NFL Tips & Preview – Week 8

The weekly preview runs into the endzone with NFL tips for the eight standout fixtures of Week 8, getting underway with a huge showdown between the Cardinals and Packers. 

History: Played 75: Packers 45 V Cardinals 26 (4 Ties)

Last meeting: December 2, 2018: Cardinals 20 d Packers 17 at Lambeau Field

Final Thoughts: In a round short on marquee match-ups, Week 8 gets off the mark with an absolute belter. Green Bay Packers, who are on a six-match winning streak, host the only unbeaten team in the NFL, Arizona Cardinals.

The Packers still look short of Super Bowl calibre despite their 6-1 record, however, capitalising on Washington’s poor red-zone execution in a 24-10 win last week. Aaron Rodgers (27/35, 274 yds, 3 TDs) was superb, but Green Bay was massively outgained. Davante Adams is doubtful and Allen Lazard is a confirmed out after both were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Cardinals rolled on with a 31-5 rout of the battling Texans in Week 7, with MVP contender Kyler Murray taking his season TD tally to 17 courtesy of three touchdown passes. Five of Arizona’s wins have come by 12 points or more, while only two teams in the league have conceded less points.

The Cardinals have won four of their last five against the Packers, including the last three encounters in Phoenix. The hosts are hot $1.35 favourites here and should get the job done, though Rodgers and a high-performing Packers secondary will likely keep it close.

Tip: Margin – Cardinals 1-13 @ $2.43

History: Played 52: Falcons 33 V Panthers 19

Last meeting: October 29, 2020: Falcons 25 d Panthers 19 at Bank of America Stadium

Final Thoughts: The 3-3 Atlanta Falcons and 3-4 Carolina Panthers are striving to stay relevant in the NFC South, which also includes in-form Tampa Bay and New Orleans.

The rivals are trending in opposite directions, though, with the Falcons chalking up wins over the Jets (27-20) and Dolphins (30-28) – admittedly, not the strongest teams in the league – either side of their Week 6 bye.

After a 3-0 start, the Panthers are now on a four-match losing streak – culminating in a horrific 25-3 defeat to the Giants in Week 7. Matt Rhule continues to put his faith in QB Sam Darnold, who has throw more interceptions than touchdowns. The Panthers haven’t won since star running back Christian McCafferey broke down with injury.

The Falcons have won nine of the last 11 clashes between the teams. Last season the Panthers grabbed a 23-16 victory in Atlanta, before the Falcons turned the tables 25-17 in Charlotte.

Atlanta are quite setting the NFL alight, but Matt Ryan is in strong enough form to lead them to victory over clueless Carolina.

Tip: Handicap – Falcons -3.5 @ $2.04

History: Played 139: Steelers 77 V Browns 61 (1 Tie)

Last meeting: January 10, 2021 (AFC Wild Card Game): Browns 48 d Steelers 37 at Heinz Field

Final Thoughts: This shapes as one of the fascinating AFC North’s most pivotal 2021 clashes. Chasing the 5-2 Bengals and Ravens, the 4-2 Browns and 3-3 Steelers lock horns in Cleveland.

The Browns bounced back from a tough fortnight at the hands of the heavyweight Chargers and Cardinals with a much-needed 17-14 win over the Broncos in Week 7. Case Keenum (21/33, 199 yds, 1 TD) did what was required in his first start in the place of Baker Mayfield, who has declared a return from a shoulder injury is a possibility as soon as this week.

Following three straight defeats, the Steelers have regrouped with back-to-back wins over the Broncos (27-19) and Seahawks (23-20) – the latter in overtime – before enjoying the bye last week. Taking the leap from mid-level team to division title contender will require more from Ben Roethlisberger, but gun defender TJ Watt and rookie running back Najee Harris give Pittsburgh plenty of grunt on both sides of the ball.

After winning just five of the teams’ previous 34 encounters, the Browns notched back-to-back victories over the Steelers for the first time since 1999-2000 last season. The Browns were pumped 38-3 in Pittsburgh but responded with a 24-22 win at home in the last regular-season round, before taking out a 48-37 Wild Card shootout at Heinz Field a week later.

I’m leaning towards the $1.54 favourite Browns at home, but buckle up for a tight one.

Tip: Tri-Bet – Either Team by 7 or Less @ $2.00

History: Played 54: Colts 35 V Titans 19

Last meeting: September 26, 2021: Titans 25 d Colts 16 at Nissan Stadium

Final Thoughts: Another divisional derby, this time at the top of the AFC South. The 5-2 Tennessee Titans have a handy lead and have won three straight, but the 3-4 Indianapolis Colts are warming up courtesy of back-to-back victories.

The Titans have put the league on notice in the past fortnight with wins over the Bills (34-31) and Chiefs (27-3) – a remarkable turnaround for a team that lost to the lowly Jets in Week 4. Offensive trio Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry and AJ Brown toyed with the Chiefs, while the Harold Landry-led defence dominated Patrick Mahomes and co. A real statement.

