NFL Week 8 - Sunday Preview Part 2

Oakland Raiders (5-2) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3) - Raymond James Stadium

The Oakland Raiders will be looking for a remarkable 5th straight road win when they travel to Tampa Bay to plays the Bucs on Sunday. The Raiders at 4-0 are the best road team in the NFL, however all these victories came against teams with losing records in the Saints, Titans, Ravens and Jaguars. The Raiders finally got a decent performance from their defence last week giving up just 17 points to the Jaguars, however they still remain last in yards allowed in the whole NFL. The Bucs will be looking for their first home win of the season having spent 4 of the first 6 weeks on the road. The Bucs came from 14-0 down last week to dominate a reeling 49ers outfit 34-17 at Levi Stadium. 

Verdict - Bucs 31 Raiders 28

The Raiders have been riding their luck a little on the road this year, so I am going with the Bucs in a close one. With Atlanta losing their last two games, the Bucs are right in the race in the NFC South and a win here, coupled with a Falcons loss, would send them to the top of the division at 4-3. Eventually the Raiders' shaky defence is going to cost them and, despite Derek Carr having another decent day, I think they might suffer their first road loss here. 

Arizona Cardinals (3-3-1) @ Carolina Panthers (1-5) - Bank Of America Stadium

Under a year ago the Cardinals and Panthers locked horns in the NFC Championship game with a spot in the Super Bowl on the line. This year, they meet on far different terms with both teams struggling to recapture that form that led them to lofty heights last season. The Panthers at 1-5 are down to just about their last chance here after 4 straight losses crashed them to last in their division. The defence which played at such a high level last year has been nowhere near that standard, giving up 41 points in a wild 41-38 loss to the Saints in their last game. The Cardinals will be cursing a missed opportunity as they were forced to settle for a 6-6 tie against the Seahawks. The Cardinals led for much of the afternoon, however a crucial blocked punt and a missed field goal saw their chances of a win go begging. The Cardinals' defence has really picked up the pace lately having not conceded a touchdown in their last two games. 

Verdict - Carolina 27 Arizona 17

I'm going with the Panthers here as I think they can rattle Carson Palmer like they did in the AFC Championship game. Palmer had a complete meltdown, throwing a record 6 interceptions, and I'm sure Carolina will be reminding him of that all afternoon. The Panthers are down to just about their last chance here so I'm thinking they might be that 5% more desperate. 

Detroit Lions (4-3) @ Houston Texans (4-3) - NRG Stadium

The Lions will be looking for a third straight win when they travel to Houston to take on the 4-3 Texans on Sunday at NRG Stadium. Detroit are coming off three straight narrow home victories which has elevated them to 4-3 and right in the playoff hunt. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is enjoying a stellar year, ranking 4th in touchdowns (15) and 8th in yards (1914). Stafford has always been considered a high risk type quarterback, however impressively he has been intercepted just 4 times this year. It is a different story for the Texans new franchise quarterback Brock Osweiler. Osweiler put up an embarrassing performance in his return to Denver throwing for just 131 yards and fumbling in the Texans' limp 27-9 loss. Despite being ranked 27th in rush defence and the poor play of Osweiler, the Texans remarkably still hold the division lead at 4-3. 

Verdict - Lions 27 Texans 19

Detroit have surprised me this year and I think they can spring somewhat of an upset here on the road and beat the Texans. Brock Osweiler's confidence looks shot to bits right now and I think the Texans' season is about to hit the skids. Detroit's offense looks far more potent and I think they can get up and down the field a lot easier here.  

San Diego Chargers (3-4) @ Denver Broncos (5-2) - Sports Authority Field

The resurgent Chargers face another big test in Denver on Sunday as they go in search of a third straight victory. San Diego were written off by many, having blown a number of games to be sitting at 1-4 before impressive victories at home to the Broncos and away to Atlanta. With Phillip Rivers playing at a high level, the Chargers have been in every game this year, however need another win against the Broncos here to remain a factor in the AFC West. The Broncos are 5-2 and sitting tied with the Raiders for the lead in the AFC West and will be looking for revenge after San Diego beat them 21-13 just two weeks ago in San Diego. The Denver defence has been as impressive as ever, holding Houston to just 9 points in a dominant win at home last week. 

Verdict - Broncos 22 Chargers 21

I was very tempted to take the Chargers here, however Denver will be intent on revenge after San Diego beat them just two weeks ago. Denver are a 10-point better side at home and I think their defence can make Phillip Rivers sweat a little more here. Expect this game to be a cracker that goes right down to the wire. 

Green Bay Packers (4-2) @ Atlanta Falcons (4-3) - Georgia Dome

The Falcons suddenly need to arrest a 2-game losing slide when they host the Packers in a  marquee NFC match up on Sunday. The Falcons played well for long periods in their losses at Seattle and at home to the Chargers, however those narrow losses has brought the NFC South much closer together. Green Bay have been far from convincing this season, however are sitting relatively pretty at 4-2 and just one game behind the Vikings in the NFC North. Aaron Rodgers returned to somewhere near his best last week with a dominant second half in an easy win over a downtrodden Bears outfit at home. 

Verdict - Falcons 31 Packers 26

I'm sticking solid with Atlanta despite them letting me down the last two weeks. The Falcons were unlucky to lose both games against the Seahawks and Chargers, and I still think they are in decent form heading into this game. Despite Green Bay's record, they have not convinced this year and this game represents a step-up in opponents for a side that has struggled on the road the last 12 months. 

Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) @ Dallas Cowboys (5-1) - AT&T Stadium

We get perhaps the marquee match-up of the round here as NFC East divisional rivals, the Eagles, and Cowboys, square off in Dallas on Sunday. The Cowboys hold a one game lead in the NFC East over the Eagles and will be going for a fifth consecutive win here. The Cowboys' rookie quarterback, Dak Prescott, and running back Ezekiel Elliott, are both in contention for NFL MVP honours as they have led their sides to a great start to the season despite long term injuries to stars such as Tony Romo and Dez Bryant. So good has Prescott been with 7 touchdowns to just 1 interception that it is unlikely Romo will win his job back when he returns from injury in the coming week or two. The Eagles got a much needed 21-10 victory at home to the Vikings last week to snap a 2-game losing streak. 

Verdict - Eagles 27 Cowboys 24

I'm going for a big upset here and the Eagles to beat their divisional rivals on the road. I think Dak Prescott has been exceptional so far, however with the looming presence of Tony Romo starting to regain full fitness, maybe he will finally start to feel the pressure here.