I suppose that if there is one word to properly describe this past weekend in the NFL, it would have to be…appropriate. Because in so many ways, and perhaps for the first time this year, everything went as expected. Bad teams lost badly. Great teams rose to the occasion and week by week, the NFL Playoff Picture is getting clearer, and regardless of the fact that things are seemingly getting back to normal, there’s still plenty to discover about our favorite teams and here is what we learned from Week 8 in the NFL.
 
The San Francisco 49ers are dedicated to winning after all.
When a team goes 0-8, whether a franchise likes it or not, their fans question the team’s desire to win and I’m fairly certain that every single Niners fan in the bay area is wondering if their franchise is dedicated to success as of late. But late Monday night, we saw Rookie General Manager John Lynch make quite the savvy set of moves in order to help his team finally secure that elusive first win of the season by releasing QB Brian Hoyer, shortly after acquiring QB Jimmy Garoppolo from the Patriots. It shows that Lynch fully understands the need to have a seasoned veteran and leader at the helm and there’s a fair chance this trade will indeed help the Niners get their season back on track and most importantly…it’s obvious that Mister Lynch will do whatever he must to help his team succeed.
 
The Denver Broncos inability to change may cost them a shot at the playoffs.
What matters most in the NFL is how teams adapt and change once other squads have figured them out or when something just isn’t clicking and well, the Denver Broncos seem incapable of making any critical changes to their team in order to win right now. Trevor Siemian is downright awful at quarterback, yet, week in and week out, he stays in the game. Menelik Watson is a liability at right tackle, yet, he too is in the game when he’s healthy and after another embarrassing loss, this time to the Kansas City Chiefs, if Denver doesn’t do something drastic at both of those positions to get a spark going on this offense, there’s a fair chance the season will slip away. But the big question on everyone’s mind right now is…will Head Coach Vance Joseph make the necessary changes? I honestly don’t know at this point, but I do hope everyone in the Broncos front office finally sees that their ‘franchise QB’ is anything but and do what they must to get this team back on track.
 
The only thing holding back the Houston Texans from success, is their defense.
Man, the Houston Texans offense is a sight to behold. They can quite literally score at will all from a flick of the wrist from QB Deshaun Watson and considering how many points they put up per game, one has to wonder, why on earth is this team’s record so bad? Well, that’s easy, because their defense is downright awful. They simply cannot stop anyone in the secondary, and it’s costing them game after game. Which is why it should come as no surprise that Houston made a trade with Seattle for CB Jeremy Lane in the hopes of bolstering their secondary and if Jeremy is the missing piece needed for this ailing D, expect the Texans to start winning games left and right.
 
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are quite the disappointment this year.
It’s been a weird season in Tampa Bay. After all, they have a dynamic young quarterback with endless potential in Jameis Winston. He has all the weapons he needs on offense and they even added a bonus target in DeSean Jackson in the offseason and their defense is well known for playing stout football…so what the heck happened to this team? They should not be 2-5 and in the basement of the NFC South, but they are, and quite frankly, they’re a team that just isn’t executing. It just seems like week in and week out they’re not disciplined or ready for their opponents and that my friends, falls upon the coaches. So, if the Bucs want to salvage their dismal season and end it on a high note, the time has come for the coaching staff to focus on fundamentals and start building some confidence in these players, something that they desperately need right now.
 
It is time to take the Buffalo Bills seriously as a contender.
I think it’s safe to assume that many of us wrote Buffalo off as a proverbial loser for the 2017 season and with good reason. They haven’t been anything special for quite some time now, so why expect anything different this year? Well, as it turns out, the Buffalo Bills have forced me to eat a little crow because wow, is this team impressive. They’ve hung with some great teams and won games they normally would have lost and considering the fact that they’re 5-2 and a game behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East, it’s high time for myself and football fans everywhere to tip their cap in respect toward the Bills, because they’re a legitimate playoff contender and they’ve earned every ounce of success they’ve enjoyed this season.   

For every team out there, whose fate for 2017 has more or less been decided, there are plenty of other teams still fighting to see how their year is going to turn out. Some were written off and left for dead, but a recent surge has brought them back into the limelight as they put together win after win, and some teams, are reeling from the fact that their season has been anything but easy when they know they should be winning more games than their record reflects and really, that's what we are going to be focusing upon today, games featuring teams that are doing their damndest to keep their heads above water or keep the streak alive as we barrel toward the playoff race. 

It's quite amazing when you look at the records of both of these teams since they in essence started off the 2017 season as downright losers. Yet, here we are, with a Saints team that continues to impress and a Chicago defensive squad that is carrying their team and really, it's that Bears defense that is making this game so completely fascinating, because this game is going to show all of us, just how good they really are. After all, they're going up against QB Drew Brees, a savvy veteran who has quite frankly, seen it all during his time in the league and well, if they can figure out how to slow his prolific offense down, then we'll know this defense is for real and able to make miracles happen on the field, but in reality, I get the feeling Brees is going to make life rough for the Bears as he uses his extensive knowledge to expose Chicago's weaknesses and exploit them to the fullest.

