Top 5 NFL Games to Watch in Week 8
5 NFL Games You Can't Miss in Week 8
As we near the midway point of the NFL season, teams that once looked like contenders aren't so hot now while some teams that struggled early suddenly are opening eyes around the league. Take the Carolina Panthers, for example: After their Thursday night win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the cats are now above .500 for the first time since 2008. Who says Cam Newton can't win games?
Seriously, though, the playoff race is filled with teams that thought they'd be a lot further above .500 at this point, which has them playing desperate a lot earlier than expected. That makes their fans nervous, but it's great for the rest of us because it creates great football games for us to watch.
In Week 8, you've got division rivalries, coaches facing their former teams and historical shootouts just waiting to happen. Those are just a few reasons why we love the NFL, right?
That leads to some interesting matchups in Week 8. Here are the top five games to watch this weekend:
5. Dolphins at Patriots
The Dolphins at the Patriots offers two AFC East rivals that are both trying to stay in the playoff race. Miami has lost three straight while New England is coming off a surprising loss to the Jets, so anything could happen in this one.
4. Packers at Vikings
The Packers at the Vikings may look like a blowout on paper, but Green Bay is riddled with injuries and Minnesota has Christian Ponder back under center, which was the case when the Vikes beat the Pack at home last year. Don't be surprised to see this one go down to the wire.
3. Jets at Bengals
The Jets at the Bengals is very intriguing because both teams are suddenly on upticks, so both are out to prove they're legit playoff contenders. Look for a classic youthful quarterback battle between Andy Dalton and Geno Smith.
2. Redskins at Broncos
The Redskins at the Broncos is interesting because the two quarterbacks in this one are polar opposites, yet both offenses can put up points in a hurry. If you want to see touchdowns scored in a variety of ways, don't miss this one.
1. Cowboys at Lions
The Cowboys at the Lions is our game of the week because both teams are 4-3 and on the verge of becoming true NFC playoff contenders. The loser of this game will suffer a major setback in the postseason race, so expect a high-scoring affair and an intriguing personal battle between Calvin Johnson and Dez Bryant. In other words, this is the one game you have to see in Week 8.
