NFL 2017 Week 8 Preview

NFL 2017 Week 8 Preview

NFL heads towards halfway point as Week 8 approaches. Here's a preview of key games in Week 8 and what to look for.

The NFL season is nearing the halfway point and the standings remain close.

Through the first seven weeks, 26 teams have at least three wins. Leading the way are six clubs with at least five victories: Philadelphia (6-1), Kansas City (5-2), the Los Angeles Rams (5-2), Minnesota (5-2), New England (5-2) and Pittsburgh (5-2). Since 1990, when the current 12-team playoff format was adopted, nearly 80 percent (197 of 247) of the previous teams to start 5-2 or better advanced to the playoffs.

Entering Week 8, there are 20 teams with a .500 or better winning percentage and 14 clubs with a winning record. Since 1990, 285 of the NFL's 324 playoff teams (88 percent) had a winning record through seven games.

But nothing is a given in the NFL.

There have been 39 teams since 1990 which had a .500 or lower record after seven games to advance to the postseason. That includes five teams over the past two seasons: Houston (2-5), Kansas City (2-5), Seattle (3-4) and Washington (3-4) in 2015 and Miami (3-4) last year.

Week 8 begins on Thursday night with the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Miami Dolphins (8:25 PM ET, CBS/NFL Network/ Amazon Prime). The action continues "across the pond" on Sunday morning (9:30 AM ET, NFL Network) when the Minnesota Vikings face the Cleveland Browns in London. The game marks the fourth and final 2017 London Series game and the second consecutive week Twickenham Stadium -- the home of England Rugby -- will host an NFL contest.

The week concludes with a pair of primetime contests as the Detroit Lions host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night (8:30 PM ET, NBC) and the Denver Broncos visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night (8:30 PM ET, ESPN) in a showdown between AFC West rivals. Some of the other key games in Week 8:

Los Angeles Chargers (3-4) at New England Patriots (5-2)

(Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)

The Chargers have won three consecutive games, including last week's 21-0 victory over Denver. Los Angeles limited the Broncos to 251 total net yards and became the first team to shutout Denver since November 22, 1992.

Wide receiver TRAVIS BENJAMIN returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown and added a 42-yard touchdown reception from quarterback PHILIP RIVERS in the Chargers' victory over Denver. Benjamin is the first Charger to have a punt-return touchdown and a TD reception in the same game since ERIC METCALF on November 30, 1997.

The Patriots have won three games in a row, including a 23-7 win over Atlanta on Sunday night in a rematch of Super Bowl LI. Quarterback TOM BRADY threw two touchdown passes -- one each to wide receiver BRANDIN COOKS and running back JAMES WHITE -- to lead the Patriots past the Falcons for the second time in eight months.

Brady leads the NFL with 2,208 passing yards and is tied for the AFC lead with 15 touchdown passes. He is the first player to pass for at least 2,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in his team's first seven games at the age of 40 or older.

Chicago Bears (3-4) at New Orleans Saints (4-2)

(Sunday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)

Bears rookie safety EDDIE JACKSON had a 76-yard interception-return touchdown and a 75-yard fumble-return touchdown in last week's 17-3 win against Carolina. Jackson is the first player in NFL history to score multiple 75+ yard defensive touchdowns in a single game. He is also the only rookie in league annals to score multiple 75+ yard defensive touchdowns in an entire season.

Chicago has scored three defensive touchdowns of at least 75 yards in the past two games. In addition to Jackson's two scores, safety ADRIAN AMOS had a 90-yard interception-return touchdown in Week 6 at Baltimore.

The Saints have won four consecutive games and sit atop the NFC South with a 4-2 record. Last week, New Orleans knocked off Green Bay 26-17 at Lambeau Field.

In the win against the Packers, quarterback DREW BREES threw the 500th touchdown pass of his career (including the postseason). Brees, who has 476 touchdown passes in the regular season and 24 in the postseason, became the fourth player in NFL history to throw 500 career touchdown passes, joining PEYTON MANNING (579), Pro Football Hall of Famer BRETT FAVRE (552) and TOM BRADY (534).

Houston Texans (3-3) at Seattle Seahawks (4-2)

(Sunday, CBS, 4:05 PM ET)

The Texans had a bye last week following a 33-17 win over Cleveland in Week 6. Houston has scored at least 30 points in four consecutive games and since Week 3, the Texans are averaging an NFL-best 39.3 points per game.

Quarterback DESHAUN WATSON ties for the AFC lead with 15 touchdown passes, the most ever by a rookie in his team's first six games of a season. Watson has thrown at least three touchdown passes in three consecutive games and is the first rookie in NFL history to accomplish the feat. Watson has 12 passing touchdowns in the past three games, the most ever by a rookie in any three-game span.

