​You know, the only word going through my mind right now when it comes to Week 8 in the NFL, is wow. Because this weekend was full of some incredible surprises, some record-breaking performances and some thrilling matchups. So, let’s waste zero time today and get down to recapping the top stories from the field and discussing what we learned from this weekend’s slate of games.
 
The New Orleans Saints are the real deal.
Let’s be honest, a lot of our attention this year has been focused upon the Chiefs and the Rams, because they are some dynamic and amazing teams to watch on Sundays. But one cannot forget about the New Orleans Saints, who have quietly put together a 6-1 record thanks to some powerhouse offense from Drew Brees and some surprisingly stout defense when the proverbial chips are down and well, after watching this team dismantle the Vikings in Minnesota, it’s high time we give this team the respect that they deserve. They’re for real, they’re a playoff contender and I expect them to continue their winning ways and potentially give the NFC’s elite a run for their money on their way to the postseason.
 
The Hue Jackson era has finally come to an end in Cleveland.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of 2017 to me, was the sheer fact that Hue Jackson was given another shot to turn the Browns around after a dismal 0-16 campaign. I’m not sure what Hue said to convince Owner Jimmy Haslam to give him another shot, but he talked his way into it and well, what a disaster that turned out to be. Because despite having better talent on the roster this year and the franchise finally getting it right at the quarterback position with the selection of Baker Mayfield in the draft, this team still stunk it up and well, Monday morning the organization made the right decision and sent Hue and Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley packing, giving the Browns a solid chance to pick the right person to develop the team’s franchise QB and lead this team back to some semblance of glory.
 
Adam Vinatieri is truly at the top of the NFL world.
Regardless of your stance on NFL records, and how they are falling at an incredible rate right now, I think we can all agree on one thing, what a time it is to be a football fan. Because to see this kind of history being made is just magical in its own right, but if I had to wager, one particular record that was recently shattered may actually stand for quite some time, because it takes a true iron man to shatter the all-time points record, and it now belongs to Colts Kicker Adam Vinatieri and well, I have to tip my cap to Adam simply because, this really is quite the accomplishment and his incredible leg and accuracy helped guide him to this prestigious record and I’ve no doubt that this is nothing more than the final exclamation point on his Hall of Fame resumé since Adam is one of the greatest kickers to ever play the game.
 
The Houston Texans continue to impress.
You know, I’ll be perfectly honest, I more or less left the Houston Texans for dead earlier this season thanks to their abysmal 0-3 start. But clearly something happened in that locker room after those ugly losses and this team quickly jelled together and put together a four-game winning streak before entering Sunday’s game against Miami and well, they looked impressive again. They simply scored at will against the Dolphins, dropping 42 on them and at this rate, they look downright unstoppable thanks to quality offensive play and their defense can light it up at will and well, this team may be the biggest surprise of the 2018 season with this kind of turnaround. Either way, I am happy to eat some crow when it comes to the Texans and give them the respect they are due because they are a phenomenal football team.
 
The Los Angeles Rams are still the team to beat in the NFL.
We’ve reached an important turning point in the Rams season, in that, this is where fans and writers begin to ponder as to whether or not this team can go 16-0, or if they can run the table and win the Super Bowl. But, when it comes to football, I’m not someone who subscribes to that kind of chatter. The Rams will lose this year, several times potentially. But regardless of whether they drop one or four, they will still be the team to beat in the NFL, because no matter the odds this team simply does not back down. They handle adversity better than any other squad in the NFL and for proof, just look at this Sunday’s game against the Packers. Because Green Bay stood tall and worked hard for the comeback, but the Rams never let up, answered when they needed to and took full advantage of Green Bay’s mistakes and that kind of confidence is almost impossible to break and I wish every team that thinks they can rattle them, the best of luck come gameday…

In many ways, the halfway point of the NFL season represents a proverbial peak for just about every team out there. Because at this point in the year, many teams and their fans can see the horizon beyond the top of the proverbial mountain, and before them is either an easy path toward glory, or a road filled with gloom and doom as some teams prepare themselves for next season. But for some teams, their path is still unclear, and the games ahead matter plenty and well, that’s what we will be focusing on to a certain degree today, which teams are still in the fight as the playoff push prepares to begin. So, without further ado, let’s break down the top stories looming over Week 8 in the NFL, and the most fascinating games to watch come this weekend.
 