On paper, this game looks like a stone cold beatdown for the Chargers simply because that's usually how it goes for teams that are under .500 when they face New England, but this game...well this game could be something special. Because in reality, the Patriots have only faced real adversity twice this season, which is reflected in their record, and they are facing off against a Los Angeles squad that quite frankly, is about as fearless as they come. They beat the Raiders handily, and they shut out the Denver Broncos, so you know they're chomping at the bit to make Brady and his boys their next victim, and if they follow the blueprint that Carolina and Kansas City used to beat them to a tee, expect them to walk out of Foxboro with another big time win under their belt.

Let's go ahead and just get this out in the open right now; the Atlanta Falcons are not a mentally tough team. They fold when it comes to adversity, they panic when they don't have the lead and if you don't believe me...just take a look at their last two games, wherein they lost to the Miami Dolphins and they embarrassed themselves in their Super Bowl LI rematch with the New England Patriots. Which means that this once proud NFC Champion is at a crossroads where they can either get their heads out of the clouds and start playing some football, or watch their season slip away and what's terrifying, there's a possibility the New York Jets could help with the latter of those two options. While the Jets aren't exactly tearing up the NFL right now, they're a scrappy squad and they've challenged great teams all season long, so really...this is Atlanta's game to lose, it's simply a matter of which Falcons team shows up to play on Sunday. 

Really, there's one team that every football fan is going to be keeping a close eye upon when it comes to this game and that's the Denver Broncos. Sure, the Chiefs have dropped a couple of games this year, but no one is questioning whether or not they're a good football team like so many others are when it comes to the Broncos and well, everyone out there, the players in Denver included, know they stink on offense, and know exactly what's wrong when it comes to their play on that side of the ball, the question is...will the Broncos do anything to change it? We find out come Monday night, but my hope is, that a few leaders emerge on the offense during this time of crisis and demand more from their fellow teammates and also...that they start running the ball instead of relying on the passing game. But in all honesty, I get a bad feeling it's going to be business as usual for the offense in Denver but who knows...maybe fans in the Mile High City will be in a pleasant Halloween surprise.

Here we are at last, the mid point (for the most part) of the NFL season. It is here that truly the cream rises to the top as teams that are enjoying a solid win and loss record play all that much harder to pad the win column in order to make life easy once the playoff race gets underway and for teams on the bubble, well this is where they sink or swim when it comes to their tumultuous season. Regardless of where your team stands when it comes to that midseason push, we should be in for some incredibly fascinating games this weekend, ones filled to the brim with captivating stories and here are the top ones that we will be keeping an eye upon in Week 8. 

The Los Angeles Chargers might give the Patriots a run for their money.
I get the funny feeling there are a lot of smiling faces at practice when it comes to the Los Angeles Chargers. After all, they've won their last three games in a row, and two of those victories came about by beating two quality division rivals and come Sunday, they head into Foxboro to take on the Patriots and quite frankly, I think New England might be in for quite the challenge. The Chargers are playing some top notch football right now in just about every single phase of the game and if they can limit their mistakes and frustrate Brady on defense and score some points, there's a fair chance they can pull off the upset and win their fourth in a row. Either way, I get the feeling this game is going to be far closer than anyone anticipated and don't be shocked if Los Angeles stuns the Patriots and walks out of Foxboro with the win. 

The Denver Broncos are in a must win situation come Monday night. 
Normally, the 'do or die' games are saved for the end of the season when that final playoff spot is on the line. But the Denver Broncos are in that uncomfortable place right now, since they've lost two in a row in ugly fashion and losing another game to the number one team in the AFC West would be devastating to the future of their season. Which means, this game is going to test Denver's mettle, since it is a must win. They have to dig deep and figure out how to play at a high level on offense. The offensive line has to protect their quarterback and Trevor Siemian has to make the right reads in the pocket and the run game has to come to life, otherwise the Broncos will be on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff race.

Will the Atlanta Falcons rebound against the New York Jets? 
Clearly, the Falcons are a team that can play at a high level, but considering the fact that they blew another lead to the Miami Dolphins and out right fell to pieces facing the Patriots once again, this team needs a win and quick in order to get their heads back in the game. However, the big question hanging before them is whether or not they can rebound against the New York Jets this weekend simply because, New York is far better than people are giving them credit this year. They can hang with teams, and they can score big and considering how fragile Atlanta's psyche is right now, if the Jets put up a fight, there's a chance Atlanta will make some silly mistakes and lose the game. Really the best way for this team to snap out of their funk, is to just pour it on offensively to the point where the Jets cannot recover and if they cannot do that...the downward spiral they are currently in will continue. 

