The NFL Roundup 2021: Week 8 Preview

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Hello again, football fans and welcome back to another preview edition of The NFL Roundup and boy, is there a lot on the line in Week 8. Because there are a lot of teams that might see their season come to an end this weekend with a loss. and some players might be playing on their squad for the last time with the trade deadline looming, especially if they don’t turn in a top-tier performance and well, that’s a lot of what we are going to talk about today. The last stand for struggling teams and who might be on the move, alongside a discussion on the best games to watch in Week 8 in the NFL.
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Tua Tagovailoa needs to turn in a heroic performance this weekend to remain the starter in Miami.
It is definitely safe to say that the Miami Dolphins expected Tua Tagovailoa to be the true savior of the franchise when they drafted him. But alas, he has been nothing short of a disappointment. For his mechanics are rough and his football IQ stinks and there’s questions about his durability. To the point where these concerns motivated the coaching staff to pull him multiple times during his rookie year. Which means, he needs to prove that he belongs in this town, and that he wants to be on this team and in order to that… he needs to turn in an even better performance than he did last week and bring about a decisive victory for the Dolphins and if he cannot… then clearly the front office will need to pull the trigger on a trade to salvage this season and the future of the team.
 
Will Sam Darnold finally step it up in Carolina?
Speaking of another player that is under great scrutiny, let’s talk about Sam Darnold for a hot minute. Because he simply floundering in Carolina and all the bad habits, he exhibited in New York are on display again, meaning that everyone that thought he was doing better with a change of scenery, myself included… were wrong. Instead, Darnold is clearly struggling to put it all together in a new home. However, he has a chance to show everyone that he can play at a high level and understand complex offenses by having a day against the Falcons and well… will he? Honestly, I don’t know. Because he is just so Jekyll and Hyde on the field. But I can say… that if he doesn’t turn it around in this game and show promise… the Panthers might make a move at quarterback. Either by benching him or by way of a trade because this team is eager and ready to win.
 
The Niners might have some tough quarterback decisions to make after Sunday.
Another team that is waiting for something magical to happen under center, is the San Francisco 49ers. Because Jimmy G just hasn’t wowed anyone in the past couple of years and the clock is ticking when it comes to patience surrounding him. Because Kyle Shanahan wants this team to get back to its dominant ways and he needs a QB that can execute his complex offense and well, if #10 stinks it up again this week, hard choices will have to be made. In that, do they bench Jimmy permanently and turn to Trey Lance and let the kid take his lumps so he’s ready for 2022? Or do they unload Jimmy to another team that is desperate for a quarterback before the trade deadline? So really, it’s up to Jimmy as to whether or not he’s a member of the Niners going forward and it will be quite interesting to see what he does with what could be his last shot at staying in the bay.

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The Most Fascinating Games to Watch This Weekend

Thursday Night Football
Green Bay Packers (6-1) at Arizona Cardinals (7-0)
State Farm Stadium – Glendale, Arizona
8:20 p.m. EST – NFL Network/FOX

​It’s rare to see a true clash of the titans on Thursday Night Football, but it’s happening and this one is shaping up to be an epic game. Because it features the two finest teams in the NFC and its top two quarterbacks and well, that’s often the recipe for a shootout and that’s what I am expecting this game to be. Because Aaron Rodgers and Kyler Murray are just carving up defenses like they would a tender roast and they’re accurate in their throws and well, that benefits the fans and their fantasy rosters. But alas, there can be only one winner and honestly, I think it is going to be Arizona. Simply because they are hungry to keep this streak going and their defense is slightly better and I’m expecting them to be 8-0 when the final whistle blows.

Washington Football Team (2-5) at Denver Broncos (3-4)
Empower Field at Mile High – Denver, Colorado
Sunday, October 31, 2021 – 4:25 p.m. EST – FOX

​I know, I know. That’s two weeks in a row that we’ve featured some blasé teams in this segment of the Roundup. But bear with me for a second. Because this game is going to determine the future of a great deal of people in the city of Denver. For a loss here, could mean that General Manager George Paton is going to have a fire sale and start trading away talent to prepare for tomorrow and it could also spell, the end of Vic Fangio’s time as Head Coach of the team. Because dropping five in a row, to multiple bad teams is something that is beyond unacceptable. So really, this game is on our radar because of the implications and because it should give us an idea of how badly this team wants to win and whether or not Vic really wants to be the head coach of this team and that will make for a fascinating game for certain. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-1) at New Orleans Saints (4-2)
Caesars Superdome – New Orleans, Louisiana
Sunday, October 31, 2021 – 4:25 p.m. EST – FOX

​Who doesn’t love a good divisional matchup? Especially one that is a contest for the top spot in said division and that’s what we get here. Because the Saints and the Bucs are both vying for the #1 slot in the NFC South and that means we are going to be in for a fierce game. Since the Saints are eager to prove themselves despite having a solid season thus far and of course, Tom Brady and his boys are looking to build a dynasty and dominate and that means we are going to be treated to big plays and epic moments and well, in the end… I expect Tampa Bay to walk away as the winner in this one. Simply because they are playing akin to a well-oiled machine and Brady is at his best right now, but this should still be a fun one to watch, because the Saints are no slouch.