Can the Denver Broncos shock the world with a win over Kansas City?
While some have written off Denver’s win against Arizona as a gimmie due to the fact that the Cardinals are just that bad, let’s be honest, the Broncos came to play. They stepped it up on both sides of the ball and well, one has to wonder as to whether or not they can repeat that kind of performance this week and beat the Kansas City Chiefs on their own home turf and the answer to that question, is maybe. Because in order to beat one of the league’s best teams, they’re not only going to need to bring that inspired energy to the field once again, they need to in essence finish what they started on Monday Night a few weeks ago and play stout run defense for a change, and find a way to keep Mahomes from getting into a rhythm, and if Denver can accomplish that, they’ll snag their biggest victory of the season. But if they waver or falter, then expect KC to feast on their mistakes and keep on rolling.
 
Will the Jaguars be able to play as a team this weekend?
Any way you slice it, the Jacksonville Jaguars are a mess right now. QB Blake Bortles has regressed, the team is fighting in the locker room and the franchise is stuck in a losing streak right now which means, this team has to unify and play as a unit if they expect to stop this skid from getting any larger. But can they do that? I honestly don’t know. Because at this point, it seems as though when one thing goes wrong, this team instantly folds and crumbles and that’s on the players and their mental toughness. So, at this point, the team’s fate is in the players’ hands and it should be interesting to see if they rise to the occasion and play their hearts out, or if they continue to sulk and huff on the sidelines.
 
Is this the week the Cleveland Browns finally put it together on offense?
The Browns have been quite the conundrum this year. They’re loaded with talent, they can make plays, but their record is outright embarrassing, and they have lost games they should have won. Which all boils down to poor coaching, because the coaches need to put their players into position to close out games properly and well, I honestly don’t have a clue if this is the week when the Browns finally make some magic happen because they’re just so woefully inconsistent. So, if you see Cleveland making a hard push on defense and assembling some quality and sustained drives, then they are indeed putting it all together. But if the score stays level, and the game ends in heartbreak, then I suppose it will be business as usual in the Land. 

It’s strange to find myself fascinated by a game featuring these two teams because normally, they stink and stink hard. But, this year, has been vastly different and Miami has put together some powerhouse offensive games as have the Texans and well, this is shaping up to be quite the matchup when all is said and done. Because you simply cannot go wrong with two high powered offenses taking the field since that could lead to quite the shootout. But while this game has the potential for a high scoring affair, my guess is that it will come to down to whichever defense is able buckle down and slow the bleeding and I have a feeling that’s going to be the Texans since they’ve been able to shut down opposing offenses whenever necessary, and they outright stymied the Jaguars last week, and I wholly expect them to feast up the Dolphins O in this one. 

While the Los Angeles Rams have been incredibly fun to watch this year, and I fully expect them to wow us with another offensive showing, this game is fascinating because of the Green Bay Packers. Because Green Bay is a team that is better than their record reflects and well, this is a grand opportunity for them to show the entire football world that they are a true playoff contender by knocking off the Rams. Which means, that if the Packers can figure out how to shut down Todd Gurley, and remove any and all passing opportunities for Jared Goff, then there’s a solid chance that they can win this one since Aaron Rodgers will do this thing regardless of the score. But in all honesty, I expect the Rams to walk out of this one the winner since they are so ridiculously talented, but I also get the feeling that Green Bay is going to make them earn this win. 

The Vikings started off this season under the radar and in anemic fashion, but eventually they found their stride and new QB Kirk Cousins started to jell with his teammates and they have been on quite the tear since everything came together and this quality team gets to host and face off against the red hot Saints who are firing on all eight cylinders and well, I expect this game to be quite the awesome matchup, simply because we get to watch a pair of dynamic quarterbacks do their thing and while I don’t expect this one to be a shootout, because both defenses are stout, I am expecting this game to come down to a big time touchdown from whichever quarterback finally figures out the weakness of the opposing defense and if I had to guess, I’d hedge my bets on the New Orleans Saints winning this one, simply because Drew Brees has seen it all…

​If there’s one thing that I love about this time of year, it’s that we truly get to see which teams and coaches and franchises really care about their seasons and playing good football because they leave it on all the field in the middle of the season. This is just a great time of year, where we see teams give it their all, and this time of year also gives us a solid idea of where our favorite franchises are headed in the next year when said team struggles with adversity and really, we saw both sides of that coin this past weekend which means it’s high time we dig into the top stories from the field in Week 7 and discuss what we learned about our favorite teams.
 
The Denver Broncos can ball after all.
When a team hits a nasty losing streak, one of two things are going to happen; it gets worse and the season is lost, or they buckle down and respond the right way and thankfully, the Broncos did the latter on Thursday Night Football. They came out and simply played some inspired football and for their efforts, they beat the living tar out of the Arizona Cardinals and well it’s about time. I think we all know the team is far better than their record reflects and this game showed that and well, in order to further quiet the ire in the Mile High City that’s been directed their way, they’ll have to look like this week and in week out. As to whether or not that can happen, time will tell, but for now, we at least know there’s a pulse when it comes to this team and it’s good to know they’re hungry to do more than just lose.
 
