With NFL Week 8 underway, it is time to put some teams on upset alert.
After watching a few puzzling games last week that went haywire, more of the same is sure to happen in Week 8. We certainly did not predict that rookie quarterback Carson Wentz and the Eagles would sink the Minnesota Vikings’ perfect win record.
Now, perhaps it is time Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints to prevail against an opponent that has beaten them three straight times. This is just one of the upsets we are predicting for NFL Week 8.
Odds provided by Bovada
1. Indianapolis Colts vs. Kansas City Chiefs (-2.5)
Quarterback Andrew Luck appears to be back to his elite form. He is averaging 296.3 passing yards per game. Plus, he is completing a career-best 64.9 percent of his pass attempts. Luck also has 14 touchdowns in seven games compared to just four picks.
The sad thing is the Colts are losing more than winning, causing them to be underdog at home hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7.
Indianapolis’ defense is the primary problem. It is giving up yards like free candy to kids at Holloween — 399.7 yards per game. Teams opposing the Colts have been scoring an average of 28.6 points per game as well.
Fortunately, they are facing Kansas City’s 28th-ranked offense this week. Quarterback Alex Smith is not exactly known for racking up tons of passing yards or touchdowns. The Chiefs will look to score on the ground, and Spencer Ware should find success.
But we are going to say the game comes down to Luck’s Colts simply scoring at a clip the Chiefs cannot match. And even if the Colts offense falls short, the best kicker in the league, Adam Vinatieri, will put points on the board.
2. Green Bay Packers vs. Atlanta Falcons (-3)
The Packers finally got back on course last week, and Aaron Rodgers shed his quarterback funk.
Playing on the road against Atlanta, Green Bay is rightfully considered the underdog. We can expect Falcons wideout Julio Jones to exploit Green Bay’s secondary, which is missing a couple of its starters. Heck, even the Packers are nervous about dealing with Jones (more on that here).
But the Falcons could struggle big time against a Green Bay defense that is allowing an average of only 3.1 yards per attempt and just 71.8 yards per game. Worse, the Packers have given up just one rushing score all season.
On the opposite side of the field, Rodgers and his receivers should thrive against Atlanta’s pass defense. The Falcons are ceding an average of 294.3 passing yards per game. And they are allowing a league-high 28.4 completed passes per contest.
Armed with several of the best pass-catchers in the league, Green Bay is bound to score a ton. Whoever is running the ball should find the end zone as well. Atlanta has given up seven rushing scores to date.
Just watch as the Dirty Birds get stuck in the cheese this weekend.
3. Cleveland Browns vs. New York Jets (-3)
Each week sad Browns fans watch anxiously, hoping their cursed team will record its first win.
Perhaps winning becomes a reality at home against the New York Jets. The Jets have stunk pretty bad this season, winning only two games. Also, New York’s quarterback situation is about as depressing as Cleveland’s is.
Even more fun is this could be a really high-scoring game. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick certainly stands to do some aerial damage against a Browns’ defense that is giving up 285.7 on average per game. We covered what a grand day Fitzpatrick could be up for in our weekly bold predictions list.
But, while Fitz is attempting all his passes, he is bound to turn the ball over. The dude is an interception king having thrown for 11 picks in seven games. Meanwhile, Cleveland’s defense has managed a total of eight takeaways this season. This number is bound to increase on Sunday.
A big positive for Cleveland is that Josh McCown has been announced as the team’s starter. He could also find tremendous success with Terrelle Pryor against the Jets’ 28th-ranked pass defense.
In the end, Cleveland fans should be smiling for the first time in months.
4. New Orleans Saints vs. Seattle Seahawks (-3.5)
Both teams are coming off of frustrating Week 7 losses. But at least the Saints offense was able put some points on the board. All Seattle could accomplish was a couple of sad field goals in an overtime tie against the Arizona Cardinals.
Week 8 will be different. New Orleans is allowing an astounding average of 32.5 points per game. Seattle should find ways to score more than three-pointers. But, we must keep in mind, the Seahawks offense is averaging just 18.5 points per game.
Quarterback Russell Wilson has been practically stagnant all season, passing for five touchdowns to date. Drew Brees has 17 and has thrown for no less than three touchdowns per contest while playing in his home dome.
Some might be wondering why the Seahawks are favored to win in Week 8. It is because they have beat the Saints in their last three games. But that was in Seattle. We just do not see a scenario that has Seattle outscoring the Saints playing in New Orleans. That has not happened since 2004.
5. Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers (-1.5)
Somebody is not going to be happy after the outcome of this Week 8 upset game. That grumpy face will belong to Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton on Sunday after he loses yet another game this season.
The Cardinals just held the Seattle Seahawks to only two measly field goals in Week 7.
Now, they are going to unleash their wrath in Charlotte. Newton is nowhere near the scoring dynamo he was in 2015. To date, he has just eight passing scores. Fortunately, he has rushed in three touchdowns — a small favor to fantasy owners.
But he might find scoring on the ground difficult this go around. The Cards just held Seattle’s running back Christine Michael to 52 rushing yards. In fact, this stat does not bode well for Jonathan Stewart either.
The Panthers will be beating their heads against a wall trying to score. Meanwhile, Carson Palmer and Co. should have a field day putting points on the board.
The Panthers’ passing defense has given up 13 touchdowns in six games. Four of those were scored by Drew Brees in Week 6. Stopping David Johnson is also going to be a nightmare. Despite not scoring last week, he gashed Seattle in his last outing for 171 total yards.
He should find the end zone at least a couple of times in Week 8. This will take place while the Cards keep Newton and the gang tightly bottled up.