NFL Week 8: The Ultimate Guide to Sunday's Action
The running back position is dead...long live the running back position!
For a league that has gone entirely pass-happy over the past generation, the running game has featured pretty heavily for a bunch of teams this season that have their eyes toward a Super Bowl championship. It's a reminder that the NFL is a cyclical animal, and that coaches will do whatever it takes to win regardless of what the trends are.
Let's start with the Dallas Cowboys (6-1). They've got quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant, but it took continual investment in the offensive line and a fantastic (read: historic) start to the season in order for the Cowboys to pull out of their tailspin of mediocrity.
The Philadelphia Eagles (5-1) had a terrible start to the year running the ball, but they're another team built around the run rather than the pass. They currently rank 14th in the NFL with 116 rushing yards per game, but they've had an uptick in recent weeks (allowing them to trounce the New York Giants). One can be positive this is something they've worked on over last week's bye.
They may have had a tumultuous offseason at the position, but the Baltimore Ravens (5-2) actually rank seventh in the league with 131.4 rushing yards per game. This is in part to a fantastic offensive line effort not only from the starters like offensive guard Kelechi Osemele and right tackle Rick Wagner, but also from backups like left tackle James Hurst, who has performed admirably in relief of Eugene Monroe.
Even the Denver Broncos (6-1) are at their best when running effectively to help complement quarterback Peyton Manning and the passing game. This was front and center the past three weeks while Ronnie Hillman has put up a combined 283 yards rushing against some pretty good defenses.
Yet another example that the NFL is bigger than narratives. So, to get you ready for a big day of football, here's everything you need to know about every game on Sunday.
Biggest Questions
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What Is Wrong with the Cincinnati Bengals, and Can They Fix It?
At 3-2-1, the Bengals have more than enough time to cure what ails them; the team is far too talented to be this average on the season.
Problems on the offensive line and a defense so clearly not ready for prime time are fixable, but doing so on the fly will be difficult—especially against a Baltimore Ravens team that has been so physically tough this season.
Will the Seattle Seahawks Right the Ship Away from Home?
At .500 and only 1-2 on the road, the Seahawks are dangerously close to "just another team" status in the NFC. Plenty of teams look like "scarier" matchups than an offense that can't get going and a Legion of Boom that isn't bringing the boom.
The Carolina Panthers haven't been much to write home about, but while this matchup isn't as sexy as it might've been when the schedule was published, the Panthers have more than enough to send Seattle back with a loss.
Can the Pittsburgh Steelers Do Anything to Slow Down Andrew Luck?
Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau is one of the most well-respected minds in football, but his defense hasn't put fear in many people this season, let alone a quarterback playing as well as Luck is (read: MVP-like levels).
With an inability to win in the trenches, pass-rushers that can't pass rush and defensive backs that love to get picked on, one wonders if Luck will have any problems at all.
Does Cleveland Browns QB Brian Hoyer Bounce Back?
The calls for Johnny Manziel will only get louder with every loss on Hoyer's resume. Last week, the Browns lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars, falling to 3-3, and their offense looked truly horrendous for the first time with Hoyer at the helm—not a good week.
Oakland has been putting up more of a fight lately, and while it might have been inconceivable just two weeks ago that the Raiders might actually win this game, it could possibly be the straw that breaks the camel's back and sends the regime scrambling for Johnny Football.
Odds and Ends
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- To find out which games are available in your area, check out these NFL coverage maps, via 506 Sports.
- Who's calling your game of choice Sunday? Here are announcer pairings for CBS and Fox, via B-FLO 360.
- Football Zebras provides a look at which referees are working each game so you can tailor your insults accordingly.
- Can't make it to a TV? SiriusXM covers every single game. Here's the lineup.
- If you don't have satellite radio, check to see if Westwood One has a game playing in your area.
- Even if you can watch your favorite team, make sure you have the Bleacher Report Team Stream app for the latest in news, fantasy football updates and highlights.
Important Stats and Trends to Know
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Not Just Quantity but Quality for Murray
Last week, we talked about the historic pace Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray was on in terms of carries for the beginning of the season, but it's worthwhile to note he's not just plodding for yardage. According to ESPN Stats & Info, only he and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell have had 100 yards from scrimmage in every game this season.
Drop that to 75 yards, and only Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington joins them.
Cortez Allen: Much of What Is Ailing the Steelers Defense
Head on over to Pro Football Focus (paid link), and check out the bottom of the cornerback list. It seems that every week, we're able to highlight a new cornerback who's supposed to be the leader of his particular defensive backfield but is letting his team down this season.
All arrows were pointing up for Cortez Allen before this season, but he's been picked on—relentlessly—as much as any player in football this year.