Drew Brees continues to cement his status as a future Hall of Famer.
Four. That’s how many quarterbacks in the NFL have thrown 500 or more touchdowns in their NFL career and before Sunday’s games, that number was a mere three, right before Drew Brees joined that all important club. The man is simply having a storybook season and regardless of how the Saints finish this year, which should be solid I might add, everyone on this squad gets to speak to the fact that they were on the sideline or the field when Drew in essence made himself a lock for the Hall of Fame and it is just magnificent for fans everywhere to watch this man climb the ranks of the record books and enter the conversation as one of the greatest to ever play the game and well, I tip my hat to you Mister Brees for making this season a memorable one.
 
The Jacksonville Jaguars are starting to fall to pieces.
One of the greatest turnaround stories in 2017, just so happened to feature the Jacksonville Jaguars and with good reason; they went from laughingstock to AFC Title Contender and it was quite awesome to see them get within one game of the Super Bowl. But wow, what a difference a year makes, because this squad is starting to crumble before our very eyes. First they had to bench QB Blake Bortles, who is regressing after a great year and now there’s infighting in the locker room over their fall from grace and well, at this point, these guys need to take a moment and refocus because this kind of behavior is downright bush league and unbecoming of professionals and if they can’t get their act together soon and fix their issues on the field, expect this team to be a laughingstock once again.
 
The time has come for Dallas to make a coaching change.
Any way you slice it, things are not going well in Dallas. It doesn’t matter that they’ve traded for Amari Cooper, nor does it matter that they have a fine youth movement going on at the right positions. The fact of the matter is, this is not a well-coached team. Because when your star quarterback is regressing year after year and the play calling becomes outright abysmal on both sides of the ball, that falls on the head coach and well, when one takes all of those issues into account, alongside the fact that this team really hasn’t been to the playoffs all that much under Jason Garrett’s watch, it’s time for Dallas to start looking for a coach that can develop Dak Prescott and get this team going in the right direction and really, they should just go ahead and let go of Jason now to get the search going.
 
The Cleveland Browns also need to make a coaching change.
There is no denying the fact that Hue Jackson is a great offensive coordinator, and he’s seen great success at that position throughout his storied NFL coaching career. But some men, just aren’t cut out to be head coaches in this league and quite frankly, Hue is one of them. Because his head coaching record is downright abysmal and to make matters worse, the Browns have given Hue everything he needs to be successful this year and the end result? A 2-4-1 record, and several games that were close have outright slipped away and look, that comes down to the coaching, and I personally believe that Cleveland has given Hue more than enough time to turn this team around and since he clearly cannot get that done, it’s time to part ways and get a coach in there that can utilize the talent that GM John Dorsey has put on the roster. 

​It’s quite amazing how fast the NFL season flies by. In fact, it seems like only yesterday, we were celebrating the sport’s return by way of opening weekend festivities. But just like that, we are closing in on the middle of the season and well, this is the time of year that we all start preparing for the postseason since the playoff push is right around the corner. But, before we all turn our attention to which teams are headed to the playoffs, there are still some squads making a desperate final effort to turn their season around and that’s partly what we are going to focus on today as we examine the top stories from the field and the most exciting games to keep an eye upon this weekend.
 
Thursday Night Football may feature Vance Joseph’s final game with the Denver Broncos.
To call the Denver Broncos season ugly, would be an outright understatement. Because this revamped roster, one that was designed to eliminate the awful mistakes that plagued them in 2017, is once again playing undisciplined and lackadaisical football, and there isn’t an ounce of fight to be found from this team when they take the field and all of that reflects upon Head Coach Vance Joseph, since it’s his job to fix the errors and inspire this squad and well, after dropping four straight, a loss to the lowly Cardinals may signal the end of his head coaching career in Denver. Because Arizona is downright awful and if the Broncos cannot beat one of the worst teams in the league, don’t be surprised to see John Elway correct his mistake by parting ways with Vance and starting over…again in 2019.
 
Can the Dallas Cowboys put together a tiny win streak this weekend?
Speaking of rough seasons, the Dallas Cowboys have had their own struggles this year. This supposedly prolific offense has disappointed for weeks on end, only coming to life last week against Jacksonville. Which has me wondering as to whether or not they will be able to put together a pair of wins by defeating the Washington Redskins this weekend and well, it’s possible. Provided of course that Dallas more or less echoes their performance from last week. But one should not count the Redskins out in this one, after all, they’ve proven resilient at times and if they can contain #21 and blanket the receivers, the standard formula for beating Dallas, then expect the Cowboys inconsistent season to continue right along.
 
