2020 NFL SEASON: WEEK 8

 

First, a public service announcement.

Election Day is on Tuesday. Please, please, please, PLEASE cast your ballots before the polls close on Tuesday. If you have ever read my other writings, you can probably guess who I voted for.

If you requested a mail-in ballot, it is too late to send it via the mail in part due to the Trump administration weaponizing the postal service in order to suppress votes as well as the likelihood it will not reach your election’s office in time to be counted. The best plan is to either fill it out and take it there or cast a ballot in person.

Every state is different so check the procedures on how to vote in your respective state.

The following websites can provide a starting point on how to make your voice heard

vote.gov

iwillvote.com

betterknowaballot.com

 

And now back to your regularly scheduled sports related topic

Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has appeared in back-to-back primetime games with his most recent appearance being an overtime win over the Seahawks and handing them their first loss of the season. And that is why he is the featured picture for this week.

The reason why that game was played in the Sunday night slot instead of the originally scheduled Buccaneers at Raiders was out of caution of several Raiders testing positive for COVID-19. This unfortunate event provided a strong case for why the NFL should expand its flex scheduling procedures.

As pointed out in a recent opinion piece, the Week 8 primetime slate is less than favorable. Remember, the placement of certain games in the NFL schedule is generated based on what happened the previous season as well as there are certain teams (Cowboys, Steelers, Packers, Bears, Patriots, Seahawks, Chiefs) that will always draw more viewers.

When the schedule was released in the spring, Falcons at Panthers looked favorable but Atlanta recently fired their coach and staring down another losing season along with the Panthers being good but not quite good to crack a playoff spot. This game would be better off buried in the early window with the only interest being in fantasy and gambling interests.

Sunday night was expected to be a quarterback showdown in Philadelphia between the Eagles Carson Wentz and Cowboys Dak Prescott. Sadly, Prescott is out for the season due to an ankle injury. Also, the Cowboys defense is terrible, Eagles fans are booing Doug Pederson and Carson Wentz like they were Santa Claus, and the enter NFC East is a flaming tire fire. But the reason why this game still remains is for none other than it’s the Cowboys and NFC East nostalgia.

Speaking of nostalgia, remember those two Super Bowls between the Patriots and Giants? Well, Brady is a Buccaneer and he will be playing the Giants under the bright lights of Monday night. How about that?

ummm… no….

Looking at the Week 8 Sunday slate, the three games that stand out to me and would be a better fit for the primetime windows would be Raiders at Browns for tonight as it would make up for the Raiders losing their primetime game and the Browns are somewhat living to the hype of last season, Steelers at Ravens – which was originally scheduled for last week – flexed into Sunday night as a clash of AFC North powers, and 49ers at Seahawks playing on Monday night for Russel Wilson to build his MVP resume.

Other options would be Patriots at Bills to see how New England responds after the beating they took last week at home to the 49ers and whether Buffalo takes that next step in their quest for their first AFC East title since the 1990s.

Unfortunately, three of those games – Steelers at Ravens, Raiders at Browns, and Patriots at Bills – are in the early window of regional coverage and it is dependent on where you live in the US to watch those games. If I was living in the Metroplex, I would see Steelers at Ravens instead of Chargers at Broncos. Luckily, I have the opportunity to see the 49ers at Seahawks but it appears that it will be for those who live in the western time zones.

And now the picks

 

	Me
WEEK 7	11-3
TOTAL	78-26-1

 

Kickoff times are Mountain Time

Sunday afternoon games airing in Denver are noted by (DEN)

Picks are in BOLD

NFL Television Schedule Map

 

BYE WEEK

Cardinals, Football Team, Jaguars, Texans

 

THURSDAY NIGHT, FOX/NFL 6:20 PM

Falcons at Panthers

 

FOX 11AM

Raiders at Browns (DEN)

Rams at Dolphins

Vikings at Packers 

CBS 11AM

Colts at Lions

Jets at Chiefs

Patriots at Bills

Steelers at Ravens

Titans at Bengals

FOX 2PM

49ers at Seahawks (DEN)

Saints at Bears 

CBS 2PM

Chargers at Broncos (DEN)

SUNDAY NIGHT, NBC 6:20PM

Cowboys at Eagles

 

MONDAY NIGHT, ESPN 6:15PM

Buccaneers at Giants

 

TUESDAY, ELECTION NIGHT IN AMERICA 2020

Biden at Trump

 

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