The Chicago defense may need to carry their team again this week.
It wasn't that long ago, two years in fact, that we were talking about a specific defense that was carrying its team week in and week out by way of the Denver Broncos and it would seem that kind of talk may be starting again thanks to the Chicago Bears. Because last week, the young and stout Bears defense stunned the high powered Carolina Panthers by shutting them down before scoring a majority of the points in order to secure the win and well...there's a good chance they'll have the opportunity to turn in another legendary performance come Sunday. Because the New Orleans defense will no doubt do everything in their power to confuse young rookie QB Mitch Trubisky, so if the Chicago D can slow down Drew Brees and force some turnovers, and score as well because...why not? They'll be the toast of the Windy City once again. 

The Dallas Cowboys could be walking into a trap game against Washington. 
The Cowboys certainly enjoyed one hell of a tune up game against the 49ers last week, and you know a solid and convincing blowout has their spirits soaring to the point where I'm certain they're walking into this week's game against the Redskins with plenty of confidence. But they need to check their puffed up chests at the door because Washington is highly underrated and are no doubt looking to surprise Dallas come Sunday, and that's a big deal since Dallas isn't exactly known for handling adversity well. So, if Dak Prescott and the offense can keep a level head when the Redskins defense attacks, the Cowboys have a shot at putting some points on the board and if the Dallas D contains Kirk Cousins and the potent Redskins offensive attack, then the Cowboys will leave FedEx Field with an important victory under their belts, but if old habits persist...the Redskins will use every opportunity to their advantage...

Boy, if I had to use a word to describe Week 7 in the NFL, it would have to be; brutal. Because not only did we bear witness to some ugly and devastating losses this past weekend, we also saw plenty of big names succumb to painful injuries, and while I'm sure that no doubt the sport and their respective teams will go on, that kind of brutality is just wild to see and it just goes to show that you never know what surprises the game will hold come Sunday. Either way, these incredible surprises made for some amazing stories and here is what we learned from one rollercoaster of a week in the NFL. 

The Kansas City Chiefs are far from invincible. 
Sure the best teams lose a game here and there, since it would seem that only the 1972 Miami Dolphins will ever understand football perfection. But to see a powerhouse team like the Kansas City Chiefs drop two in a row is stunning to say the least, but at least they did it in thrilling fashion by way of one of the finest Thursday Night Football games to date. But, once we get past that incredible finish, these past two games have in essence exposed the Chiefs secondary and all of its weaknesses and if Kansas City wants to get back to its winning ways, they have to get their corners and safeties to improve and fast. But either way, it is nice to know that after a 5-0 start that the Chiefs are still human after all, and even at their worst, they sure put on one hell of a show. 

The Denver Broncos are in need of an offensive makeover. 
The Broncos are making a nasty habit of losing to teams that they should beat or at least compete with and while there are a bevy of reasons as to why Denver has endured back to back embarrassments, it really comes down to one glaring issue...the offense is downright terrible. Which means that if the Broncos want to enjoy any measure of success, the front office needs to make some drastic changes to the offensive unit. First and foremost, the time has come to bench QB Trevor Siemian. Yes, I know Head Coach Vance Joseph said the team isn't making a change, but they need to regardless. He's simply not the right guy for the job in Denver and hopefully Vance starts to see this, and soon. Second, it's time to shake up the O line as well. LG Max Garcia is quite the liability and needs to sit, and RG Ron Leary should move back to the left side to fill that void and the team needs to promote Connor McGovern to start at Right Guard since he has shown that he can play at a high level. Last, the team needs to go all in on a big time trade for a RT until they can find a long term solution there and really...they need to make all of this happen as soon as possible, because with the Chiefs and the Eagles on the horizon, they can ill afford another loss as they try to head back to the Playoffs. 

The Bears defense is the biggest surprise of Week 7. 
The Chicago Bears don't have a lot to celebrate this year. They're playing from behind when it comes to their record, and the quarterback position has been an utter disaster any way you slice it. But all of that aside, holy cow, their defense is out of this world. This plucky unit utterly dismantled the offensive powerhouse that is the Carolina Panthers, only allowing three points on the board from the Panthers and the D carried the Bears to a win by scoring twice on defense with a single player since Eddie Jackson took a fumble and an interception to the house and made it look easy in doing so. Either way, the future looks incredibly bright for this defensive unit and I cannot wait to see what they accomplish in the coming weeks as they gain more confidence.

It may be time to hit the panic button in Green Bay. 
I think it's safe to assume that football fans everywhere expected Brett Hundley to perform at a decent level when he took the field on Sunday. After all, he had a full week to prepare with the first team offense, allowing for him to get into a rhythm and shake the nerves out when it comes to taking over the reins for a normally prolific offense and boy...was that assumption wrong. Hundley wasn't awful but he was far from impressive with a whopping 48% completion rate on the field and a late interception that stalled a comeback attempt and I hate to say it, but if this what the Packers are going to get from Hundley after him spending two years on the bench learning from one of the best...there's definitely just cause to hit the panic button because the season may now be in jeopardy for the Green Bay Packers. 