Will the San Francisco 49ers stun the Rams?
As much as everyone would like to see their favorite team go 16-0, the odds of that happening simply aren’t possible and well, it’s foregone conclusion that the Rams are eventually going to lose a game or two as the season rolls on, and one has to wonder, will the Niners be the team to deliver that first one? After all, they gave the Packers fits on Monday Night and kept that game way closer than anyone expected and honestly, it’s possible, provided Los Angeles doesn’t take them seriously. So, if the Rams underestimate their opponent and play it soft, expect them to fall. But if they come out swinging and treat this as a critical game (which it is), expect San Fran to endure another heartbreaking loss.

While the Patriots pulled off a wonderful turnaround against the Kansas City Chiefs, their offense has struggled at times against a stout defense and well, playing tough defense is the Chicago Bears specialty this year. Which means that if Mack does play, and gets to Brady quickly, then New England may be in for one hell of a rough day. But, even if Mack is a health-related scratch, the Bears could potentially win this one, provided they follow the age-old blueprint of getting to Brady and playing lots of press coverage. So, really, this particular game is in Chicago’s hands and it should be fascinating to see how they perform against a resurgent Patriots squad come Sunday. 

Well this game has my attention for one reason and one reason alone, it may actually turn out to be quite the shootout. Brock Osweiler is a phenomenal quarterback off the bench, when there’s no pressure on him to lead a franchise, and since he’s keeping Tannehill’s seat warm, he will undoubtedly take to the air in this game against a so-so Lions defense. But don’t count Detroit out just yet, they too have found ways to win and their suddenly resurgent and dynamic offense may make like difficult for Miami. So, this game is either going to be a snoozer or an exciting affair and considering the fact that both teams are surging right now, I’m banking on the latter. 

​Normally, this is a matchup that quite frankly we wouldn’t be spending any time upon since these teams are either on the brink of disaster or are outright mediocre this time of year, but here we are, with both of them playing outstanding football right now. Which means this game also has the makings of a back and forth battle royale since both QB’s involved in this one find the end zone with little effort and both teams have porous defenses as well. So, whichever defense decides to step up their game and stop their opponent is the one that will help to decide this one. But before that all-important moment arrives for said defense, I think we can expect to see some serious excitement in this one as both quarterbacks deliver touchdown after touchdown in prime time. 

Right before Week 6 in the NFL kicked off last week, we took a good long look at several teams and their respective challenges ahead due to the importance of Week Six, since this is really a good time of year to understand what teams are going to look like going forward, and what they’re made of for that matter as well. And wouldn’t you know it? We got the answers we needed this past weekend and now we know which teams are filled with grit, and which ones are looking at a long and painful season and now that this weekend’s slate of games are in the books, now is as good a time as any to revisit some of the teams we had our eyes on, and the ones that managed to surprise us as we reflect upon what we learned from this past week of professional football.
 
Stick a fork in the Oakland Raiders, they’re done.
It really has been one powerfully disappointing season for the Oakland Raiders and Sunday’s game against the Seahawks, in London no less, put the final nail in the coffin for this team. Once again, they took the field without an ounce of fight or effort and the fact that they only scored a measly three points in garbage time, only reinforces that. Either way, they’re now 1-5 on the season, this team has clearly quit on their fans, and the game in general which means it is time for the Raiders to focus on fundamentals and developing young guys because their season is definitely over barring some kind of football miracle, and I wish them the best of luck in 2019.
 
The Denver Broncos stand on the brink of another disastrous season.
While one would think that that Broncos deserve a diatribe similar to that of the Raiders, there are still signs of life when it comes to this particular team. After all, they did hold the red-hot Rams to only 23 points on Sunday, and their pass rushing attack is incredible when it’s working. But the fact of the matter is, this team still commits stupid mistakes week in and week out, the kind that cost them points, and the revamped offense, simply isn’t clicking. Which means this is it, this team truly stands on the brink of another horrific losing season and it will be up to every single player, and Head Coach Vance Joseph to figure out how to play like a well-oiled machine or see their season slip away.
 
