Top 25 Most Pressing NFL Questions Heading into Week 8

The NFL's Week 7 was filled with quarterback changes and it was a week certainly filled with pressing questions. Now, as we enter Week 8, we're still filled with just as many questions as the weeks prior, if not more.

As we get deeper and deeper into the 2011 schedule, we can start to debate on whether teams are pretenders or contenders.

With that being said, we'll address that topic along with several other pressing questions. 

Here are the top 25 most pressing questions entering the NFL's Week 8. 

If you have any other questions that are bugging you, feel free to post them in a comment below—we'll all discuss them! 

Can Tim Tebow Improve His Passing Numbers Against the Detroit Lions?

Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos may have escaped Miami with a victory, but Tebow's passing attack was pitiful. 

Completing only 13-of-27 passes isn't a very good stat line, in fact, it's rather embarrassing. Tebow managed to only accumulate 161 passing yards against one of the NFL's worst pass defenses—that should definitely be raising a few flags.

With that being said, Tebow is going to have to improve his play as a passer, as he will not survive against some of the better defenses in the league—especially the Detroit Lions this upcoming Sunday. 

Can Christian Ponder Succeed as a Rookie?

I will say one thing: I was extremely impressed with the guts that Christian Ponder displayed against the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Green Bay Packers. 

Ponder may have completed only 13 of his 32 passes, but he did manage to toss two touchdowns while leading the Minnesota Vikings to a solid 27 points on the day—their second highest point total of the season. 

The Florida State product will definitely benefit with the stellar running ability of Adrian Peterson; it's just all up to him if he can complete NFL-quality passes. 

Will Chris Johnson's Slump Continue Against the Indianapolis Colts?

I'm actually going to answer this question with a big, fat yes.

Chris Johnson's slump is going to go one for an extremely long time as recent reports indicate that he's not in NFL-game shape. 

Well CJ2K, I really hope that holding out all throughout the preseason was worth getting a new contract as averaging a horrific 2.9 yards per carry.

Even though Johnson and the Tennessee Titans will be going up against Indianapolis' second-worst run defense, Johnson will find a way to struggle. 

What do you think? Will the slump continue? 

Will the Miami Dolphins Lose Yet Another Game Against the New York Giants?

There is absolutely no chance that the Miami Dolphins will win against the New York Giants this weekend—we might as well rack up a seventh loss for Miami. 

The Giants are 4-2 and are well-rested as they're coming off of a bye week, so they'll certainly be ready to go against an inferior opponent. 

Let's put it this way: The only way that Miami can win is if Eli Manning decides to throw five or six interceptions. But wait, you never know, that could happen when we're dealing with Eli, the interception machine. 

Can Arian Foster and Ben Tate Continue Their Dominance This Week?

Let me tell you something: Arian Foster and Ben Tate have the potential to be the NFL's most dominant rushing attack in recent memory. 

Foster, who is the reigning NFL leading rusher and Tate, who was selected in the second round last season, both have the talent to be starting running backs. 

If I was Gary Kubiak, I would be splitting the carries and riding with the hot hand. 

Just look at what the duo did last week against the Tennessee Titans: Foster ran for 115 yards while Tate ran for 104—now that's just scary. 

Can Cam Newton Continue His Recent Success Against the Lowly Minnesota Vikings?

Last week's performance against the Washington Redskins was arguably Cam Newton's greatest game thus far in his very young NFL career.

Newton completed 18 of his 23 passes for 256 yards while tossing a touchdown as well in running in one. If Newton can remain a pass-first quarterback and be as accurate as he was against the 'Skins, then he'll be virtually unstoppable. 

Going up against the Minnesota Vikings this week, I'm going to simply say that he'll have all the chances in the world to match his previous week's numbers. 

How Severe Is Matthew Stafford's Injured Right Ankle?

Luckily for Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions that Stafford's MRI came back negative Monday. 

Stafford injured his right leg in Sunday's loss against the Atlanta Falcons, and there were no concrete reports following the team's defeat besides that he was scheduled for a MRI. 

Now according to sources, Stafford's injury is being described as an injured right ankle and that it's simply a day-to-day injury.

