is not racking 80 yards per game, the likes of Chase Claypool, James Washington, and Diontae Johnson are stepping up and cashing in on pivotal third down conversions and red zone opportunities. The area Pittsburgh needs to address is the turnover category. Ben Roethlisberger nearly cost the Steelers the game with 3 second half interceptions. If the Steelers protect the ball and avoid gifting the reigning MVP an extra possession, they will be on their way.
Whoever starts fastest will win the game, as neither team is built to mount a comeback attempt. The Steelers and Ravens always produce must-watch television, and this game should be one of the most entertaining games of the season. The Steelers are the safer bet, given there are a number of reasons they are unbeaten. If the Steelers do not beat themselves with turnovers, they are the favorites. Lamar Jackson is in for a nightmare matchup, and he won't have enough plays in his locker to best his AFC North rivals.
Prediction: Steelers 29, Ravens 21
On November 1, the New England Patriots will suit up in Buffalo to face the Bills as underdogs, sitting behind their Western New York rivals in the East by 2 games. What a time to be alive.
Prediction: Steelers 29, Ravens 21
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| Patriots @ Bills |
There is no undercutting the importance of winning this game for New England. At 2-4, the Patriots are experiencing turbulence of which New England hasn't seen for 20 years. Cam Newton threw for just 98 yards and 3 interceptions in their 33-6 blowout defeat to the 49ers. The defense was blown up for 467 total yards, and the Pats now rank 27th in defense against the run. Word has it that Stephon Gilmore placed his New England home on the market as well, and wants out. The Pats have to set the tone early against Buffalo, and run all over the Bills defense. Buffalo surrenders an average of 126 yards per game on the ground, and a two-dimensional attack led by a strong running game for Newton, and a bounce-back afternoon in the air could pose problems for the Bills defense.
The Bills are looking for their first win over the Patriots since 2016. When Tom Brady was a Patriot, the Bills were 3-29 against their New England rivals. Bills-Patriots remains one of the league's most lopsided divisional rivalries, but the 2020 Bills have the means to turn the page. While their win over the Jets last week was a bit sketchy, there are plenty of positives to draw from. The Bills did not punt once, and the defense allowed just 4 yards of offense in the second half. If the Bills can mitigate their turnovers, and punish the Patriots in the red zone, the Bills will in a promising position. The Bills can stretch out the Patriots secondary to its limits with Diggs, Brown, and Beasley lining up, and the running game featuring Singletary and Moss could be in for its best game of the season.
It's all hands on deck for the Patriots this weekend. This is unequivocally New England's biggest game of the year. For the Bills to win the division for the first time in 25 years, they have to slay the dragon once and for all this Sunday. As unfathomable as it is to imagine the Patriots falling to 2-5, the Bills are the superior team this year. It will be a nail biter, but Bills fans will be able to let out a huge sigh of relief when it's all said and done.
Prediction: Patriots 20, Bills 23
For Cleveland, Odell Beckham, Jr.'s ACL tear hurts. Beckham is one of the league's best playmakers and steadiest pair of hands, but the Browns will have to go on without him the rest of the season. Baker Mayfield exploded with 5 touchdown passes against the Bengals, spreading the ball out to Rashad Higgins, Harrison Bryant, and Donovan Peoples-Jones. Mayfield thrived versus the Bengals, but that level of play is far from sustainable, especially from a hot and cold quarterback like Mayfield. It doesn't help that the Browns are banged up going into Sunday's matchup. Mayfield will need to replicate his level of output from Week 7 into Week 8 to give the Browns a fighting chance. Kareem Hunt will also be tasked to carry a heavy load.
Indy's bye week may have come at the worst time. The Colts rallied from 21-0 down to defeat the Bengals, and Philip Rivers played his best game of the season, throwing 371 yards and 3 touchdowns in the comeback. The Colts have been trying to come alive on offense and they finally did. The Lions defense presents a great matchup, and for the Colts to come out of the bye healthy and firing on all cylinders. Once again, Rivers must avoid turning the ball over this week. Rivers has 3 picks in his last 2 games, and they become back breaking and excruciating for the Colts defense to overcome. Jonathan Taylor is quietly one of the league's most efficient running backs this season, and he can have a strong game on the ground as well. A strong performance from Taylor opens up play-action for Rivers, and deep shots down the field to T.Y. Hilton and Paris Campbell.