The Jets are suddenly quite the pleasant surprise.
Truthfully speaking, I thought the Jets win over the Denver Broncos last week was nothing more than a gimmie since the Broncos didn’t show up. But it turns out there may have been something more to what we saw on the field on that particular day because this team was surprisingly dynamic on Sunday against the Colts. They found a way to hang with Andrew Luck and his prolific arm and for their efforts, they walked out of a shootout the victor. And while their defense still needs some work, since it did allow 34 points, the fact that they were able to hang in this game and put up a metric ton of points in the last two weeks has to give Jets fans hope that maybe, just maybe, something special is starting to come together in the Big Apple.
 
In many ways, the Pats and Chiefs were both winners on Sunday night.
I spoke to the fact last week that the Patriots had something to prove in Sunday night’s game  against the Chiefs, and they did just that, by hanging with Kansas City’s newly revamped and prolific offense, but the more I think about this game, the more I think it was win for both teams when all is said and done. Because while Brady looked like his old self in this game, Patrick Mahomes made a name for himself as well by making big plays when it counted and led his offense down the field when it was absolutely necessary and while I know a loss is a loss, KC fans have to be excited about their future with Mahomes at the helm, because this kid is tough and fearless and if he had a little more time on Sunday, one has to wonder if the Chiefs would have walked away with the win.
 
Aaron Rodgers + Prime Time = Absolute Magic.
I’m not sure what it is about the national stage, and prime-time games, but they simply seem to electrify Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. Because every time he is given the opportunity to save the day in front a national audience, he does so in thrilling fashion and Monday night’s game was no exception to that rule, since once again, Rodgers took our breath away with a thrilling run of perfect passes at just the right time as he led the Pack to victory. Granted, it never should have come down to the final minutes since Green Bay is a better team than San Francisco, but that’s another rant for another time. Because in the end, whether or not you’re a fan of Rodgers, you simply cannot deny that he always finds a way to deliver a thrilling performance when the lights go on for a prime-time matchup.   

If there’s one thing I’ve noticed when it comes to this time of year in the NFL, it’s that the focus of fans everywhere shifts to the teams that are struggling. Because everyone loves an underdog story, the kind of tale where someone rises to the occasion and makes wonders happen before our very eyes and that’s why we focus on the teams that aren’t faring so well during the season. Because we are dying to know as to whether or not they too will rise to the occasion and wow us with heroics on the field and that’s mostly what we are going to focus upon today, those teams that need to pull it together before their season slips away…
 
Can the New York Giants put aside their differences and work together as a team at last?
Make no mistake about it, the Giants 2018 season has been one of the weirdest campaigns that I’ve ever seen and not because of the losses, because those happen, but because of all the bizarre drama surrounding the team. I mean, I’ve just never seen a rapper having beef with a quarterback before but…here we are. But the big question of the hour, is whether or not this team can overcome this kind of silly and petty drama to play as a team for a change because that’s really their biggest issue. There’s no unity on this squad and without it, this strange drama and their losing ways will continue and honestly, at this point, I’m not sure how they overcome this kind of problem because everyone on this team seems more interested in looking out for themselves.
 
Will the Atlanta Falcons finally win a game, again?
I honestly feel bad for the Falcons this year. After all, they’re a team loaded to the gills with talented and dynamic players, and they’ve proven time and time again that they can hang with the best teams on the scoreboard, but they simply cannot finish games. They falter in the final moments and it’s led to some heartbreaking losses this season and a record that does not reflect their talent. So, one has to wonder, is this the week where the Falcons finally pull it all together and win a game once again? Well the answer to that one is a big fat, maybe. On the plus side, they’re facing off against Tampa Bay, a blasé team in its own right. But the key to this game is the Falcons defense. They have to tighten up and get off the field on third down and if they lock down the Tampa Bay offense, then they have a good chance of walking away from this one with the win. But if they go their usual route and let the Buccaneers score and score often, then it’s business as usual and they’ll fall to 1-5.
 
Can the Oakland Raiders finally put it all together and win another game as well?
Speaking of talented teams that have not lived up to expectations, let’s take a moment and talk about the Oakland Raiders. Because this team, also 1-4, has been an outright disappointment. While they know how to score and how to play decent defense, they simply collapse when teams stand up to them and they also suffer from the same problem as the Falcons, in that, they cannot close out a game to save their lives, so, with that in mind, can they pull off a win against a mediocre Seahawks squad? Well, that answer to that question is another maybe, unfortunately. Because the biggest problem when it comes to this team is that they let other teams get into their heads and are shell shocked when their opponent takes the lead so honestly, I think at this point a win is up to Head Coach Jon Gruden, who needs to keep this team level headed and focused and if he can do that, then they have a shot, but if the camera continually cuts to Chucky face and Coach Gruden ripping into his QB once again, expect more of the same. 

