FIGURE 8

Week eight will round out pretty much the halfway point of the season...and playoff berths and seeding should begin to show now. But who would have thought that the Giants would be division leaders over the Cowboys and the new-look Redskins...or that out west the Cardinals would lead their division with a 3-3 record? This season is shaping up to have a lot of surprises...lets take a look at my slate of games this week:

Miami Dolphins @ Cincinnati Bengals

Miami: 3-3...3rd in AFC East

253 pass yds per game (13th)

107 rush yds per game (16th)

216.5 pass yds allowed per game (17th)

100.8 rush yds allowed per game (12th)

Cincinnati: 2-4...3rd in AFC North

270.8 pass yds per game (6th)

100.2 rush yds per game (19th)

222 pass yds allowed per game (19th)

118 rush yds allowed per game (18th)

Pretty similar teams statwise...the Dolphins posting better in rush yds allowed, the Bengals better in pass yards...I like the idea of a huge aerial attack in this game and its not that fartetched...both teams boast over 250+ pass yards a game and with receivers in the area of Chand Johnson, Terrell Owens, Brandon Marshall, and...DAVONE BESS (who knew!) its definitely slated to be an exciting game with alot of offense....The x-factor here is going to be the coaching...Tony Sparano definitely has the cards as far as a playbook and a more flexible offense to run than that of Marvin Lewis and the Bengals...

Dolphins 31

Bengals 24

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Dallas Cowboys

Jacksonville: 3-4...4th in the AFC South

173.3 pass yds per game (28th)

127.7 rush yds per game (10th)

253.1 pass yds allowed per game (27th)

129 rush yds allowed per game (29th)

Dallas: 1-5...4th in the NFC East

289.7 pass yds per game (4th)

86 rush yds per game (30th)

200 pass yds allowed per game (7th)

117.3 rush yds allowed per game (21st)

At this point...both teams have played severly below their potential. With talent like Miles Austin, Demarcus Ware, Tony Romo, MJD, David Garrard, and Rashean Mathis, both of these teams should be higher up in their respective divisions and conferences...Now...both teams are really in a hole...The Cowboys are missing their star starting QB Tony Romo, and the Jags are missing their starting QB in David Garrard as well...both teams look to backups in Jon Kitna (Dallas) and Todd Bouman (Jacksonville) to step it up this week...simply put...this game will come down to the team with the best chance of rebounding from a lapse in the passing attack. Since the Cowboys have yet to show a solid commitment to the running game...even with Felix Jones and Marion Barber on the roster...look for them to be very one dimensional..but this is versus a Jacksonville pass defense that ranks 27th in the nfl (253.1 yds allowed passing per game) On the other side...Maurice Jones Drew is one bright spot...(not bright enough apparently)...he will be starting and is a great running back as far as being a workhorse. Neither defense has really shown up either this season...so this game....will just come down to who can score....if they can...

....this sure is a hard one to call....Dallas gets their second win...

Dallas 27

Jacksonville 13

Washington Redskins @ Detroit Lions

Redskins: 4-3...2nd in the NFC East

236 pass yds per game (12th)

96.7 rush yds per game (21st)

292.1 pass yds per game (21st)

113.9 pass yds per game (20th)

Lions: 1-5...4th in the NFC North

258.7 pass yds per game (7th)

79 rush yds per game (31st)

224 pass yds allowed per game (20th)

138.8 rush yds allowed per game (27th)

There really is a lot of talent surrounding this Lions team...Shaun Hill hasnt posted bad numbers at all...1300 yds and 9 tds are no slouch numbers for a backup...Jahvid Best hasnt been at his best but thats been due to a huge malfunction on the O-Line....the receiving corps round out with Calvin Johnson and Brandon Pettigrew...who is among the top in the NFL for receptions for a TE...on the other end...the Redskins are coming off really a defensive end in which receiver Deangelo Hall had 4 receptions and a td...ok....he's not a receiver...but that was a great performance...and if the defense can rally around a performance like that this week...Shaun Hill will have a rough time finding someone to throw to...and Ryan Torain is getting the tough carries that this team needs to get them into the redzone...if McNabb can show up on the passing end...the Redskins should really have no problem and this should be an easy win...that being said...

Redskins 31

Lions 17

Green Bay Packers @ New York Jets

Green Bay: 4-3...2nd in the NFC North

250.7 pass yds per game (7th)

99.3 rush yds per game (20th)

214.1 pass yds allowed per game (14th)

124.3 rush yds allowed per game (23rd)

New York: 5-1...1st in AFC East

175 pass yds per game (27th)

159.2 rush yds per game (2nd)

229 pass yds allowed per game (22nd)

90 rush yds allowed per game (2nd)

A top defense vs a top offense...this...this could be the game of the week...the high powered explosive Packers offense is good...but this Jets defense is healthy....and even tho he hasnt played to his potential, the name Revis can put a seed of doubt in any quarterbacks head...even Aaron Rodgers...this Jets team is also the the second best in the run with the 1-2 punch of Tomlinson and closer Shonn Green. We cant forget about Mark Sanchez...who has been playing his role perfectly and doing it all right behind a great running game. At this point, the Jets have it all...and to be on their bandwagon isnt a bad place to be...

Jets 24

Packers 20

Minnesota Vikings @ New England Patriots

Minnesota: 2-4...3rd in NFC North

182.3 pass yds per game (24th)

136.2 rush yds per game (7th)

209.2 pass yds allowed per game (13th)

99.2 rush yds allowed per game (11th)

New England: 5-1...1st in AFC East

213.8 pass yds per game (17th)

111.2 rush yds per game (14th)

282 pass yds allowed per game (30th)

97.7 rush yds allowed per game (9th)

So a lot of big talk in the NFL is about Brett Favre and will his starter streak continue...ummm...HELLO THERES STILL A GAME TO PLAY! Whether he plays or not...this New England pass defense can prepare to be shredded by the receiving corps of Harvin, Moss, and Shiancoe...Tavaris Jackson is not a bad QB although having a 10-9 starting record, he can run as well as pass...and with Adrian Peterson having a slow but still Adrian Peterson season...this team is going to be a handful versus a New England defense that can allow a big run or two...Lets not forget who is on the other side of teh ball...Tom Brady could be the best quarterback alive today maybe ever...and he knows how to win...this will be a good one...game?

UPSET

VIKINGS 24

PATRIOTS 19

Week 8...still no clear cut top dog...Maybe by the end of this week we will definitely see who is going to make it close to the playoffs and who can just wait for a good draft pick...