Last week, the Bengals ended their losing streak with a 33-31 win over the Steelers. The Bengals’ trade for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco paid off at least in one game. The 40-year old Flacco threw three touchdowns with over 300 yards without any turnovers. He outdueled Aaron Rodgers by nearly 500 offensive yards and 27 initial downs.
The Bengals will have an opportunity to continue their winning streak in Week 8 with a favorable matchup against New York Jets. The Jets are the only winless team left in the NFL, with a record of 0-7. They benched Justin Fields as quarterback last week. Bengals also play at home.
Cincinnati is not guaranteed to win this game. Anything can happen any Sunday. The Bengals must play without errors and run the ball to replicate their performance from last week. Chase Brown gained a season high 108 yards on 11 carries against the Steelers. His longest run, 37 yards, almost equaled his highest yardage in a single game for the year.
Jets have some impressive defensive talent as well as playmakers at the skill positions. The Bengals have not yet announced their quarterback opponent. Tyrod Taylor replaced Justin Fields, who was benched by New York at half-time last week. Taylor was supposed to start this game, but is now on day-to-day due to an injury.
Last week, the Browns won their second game of the season in convincing style. The Browns dominated the Miami Dolphins with a strong offensive and defensive performance.
When playing at home, the Browns’ defense is one of league’s strongest. The Browns intercepted TuaTagovoila 3 times and their offense scored a season high 31 points. It won’t be easy to maintain momentum, however, as a difficult matchup is on the horizon.
Cleveland will be looking to win their first road game of the season in New England against a Patriots team with five wins that has settled into its rhythm. The Browns defense will be tested by the rising star quarterback Drake Maye, while the Patriots run defense is far more formidable than Miami.
Mike Vrabel, who was on the coaching staff of the Browns last year, could also be an advantage to the Patriots. The Browns’ success formula remains the same: limit errors and run the ball to control the clock.
Last Sunday, the Ravens desperately needed a week off after losing four games in a row and suffering a number of injuries among their top players. They enter Week 8 with no margin for error and a desperate attitude.
The Ravens will be able to bring back a number key players, including Roquan Stanley, Pat Ricard and Ronnie Stanley. The most important variable is the condition of Lamar Jackson. He returned to limited practice on Wednesday.
Jackson must be healthy, and lead the charge if the team is to have a chance to save their season. This Sunday, the Chicago Bears are not going to be an easy game. The Bears are a talented offensive team that has won four games in a row, although they were close calls.
The Ravens are known to do well against rookie head coaches and young quarterbacks at home. This will be an excellent test for setting the tone for the remainder of the season. The Ravens need to be inspired and motivated.
Last Thursday, the Steelers were a victim of a classic trap and lost to the Bengals with a score of 33-31. The Steelers were unable to stop the passing attack of Joe Flacco, despite a back and forth game.
This loss ended a three-game win streak for the Steelers and dropped them to 4-2 on a total basis. Although they are still in a comfortable position at the top of the division, the schedule will get tougher starting on Sunday night.
Pittsburgh will play host to the Green Bay Packers for a possible “revenge” game against Aaron Rodgers’ former team. The Packers may have been a little too soft on their opponents this season, but they are still a team that has four wins and only one loss. The Packers have a top-notch coaching staff, and they are well balanced on both ends of the football field.
Protecting the quarterback will be a top priority for the Steelers. 1. Green Bay has an incredibly strong pass rush. If they can consistently get after Rodgers then the Steelers may find it difficult to move the ball fast enough to keep up.