The Philadelphia Eagles are clearly the team to beat in the NFC. 
After having a full night to digest the Philadelphia Eagles' win over the Washington Redskins, the more I like what I see from Philly. Not only are they able to score at will on offense thanks to QB Carson Wentz and the bevy of weapons he has at his disposal, they're a tough team all around. They saw their star Right Tackle go down with what looks to be a nasty injury and they didn't miss a beat in his absence and to top it off, they weren't phased in the slightest by Washington's attempts to get into their head and when you mix quality play with that kind of mental toughness, you become the best team in your conference and that's precisely what they are and they have become the team to beat and their resolve will be tested from here on out as their opponents try to dethrone them and well...I wish them all the best of luck because this is a damn good football team. 

Judging from the wild game that took place on Thursday Night Football this week, there really is a sense of urgency permeating from some teams. They fully understand the magnitude of a loss since this season of football seems ultra competitive and they're willing to lay it all on the line for a victory and I get the feeling...that kind of play and determination is going to be completely on display come tomorrow and that's precisely what we are going to be looking at today; games with teams that still have something left to prove, and are determined to achieve their goals. So, without further ado, here are the most fascinating NFL games to keep an eye upon come tomorrow. 

The more I think about this game, the more excited I am to watch it. After all, New Orleans is suddenly resurgent, finding ways to score on both offense and defense and that big win over the Lions last week no doubt has them chomping at the bit to add another W to the Win column and who better to try and steal it from than an Aaron Rodgers-less Green Bay Packers? Speaking of the Pack, this game means plenty to them as well. Without their star quarterback at the helm, this team needs to prove to the league and themselves that they can win with anyone under center which means it will be up to the offensive line to protect their new quarterback and everyone else will need to execute as well to help his confidence so this team can keep their stellar start to the season going. Regardless, this should be a fun game to watch and if Brett Hundley can settle down this week, the score may be far closer than anticipated. 

I find the San Francisco 49ers to be a supremely fascinating football team. Because normally, when a team is 0-6, they tend to lose by A LOT of points on a regular basis. But San Fran keeps losing by a handful of points which means, they're a competitive team. They can score, they can ball, they simply struggle at finishing drives and games when they need to most and well, I have to wonder if this is the week when they finally put it all together. Because the Dallas Cowboys, while loaded to the brim with talent, are not a mentally tough team. They struggle when squads stand up to them on the field and well, they're going to be in for a fight when it comes to the Niners. Which means, that if the Cowboys once again fold and regress since San Francisco will be hungry for the win all game long, they'll more or less hand the 49ers their first win of the year. 

Let's be honest here, what truly makes this game fascinating, isn't the fact that it's an AFC West matchup between two teams that don't like one another. Nor is it a statement game for the Chargers since their season hasn't exactly turned out the way they wanted it to. This is about the Denver Broncos and how they will respond to their embarrassing loss to the New York Giants. The Broncos have to prove, to themselves above all else, that they are an elite football team and the only way to do that, is to come out and play some incredible football. The defense can't miss a beat against the Chargers this week, but the real weight of this game sits atop the shoulders of the offense. The line has to find a way to protect Trevor Siemian and get the run game going and most importantly, Siemian needs to show that he's progressed as a quarterback. No more staring down receivers or making panicked throws, he has to play at a high level and if the Broncos can finally put it all together, they'll most likely win but if the bad habits return...and Trevor turns in a terrible game, the discussion about making a change at quarterback in the Mile High City will only grow louder.

Any game where a pair of Super Bowl Teams come together for a rematch is always a special game indeed, but this particular one on Sunday Night seems to have an incredibly unique feel surrounding it. After all, these two teams took part in what many consider to be the greatest Super Bowl of all time and well, what makes this one so fascinating is that the outcome this time around could be vastly different, depending on how the Falcons handle their business. I say that simply because the New England Patriots are a different team this year, they're vulnerable on defense and several of their wins have come about thanks to their opponent's inability to execute. Which means that if Atlanta doesn't get overconfident, executes their game plan and disrupt Brady all night long, they can win this one, and put the past to bed and even if they don't, well I still think we are in for one heck of a high scoring affair since both of these teams are painfully talented on offense. Either way, this is going to be a fun one to watch.

Week 7 in the NFL signals something important for every team in the league, in that, the long haul of the NFL season is truly underway. Gone is the shine of a new season and all that remains is the remainder of the year and the grind that comes with it. It is this part of the season that helps everyone truly understand what their favorite team is made of because the teams that stick to their game plans, and execute week in and week out, find themselves in a wonderful place when the playoff race truly gets underway. Either way, this time of year brings forth some fascinating stories and here the ones we will be keeping an eye upon this weekend.

