The eighth week of the 2020 NFL Season is about to begin and as always there is a lot to see. These are the fine points of week 8.
10. It must be a close match
While on paper the Falcons-Panthers encounter is not very flashy, we can expect a close encounter: this year four of the Falcons’ six losses have been by seven points or less.
This is an excellent opportunity for the Panthers to exact revenge, as Atlanta has beaten them five of the last six meetings. The possible return of RB Christian McCaffrey would go a long way toward achieving that goal.
9. Tua’s debut
In something that had been announced since last week, Tua Tagovalioa will be the starting QB for the Dolphins for their meeting with the Rams, and that generates a lot of excitement, but things will not be easy for the young Miami QB. The rookie QBs are 0-5 against the Rams since 2014, and in fact the last rookie QB to beat the Rams was Russell Wilson, who beat them in Week 17 of the 2021 NFL Season.
One point to consider is the Rams’ good work on defense, as they have allowed 25 points or less in six of their seven meetings this year. That’s the highest number in the NFL this year, so the challenge for Tua and the rest of the Dolphins offense is great.
8. The twenty point barrier
The game between Chiefs and Jets is striking because it is not very common to find a team that plays so well against such a weak opponent. And there are some things to go on here, starting with Le’Veon Bell’s reunion with Adam Gase.
And then there is the issue of the twenty points. Turns out this year the Jets have scored less than that in six of seven games, the most games like that this season. And conveniently, the Chiefs have allowed those same points or fewer from their opponents in six of seven games this season. So one thing seems almost certain this week: The Jets aren’t going to pass 20 points.
7. By different directions
The game between Chargers and Broncos brings us a duel of quarterbacks who are at very different points in their young careers. While Justin Herbert has become one of the sensations of the season with his 308.4 yards per game with 12 TD passes and just four interceptions, Drew Lock comes in with very different results.
Lock is throwing 169.8 yards per game with just one touchdown pass for four interceptions. Worst of all, he’s thrown more interceptions in his two most recent games (4) than he had in his first seven games as a professional (3). If Lock can’t improve his numbers, the Broncos will have to look for other options at the position.
6. Will it be good for Buffalo?
We all know the Bills are the favorites to win the AFC East, but there’s something they need to do to truly establish themselves as the favorites: beat the Patriots. For now the numbers are not on your side.
New England is 35-5 against the Bills in the Belichick era. That’s the highest winning percentage (0.875) for any team against an opponent in that span (counting at least ten games). And the Bills, on top of it all, have been in trouble facing recently successful teams. In the 2020 NFL season they are 5-0 against teams that did not make the playoffs last season, while against opponents that did reach the postseason in 2019 they are 0-2. If a team needs a win this week, it’s the Bills.
The 10 Fine Points from Week 8 – 2020 NFL Season continued on the next page.
