Week 8: Will unpredictability continue to reign supreme?

A new week, the same unpredictable narrative for the NFL fan to follow. There was a Superbowl rematch in the fog, a Packers team looking very human without their talisman, a showdown in the Bay Area and another whitewash in London. But first our attention must turn to Monday night’s game and the story that is building in Philadelphia. Welcome to another week of an 'Englishman's Thought from Across the Pond'...


1) Can Carson Wentz lead the Eagles back to the promised land?


Wow, what a second year for the Eagles QB. Carson Wentz has literally improved week on week and he is now starting to compete at a Tom Brady level. His systematic destruction of the Redskins defense on Monday night is just more proof that he is ready to play on the main stage through his ease of moving the chains, ability to stand/manoeuvre in the pocket and his willingness to take a shot downfield when the opportunity arrives. He is currently averaging 265 yards per game, has 17 touchdowns to 4 interceptions and a completion percentage of 62%. These stats don't necessarily scream MVP season but his ability to lead his team to victory is a supremely unique trait. Can this result in a deep Superbowl run? I believe it can and the signs have been there ever since the start of his rookie season. Wentz continues to show the poise he had at North Dakota State, he has a great feel for the vertical nature of Doug Pederson's offense and he now has the receiving weapons to stretch the field. With a defense that is able to make stops and generate turnovers, expect the Eagles and Carson Wentz to be in contention and hot topics for the rest of this year.


2) Is there any hope for Green Bay without Aaron Rodgers?


A week without Aaron Rodgers has brought reality to Green Bay. Even with two gifts of interceptions by Drew Brees and a lead in the fourth quarter the Packers were unable to hold out for the victory. It may seem obvious to say it but Brett Hundley cannot run the same Green Bay offense that Aaron Rodgers does. This is where the real problem lies, introducing a limited scheme does not hide the fact that they lack a running game or arm strength in the passing game. Expect Green Bay to keep battling through defensive turnovers and the growing comfort of Brett Hundley behind center, but their chances of making the playoffs remain slim. Let's hope their bye week this week gives them the opportunity to build a scheme capable of capitalising on the field position the Green Bay defense provides.


3) How can the Falcons fix their offensive woes?


Clearly the Falcons did just come from their toughest match-up of the year but there are some key problems with a young squad that should be improving on last year’s performance. At the top of the list is the Falcons offensive woes. Many have been quick to blame new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian and certainly some of the blame rests on him (especially his erratic playcalling), but the issues spread further than that. The Falcons need to sort out their offensive line play which has been especially poor over the last few weeks, generate some rhythm in the offensive playcalls and return to the vertical play action passing that made their offense so effective last year. If I were the Falcons I would look to establish their running game early, which will relieve some of the pressure on the offensive line and should allow a cleaner pocket for Matt Ryan to pass from. Clearly something needs to change fast and a meeting with a young Jets squad this week may just be the thing to boost their confidence. If not it could be a very long season for Matt Ryan & Company.


4) Can the Raiders play their way back into the AFC playoff picture?


What a comeback for the Raiders last Thursday night, down six with time expiring the Raiders showed their mettle and proved to all that their season is still very much alive. Derek Carr, Amari Cooper and company finally found their groove and showed the MVP form that led the Raiders to a playoff berth last year in a must win game. Now the challenge is to continue and make every game a must win game for this current Raiders squad. Already having four losses in the season leaves them on the outside looking in. Fortunately for Oakland they have the talent to pull themselves back into the race, a Quarterback who can put the team on his back and a current tiebreaker over Kansas City should it come down to the division title. They have certainly given themselves a lot to do, but this is the point in the season where making a statement and building confidence can lead to a 2016 Packers winning streak or 2007 Giants Superbowl run. Momentum is key in the NFL and winning Thursday night's game was vital to giving the Raiders any chance to challenge in the AFC and their own division.