Last week marked Justin Herbert's first career win, and snapped the Chargers 4 game losing streak. They can pull one game within .500 with a road win over their division rivals in Denver, but it will not be easy. The Chargers are 3-9 against the Broncos since 2014, including a season sweep in 2019. Justin Herbert's Chargers can turn the tide in the rivalry and win their second straight on Sunday with another offensive performance. Herbert has thrown 12 touchdown passes this season to just 3 interceptions, and is on pace for one of the greatest seasons for a rookie quarterback we have ever seen. Keenan Allen is still one of the best route runners in the game, and Herbert is bringing the most out of role players like Jalen Guyton, Justin Jackson, and Virgil Green. Another strong offensive output, and a reel of jaw-dropping throws from Herbert should do the trick.
Prediction: 49ers 30, Seahawks 28
It took awhile, but the Saints have started to settle down. At 4-2, they fly to Chicago to take on the Bears after a narrow win over the Panthers. Drew Brees was efficient but careful with the pigskin, and Alvin Kamara produced over 140 scrimmage yards. As I foreshadow every single weekend, Michael Thomas is projected to start this week. But at this point, who knows. If Thomas is ready to go, Brees will be looking in his direction every single snap, and he is bound for a quick start to his return from injury. Marquez Callaway stepped up last week in the absence of Emmanuel Sanders, catching 8 balls for 75 yards. The likes of Tre'Quan Smith, Deonte Harris, and Latavius Murray will be pivotal, as role players have had a profound impact on New Orleans' season early on.
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| Raiders @ Browns |
Coming out of their bye, the Raiders were sliced to pieces by Tom Brady. The pandemic struck the Raiders locker room as well, sending all 5 offensive linemen starting to the COVID reserve list. The foundation of Vegas' stalled performance against the Bucs was the running game. Star running back Josh Jacobs ran for just 17 yards on 10 carries, and the running game became a liability from the get-go. The Bucs are the league's top defense against the run, which is excusable. The Browns defense gives up about 92 yards per game on the ground, and while Cleveland still ranks in the top 10, Jacobs needs to break out for the Raiders to open the offense back up. The Browns defense has given up over 32 points in each of their last 4 games, and they can be exploited if Carr can buy time in the pocket, and spread the ball out to Agholor, Waller, and Ruggs.
The Browns are 5-2, while the Raiders have work to do at 3-3 in a crucial AFC tiebreaker. Without Beckham, the Raiders are a more balanced football team, and they have the means to snatch a road win in Cleveland.
Prediction: Raiders 27, Browns 17
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| Colts @ Lions |
The Lions saved their season with 2 straight wins, and evening their record to .500 at the midseason mark. They face a stingy Colts defense which gives up just 288 yards and 19 points per game. After a last gasp comeback win over the Falcons, the Lions will be riding high. Matt Stafford won't be afraid of the Colts defense with the weapons he has scattered outside. Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay is an underrated receiving duo that consistently comes down with jaw-dropping 50-50 catches, and can give the Colts cornerbacks fits. T.J. Hockenson matches up well with Darius Leonard one-on-one, and will be a great red zone threat. D'Andre Swift has opened up the Lions running game for the first time in a long time as well, diversifying the Lions offense like never before.
These squads are in the hunt and fighting for a playoff spot, which usually makes for blockbuster football. In the battle of the domed teams, the Colts will take it, because their defense will make more plays than the Lions.
Prediction: Colts 24, Lions 21
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| Rams @ Dolphins |
It's Tua time.
Rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will make his first career start on Sunday against the Rams. Considering Ryan Fitzpatrick was playing his best football in 5 years, the move came as a surprise. The Dolphins likely planned Tagovailoa to start Week 8 all along, the first game after the bye week. The Rams are sure to come after the rookie all afternoon, so we should not expect the former Crimson Tide quarterback to come out firing. Myles Gaskin will be Tua's best friend on Sunday. Mike Geisicki is a reliabe safety blanket over the middle, and if Tagovailoa earns a chance to take a shot downfield, DeVante Parker is one of the league's best 50-50 receivers.
