The NFL Roundup 2017 - Week 8 - The Most Fascinating Games to Watch on Sunday & Monday

Written by John Edward Betancourt

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. 

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Chicago Bears (3-4) at New Orleans Saints (4-2)
Mercedes-Benz Superdome - New Orleans, LA
1:00 p.m. EST - FOX

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.

Los Angeles Chargers (3-4) at New England Patriots (5-2)
Gillette Stadium - Foxboro, MA
1:00 p.m. EST - CBS

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.

Atlanta Falcons (3-3) at New York Jets (3-4)
MetLife Stadium - East Rutherford, NJ
1:00 p.m. - FOX

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. 

Denver Broncos (3-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)
Arrowhead Stadium - Kansas City, MO
Monday Night Football - 8:30 p.m. EST - ESPN

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.