NFL Week 8 Preview: The Eagles-Cowboys Feud Resumes
Two big division rivalries grab the spotlight this week in the NFL. Here’s a preview of Week 8:
Sunday, October 30
As Bad As The Seahawks' Offense Is, It Should Score Against The Saints
Seattle at New Orleans | Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans; 1 p.m. (ET) on FOX
It’s a good thing Seattle (4-1-1) has one of the league’s best defenses, because their offense sucks. The Seahawks converted just three third downs and averaged just 4.5 yards per play in Sunday’s night ugly tie vs. the Arizona. Yes, Russell Wilson’s knee isn’t 100 percent, but even a one-legged wizard should be able to put points on the board against New Orleans (2-4), which allows an NFL high 32.5 points per game.
On the flip side, Seattle allows just 14 points per game, tied for the fewest in the NFL. They’ll still have to figure out how to stop Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees. He leads the NFL with 17 TD passes and 350 passing yards per game. If he can get 300 yards on Sunday, New Orleans may win.
The Patriots Want Revenge On The Bills
New England at Buffalo | New Era Field, Buffalo; 1 p.m. (ET) on CBS
With four Super Bowl rings and shelves full of NFL trophies and deflated footballs, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick should be happily contemplating their eventual exit strategy in New England (6-1). Instead, they’ve likely spent this week working 20 hours a day preparing to embarrass Rex and Rob Ryan and the Bills to avenge the Pats’ humiliating 16-0 loss to Buffalo (4-3) in Week 4.
This IS a crucial game in the AFC East. If the Bills can win, they’ll close to within a game of New England and have a head-to-head and division tiebreaker edge. It seems like whenever the Patriots play a game like this (against anyone but the Giants or Broncos), they win. Brady and Belichick will want to win by at least 10 points. Maybe 20. There may be blood, too.
How The Mighty Have Fallen
Arizona at Carolina | Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte; 1 p.m. (ET) on FOX
You could have made the case that last season’s NFC Championship Game showcased two teams who were poised to dominate the conference for years. Of course, you’d have been wrong, because both the Panthers and the Cardinals have been as bad in 2016 as the title game was uncompetitive in January.
Carolina (1-5) has been painful to watch this season. Cam Newton has pouted as often as he’s had to run for his life. He’ll be doing a lot of that against the aggressive pass rush of Arizona (3-3-1). Carson Palmer should have a great day against the terrible Panthers’ secondary, but even if he throws five interceptions and his team loses by 30, it will be an improvement.
We’ll Find Out How Good The Falcons Are
Green Bay at Atlanta | Georgia Dome, Atlanta; 4:25 p.m. (ET) on FOX
Thanks to NFL passing leader Matt Ryan, Atlanta (4-3) has been one of the biggest surprises in the league this season. However, the Falcons have suffered back-to-back close losses to the Seahawks and the Chargers, which could point to the team’s regression out of playoff contention.
This week, Ryan gets to face a Packers secondary that could be down three cornerbacks. That should mean lots of points. Green Bay (4-2) will try to keep pace by building on the success Aaron Rodgers and Co. had in the second half of last week’s win over the Bears. This feels like a 42-38 track meet.
Carson Wentz & Dak Prescott Join The Eagles-Cowboys Rivalry
Philadelphia at Dallas | AT&T Stadium, Arlington; 8:30 p.m. (ET) on NBC
If you can find someone who thought last May that the 2016 Eagles-Cowboys blood feud would come down to Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott — the rookie quarterbacks each team picked, respectively, in this spring’s NFL Draft — ask them for a ride in their time machine. Really, no one could have thought that these two QBs would be leading their teams to the top of the NFC East this soon.
As it stands, the real match-up to watch in this game is between the stout defense of Philadelphia (4-2) and the strong offensive line of Dallas (5-1). If the Eagles can neutralize the running of Ezekiel Elliott and keep Prescott in the pocket and under pressure, they should win. If not, Wentz will need to put up points on a sneaky good Cowboys defense.
Other Games
Thursday, October 27
Jacksonville at Tennessee | Nissan Stadium, Nashville; 8:25 p.m. (ET) on NFL
Sunday, October 30
Washington at Cincinnati | Wembley Stadium, London; 9:30 a.m. (ET) on FOX
Kansas City at Indianapolis | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis; 1 p.m. (ET) on CBS
Oakland at Tampa Bay | Raymond James Stadium, Tampa; 1 p.m. (ET) on CBS
Detroit at Houston | NRG Stadium, Houston; 1 p.m. (ET) on FOX
N.Y. Jets at Cleveland | FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland; 1 p.m. (ET) on CBS
San Diego at Denver | Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver; 4:05 p.m. (ET) on CBS
Monday, October 31
Minnesota at Chicago | Soldier Field, Chicago; 8:30 p.m. (ET) on ESPN
Bye Week
Los Angeles, Miami, N.Y. Giants, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Baltimore
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