5) The end of an era in Cleveland


This is a topic of great sadness for the keen NFL fan. Joe Thomas the starting Left Tackle for the Browns left the game just before half time with a triceps injury that will end his season. To most unassuming fans that isn't particularly remarkable, but that has ended the longest ever active streak of consecutive snaps played in the NFL for one team in history. Joe Thomas had played 10,363 consecutive snaps and had been a model of consistency for a team that was anything but over the last decade or so. His achievement was truly remarkable alongside his commitment to one team which is a rarity in sports these days. I would just like to tip my cap to this wonderful achievement and wish him a speedy recovery.


6) What has happened to the Kansas City Chiefs?


So the Chiefs have managed to lose two games in a row, is it time to panic? In a league where everything is very focused on the 'what have you done for me lately?' it is certainly legitimate to pose the question, but realistically the Chiefs still have an incredibly strong base from which to continue their playoff campaign. The have lost to two of the more talented AFC squads, with the loss to the Raiders coming after 4 defensive penalties kept the game alive after time expired. If I was Andy Reid I would be looking to sure up discipline which was certainly a detrimental factor last week, but there is no need for the panic button just jet. The Chiefs multi-dimensional offense is more than capable of blowing opponents away on a given Sunday and their defense as previously mentioned has plenty of playmakers throughout. The Broncos should be a good test of this squad but it is currently premature to be ringing the alarm bells in Andy Reid's office just yet.


7) Is the Cowboys season now back on track?


Thumping the 49ers at Candlestick Park will certainly have allowed the Cowboys the ability to breathe a big sigh of relief on Sunday night. However, it is difficult to argue that this was a pivotal game in their season. So far this season the Cowboys have lacked consistency on both sides of the ball, maturity especially in understanding situations and they have failed to protect leads at the end of games. These issues aren't going to be fixed overnight or against the 49ers but last weekend was important to prove they could keep their focus and build some confidence. This weekend is much more vital to understanding where the Cowboys sit within the NFL. A key divisional match-up in Washington against a potential playoff opponent is much more likely to provide a barometer from which to discuss the Cowboys progress this season.


8) Another London game, another blowout


It is tough to say but London has not been kind to NFL match-ups across the pond. The Cardinals were the second team in a month to fail to score a point on English soil and that is a rarity in the NFL in this day and age. Yes Carson Palmer did not seem himself and yes he was injured, but team’s inability to provide a decent match-up in the UK is absolutely astounding. Could this be a huge positive for a future UK NFL team? Maybe, Is this a concern of the NFL's? Certainly, How does one fix it? I think there is more to study on the phenomenon. What can be said is it is strange to be wishing that the Browns could be the team to provide a good spectacle. Here's to hoping both the Browns and the Vikings provide a game that is within a touchdown with time winding down...


9) Can the Rams continue to legitimately challenge the Seahawks in the NFC West?


What the previous theme failed to capture was the outstanding job the Rams did on English soil. Jared Goff continues to look like a different Quarterback under Sean McVay, Todd Gurley is bringing another dimension to the offense, the Rams receiving core finally has some viable receivers and the defense is doing its job in providing good field position for its offense. I believe it is fair to say that the Rams are the only other contenders in the NFC West this year and they are certainly building a solid foundation for a playoff run. I don't think they quite have the experience to overcome the Seahawks at this point in time, but if they can keep pace with them in the run in to Thanksgiving, this Rams squad has the potential to cause a real headache for Pete Carroll and his 'Legion of Boom'.


10) Can Miami compete without two starting QB's?


As in most sports, the next man up policy very much applies for the Dolphins in this situation. Matt Moore entered last Sunday's game down 14 near the end of the third quarter and managed to infuse some life into the Miami offense. Was this just good fortune? In most situations one might argue this, but Matt Moore is one of the most experienced backup QB's in the NFL with a track record of success in the Dolphins offense. His success was merited on the day and he showed a willingness to stretch the field which should help him this weekend. Will it be the same as the Ryan Tannehill led offense? I doubt it, but he should give the team the ability to compete in games especially if Jay Ajayi and the running game come to life.