Seattle has won three consecutive games, including last week's 24-7 win at the New York Giants. Quarterback RUSSELL WILSON passed for 334 yards and three touchdowns in the victory as he completed a pass to 11 different receivers. Wide receiver DOUG BALDWIN led the way with nine catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.

Wilson has 30 career games with multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions, the most such performances by a quarterback in his first six seasons.

Dallas Cowboys (3-3) at Washington Redskins (3-3)

(Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)

The Cowboys defeated the 49ers 40-10 last week in San Francisco to even the team's record at 3-3. Quarterback DAK PRESCOTT threw three touchdown passes and rushed for one score while running back EZEKIEL ELLIOTT racked up 219 scrimmage yards (147 rushing, 72 receiving) and three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving).

Prescott, who is currently in his second season, has seven career games with at least three touchdown passes with one or zero interceptions. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (nine) had more such games in a player's first two seasons.

Washington quarterback KIRK COUSINS leads the NFC with a 107.2 passer rating and 8.27 yards-per-pass average. He has passed for at least 300 yards in three of his past four games and has thrown multiple touchdown passes in each of his past four games.

Running back CHRIS THOMPSON leads the Redskins in both receiving yards (366) and rushing yards (213). He is the only player in the NFL this season to lead his club in both categories.

Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) at Detroit Lions (3-3)

(Sunday, NBC, 8:30 PM ET)

The Steelers lead the AFC North and aim for their third win in a row. Last week, Pittsburgh defeated Cincinnati 29-14 as quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER threw two touchdown passes and running back LE'VEON BELL racked up 192 scrimmage yards (134 rushing, 58 receiving).

Bell has amassed at least 190 scrimmage yards in each of the past two weeks and leads the NFL with three games with at least 185 scrimmage yards this season. No other player in the league has two such games.

The Lions had a bye in Week 7 and look to bounce back from their Week 6 loss in New Orleans. Detroit trailed by as many as 35 points in that contest but rallied to close within seven points in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback MATTHEW STAFFORD passed for 312 yards and three touchdowns against the Saints. Second-year defensive tackle A'SHAWN ROBINSON recorded his first career interception and returned it for a touchdown.

Denver Broncos (3-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)

(Monday, ESPN, 8:30 PM ET)

Denver running back JAMAAL CHARLES will face his former team for the first time. Charles played his first nine seasons (2008-16) with the Chiefs and is the franchise's all-time leading rusher (7,260 yards).

Broncos linebacker VON MILLER has eight sacks in his past six meetings against Kansas City. Since entering the league in 2011, Miller has 80.5 sacks, the most in the NFL during that span.

Kansas City rookie running back KAREEM HUNT leads the NFL in rushing yards (717) and scrimmage yards (1,002). Hunt is the first rookie in NFL history to gain at least 100 scrimmage yards in each of his team's first seven games and he joined Pro Football Hall of Famer ERIC DICKERSON (1,045 yards in 1983) as the only rookies to gain at least 1,000 scrimmage yards in his team's first seven games.

Chiefs quarterback ALEX SMITH leads the NFL with a 120.5 passer rating and 72.4 completion percentage. Smith is tied for the AFC lead with 15 touchdown passes and has not thrown an interception this season. He and MILT PLUM (1960 Cleveland) are the only players in NFL history to throw at least one touchdown pass without an interception in each of his team's first seven games of a season.

What to Look For

Drew Brees Complete Performance

New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES completed 27 of 38 passes (71.1 percent) for 331 yards and one touchdown in the Saints' 26-17 win at Green Bay in Week 7.

With 12 completions against the Bears, Brees, who has 5,988 career completions, would join Pro Football Hall of Famer BRETT FAVRE (6,300) and PEYTON MANNING (6,125) as the only players with at least 6,000 career completions in NFL history.

Brees, who will play in his 240th career game on Sunday, would reach 6,000 career completions in the fewest games in NFL history, surpassing Manning (259) and Favre (286).

 

Quarterbacks with the most completions in NFL history

 

Alex Smith's Clean Sheet

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback ALEX SMITH passed for 342 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions in the Chiefs' Week 7 loss to Oakland.

Smith, who has three games with at least 300 passing yards, three or more touchdown passes and no interceptions this season, can join TOM BRADY (2007) as the only players with four such games in his team's first eight games to start a season.

Smith, who has 15 touchdown passes and zero interceptions this season, has the fourth-most touchdown passes without an interception to start a season in the NFL history.

 

Most TD passes & 0 INTs to start a season

 

Jameis Winston On His Way

Tampa Bay quarterback JAMEIS WINSTON passed for 384 yards and three touchdowns in the Buccaneers' Week 7 loss at Buffalo.