The Detroit Lions fan base can rest easy for now. 

Who's the Better Team? The New England Patriots or the Pittsburgh Steelers?

This is without a question the game of the week: The Pittsburgh Steelers taking on the New England Patriots. Quite frankly, this could very well be an AFC Championship preview. 

Both teams enter Sunday's game with five wins each, as the Patriots have only one loss while the Steelers have two. 

Tom Brady and the Patriots are currently riding a nice little winning streak against the Steelers, as Brady has not lost against Pittsburgh since 2004. 

Who's the better team? What do you think? I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the Patriots will leave Pittsburgh with an impressive victory, much similar to last year's 39-26 stomping in New England's favor. 

Can John Beck Actually Have a Solid Game as Washington's Starting Quarterback?

John Beck wasn't that bad in his first start since 2007. 

The BYU product completed 22 of his 37 passes for 279 yards and one touchdown as well as being intercepted once. However, Beck did do whatever it took to keep the Redskins' offense flowing, as he ran in a touchdown while racking up 10 yards on the ground. 

Believe it or not, according to the Washington Post, Mike Shanahan was actually "proud" of Beck's performance Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

Do you think that he'll be able to lead his Redskins to a victory over the Buffalo Bills this weekend? 

Can the Indianapolis Colts Finally Get a Win Against the Tennessee Titans?

I am actually going to say that this is a very winnable game for the Indianapolis Colts—despite their absolutely embarrassing 62-7 beating handed down by the New Orleans Saints on Sunday Night Football.

However, I am actually starting to be convinced that the Indianapolis Colts are tanking it and are ultimately "Sucking for Luck." 

What do you think? Is this just some conspiracy or are the Colts actually trying to "win" the Andrew Luck sweepstakes? 

How Well Will the Cleveland Browns Play Against the San Francisco 49ers?

The Cleveland Browns vs. the Seattle Seahawks game this past week was probably the ugliest and most boring game that I have ever seen in a long time—it was the ultimate snooze-fest as the Browns squeezed out a 6-3 victory. 

Entering Week 8, the Browns will have a much bigger opponent as they'll square off against the 5-1 San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers are going to be well-rested and likely will be extremely prepared as they're coming off of a bye week.

This is definitely a huge test for Colt McCoy and the Browns. 

Are the Detroit Lions Pretenders or Contenders?

This has been a hot topic ever since the Detroit Lions' 23-16 loss against the Atlanta Falcons. The Lions have now dropped two in a row and are now 5-2—which is still one of the league's best records, but this two-game losing streak is somewhat alarming.

With that being said, the ultimate question arises: Are the Lions pretenders or contenders?

I will say one thing, in the team's two recent losses, Stafford has posted an 82.2 quarterback rating while completing only 52.4 percent of his passes. To make it simple, Stafford needs to perform much better in order for the Lions to beat better teams.  

Will Kansas City's Winning Streak Continue Against the San Diego Chargers?

Are the Kansas City Chiefs white hot or are they simply just beating up on bad teams? 

KC started off this season losing its first three games but since then have beat the lousy Minnesota Vikings and the Indianapolis Colts as well as the quarterback-less Oakland Raiders—so you tell me, are they just a mirage? 

Believe it or not, the Chiefs and Chargers will be squaring off on Monday Night Football to decide who will have the lead in the AFC West. 

What do you think? Are the Chiefs pretenders?

We'll all find out Monday night as this is an extremely huge test for Kansas City. 

Will Carson Palmer Officially Be Named the Oakland Raiders Starting Quaterback?

Carson Palmer stunk up the place last Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs as he came on in relief of Kyle Boller, who was also stinking up the place, as both passers were picked off three times each. 

There have been no concrete reports of the Oakland Raiders' officially naming Palmer as the team's starting quarterback—as he hardly knows the playbook, according to sources. 

Oakland's bye week comes at a perfect time, as they'll have ample amount of time to get Palmer adjusted to Oakland's offensive system. 

Can the Philadelphia Eagles Get Their Second Divisional Win Against Dallas?

This is going to be a major test for both teams: the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. 