Players of the week:


Offensive Player of the Week: Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys, RB) - So much for an impending NFL suspension. The second year running back tore through the 49er defense (granted it’s the 49ers) to the tune of 147 yards, two touchdowns and an average of 5.7 yards a carry. If both him and Dak Prescott are firing, the Cowboys may be able to get on a role coming towards thanksgiving.


Defensive Player of the Week: Kevin Byard (Titans, Safety) - Honourable mention to another Bears rookie Eddie Jackson who scored two defensive touchdowns, but Kevin Byard kept his squad in a tight game with three vital interceptions. With two interceptions on the Tennessee 7 & 8 yard line, Byard changed the course of this game, the Browns win-less streak and kept the Titans apace in the AFC South. Tough to think of a better afternoon for an NFL safety.


Score Predictions:


Record last week: 13-2


Overall winning percentage since week 1: 62%


MIA@BAL: 31-27; Miami miraculously survived last week against the Jets, coming back after being down by 14 points in the fourth quarter to win. If they fall that far back again, they are unlikely to win this week. However backup QB Matt Moore seemed to unlock something in the offense in the fourth quarter last week and I reckon that may just be enough to slip past this inconsistent Raiders squad.


MIN@CLE: 31-17; Life doesn't get any easier for the win-less Browns. This may potentially be a game they can compete in due to the Vikings injury issues at QB and the fact it is being played at Twickenham, but with Latavius Murray finding a groove at RB and a defense that should provide good field position, the Vikings are likely to be too much for the Browns to handle.


OAK@BUF: 28-24; This should be an interesting AFC match-up after the Raiders survived their must win game against the Chiefs. With the extra rest and knowledge that they need to keep winning, I think Derek Carr & company may just sneak this one.


IND@CIN: 14-31; Without Andrew Luck this Colts squad lacks the punch to compete with most teams in the NFL. This will be no different against a Bengals squad that knows it needs to start a winning streak to get back into playoff contention.


LAC@NE: 21-28; What a change in fortune the Chargers have had over the last few weeks. Sadly their luck is likely to run out against the defending champs who seem to be sorting out their defensive issues and still have Tom Brady at QB.


CHI@NO: 21-24; With the Bears starting to find an old school groove through their ground and pound offensive game, expect this game to be closer than many would have predicted. However, the Saints with Drew Brees under center should have enough talent to sneak out this win at home.


ATL@NYJ: 24-17; A must win game for Dan Quinn and the Falcons. Fortunately for them they are coming up against one of the weaker teams in the NFL. If they can't sort out their offensive issues here, some major changes could be coming to the Falcons.


SF@PHI: 14-34; Tough match-up for the win-less 49ers. Carson Wentz and the Eagles offense looks unstoppable at the moment and it is difficult to see the 49ers slowing down that momentum.


CAR@TB: 21-24; Big NFC South match-up with serious playoff implications for both squads. Cam Newton and the Carolina offense looked lost last week against the Bears defense and I don't see things getting any easier week. This is likely to be the difference it what is likely to be a close game.


HOU@SEA: 21-24; The first of two fantastic inter-conference match-ups this weekend. Both teams have fantastic defenses complemented by mobile and aggressive QB's. Difficult to pick a winner here, so I am going to pick the home side who have found their groove recently. Don't be surprised if the Texans take this one though.


DAL@WAS: 28-21; With the news that Ezekiel Elliott is available for this game, Dallas know they cannot afford to lose this one. After a disappointing loss to the Eagles last week, I predict things won't get any easier here for the Redskins.


PIT@DET; 30-24; Another fantastic inter-conference match-up. With the Steelers seeming to have found their groove on offense, I'd expect that they just have the edge over the Lions who can't seem to keep a consistent performance going for the whole game.


DEN@KC: 21-35; How things have changed for the Chiefs in the last couple of weeks. Expect them to get back to their winning ways here though, largely because the Broncos offense cannot consistently compete at a high enough level to keep them in this game.