Will the Denver Broncos rebound from their embarrassing loss to the Giants this week?
Certain teams in the league come with certain expectations. There are those that you expect to play at a high level every single week, and then there are those you expect to make mistakes and lose and the Denver Broncos, fall into that first category and the Mile High City is still reeling from the fact that on Sunday Night they showed up looking a second tier team. Which means at this point, everyone is wondering exactly how will the Broncos respond to that shellacking and well, their play on the field come Sunday will tell us everything we need to know. If we see some stout defensive play and a balanced offensive game plan, then everything should be all right and honestly, that's what I'm expecting to see. Their loss to the Giants was a wonderful wakeup call and I fully expect this team to get back on track this weekend because they seem to finally understand that football fundamentals matter most and underestimating your opponent can and will backfire. 

How can Brett Hundley lead the Packers to further success? 
The backup quarterback is an incredibly important component to a team's continued success. Because when the unthinkable happens and your star goes down, they should be able to step in and keep the offense going without missing a beat. But...considering how rough Brett Hundley's performance was last week after he took over for an injured Aaron Rodgers, one has to wonder just how good of a job he'll do filling in #12 this week. But the good news for Hundley, is that he's going up against a New Orleans defense that surrendered 38 points to the Lions last week, and the bad news is...they also forced five turnovers in the game as well. Which means that in order for Hundley to be successful and build his confidence, he needs to settle down and limit his turnovers and if he can accomplish that...he should be able to lead the Packers to something they are quite accustomed to, a victory.

Will the Dallas Cowboys get their season back on track this weekend? 
Let's be honest, I don't think anyone saw the Dallas Cowboys season starting off quite like this. 3-2 honestly makes more sense for them than 2-3, yet...here we are, and while the Cowboys squad is clearly reeling from this surprising start, there's still plenty of time left to right the ship and winning does cure everything. So, is this the weekend when Dallas gets back on track with a decisive victory over the 49ers? Well the answer to that question is...maybe. The Cowboys are another team that believe heavily in their own hype over anything else and they're facing a Niners squad that keeps coming within a couple of points of a win, week in and week out. So...if the Cowboys went back to basics during their bye week, and worry about executing the next play when they take the field, they should be able to beat San Francisco handily, but don't be shocked if the Niners pull off the upset and secure their first win of the year...

Will the Atlanta Falcons emerge victorious from their Super Bowl LI Rematch?
When you think of the Falcons, two key things should come to mind...one, that they have a prolific offense that can achieve wonders on the field and two, they are really, really good at blowing big leads. We saw both of those elements come into play in the Super Bowl, and oddly enough, last week against Miami and you know it has to be on their minds as they take on the team that stunned them in the big one and well, the million dollar question in this game is simple, can they the beat Patriots? Honestly, I don't know. This team simply doesn't play well when their opponent socks them in the mouth, but there is a chance that Atlanta can exact a little payback. Because the Pats are a different team this year and vulnerable. So, if the Falcons can attack the Patriots passing game and contain Brady and keep the score high on their end, there's a chance they can secure the win but don't be surprised if the Patriots pull off another come from behind victory in this one. 

Will the Bears be able to put together a tiny win streak by beating the Panthers?
Okay, here me out here, because I know what you're thinking. Yes, I'm fully aware of the fact that the Panthers are 4-2 and that the Bears are 2-4. But, Chicago was a different team last week. Their run first mentality and solid performance from their rookie QB, helped lead them to an overtime win and well, that kind of win goes far confidence wise and there's a legitimate possibility that the Bears could surprise the Panthers this week, especially if they follow a similar game plan. Because the run game would wear down that vaunted Carolina defense, allowing for Trubisky to do his thing and put some points up in the end zone. Plus, if the defense can confuse Cam Newton with a few different looks and clamp down on his receivers, they have a chance to pull off the win. But more than likely Carolina will enjoy the victory in this one, but don't be surprised if the Bears keep it close, or shock the Panthers...

You know you're in for a good football season, when the unexpected becomes the norm and that's really the 2017 season in a nutshell. Nothing is going according to plan for some teams, and new heroes seem to be emerging every single week and it's making for some of the most exciting football in years. But most importantly, all of these wild games are teaching us some important things about our favorite teams and players and without further ado, here is what we learned from Week 6 in the NFL.
​

Deshaun Watson is the real deal in Houston. 
It's been a very, very, very long time since anyone has been able to speak positively about the quarterback position in Houston, but the times, they are a changing because Deshaun Watson is playing some lights out football for the Texans, and Sunday was no exception to that fact. Yes, I fully understand that he was facing the awful, awful Browns, but he didn't take his opponent for granted and played his hardest and thanks to his efforts, he led the Texans to a decisive blowout win, and he became the first rookie in NFL history to throw three touchdown passes in three consecutive games and when all is said done, it's quickly becoming clear that Watson is the QB Messiah that the fans in Houston have been waiting for and it's going to be a truly exciting season for the Texans with him at the helm.

