During NFL Week 8, the Washington Football Team enjoys a bye, while the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens carry on with their triumphant 2020 seasons.
Those two successful teams could serve as a pleasant diversion for Virginia football enthusiasts.
In a season filled with disappointments, Washington managed to break their five-game losing streak with an outstanding 25-3 victory against their long-standing rivals, the Dallas Cowboys. This remarkable display of skill and teamwork offered a refreshing respite from the series of underwhelming moments the team had experienced. John Keim from ESPN.com even highlighted the significance of this achievement.
Washington defeated Dallas convincingly, as it should have. However, considering their recent string of five consecutive losses and a particularly agonizing defeat just a week ago, Washington doesn’t need to do anything else but fully embrace their exceptional performance in this game. This victory allows Washington to approach their upcoming break with a much-needed boost in confidence and a more positive outlook.
The WFT’s recent victory improved their season record to 2-5 (and 4-3 against the spread). Consequently, head coach Ron Rivera’s team now sits just slightly below the first-place Philadelphia Eagles (2-4-1) in the NFC East standings.
Let’s shift our attention to the positives for the next ten days. Despite coming off a win, the Washington Football Team remains highly competitive and in contention.
While Washington takes a break during its week off, Virginia sports fans can still find entertainment in these notable games.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens (-3.5)
The Baltimore Ravens have a lot to celebrate. With a record of 5-1, they are off to a strong start. Additionally, they are just one win away from securing the top spot in the AFC North. It’s worth noting that their sole defeat was against the reigning Super Bowl champions.
Baltimore is now confronted with their toughest challenge of the year: a showdown against the AFC North frontrunners, the Pittsburgh Steelers. With a flawless record of 6-0, the Steelers stand as the sole remaining unbeaten team in the NFL. They solidified their position after narrowly defeating the Tennessee Titans, 27-24, in a highly anticipated clash between undefeated teams.
The Ravens-Steelers game on Sunday (1 p.m., CBS) is not only considered one of the most exciting matchups of the week but also is highly favored among bettors for Week 8.
Despite opening as 5.5-point underdogs, the Steelers, who boast an impressive 5-1 ATS record this season, are surpassing the Ravens in both the total number of bets and total money wagered. As a result, within just 24 hours, the line has been pushed down to +3.5 at several sportsbooks.
At present, the moneyline shows a preference for the Ravens (-195) as opposed to the Steelers (+170). Furthermore, the initial total of 49 has decreased to 46.5 as of Wednesday afternoon.
After a week off, Baltimore enters this game fully rejuvenated. The Ravens boast the top defense in the NFL, allowing a mere 17.3 points per game. On the other hand, Pittsburgh, led by the resurgent Ben Roethlisberger, has been scoring at an impressive rate of 30.5 points per game, ranking them sixth in the league.
Week 8’s best game can arguably be attributed to the clash between the PIT offense and the BAL defense.
Tennessee Titans (-5.5) at Cincinnati Bengals
We are on the verge of discovering how the 2020 Tennessee Titans bounce back from adversity.
The Titans experienced a devastating defeat last week against the Steelers, leaving them with a bitter taste in their mouths. Despite initially trailing 27-7, they managed an impressive comeback, closing the gap to 27-24 with only 14 seconds remaining. Unfortunately, kicker Stephen Gostkowski’s 45-yard field goal attempt fell short, resulting in the end of the Titans’ flawless record.
In the loss, QB Ryan Tannehill and running back Derrick Henry had a decent performance, but it fell short of their usual outstanding standards. To secure a victory against the highly unpredictable Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday (1 p.m., CBS), both players must recapture the early-season magic they possessed.
With a record of 1-5-1 this season, the Bengals find themselves at the bottom of the AFC North. Despite this, there have been some notable moments of brilliance in rookie QB Joe Burrow’s performance, making this season pivotal for him. Additionally, Tee Higgins, a fellow rookie Bengal, has emerged as a versatile weapon, adding to the potential of their breakout offense.
The Bengals are in dire need of a significant victory that could potentially transform their season and validate their decision to invest in Burrow. Their upcoming match against a Tennessee defense that ranks eighth-worst in the NFL, allowing an average of 401.8 yards per game, presents a golden opportunity for the Bengals.
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers (-2.5)
Despite being in third and fourth place in the NFC South, the upcoming Thursday Night Football game between the Carolina Panthers (3-4) and Atlanta Falcons (1-6) promises to be an exciting matchup. The game will be aired on Fox at 8:20 p.m.
The Falcons started as 2.5-point underdogs and have maintained that status as they travel to Charlotte. Despite Carolina receiving more bets, the total amount wagered has been fairly balanced.
Initially starting at 49, the total gradually increased to 51.5 by Wednesday. Despite the previous match three weeks ago resulting in a total of only 39 points (with the Panthers emerging victorious at 23-16), this shift in the line may raise some eyebrows. However, it likely signifies the defensive challenges both teams have encountered throughout 2020.
If you’ve been online in the past week, you surely recall the Falcons’ recent loss to the Detroit Lions by a score of 23-22. The details of the defeat, including Todd Gurley’s unintentional touchdown, are likely fresh in your memory.
In contrast to their previous encounter, Falcons QB Matt Ryan will have the privilege of having Julio Jones on the field this week. Thanks to the remarkable contributions of Jones and Calvin Ridley, Atlanta has been able to achieve an impressive average of 311.6 receiving yards per game, ranking them as the third-best in the entire NFL.
Before their recent defeats to Chicago and New Orleans, the Panthers were enjoying a triumphant run of three consecutive victories. The loss against the Saints emphasized the challenges faced by the Carolina defense in preventing third-down conversions. Additionally, the running backs encountered difficulties in advancing the ball. For Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, it is crucial that the entire offense synchronizes promptly to avoid the season from slipping away.
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