Tackles Aren't Always All They're Cracked Up to Be
At this point, the top three tacklers on the season are all linebackers—Carolina Panthers' Luke Kuechly (82), Atlanta Falcons' Paul Worrilow (74) and Jacksonville Jaguars' Paul Posluszny (69). The question has to be asked: Are all three guys playing at the top of the game, or are they simply the best players on poor defenses?
A good way of sorting this all out is by comparing the official numbers (via ESPN) to tackle numbers from PFF (still a paid link). The guys who comb over tape are human just like the official stat keepers, but they're independent with little reason to inflate anyone's numbers and give them tackles on plays they aren't anywhere near.
There, the numbers drop: Kuechly (66), Posluszny (55) and Worrilow (52).
Saints Unbeatable at Home...Packers Not so Much on the Road
According to our good friends at Odds Shark, the Saints are 7-1 the past eight regular-season games when they were at least a small favorite at home. On the flip side, the Packers are only 1-7 when they have been road underdogs in that same span.
Right now, the Packers are playing at a much higher level than the Saints, but a win in the Superdome would be truly trend-shattering for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Co.
For even more stats and trends, check out Nick Kostos' Ultimate Bettor's Guide.
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Game of the Day
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Who: Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals
When: 4:05 p.m. ET
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
Neither of these teams has won in quite the fashion people have expected this season, yet the Cardinals (5-1) and Eagles (5-1) are both getting things done and quieting a significant number of critics (myself included, for both teams).
The Cardinals have one of the worst pass defenses in football this season, which is insane when one remembers how many elite defensive backs they have at their disposal (Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu, etc.). However, it's been impressive how they've been able to win games even with backup quarterback Drew Stanton at the helm, so with Carson Palmer (pictured above) back healthy, things could start looking even better.
The Eagles are supposedly a run-first, run-heavy team, but their rushing attack has been pedestrian for much of 2014. That changed against the New York Giants and helped crush them in a way the Eagles had not crushed an opponent before this year. If things are truly back on track in that regard, both the Cardinals and everyone else on the Eagles schedule needs to watch out.
Complete Philadelphia preview from Eagles Featured Columnist Cody Swartz.
Complete Arizona preview from Cardinals Featured Columnist Shaun Church.
Rest of the Slate ('Sunday Night Football')
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Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints
Where the Saints are, the Packers once were.
It wasn't that many weeks ago when some of us were asking ourselves what's wrong with the Packers offense...and defense. The Packers came into the year a top team, fell flat on their faces and then picked themselves back up. Now, they're playing at an extremely high level at 5-2.
The 2-4 Saints have just as much talent on paper as the Packers do, and their quarterback is just as dangerous when he gets into a rhythm. Is there anything saying they can't follow suit and turn things around just as Green Bay has done?
A big win at home would go a long way to that end.
Rest of the Slate (Fox)
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Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons—in London (9:30 a.m. ET)
The Lions have been one of the best teams in football, even without Calvin Johnson, which has caused their offense to look nowhere near as effective or explosive as it should be. If Megatron plays here, the Falcons should just keep the plane running.
St. Louis Rams at Kansas City Chiefs (1 p.m. ET)
The Rams have played a lot of teams tough this season, and the Chiefs are coming off a big win against the San Diego Chargers, so they should be flying high. Both offenses will look to matriculate the ball down the field pretty methodically, but the home team has the more talented and the far more experienced passer in Alex Smith.
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans (1 p.m. ET)
Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney should play in this one, which makes Houston's defense and pass rush that much more fearsome. Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger will start for his team as well, which makes Tennessee's offense more...? Advantage Texans.
Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 p.m. ET)
The Buccaneers are at home, after a bye against a terrible Vikings team, but it's still difficult to really like them in this one unless you truly believe they've fixed what's been going wrong on defense. Turnovers will almost certainly tell the tale in this one, and both quarterbacks need to take care of the ball better than they have been.
Chicago Bears at New England Patriots (1 p.m. ET)
The Bears are simply looking to hold on in this one, while the Patriots have become a perfect storm of grit and drive in the past few weeks. The Bears have more than enough talent to go toe-to-toe here, but it would take quarterback Jay Cutler at his absolute best, and we just haven't seen that enough as of late.
Rest of the Slate (CBS)
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Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers (1 p.m. ET)
The Seahawks have a real chance to get their one-back set running game going against a Panthers run defense that should be much better than it actually is in 2014. On the flip side, Seattle's defense hasn't stopped nearly enough good quarterbacks this season, but it may be able to contain Cam Newton's running if nothing else.
This game sets up nicely for both—maybe advantage Seahawks, but in Carolina? Almost too close to call.
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals (1 p.m. ET)
If Bengals running back Gio Bernard gets going early and often in both the run and the pass games, this game can stay close at almost any scoring pace. But the Ravens have shown an ability to shut down a team's No. 1 weapon this season and force them into becoming more well-rounded.
