The NFL Roundup - Week 8

Written by John Edward Betancourt

(Seth Wendig/Associated Press)

My how time flies. It seems just a few weeks ago we were discussing Kickoff Weekend and the wonder of the NFL season ahead of us and suddenly, here we are, halfway into the season. Yes, Week 8 is upon us and that means the push for the playoffs is about to begin. Teams that are in a good place record wise, or on the cusp will add a little more fire and precision to their play as they give it their all for a shot at the tournament. That means going forward the games are going to be all the more intense, and the stories that come from that kind of play will be outright fascinating and here are the top stories we will be keeping an eye on this weekend.

What will the New York Jets do at quarterback if Ryan Fitzpatrick struggles again?
So, it's been a weird year in Gotham at the QB position. First, Ryan Fitzpatrick demands more money, the Jets say no, he holds out, misses most of the offseason, makes a deal with the Jets after all, comes back, stinks, gets benched, Geno Smith gets the nod, gets hurt, Fitzy is back at the helm. That's a lot of change and uncertainty at that position, and I don't think we're done with it yet. Because let's face some facts, Ryan Fitzpatrick is a player in decline and he will never be anything more than an adequate journeyman quarterback, not the kind of elite QB that will lead a team to a championship. That's not a bad thing, he's the kind of QB that is perfect to let a rookie learn behind, but with his skill set waning, the Jets are faced with a tough decision if he struggles again (and he will), do they bench him and essentially acknowledge #14 is done and the season is lost? The answer is...heck yes. They have to figure out what they have in Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg so if Fitzy falters again, take a shot on the young kids...what's the worst that could happen, the Jets win a game for a change?

​Can the Buffalo Bills hand the New England Patriots another loss?
The Buffalo Bills are a respectable 4-3 after starting off the season in dismal fashion, and while they clearly have some struggles against the run, as was evidenced by their loss to Miami last week, this is a team that has proven time and time again, that when they are focused they can produce nothing short of miracles. After all, they were the team that handed the Patriots their first loss of 2016, and they did it by shutting them out. Granted, Tom Brady wasn't at the helm then, but if there is one thing Rex Ryan loves to do, it's beat the Pats and if Sexy Rexy has his team focused this week, there's a good chance that the Buffalo defense will feast upon the somewhat shaky New England offensive line, and disrupt Brady's game. If they can pull that off, and Tyrod Taylor can play game manager, then there's a good chance the Bills will sweep the series and slow down the 2016 Tom Brady Revenge Tour.

​Can the Philadelphia Eagles pull off another upset?
After dealing with a couple of tough losses, the Philadelphia Eagles quietly regrouped and stunned Sam Bradford and the Minnesota Vikings at home in a game that a majority of us out there...expected them to lose. But as only fate would have it in the NFL, Philadelphia is faced with another incredible challenge this weekend as they head to Dallas to take on the red hot Cowboys and the big question on all of our minds is...can they beat the Cowboys as well? The answer is a resounding yes, only because Dallas' greatest strength, can also serve as their weakness, specifically the offense. What allows for the Cowboys to win and win big is their balanced combination of run and pass plays. If the Eagles can make that offense one dimensional, they have a shot at upsetting another powerhouse team. But it won't be easy with players as dynamic as Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, but hey...if they can cool off a red hot Bradford, they can find a way to slow down the vaunted Dallas offense. 

What does C.J. Anderson's knee injury mean for the Denver Broncos run game? 
As of press time, C.J. Anderson is prepping for surgery on his right knee, due an injury he suffered in the Monday Night game against the Texans. But regardless of whether or not the doctors find extensive or minor damage, his not being on the field does change things for the Denver Broncos run game, specifically as to how they attack. C.J. and Rookie Devonate Booker have become an effective one-two punch, utilizing Anderson's toughness to wear down an opposing defense before Booker comes in with a fresh set of legs to take advantage of that fatigue and well, while it's clear Booker will do just fine as the starter, the question is whether or not Kapri Bibbs or Juwan Thompson (if they activate him from the practice squad) can fill in as the 'change of pace' back. Thompson is more of a bruiser running back, best used for short gains or to punch the ball into the end zone and Bibbs...well he's simply unproven in this league. Either way, Anderson's injury is a big deal,  because the run game is paramount to the Denver offense and if they don't find a one-two punch running back combination quickly, we may see this offense stall out until they do.

Is this Jay Cutler's last opportunity to show the NFL he can be a quality quarterback?
Whether you're a fan of Jay Cutler or not, I think we can all agree on one thing, his time with Chicago is nearing its end. After being awarded a handsome contract a few years back, his play hasn't warranted that kind of salary and with the last of any cash penalties disappearing from the Chicago salary cap after this year, there's little chance the team will hold on to him. Which means, everything he does from this point on is more or less an audition for the quarterback starved teams that will be looking for a guy like Jay come the offseason. The only problem for Jay is that after his stint in Denver and now Chicago, he has earned a reputation as an aloof leader, someone who will score you points but never lead a team to victory and because of that, there's a fair chance the contract offers coming in next year will be for second string/backup money. Which means if Jay wants to command top dollar on the market he has to show everyone in the league that he can indeed inspire his teammates and lead them on the field, and that has to start Sunday, otherwise, he may be in for a rude awakening when the season comes to an end.

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