Week 8 Predictions
After a few shutouts and a couple close games that happened in Week 7 of the 2017 season, there are bound to be at least a couple surprises in Week 8. Here are some of my predictions for this weeks games:
Thursday night- Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens
Prediction: Miami 24 Baltimore 17
The two teams that struggle the most at moving the ball meet on Thursday as Miami tries to stay with the 4-2 Buffalo Bills and the 5-2 New England Patriots in the AFC East. While the Baltimore Ravens are trying to catch up with the 5-2 Pittsburgh Steelers. Both of these offenses have struggled this season and will be facing good defenses this week, but I'm giving the edge to the Dolphins. The Ravens have struggled to stop the run on defense and will face a Pro Bowl Halfback in Jay Ajayi, while Quarterback Matt Moore provides more of a spark in the passing game. The game will be a close one, but i say the Maimi Dolphins win it.
Shutout Watch- Minnesota Vikings at Cleveland Browns (In London)
Prediction: Minnesota 20 Cleveland 0
The Cleveland Browns have struggled to score during this dreadful season that they are enduring as they are last in the league with 14.7 points per game. While the Minnesota Vikings are 5th in the league in points allowed per game. The only thing that will keep Cleveland in this game will be its defense which has played well especially in Week 7 against the Titans. However, in the end the offensive line won't be able to keep the quarterback upright against the Minnesota pass rush led by Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen especially without All Pro Left Tackle Joe Thomas.
Blowout Watch- San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles
Prediction: San Francisco 9 Philadelphia 30
Carson Wentz has been playing at an MVP level leading the NFL with 17 touchdown passes through 7 weeks. While the 49ers Quarterbacks have a total of 5 touchdowns. in the running game, Carlos Hyde has been solid for the 49ers, but faces the number one run defense in the league starting with the front line led by Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham both good at stopping the run as well as rushing the passer. I don't see San Francisco scoring a single touchdown in this game but connecting on a few field goals.
Upset Watch- Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints
Prediction: Chicago 20 New Orleans 17 (OT)
New Orleans defense has been playing a lot better than what they have been known for over the past few seasons, while their offense is still led by Quarterback Drew Brees, but has added more of a running game. With Rookie Alvin Kamara and former Heisman Mark Ingram, the Saints have two options that are capable runners as well as very good receivers. However, they are facing a Chicago Bears team that upset the Pittsburgh Steelers along with wins over the Panthers and the Ravens over the past 2 weeks. Their offense relies on the running game to get it going with Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen. The Bears have the better defense among these 2 teams. This game goes into overtime with the Bears getting a field goal and the defense stopping the Saints offense for the win.
Sunday Night- Pittsburgh Steelers at Detroit Lions
Prediction Pittsburgh 30 Detroit 13
Other than when they played the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been playing very well the past few weeks. This week they go to Detroit and face the 3-3 Lions. The Lions have an good but not great offense, but are 8th in the league in points per game. However, I don't believe they will be able to keep up with the high powered offense led by Halfback LeVeon Bell and Wide Receiver Antonio Brown. Looking at the Steelers defense, they own the number one passing defense allowing just 147 yards per game and are 3rd in points per game with 16.6. Along with this, Detroit may be down a top option in Golden Tate. This is why I believe this game will be out of reach by the 4th quarter.
Monday Night- Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
Prediction: Denver 10 Kansas City 17
After getting shutout by the Los Angeles Chargers 21-0, the Denver Broncos will need to improve in some areas. Unfortunately for them, they get to face one of the better teams in the NFL. I do believe the team will do better due to it being another divisional game, but they won't win it. Chiefs Quarterback Alex Smith has yet to throw an interception, while the offense as a whole ranks 3rd in the league in yards per game and second in points per game. Now this game will be strength vs strength and weakness vs weakness. I've talked about the Chiefs offense, but Denver's defense is among the best as it has for the past few years starting with the No Fly Zone. Denver ranks top 10 in every major category, Total Yards, Passing Yards, Rushing Yards, Points Allowed, and 3rd Down Percentage. This game will be close, but in the end the Chiefs come out victorious.
Predictions for the rest:
Oakland Raiders 20 Buffalo Bills 23
Indianapolis Colts 10 Cincinnati Bengals 24
Los Angeles Chargers 21 New England Patriots 24
Atlanta Falcons 28 New York Jets 20
Carolina Panthers 17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24
Houston Texans 10 Seattle Seahawks 17
Dallas Cowboys 21 Washington Redskins 17