The Rams won't care that it's Tua time. The Rams are coming in looking to rain on Miami's parade, with Aaron Donald busting the party. Donald has 8 sacks this season, and continues to unravel offensive game plans on a weekly basis. The Rams will unleash him all game long, and likely blitz on every third down to put the pressure on the rookie quarterback. Jared Goff and the offense can make the defense's job easier by building an early lead and keeping their foot on the gas. Darrell Henderson is emerging as a stud running back for LA, and the likes of Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods are still phenomenal receivers for the Rams.
At 3-3, there are still more questions than answers for the Dolphins. While it won't be easy for the Rams flying cross-country on a short week, they are the stronger, more experienced, and better-coached team. Sadly for Fins fans, Tua will not win his first career start.
Prediction: Rams 29, Dolphins 14
The Titans came so close against the Steelers, and Ryan Tannehill proved that he can rally the troops by himself without running through Derrick Henry 40 times per game. Although squaring off against the Bengals this week, Henry should find more running room, considering the Bengals allow 138 yards per game on the ground. Henry will be busy early, as the Titans hope to get off to a much stronger start than digging themselves a 24-7 hole. The Titans are built to score early and let Henry run rampant down the stretch in four minute offense. This week also presents a chance to increase the targets for Corey Davis, A.J. Brown, Adam Humphries, and Jonnu Smith. The Bengals defense was just carved to shreds by a Browns offense missing Odell Beckham, Jr, setting the stage for a prolific performance from the Titans.
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| Titans @ Bengals |
Joe Burrow nearly earned his first comeback win, but Baker Mayfield stole it at the death a week ago. There's not much more that Burrow can do, he is delivering so far in his rookie season. Burrow threw for over 400 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Browns, and the passing game was humming. It will need to hum again if the Bengals have a shot at keeping the Titans at bay. With Joe Mixon likely to be sidelined, Giovani Bernard remains the number one back, and he will have to see more touches than his 13 carries from a week ago. The Bengals are not wired to have Burrow drop back 50 times and lead the Bengals to comeback wins on a weekly basis. While Burrow is showing out, the Bengals have to slow the game down to start winning this season.
The Tennessee hype train stopped short last week, but they will be back on track this go-around. The Titans will steamroll the Bengals, and Derrick Henry will be at the face of it.
Prediction: Titans 31, Bengals 17
The Packers and Vikings square off for the second time this season, and each of their seasons have steered in polar opposite directions since their Week 1 battle.
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| Vikings @ Packers |
The Pack bounced back from a pathetic loss to the Bucs with a stellar offensive output in Houston. Aaron Rodgers threw 4 touchdown passes, and Davante Adams caught 13 balls for 196 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Rodgers to Adams connection is strong and will be at the forefront once again with the Vikings in town. In Week 1, Rodgers also threw 4 touchdowns, and Adams caught 14 passes for 156 yards and 2 scores. Adams could be busy once again, and Aaron Jones will be back to bring the running game back. The Vikings defense ranks 29th in passing yards allowed, and should be in for a busy day trying to keep Aaron Rodgers in check.
Dalvin Cook is trending towards playing against the Packers, and he will be thrown right back in if he is healthy. With Kirk Cousins having his worst season in his career as a starter, the Vikings will be leaning on Cook to breathe life into the offense after Minnesota's bye week. In Minnesota's last game, Cousins threw 3 picks against the Falcons in a 17 point defeat. Cousins cannot afford to play in a shootout against Aaron Rodgers, because he is not the quarterback he used to be. He still has weapons on the outside who he will be throwing deep to all afternoon, likely in a come-from-behind effort. Justin Jefferson will be busy, and he will continue his campaign for Offensive Rookie of the Year in impressive style. Jefferson has 537 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns on the season, and Adam Theilen is still one of the best catchers in the game.
Green Bay is hot, and Minnesota is tailspinning. The Packers will lock it down and seal their second consecutive sweep over the Vikings.