The Green Bay Packers might be in some serious trouble.
Yes, I fully understand the fact that one man does not make a team, that it's 46 guys on game day working together to get the win. But not every team has the luxury of a perfect roster where the next man up can do the job as well the guy before him and some teams, do indeed have one player that makes a big time difference and in Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers is that guy and well...with the team looking at an extended absence for their star quarterback, their season could be in serious jeopardy simply because, Rodgers brings an incredible amount of leadership to that team. He inspires his teammates, he makes them believe they can achieve wonders and while I'm sure Brett Hundley is a capable NFL quarterback, if the rest of the team cannot step up and fill that leadership/inspirational void, and execute without #12, then the 2017 campaign may come to an ugly and early end for the Green Bay Packers. 

It looks the New Orleans Saints still have some fight left in them. 
The Saints are a team that few are talking about this season and there's good reason for that. For the past couple of years they've faded from the spotlight thanks to some awful defensive and offensive play, but Sunday...well on Sunday they surprised us all. Because as it turns out, the defense can still play, granted, letting 38 points happen on the field isn't exactly a stellar performance, but the fact that they forced five turnovers and scored on three of those overshadows that issue and the offense, well they did their part as well but what matters most is here, is that the Saints still have something left in the tank and after starting off the season with a couple of ugly losses, they're sitting pretty at 3-2 and may pose quite the threat as the season as the rolls on.  

The Denver Broncos need to get their head out of the clouds. 
Sometimes in the sports writing business, you have to eat a little crow and I enjoyed a hearty buffet of it on Sunday night when the Giants, a team that I expected to get beat and beat badly by the Denver Broncos...smacked the Broncos around. However, I thought the Giants would lose because of their decimated roster and because the Broncos would play lights out football and as it turns out, Denver made a series of critical mistakes on Sunday. They not only underestimated New York, they simply expected the win. It's not the first time we've seen that kind of entitlement this year, New England was guilty of the same thing in their season opener but man...this was somehow worse because the Broncos should have won this game and won it handily. Instead, they believed the hype, took this team for granted and here we are. So, here's to hoping the Broncos stop worrying about whether or not they're the underdog or the favorite and focus on their fundamentals and the game in front of them, otherwise, the three week road trip ahead of them is going to be quite the disaster.

Ben Roethlisberger still has what it takes to play at a high level. 
The best players out there, always find a way to dig deep and bring out the best in themselves when they face adversity and that's precisely what Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger did on Sunday. Coming off of arguably the worst game of his storied career, Big Ben settled down and delivered on offense, leading his team to a 19-13 victory over the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs. It wasn't the prettiest win by any means, Ben did throw an INT in the game as well, but the fact that he settled down, didn't fold under pressure and showed everyone in this league that he can still play at a high level is a big deal and hopefully seeing that their quarterback is still 'the guy' and beating the best team in the league will build some momentum and some confidence for this team.

One interesting side effect of a team not doing well in the NFL around this time of year, is that fans and writers and everyone in between in a way...forget about them. After all, this is a league and a sport that celebrates winners, and we tune in to be entertained and wowed and a losing team simply doesn't provide us with either of those things, and well, perhaps saying 'maybe next year' to these franchises isn't exactly a cruel thing. By stepping away from those games, we are treated to the cream of the crop, to teams that are hungry to compete and take their season as far as it can go and really, that's what we will be focusing on today, games that feature teams with everything to lose, and who will likely leave everything out on the field, so without further ado, here are the games we are keeping an eye upon come tomorrow. 

This game represents the old concept of an immovable object running into an unstoppable force, because the Minnesota Vikings have played some incredible defense all season long, limiting teams that are often able to score at will and the Green Bay Packers, well they love to put points on the board and that means we are in for one heck of a treat when it comes to this matchup. Expect the Minnesota defense to spend their day doing their best to contain Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense and if they take away the passing game, there's a chance they can pull off the win. However, let's never forget that Rodgers is one of the smartest quarterbacks in the league, and if he can find any weaknesses or opportunities in the Minnesota secondary, he will exploit them to the fullest. It's hard to say who will walk away the winner in this one, but I'm leaning toward Green Bay simply because Rodgers makes miracles happen on the field and I don't see that changing in this one.

Normally, this is a game that one would expect to be a disgusting and harrowing blowout where the Patriots emerge victorious. But this go round, it's safe to say that the Jets have a chance at winning this game and the formula for a W starts with going after Brady all day long. He was inaccurate against Tampa Bay last week as they brought non stop pressure his way. But to beat Brady and the boys, the other part of the formula is to put points on the board. The Bucs big mistake was letting opportunities in the Red Zone get away from them, but if the Jets can score big, and dump Brady onto the turf every single chance they get, they can accomplish something they yearn for every single year...they can beat the New England Patriots.