This game fascinates me for one reason and one reason alone, the Denver Broncos. Because we already know the Rams are an elite squad, but this revamped Broncos roster and coaching staff, one that was designed to improve the toughness of the team and their performance on the field, has been a disappointment thus far. QB Case Keenum is erratic, the defense is no longer stout and the coaches, seem confused. Which means that this game is a referendum for Head Coach Vance Joseph and his squad and while I expect Denver to fall to Los Angeles in this game, simply because the Rams are an unstoppable force right now. If the Broncos fold and play like they did last week against the Jets, then expect the dysfunction in the locker room to grow, and the calls for Vance Joseph’s job to intensify. 

I said earlier that I was going to focus on teams that are struggling to rise to the occasion and at first glance, a matchup featuring two teams over .500 doesn’t quite seem like a game that meets that criteria, but there is team with a lot to prove here, and that’s Tennessee. Because they have been flying under the radar this season, putting together quite the magnificent season and a win over the mighty and tough Baltimore Ravens is a perfect way to get everyone’s attention in the football world, and make it known that they’re for real, and if they play their game like normal, wherein Marcus Mariota plays smart football and gets his team into the end zone and lets the defense handle the rest, then expect this team to walk away with one hell of a win, the kind that gets everyone talking about just how far they might go in the playoffs. 

​Normally when we talk about a particular team squaring off against the Patriots, they’re the ones with something to prove and beating the Pats would be a momentous occasion for that struggling team. But this time around, it’s New England with something to prove, because right now, they’re a mediocre team at best. Their defense is nothing special and the offense has been suspect all season long. Which means this is a big one for Tom Brady and his boys and they’re squaring off against an incredibly tough Kansas City squad that is fearless in their play. Which means we need to see the Pats of old if they expect to have a shot at winning this game and don’t be shocked, if New England falls to 3-3 in this one because the Chiefs are just that good.   

​I’ve always been fascinated at how sometimes, a particular theme worms its way into a particular week of football, and for Week 5 in the NFL, adversity would have to be that theme. Because so many teams were facing it during this past weekend’s slate of games, and how they handled it, in either good or disastrous fashion, is what we are going to focus upon when it comes to today’s recap. Because how teams dealt with something as important as adversity matters, since it taught us plenty about what our favorite teams and the rest of the league are made of, so let’s not waste any more time and get right down to discussing what we learned about every team in the league when it comes to the challenges they faced.
 
Congratulations to Drew Brees, the all-time passing yards leader.  
If there is one man who is the poster child for adversity in the NFL, it’s Drew Brees. Because I distinctly remember hearing about how he was too short to play the game when he first came into the league, or how the Chargers thought Philip Rivers would be the better quarterback when it comes to the future of their franchise. But rather than fuss about such criticism or decisions, Drew has chosen to leave it all on the field and for his efforts, he’s enjoyed the wonder of a Super Bowl Championship and he’s started to shatter passing records and last night, an important record fell into his hands. Because Drew is now the all-time leader when it comes to career passing yards and that’s just magnificent, so, I tip my hat to Drew for proving to everyone what hard work and dedication accomplishes and I do hope he savors every single moment that comes with being the most prolific passer in NFL History.
 
The Denver Broncos have proven they are not a tough team.
What you always hope to see when a team is on a losing streak, is for the players to respond with a little fire and bravado when they take the field for their next game, and that’s precisely what Broncos Country wanted to see on Sunday. They wanted to see their boys manhandle the Jets and end a two-game skid with a tough and convincing win, the kind that showed everyone that their early season success was no fluke. But alas, none of that happened. The Broncos folded when the Jets smacked them in the mouth and it led to Denver once again being blown out and I hate to say it, but this team is not tough in the slightest. They handle adversity by crumbling and folding and if they cannot find a way to buckle down and inject a little heart into their game in the next couple of weeks, then expect General Manager John Elway to start one hell of a housecleaning in Denver.
 
The Cleveland Browns are starting to surprise everyone with their grit.
I used to say, that the last time I saw the Cleveland Browns exhibit a genuine desire to win games and go as far as they can was the mid 1980’s, when they constantly matched up with the Denver Broncos for thrilling games in the playoffs. But all of that changed this past weekend because I can unequivocally that Sunday is the last time I saw the Browns show us a genuine desire to win because holy cow, these guys fought the good fight for nearly seventy-five minutes and refused to back down, finally sealing a win in the closing moments of overtime and wow, what a game this turned out to be and I really do hope this is the beginning of something special for the Browns because this team and their fans deserve to enjoy the wonder of victory for a change.
 