For the Eagles, they're entering Week 8 coming off of a bye with a putrid 2-4 record as the Cowboys are 3-3. 

This is going to be a very good measuring stick for both teams to see who actually can compete with the New York Giants for the NFC East divisional title this season.

Who do you think will escape with the victory this upcoming Sunday? 

Will Andre Johnson Play Against the Jacksonville Jaguars?

Matt Schaub is nothing without Andre Johnson—that may be a little too bold, but it's pretty accurate. Johnson is the juice that pumps Houston's passing attack. 

The latest on Johnson is that "he will may not play Week 8," according to Rotoworld.com. 

It's safe to expect more detailed news moving forward in the week. 

Will Any Team Sign Terrell Owens?

Terrell Owens will go down as one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history, but will anyone team take a shot on him?

T.O. is currently coming off a major injury (ACL surgery) and is reportedly holding an open workout this Tuesday for all NFL teams to come and evaluate Owens' situation.

Do you think that T.O. will be signed by the start of a game this week? If so, which team? 

How Much Longer Until Tony Sparano Is Fired?

How long will Tony Sparano remain head coach of the Miami Dolphins? You'd think that the Dolphins could have fired Sparano much earlier, as the team is now 0-6. 

However, according to the Washington Post, Sparano's job actually appears safe for now. 

My question to you is: How much longer until Sparano is fired? I'm going to say a few more losses and then he's out of South Beach. 

Will Sam Bradford Play Sunday Against the New Orleans Saints?

Believe it or not, but Sam Bradford wasn't all that missed in the St. Louis Rams' loss against the Dallas Cowboys. 

The Rams' backup, A.J. Feeley, actually performed fairly well, as he completed 60.6 percent of his passes for 196 yards but was picked off once. But in reality, Feeley's numbers weren't as bad as Bradford's season average of a 53.1 completion percentage.

According to Rotoworld.com, Bradford's status for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints is unclear. 

Should the Rams even start Bradford this Sunday and risk further injuring his sprained ankle? 

Are the Buffalo Bills Pretenders or Contenders?

This question will certainly be answered a bit this Sunday as the Buffalo Bills will square off against the Washington Redskins. 

In fact, this is a meaningful game for both teams, as both are on the bubble of being either a contender or a pretender.

The Bills will enter Sunday's game with a 4-2 record after coming off of a bye and still have yet to be deemed a contender. 

Is Tim Tebow a Legitimate Starting Quarterback?

This is a question that cannot be answered until Tim Tebow actually plays a handful of games. 

So far, he's proven that he's clutch and a winner, but his stats have been rather ugly. 

However, I will say one thing, Tebow is winning games and he is performing to the best of his abilities when his team needs him the most. 

Will Tony Romo and Dallas' Offense Continue Their Success in Philly?

Tony Romo, DeMarco Murray and the Dallas Cowboys simply rolled over the St. Louis Rams last week with a 34-7 victory.

Dallas' offense has been pretty solid this season, but at times it's struggled.

This week is a very crucial game for both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cowboys, and it's going to be very interesting to see how well Dallas' offense plays against a struggling Eagles' defense. 

Will Peyton Hillis Play for the Cleveland Browns?

I actually do believe in the Madden cover curse, as Peyton Hillis has had a terrible season thus far. 

Entering Week 8, according to sources, Hillis' status is unclear but his hamstring injury is being deemed as day-to-day. 

This has been a very disappointing season for Hillis, as he's only played in four games and has only accumulated 211 yards. 

How Many Teams Will Still Remain Winless Following Week 8?

Well, the only winless teams remaining right now are the Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams and the Indianapolis Colts. 

Who do I think will lose yet again this weekend? Quite frankly, all of them. 

All three teams are all in it to win the "Suck for Luck" sweepstakes. 

How Many Points Will the New Orleans Saints Score on the St. Louis Rams?

If the New Orleans Saints can score 62 points against the Indianapolis Colts, and the Dallas Cowboys can score 34 points against the St. Louis Rams, then how many will New Orleans score against St. Louis? 

The Saints offense is virtually unstoppable right now, and I do not see any chance of the Rams' putrid defense actually slowing down Drew Brees and his high-flying passing attack.