This will put pressure on quarterback Andy Dalton, and he's wilted under that pressure time and again.
Miami Dolphins at Jacksonville Jaguars (1 p.m. ET)
Battle for Florida?
Battle of who could care less?
Both teams are underachieving this season and should be better than 3-3 and 1-6, respectively. The Dolphins have a number of signature wins but a number of "what were they actually doing?" games as well. The Jaguars are coming off their first win, but it took a down day from the Browns.
The Dolphins have the much better team here, but it's tough to completely count the Jaguars out.
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets (1 p.m. ET)
The best unit here is the Bills defense, which could easily rule the day in this matchup. Meanwhile, Buffalo's offense is just good enough to stay out of the way. That said, the Jets offense will be looking to integrate new acquisition Percy Harvin, so maybe it'll be fun to watch at least.
Oakland Raiders at Cleveland Browns (4:25 p.m. ET)
Cleveland should cruise easily here, but the Browns aren't in the habit of making anything easy over the past...well, my lifetime. Meanwhile, we're all just waiting for things to click for the Raiders, who have been playing better but are still underplaying to the talent level on their roster. That, too, has seemed to be a recurring theme over the years.
Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers (4:25 p.m. ET)
Colts quarterback Andrew Luck should be able to do a lot of damage, but it's integral for the rushing game to be on point as well in order to keep the quick-strike Steelers offense off the field as much as possible. Winning in the trenches is the best way to beat the Steelers, and the Colts' surprising defense should be able to get it done.
Key Matchups
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Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery (WR Bears) vs. Patriots Secondary
While much has been said about the Bears locker room, if they can put all of that behind them they've actually got more than enough talent (and size) to best a vulnerable Patriots defense. Physically, this is a strong matchup win for the Bears, but it's always interesting to see what the Patriots defense has cooked up to stop threats like this.
Nick Mangold (C Jets) vs. Marcell Dareus (DT Bills)
Strength-on-strength here as the Bills' interior defensive line has been playing out of their minds this season, whereas Mangold is the best player—by far—on a Jets offense that has been nothing to write home about. If Mangold can get any push against Dareus or the rest of the Bills rotation, Chris Ivory is always a danger to fight for a few extra yards.
Joique Bell (RB Lions) vs. Paul Worrilow (LB Falcons)
Lions starter Reggie Bush is likely out of this one, so many believe Bell is set for a huge day against a lackluster Falcons rushing defense. It will take Worrilow racking up double-digit tackles (maybe even per half) just to keep Bell in check. It's worth noting, however, that the Lions' rushing attack hasn't always performed as well as it should in situations like this, as the team still has a pass-first mentality.
Drew Brees (QB Saints) vs. Packers Pass Rush
When Brees has protection and feels confident in it, this offense can hum. Against Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers (among others), that's unlikely to be the case. The Packers are built to stop dropback passers, so Brees will need to have his head on a swivel and may need to move the pocket a lot more than he'd like in this one.
For an X's and O's look at even more matchups, take a seat in Matt Bowen's film study.
Notable Injuries
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Owen Daniels (TE Baltimore Ravens)—Out, Knee
Daniels has been a high-volume target for quarterback Joe Flacco even before Dennis Pitta went down. Without his security blanket, Flacco becomes more exposed, and the passing attack needs to become a lot more vertical.
Sammy Watkins (WR Buffalo Bills)—Probable, Groin
Watkins has really turned things on, which may just be rookie jitters shaking off or may have something to do with Kyle Orton under center. He's a walking mismatch for the Jets secondary, so the Bills want to have him in place. They have other weapons but no one playing this well right now.
Kam Chancellor (S Seatle Seahawks)—Probable, Ankle
Chancellor is the kind of safety you want on the field and at as close to 100 percent as possible against a running quarterback with an arm like Cam Newton's. If Chancellor doesn't go, or even if his mobility is limited by massive amounts of tape to stabilize the ankle, Newton could find an advantage.
Sam Shields (CB Green Bay Packers)—Doubtful, Knee
Shields has had an up-and-down year, but you want all the personnel one can muster against Drew Brees and Co., even though they haven't had the year many of us have expected.
Other Notable Injuries
- Brian Cushing (LB Texans)—Questionable, Knee
- Shane Vereen (RB Patriots)—Questionable, Illness
- Ike Taylor (CB Steelers)—Out, Arm
- Kyle Fuller (CB Bears)—Probable, Hip/Hand
- Vincent Jackson (WR Buccaneers)—Questionable, Ribs
To check out how even more injuries might affect your team and your fantasy squad, make sure to read Eric Mack's Ultimate Fantasy Guide.
Bleacher Report Expert Projections
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To follow how the B/R writers stack up against writers from across the web, check out Pickwatch.com.
Michael Schottey is an NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report and an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Find more of his stuff on his archive page and follow him on Twitter.
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