The Detroit Lions have been quite the pleasant surprise as of late.
Sometimes, I say some incredibly harsh things about teams in the NFL, and I was pretty hard on Detroit earlier this season when they started off the year in embarrassing fashion. But, I’m also one to send credit where credit is due, and I have to take the time today to tip my cap to this team for quickly turning things around with some impressive wins as of late. Because not only did they topple the Pats a little while back, they also manhandled the mighty Aaron Rodgers this past weekend, forcing him to fumble several times and they did just enough on defense to ensure a big time win over a quality team and this squad is starting to believe and starting to play hard for sixty minutes and I firmly believe we will see more wins from them in the weeks to come.
 
The Chiefs and the Rams, are for real.
The true mark of a great team, is how they handle the challenges that come their way over the course of a game, and well, right now the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams are showing the football world just how tough and how great they are. It doesn’t matter what a defense throws at their offenses, they find a way to overcome it and earn the yards and get the points they so desperately need and their defenses make all the necessary adjustments to shut down their opponents offenses on a moment’s notice, and well, it’s quite incredible to watch these two teams defy the odds and adversity week in and week out and I fully expect to see both of these squads go deep into the playoffs thanks to their stunning efforts on the field.  

Week 5 in the NFL is quite the important time for football fans and franchises across the nation. Because now that a quarter of the season is complete, a sense of urgency begins to arise. For teams that are doing well, see a grand opportunity to pad their record as they prepare for a playoff run and they make a push to keep their winning ways going while teams that are disappointing or are in the middle of the pack, work all that much harder to turn their season around. All of this helps to bring about more interesting matchups and equally as fascinating stories and without further ado, let’s examine the top stories to keep an eye upon this weekend, alongside what games you simply cannot miss.
 
The Denver Broncos find themselves in a must-win game this weekend.
While there are plenty of teams that would be happy to find themselves at 2-2 and their fans would equally be okay with that record, expectations in the Mile High City are running high right now and that record is downright unacceptable with both Broncos fans and players. After all, this team is stacked with talent, and is supposed to be better than the nightmare 2017 squad, yet right now, they’re as mediocre as it gets. Which means they need to dominate against the New York Jets this weekend. In part to quiet the doubt in Denver, but also to demonstrate to one another that they can in fact play quality and mistake free football and quite frankly, if the Broncos can’t accomplish that against a sub-par Jets squad, then their season is truly in peril.
 
Will the Jacksonville Jaguars deliver the first loss of the season for the Kansas City Chiefs?
While winning cures everything in the NFL, it also puts a target on your back since your opponents all want the honor of being the team to deliver your first loss of the season, or one in general and right now, you know the Jaguars are licking their chops at the opportunity to defeat one of the league’s best teams. In large part due to the fact that Jacksonville wants to show the league that they are in fact elite and what better a way to do that than by toppling KC and in all honesty, they’ve got a good chance at pulling it off. If they can follow Denver’s Monday Night game plan for four quarters and disrupt Patrick Mahomes on offense and take advantage of the porous KC defense, then expect the Jaguars to sneak away one heck of a big-time win.
 
Can the Cleveland Browns beat the Baltimore Ravens?
I have to be honest, the Cleveland Browns are a team that outright fascinate me. They’ve got great talent on paper at some positions and they’ve played hard in some big games this year, yet their record reflects a consistent problem, they simply can’t finish what they started. They should have beaten Pittsburgh and Oakland and now one has to wonder if they can potentially surprise the Ravens this weekend. It’s honestly a legitimate possibility since Baker Mayfield plays like a QB with nothing to lose when he takes the field and that D is stout at times, so don’t be shocked if they keep this game close or find themselves with the lead. But, is it possible for them to beat a red-hot Baltimore squad? The answer is yes, provided the coaching staff stays aggressive on both offense and defense. 

Normally, I try and stay away from games that feature two teams with losing records because often times, the quality of play on the field is supremely sub-par. But what’s fascinating about this matchup, is that both of these teams have played some high-octane games, losing in heartbreaking fashion on several occasions and well, that means that there are some high stakes for both of these squads heading into this one. After all, a loss here will further cement the end of the season for both teams, so I’m expecting both the Falcons and the Steelers to come out swinging and I’m expecting this one to be a high scoring affair as Atlanta and Pittsburgh fight to keep their playoff hopes alive. 

If you were to ask me at the beginning of the season as to whether or not I expected Miami and Cincinnati to be at the top of their respective divisions in 2018, I would have answered with a confident and resounding, no. But four weeks into the season, here we are, with both of these teams dominating their opponents, which means this particular matchup is super important to both squads. Because the AFC is a competitive place, and every single win brings them that much closer to a division title and a playoff appearance and considering how often these teams score, this one has the makings of an epic shootout, provided of course these two defenses continue to keep it loose and a big-time defensive stop is what this game may come down to. 