Prediction: Vikings 16, Packers 34
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| Chargers @ Broncos |
For the Broncos to bounce back, Drew Lock needs to protect the football. Lock has 4 interceptions in his first 2 games back from injury, and has been a liability for his football team. The Broncos need to come out of the gate running the ball down LA's throat, and let Lock beat the Chargers on play-action. Philip Lindsay and Melvin Gordon carried the ball for a combined 26 times totaling 147 yards against the Chiefs, which is the team's strength and DNA. Last week, the Chiefs amassed such a large lead that the running game could not salvage the contest. Lindsay and Gordon must be involved from the kickoff, and keep Herbert on the sidelines. They need to produce so Lock can settle down, and so Lock doesn't have to throw 40 times a game, because he is not at the level where he can do that yet.
The Broncos are always tuned in when they face the Chargers, and this one should be a close game. Going into the game, the Chargers are building momentum and boasting a swagger led by their star rookie, while his opponent is anything but the star of the show. The Chargers will snag a tight road win.
Prediction: Chargers 20, Broncos 19
The year is 2020. The NFL is building up to a standout revenge game between the reigning Super Bowl champions, going against the only winless team in the NFL. The spotlight is on Le'Veon Bell.
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| Jets @ Chiefs |
The former Steeler carried the ball 6 times against the Broncos in the snow, and is bound to see more carries against the Jets. But as much as Bell wants to be the focal point of the game plan, he is still behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the offense, and he has been red hot as of late. Not to mention the Chiefs are an air raid football team, wired to check down to Travis Kelce and take deep shots to Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman. The Chiefs have yet to take the top of the defense this season, and they are itching at the bone to unleash their speed and playmaking ability. Whether Andy Reid will let Bell carry the load and seal his revenge is up in the air, but he is not going to be the story of the game. Pat Mahomes will be the story, as always.
The Jets have suffered utter embarrassment on a weekly basis, and they are in for more of the same this week. After mustering just 4 yards of total offense in the second half against the Bills, Sam Darnold will hope to rally the troops and inspire a more efficient performance, but the odds are stacked against him. Frank Gore will be nullified by the second quarter when the Chiefs build a double-digit lead, and Darnold will have to dish the ball out wide to the likes of Breshad Perriman and Braxton Berrios. Chris Jones and Frank Clark are going to tee off, and Darnold is bound to take another 6 sacks like he did last week.
Le'Veon Bell gives this Week 8 contest some spice, but not enough flavor to consider it a close contest. This is the most lopsided matchup of the season so far, and the scoreline should reflect that.
Prediction: Jets 13, Chiefs 38
The 49ers and Seahawks were separated by razor thin margins in the 2019 season, with just a single yard the deciding factor for the NFC West title. These teams match up evenly once again in 2020.
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| 49ers @ Seahawks |
The reigning champs of the West have won 2 straight after falling to 2-3, and are coming off a blowout victory over the New England Patriots. The likes of Jeffrey Wilson and JaMycal Hasty dominated from the backfield and the Patriots could not contain them. If Jimmy Garappolo can avoid turning the ball over this week after tossing 2 interceptions, the 49ers offense will be in position to pour it on the Seahawks bottom ranked defense. George Kittle will face a tough matchup against Bobby Wagner, the most complete middle linebacker in the game, but Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and Kendrick Bourne out wide will dominate.
As the frontrunner for MVP, Russell Wilson will need to play his best game of the season yet. Wilson had one of the worst games of his career in the loss to Arizona last Sunday night, tossing 3 interceptions, including a game-deciding turnover in overtime. Wilson will not play poorly back-to-back, but he will be forced to outscore his opponent yet again, and will most likely have to score 30-plus points to seal a Seattle win. Tyler Lockett will draw plenty of attention from the 49ers secondary after racking in 15 catches and 3 touchdowns last week, and D.K. Metcalf is bound for more targets in the passing game this time around. Lockett and Metcalf will be the X-factors once again, especially with a banged up backfield for Seattle, with Cris Carson questionable to play on Sunday night.
The Hawks and Niners split their NFC West series last season, with the teams looking a bit different this time around. As great a season as Seattle has had to this point, the 49ers are hot, and they have settled down after a rocky start to the season. The 49ers are a more complete team from top to bottom, and Seattle's 32nd ranked defense will once again prove costly.