Winston has 9,775 passing yards in 38 career games. With 225 passing yards against Carolina on Sunday, Winston would tie PEYTON MANNING (39 games) for the sixth-fewest games played to reach 10,000 career passing yards.

 

QBs to reach 10,000 career passing yards in the fewest games

 

Matthew Stafford: Passing for 200 Career TDs

Detroit Lions quarterback MATTHEW STAFFORD has passed for 12 touchdowns this season, including three in Week 6.

Stafford has 199 touchdown passes in 115 career games. With one touchdown pass against Pittsburgh on Sunday night, Stafford would tie TOM BRADY (116 games) for the fifth-fewest games played to reach 200 career touchdown passes.

 

QBs to to reach 200 career TD passes in the fewest games

 

Le'veon Bell: Racking Up The Yards

Pittsburgh Steelers running back LE'VEON BELL had 192 scrimmage yards (134 rushing, 58 receiving) in the Steelers' 29-14 win against Cincinnati in Week 7.

Bell, who ranks third in the NFL with 898 scrimmage yards this season, has 6,948 scrimmage yards in 54 career games. With 148 scrimmage yards on Sunday night against Detroit, he would surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer ERIC DICKERSON (7,095) for the most scrimmage yards in a player's first 55 career games.

 

Players with the most scrimmage yards in their first 55 games

 

Kareem Hunt: Ridiculous Rookie

Kansas City rookie running back KAREEM HUNT had 117 yards from scrimmage (87 rushing, 30 receiving) in the Chiefs' Week 7 game.

With 98 scrimmage yards against Denver on Monday Night Football, Hunt, who leads the NFL with 1,002 scrimmage yards, will become the fourth rookie in NFL history with at least 1,100 scrimmage yards in his team's first eight games of a season.

 

Most Scrimmage Yards by a Rookie in 1st 8 Games of a Season

 

Every Day Everson Griffen

Minnesota defensive end EVERSON GRIFFEN registered two sacks in the Vikings' 24-16 win over Baltimore in Week 7.

Griffen, who ranks third in the NFL with nine sacks, has recorded a sack in all seven of Minnesota's games this season. With a sack on Sunday against Cleveland at London's Twickenham Stadium, Griffen would become the third player to record a sack in each of his team's first eight games to start a season since the sack became an official statistic in 1982.

Chargers' Sack Attack

Los Angeles Chargers defensive ends MELVIN INGRAM and JOEY BOSA combined for three sacks in the team's 21-0 victory against Denver in Week 7.

Ingram, who has 8.5 sacks, and Bosa, who has 7.5 sacks, can become the fifth pair of teammates to each record at least nine sacks in their team's first eight games of a season since the sack became an official statistic in 1982.

 

Teammates to Each Record at least 9 Sacks (Team's 1st 8 Games)

 

Hauschka Goes The Distance

Buffalo Bills kicker STEPHEN HAUSCHKA made three field goals, including a 52-yarder, in the Bills' Week 7 win against Tampa Bay.

Hauschka, who has converted all five of his 50+ yard field goal attempts this season, has made each of the past 12 field goals of at least 50 yards he has attempted. If Hauschka converts his next 50+ yard attempt, he would set the NFL record for the most consecutive 50+ yard field goals made.

 

Most Consecutive Made Field Goals of at Least 50 Yards

 

NFL 2017 Week 8 Schedule

(All times local)

Byes: Arizona, Green Bay, Jacksonville, Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants, Tennessee

Thursday, October 26

Miami at Baltimore, 8:25 PM (CBS/NFLN/Amazon)

Sunday, October 29

Atlanta at New York Jets, 1:00 PM

San Francisco at Philadelphia, 1:00 PM

Carolina at Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM

Houston at Seattle, 1:05 PM

Minnesota at Cleveland (London), 1:30 PM

Dallas at Washington, 4:25 PM

Oakland at Buffalo, 1:00 PM

Indianapolis at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM

Los Angeles Chargers at New England, 1:00 PM

Chicago at New Orleans, 12:00 PM

Pittsburgh at Detroit, 8:30 PM (NBC)

Monday, October 30

Denver at Kansas City, 8:30 PM (ESPN)

 

NFL Football ...

 

SPORTS

BASEBALL | BASKETBALL | COLLEGES | FOOTBALL | GOLF | HOCKEY | OLYMPICS | SOCCER | TENNIS

 

 

NFL Super Bowl History

NFL Super Bowl History, Scores, Summaries & Super Bowl MVP Articles

NFL Football: "NFL 2017 Week 8 Preview"