The Colts have rallied by defeating the Texans (31-3) and 49ers (30-18). After a rocky start in Indianapolis, Carson Wentz is beginning to thrive in the Colts’ QB role.

The Titans prevailed 25-16 when the teams met in Nashville in Week 3, with Tannehill and Henry leading the way. The Titans have also won their last two in Indianapolis and are hard to back against here, despite the Colts’ improvements since the rivals’ last meeting.

Tip: Margin – Titans 1-13 @ $2.84

History: Played 43: Patriots 26 V Chargers 15 (2 Ties)

Last meeting: December 6, 2020: Patriots 45 d Chargers 0 at SoFi Stadium

Final Thoughts: The 4-2 LA Chargers had the Week 7 bye to contemplate their 34-6 capitulation to the Ravens – easily the side’s worst display of the season. QB Justin Herbert, superb through most of the campaign, was as guilty as any Charger for the blowout.

It’s been a season with more downs than ups for the 3-4 New England Patriots, but they would have revelled in a 54-13 dismantling of the Jets last week with Mac Jones starring and Damien Harris and JJ Taylor rushing in two touchdowns apiece.

The Patriots have won 19 of their last 22 against the Chargers, including the last six straight. Last season the Pats romped to a 45-0 victory in LA on a tough day for Herbert.

But New England’s three wins in 2021 have come against the Jets (twice) and the even-worse Texans. The performance in Baltimore notwithstanding, the Chargers are a good team and will bounce back hard in this one.

Tip: Handicap – Chargers -5.5 @ $1.91

History: Played 59: Saints 37 V Buccaneers 22

Last meeting: January 17, 2021 (NFC Divisional Playoff Game): Buccaneers 30 d Saints 22 at Mercedes-Benz Superdome

Final thoughts: A big NFC South battle as the marauding Tampa Bay Buccaneers search for their fifth straight win and New Orleans Saints chase three in a row.

The 4-2 Saints bookended their Week 6 bye with wins over Washington (33-22) and the Seahawks (13-10). But their 2021 ceiling looks to be fairly low with the inconsistent Jameis Winston at quarterback; running back Alvin Kamara was their saviour in Seattle.

The 6-1 Buccaneers were in a mood last week, tearing apart the Bears 38-3 at home. Tom Brady threw for four touchdowns – picking up Mike Evans on three of them – while the Tampa defence terrorised Chicago QB Justin Fields, chalking up three interceptions and four sacks. The emphatic result came despite the absence of Rob Gronkowski and Antonio Brown, with ‘Gronk’ a chance of returning this week.

The Bucs’ 30-20 Divisional Playoff victory last season snapped a five-match losing streak in the rivalry. The Saints won the 2020 regular season showdowns 34-23 at home and 38-3 in Tampa.

While the defending champs have routinely thrashed teams at home, their three road trips have resulted in a loss to the Rams and narrow wins over the Patriots and Eagles. Nevertheless, I’m willing to take on this line.

Tip: Handicap – Buccaneers -5.5 @ $1.86

History: Played 32: Cowboys 17 V Vikings 15

Last meeting: November 22, 2020: Cowboys 31 d Vikings 28 at U.S. Bank Stadium

Final Thoughts: Dallas Cowboys arrive in Minneapolis off the bye and on a five-match winning streak with a big lead in the NFC East. Their overtime victory against the Patriots in Week 6 was soured somewhat by a late calf injury to in-form QB Dak Prescott, who is racing the clock to line up in this game.

The 3-3 Minnesota Vikings also had the bye last week on the back of an overtime win, outlasting the Panthers 34-28 on the road. Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins has an army of critics but he’s been superb this season.

The Cowboys took out a 31-28 victory over the Vikes in Minneapolis last season with Andy Dalton filling in for the injured Prescott.

With Prescott’s availability – and how close to full fitness he is if he does play – the wildcard, I’ll side with the Vikings as the slight underdog at home.

Tip: Result – Vikings @ $2.08

History: Played 14: Giants 11 V Chiefs 3

Last meeting: November 19, 2017: Giants 12 d Chiefs 9 (OT) at MetLife Stadium

Final Thoughts: Kansas City Chiefs are at another crossroads after their second heavy defeat in the space of three games. The heavyweights bounced back from a 38-20 loss to the Bills with an 18-point victory over Washington, but the 3-4 looked more vulnerable than have in years as they slumped to a 27-3 defeat in Tennessee.

The defence had no answer for Tannehill, Henry and co., while the offence posted less than 10 points for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era.

The 2-5 Giants are coming off a 25-3 beatdown of the spiralling Panthers, with Daniel Jones producing a performance that suggested he may be a QB worth sticking with after all for the rebuilding team.

The Chiefs’ season is on the brink, but they have comfortably accounted for the only teams they’ve played so far who currently have a losing record – the Eagles and Washington. Count on Mahomes and the Chiefs making it a third double-digit victory over an NFC East struggler.

Tip: Handicap – Chiefs -9.5 @ $1.90