Prediction: 49ers 30, Seahawks 28
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| Saints @ Bears |
The Bears never came alive in primetime against the Rams, and they are in danger of dropping to 5-3 this week. Nick Foles flamed out last Monday, throwing 2 interceptions and averaging 6.5 yards per attempt in a double-digit loss. The running game registered just 49 yards as well. Not good enough. The Saints are one of the best rushing defenses in the game, ranking fourth in yards allowed on the ground in 2020. David Montgomery could become obsolete very quickly, and Foles will be thrust into a shootout with Drew Brees. Based on the first two months of the season, it is clear Foles is not in a position to keep up in a shootout. Chicago's best shot at an upset is stingy blitz-heavy defense, forcing 3-plus turnovers, and/or an impact from special teams. It will take a complete performance from 3 sides of the ball.
The gap between these two teams is not too wide, and the scoreline could reflect that. It should be a cagey affair in Chicago, but the Saints have the strength to carry themselves over the line again.
Prediction: Saints 27, Bears 24
This is bound to be the best worst game of the NFL season. The Cowboys and Eagles face off with NFC East bragging rights on the line as always, but the division is in much more pathetic than previous years.
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| Cowboys @ Eagles |
For America's Team, everything sucks. Backup quarterback Andy Dalton was knocked out with a concussion in Washington, setting the stage for seventh round pick Ben DiNucci to make his first career start under the lights. The former James Madison star will be thrown into the fire while Dalton undergoes concussion protocol, and will be thrust into the spotlight. DiNucci will not be short of weapons, he is surrounded by arguably the most talented arsenal of receivers in football. The offensive line is a massive concern, with 5 different starters on the line from Week 1 already. DiNucci is bound to be running for his life and extending the play more times than not. The Eagles rank third in the league with 24 sacks this season, and they are licking their lips at the prospect of blitzing on third downs with DiNucci under center. The Eagles can neutralize the Dallas offense in the trenches, and take down them from the inside.
The Eagles had to rally from two scores down against the Giants to rally a last minute victory, and they sit atop the NFC East with a record of 2-4-1. With the Cowboys in town, the Eagles are starting to get healthy, with Miles Sanders, Lane Johnson, Dallas Goedert, and Alshon Jeffrey expected to return Sunday night. With Wentz having his worst start to a season in his career, the offense needs all the help it can get. No matter how hamstrung or banged up the Eagles offense is at the moment, they are playing the Dallas Cowboys, the 27th ranked defense, and 32nd ranked scoring defense. The names change, but the street stays the same. It doesn't matter who is on the field, the Eagles will be able to stretch out the Cowboys defense and keep the score operator busy.
It is too early to write anyone off in the NFC East race, but the Cowboys are on life support, even in Week 8. The Cowboys are a DiNucci breakout game away from a miraculous upset win, but the Eagles feel like a safe bet. Hopefully the Cowboys don't make me eat my words.
Prediction: Cowboys 6, Eagles 20
The Bucs are one of the hottest teams in football, and Tom Brady is playing lights out. In 7 games, Brady has thrown 18 touchdown passes, and has not thrown an interception since Week 4. Ronald Jones is the fourth leading rusher in football. Now with Antonio Brown thrown into the fold, the Bucs offense is far and away the most talented in the game. The defense is putting in the work as well, ranking third in the NFL in yards allowed, and first in rushing. Name a more complete team than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers right now. I don't know if there are any teams more complete than them right now.
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| Buccaneers @ Giants |
The East Rutherford Giants have had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year, and despite their 1-6 record, they still have a shot at winning the NFC East. Quarterback Daniel Jones has thrown an interception in 6 of New York's 7 games, and has 7 on the season. They will hope to be locked in this week after blowing a double-digit fourth quarter lead against the Eagles. Wayne Gallman and Devonta Freeman ought to be at the focal point of it, and tote the rock more than a combined 13 times. Jones and the Giants can ill afford to find themselves in a shootout with Tom Brady. They have to try to slow the game down.
These two teams could not be trending in farther opposite directions. The Bucs are set up to dismantle the Giants, and move to 6-2 for the first time since 2002.
Prediction: Buccaneers 24, Giants 10
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