​Make no mistake about it, the Rams are for real this year and their stout defense and powerhouse offense have made life hell for their opponents this season. But, anything can and will happen in a divisional matchup and this battle in the NFC West is either going to turn out to be one for the ages, or an outright blowout and the outcome of this one is solely on the shoulders of the Seahawks. Because if they cannot find a rhythm on offense or defense, the Rams will punish them with impunity and I’m quite curious to see if Seattle can rise to the occasion and challenge this team, or if Los Angeles will just utterly destroy the Seahawks on their way to 5-0.       

​While one might think that the NFL season will begin to become routine as the weeks roll on, the excitement that happens on the field ensures that every single week is a breathtaking affair and this past weekend was no exception to that rule. We were privy to some stunning games in Week 4, complete with shootouts and stunners and well, as always, NFL football left us with plenty to mull over, so let’s not waste any time today and discuss what we learned from this weekend’s slate of games.
 
Thursday Night Football has finally found its stride.
Normally, the Thursday Night Football game is well, awful. It’s usually a pair of losing teams, it features boring action, but the times, they are a changing. Because the Thursday game has been nothing short of phenomenal this year and it’s about time to be honest. Because prime time football should be reserved for exciting games and my goodness, this past matchup between Minnesota and Los Angeles was downright breathtaking. So, as someone who has been quite critical of this particular game the past couple of years, I tip my cap to the NFL for finally figuring this out and giving us some thrilling matchups at last.
 
This is turning out to be a bizarre year for kickers.
There was a time, when being a kicker in the NFL was a pretty awesome gig. After all, these guys could just knock a PAT in since they used to be a chip shot and when a QB can drop touchdowns no problem, these guys rarely have to put the game upon their leg. But something weird is happening this year, and it bears taking a moment to discuss because holy cow, kickers are missing left and right. It doesn’t matter if it’s a PAT or a baby Field Goal, the ball just keeps slipping wide right or left, or hitting the goal post and even seasoned vets are missing since I saw Sebastian Janikowski and Phil Dawson miss kicks that are normally no big deal for them. I’m not sure what’s causing this sudden surge of inaccuracy, but it’s changing the landscape of the game and here’s to hoping it gets fixed soon.
 
The Cleveland Browns reminded everyone that it takes more than a good QB to win a game.
While Baker Mayfield remained exciting to watch on Sunday, since he made some impressive throws in Oakland, this particular loss is not upon his shoulders, it was more of a team effort. Because let’s be honest, the Browns had this game in hand for three quarters, and eventually let it slip and let that serve as proof that while Mayfield will likely bring productivity and stability to an offense that’s been missing it since the franchise returned to Cleveland, his teammates have to support him and do their jobs and well, until they do that, expect the Browns to continue their losing ways, so here’s to hoping that Coach Jackson gets his head out of the clouds and demands better of a team that has proven it can win, before the losses get out of hand.
 
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team in crisis.
When it comes to the Steelers, you come to expect a few things when they take the field. You expect to see some stout offense and defense by way of a punishing run game and a tough defensive front. But something has changed in Pittsburgh this year, because the run game has all but disappeared with Le’Veon Bell holding out, and the defense is an outright joke and just like that, the Steelers are suddenly in free fall mode. They simply cannot get anything going on either side of the ball and at this point, it’s up to Head Coach Mike Tomlin to figure it out. He has to unify this team, he has to get his coordinators to change things up or else Pittsburgh will be looking at a top five draft pick come next year.
 
The time has come to make some personnel and coaching changes in Denver.
It’s one thing to lose a close shootout in prime time, because then you know both teams were going at it like Rocky Balboa and Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. But it’s quite another thing to lose by outright blowing the game and that’s precisely what the Denver Broncos did on Monday Night. They had the Chiefs dead to rights for three quarters of the game, but more awful play calling form Defensive Coordinator Joe Woods at crucial times, combined with more undisciplined play from the players means it is time to make some serious changes in Denver. For starters, it’s okay to fire Woods because he is clearly in over his head as a DC and is failing this talented defense and second to that, it is also time to start benching players that aren’t listening to the coaches and continue to make stupid mistakes. The bottom line, Vance Joseph needs to show everyone that he’s the boss and is ready to make whatever changes necessary to win and if he’s unwilling to start holding his players and his coaches accountable…well then John Elway is welcome to clean house once again.