A year ago, this game would have been one to ignore because of how bad these teams were in 2016. But this year, they've both put on quite the show and come tomorrow...we are looking at one even matchup. After all, both teams feature dynamic running backs, and both of their game plans feature a heavy dose of pounding of the rock and ironically enough, both of their young quarterbacks are playing well under center and their defenses are playing stout. So, that really begs the question...who the heck is going to win this one? Well, I would venture to say that whichever team sticks to the run longer to wear out the defense and plays turnover free football will walk away the winner in this one, and don't be surprised if this particular game turns into quite the high scoring affair. 

Of all the games coming up tomorrow, this one honestly intrigues the most. Not because of how incredible the Chiefs are at this point, or how stout the Pittsburgh running game is on a regular basis. No, this game and all its mystery comes from one particular player; Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Because last week Ben turned in perhaps the worst game of his career, and even 'joked' about being washed up and well, how he responds here is going to say a lot about his future in the league. If Big Ben comes out and plays some incredible football, whether or not Pittsburgh wins, it will speak to the fact that the Steel City's franchise quarterback still has something left in the tank and is ready to continue to lead his team. But if he comes out and looks anything like he did last week, then we may be looking at the beginning of the end of his career in the NFL...

One thing that's always fascinated me about the NFL season as a whole, is that as the year rolls on, you can see the effects of winning and losing upon the players and coaches. Everyone involved in a win streak seems relaxed and joyful and it's quite the opposite when it comes to teams that are not as fortunate. You can see the worry and anxiety upon their faces and really, it's incredible to know that winning and losing means so much to so many and it makes for fascinating storylines as we watch the joy and the sorrow impact games week in and week out and with that in mind, here are the top stories from the field that we will be looking at this weekend.

Can the New York Giants accomplish anything positive against the Denver Broncos?
The New York Football Giants are truly a team in crisis mode. They've lost every big name wide receiver on the squad to injury and now there's trouble brewing in the locker room since CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has been suspended indefinitely after his little sideline scuff with his head coach and his decision to come and go as he pleases at team headquarters and really at this point, we're all wondering, are the Giants going to be able to do anything special in Denver this weekend? Or are they looking at a total meltdown and a devastating loss? Personally, I think it's doomsday for the Giants this weekend. Without any elite receivers on the offensive side of the ball, the No Fly Zone is going to have quite a day and with a defense that's clearly all over the place, Trevor Siemian and the Broncos offense should have no trouble doing their thing which means this game is going to get quite ugly for the Giants as their nightmare season continues. 

Will the Green Bay Packers keep their momentum rolling?
For the past two seasons, the Green Bay Packers have been a joy to watch on the field, simply because they are fearless in their play and use any and all momentum to their advantage to defeat their opponents and one has to wonder if they'll be able to keep that swagger and momentum going against the Minnesota Vikings. Because while the Vikings aren't exactly elite at this point, their defense is stout and incredibly stingy when they take the field and you know they're itching for an opportunity to slow down the Pack and steal a win from them. But considering how fearless Aaron Rodgers is when he takes the field, and that he will most likely figure out Minnesota's weaknesses quickly and exploit them all game long, I get the feeling Green Bay will once again wow the football world with some incredible play and walk out of Minnesota with another big win.

Can the Jets upset the New England Patriots?
The New York Jets have had quite the silent but respectable season. They're 3-2 overall and they've pulled off some solid wins. But their biggest test to date arrives this weekend with the arrival of the New England Patriots and while this game is normally a big L for the Jets, I'm starting to think they've got a shot at upsetting the defending Champions. I say that, simply because, the Pats looked rough on Thursday Night Football last week. The offensive line couldn't protect Brady in the slightest and really, had the Bucs found a way to score, there's a fair chance New England would have lost that game. Which means that the Jets are looking to pick up where Tampa Bay left off. So expect them to attack Brady all game long and do their best to get in the end zone, and don't be surprised if the 'unthinkable' happens and the Pats lose this game. 

Will Big Ben rebound against the Kansas City Chiefs?
I never thought I would see the day where we discussing the potential decline of QB Ben Roethlisberger but here we are ladies and gents. Because Big Ben threw five awful interceptions last week, and looked like he had given up in doing so and well...we've seen quarterbacks struggle going forward after games like that and one has wonder, will Ben regress after having such an awful day, or will he rebound against the Chiefs? Honestly, I'm not sure what to expect, because he's squaring off against the best team in the NFL right now and that defense will be fighting to replicate his game from last week, which means really, it's up to Big Ben to get his head on straight. He has to dig deep and shake off that ugly loss and honestly, if he is indeed doubting his skills and abilities and pondering upon retirement, then expect this matchup to end in ugly fashion.

Will Thursday Night Football deliver another exciting game? 
After years of enduring awful, awful games on Thursday Night, the last few weeks have proven to be quite the refreshing change of pace. We've seen far closer games and despite the slop play last week, the game was still filled with exciting moments and a potentially thrilling finish and of course, fans everywhere are wondering, is this all too good to be true? Can TNF continue to wow us? Well, time will tell when it comes to getting a solid answer to those questions, but tonight, I honestly think TNF is going to deliver another thriller. After all, you've got two 4-1 teams, and both of them are electric on offense which means we might be in for a big time shootout. So here's to hoping this game is as good as advertised and we get another amazing Thursday Night matchup.

Another week of football, another week filled to the brim with surprises and stunning finishes. Over the course of the weekend, we saw teams challenge titans, only to fall short in the waning moments of the game. We saw rookie heroes rise and fall and we even saw a solid veteran, who rarely falters, succumb to momentum and perhaps something more. Either way, it was another thrilling weekend of football, one that taught us plenty about our favorite teams and players and here is what we learned from Week 5 in the NFL. 

​Sunday's performance may have signaled the beginning of the end for Ben Roethlisberger.
It goes without saying that Big Ben is an elite quarterback and has accomplished wonders in this league, but every single player in this league unfortunately has a shelf life and one has to wonder, has Ben reached his expiration date? After all, his play on Sunday was downright atrocious as he threw for five interceptions, several of which were returned for touchdowns. But while quarterbacks can have bad days, there was something strange about Ben's collapse. He seemed lost on the field and lethargic in his play and he even fired off a glib remark about 'not having it anymore' in his press conference, something he quickly backtracked on and well...one has to wonder if he's right. Is his heart in the game anymore? Does he still have the physical skills to perform at a high level? Sadly only time will answer those questions, but Sunday's loss to the Jaguars was supremely ominous when it comes to Ben's career.

It's time for another ride on the Cleveland Browns Quarterback Carousel.
What's sad about the Browns, is that deep down, I want to see this team succeed. It's just pitiful to see them lose game after game, year after year and try so hard to improve the roster to finally put together some success and this year, I honestly had an inkling of hope that maybe, just maybe, the arrival of DeShone Kizer might be the start of something special. Yet, here we are again. The Browns are 0-5 and the savior under center saw himself benched on Sunday in favor of Kevin Hogan and well, who knows where they go from here. It really seemed as though Head Coach Hue Jackson was going to stick with the kid, let him take his lumps and hopefully seem him grow but with his job no doubt on the line soon, he did what he had to do and at this point, until ownership is willing to be patient, and willing to invest in top tier talent at all levels, football fans everywhere might as well settle in and enjoy the circus that is the Browns and watch as their Quarterback Carousel just keeps on spinning.

The time has come for the Miami Dolphins to bench Jay Cutler. 
Look, I get it. Cutler felt he had something left in the tank and wanted to prove to the football world they made a mistake in not signing him to a team in the offseason as their starter. But sometimes the football world gets things right, they believed Cutler was done and his play so far this season proves that he is. Sure he had some last minute heroics in Sunday's game, but for the most part in that matchup, he was awful and prior to that game, he's been awful and at this point, it's time to sit him down, let him collect his ten million dollars and start Matt Moore and let's be honest, Matt really is the better option at QB. He's proven himself to be solid off the bench, he has a wonderful grasp of Adam Gase's playbook, and he's a far more inspiring leader than a QB who stood on the field and did nothing during a wildcat play a few weeks ago.

Where do the New York Giants go from here? 
When you're 0-5 as a franchise, things are basically at their lowest. But believe it or not, it's possible for things to go from bad to worse in the NFL and for proof, look no further than the New York Giants. Because not only have they suffered heartbreaking loss after heartbreaking loss, they're now facing a medical crisis on the field since their top two receivers, Brandon Marshall and Odell Beckham Jr., are headed to injured reserve with ankle injuries, ending their season and decimating the offense and at this point, I think everyone is wondering how the Giants will recover from this kind of disaster. After all, the free agent market is thin this time of year so really...it's up to the backups and whomever else the Giants bring in to set up to the plate if New York wants to salvage their season and if the new guys can't perform, well, expect the Giants to target a big time receiver in the offseason by way of the draft, free agency or a trade, or all three so they can get back to their winning ways in 2018 and beyond.

The Kansas City Chiefs, are the real deal.
Around this time every year, we are left wondering as to whether or not the current undefeated teams are really as good as advertised and for proof as to why people doubt said teams, look no further than the 2016 Minnesota Vikings. But this year, well this year I'm quickly coming to realize that the Kansas City Chiefs are a damn good football team and they're going to be very hard to beat as the season rolls on. After all, great teams answer adversity and never crumble under pressure and that's the Chiefs in nutshell, because the Texans challenged them hard on Sunday Night Football and Kansas City remained calm throughout the game, and executed their game plan and the end result, is another win, a wonderful record and the knowledge that they can handle whatever their opponents throw at them.