NFL Week 8 matchups: An insiders' guide

SUNDAY

Seattle (5-2) at Atlanta (1-6), 1 p.m. ET

Inside Seahawks numbers: Seattle has lost two home games in the first half of the season for the second consecutive season. It's the first time since 2008-09 that the Seahawks have gone back-to-back seasons with two home losses in the first half.  Blame slow starts. At home, they have averaged 4.6 points per quarter from quarters 1-3, 9.8 points in the fourth quarter. 

Inside Seahawks roster: Seattle pounced on an odd buy-low opportunity, acquiring versatile defender Quandre Diggs from Detroit for a fifth-round pick. Diggs is signed through 2021 at midlevel safety money ($6 million per year), and the Seahawks are bleeding at safety with starters Bradley McDougald and Lano Hill out with injuries. Backup-turned-starter Tedric Thompson grades as Pro Football Focus’ second-worst safety. Diggs, who has slot experience, will likely contribute immediately and could be a long-term piece. 

Inside Falcons numbers: Atlanta doesn't have a sack in four straight games, a franchise record. It's one of the primary reasons the Falcons defense is last in points per drive (3.01), yards per drive (38.7), plays per drive (6.6), and takeaway rate (2.9 percent). Getting pressure against Seattle's offensive line is essential; Russell Wilson owns the league's best passer rating on the road (123.4). 

Inside Falcons roster: Atlanta did well to collect a second-round pick from New England for a 30-year-old wide receiver, and more trades will surely follow Tuesday’s Mohamed Sanu swap. But the Falcons believe they can retain one of their contract-year cogs, Austin Hooper. The best receiving tight end Atlanta’s employed since Tony Gonzalez, Hooper sits 11th in receiving this season (526 yards). The Falcons’ cap situation is ugly, but it’s a good time to pay tight ends. A stagnant market features no tight end earning more than $10 million annually; some of the Sanu savings could go to a Hooper extension.

Denver (2-5) at Indianapolis (4-2), 1 p.m. ET

Inside Broncos numbers: Denver's loaded secondary has lived up to its potential. The Broncos are fourth in fewest yards per pass attempt allowed (6.3) and fifth in opponent passer rating allowed (81.7). Denver aims to match the success it had in its last matchup against Brissett, when it held him to no touchdowns and 5.3 yards per attempt in a 25-13 victory in 2017. 

Inside Broncos roster: Denver landed third- and fourth-round picks from San Francisco for Emmanuel Sanders but needs to be careful with its other contract-year trade chip, Chris Harris. The Broncos have no reliable corner beyond their perennial Pro Bowler, and with 2019 addition Bryce Callahan stuck in neutral, they should explore extending Harris next year rather than parting ways with him now. John Elway’s first big GM move was a three-year re-up for a 32-year-old Champ Bailey; he should not rule out a third contract for the 30-year-old Harris. Of course, if a desperate team like the Eagles dangles a first-rounder or a second and change, then the non-contending Broncos should pull the trigger.

Inside Colts numbers: Indianapolis is 24th in average starting field position and 23rd in yards per play, but its offense is sixth in points per drive. Jacoby Brissett leads a methodical Colts offense that ranks third in plays run per drive (6.6). They'll get a great test from the Broncos defense, which is ranked top-five on third down and in the red zone. 

Inside Colts roster: Indianapolis still hasn’t figured out its T.Y. Hilton sidekick situation, going instead with a group of supporting-casters since Devin Funchess’ injury. But the team’s Zach Pascal addition shows both the potential for him to lead this committee and reflects well on the Chris Ballard regime’s ability to add talent. Indianapolis plucked Pascal off the waiver wire in June 2018, doing so despite the wideout being a UDFA out of Division I-FCS Old Dominion. Pascal has 50-plus yards in three of his past four games, and his 18.4 yards per catch nearly double his rookie-season average (9.9).

Tampa Bay (2-4) at Tennessee (3-4), 1 p.m. ET

Inside Buccaneers numbers: Tampa Bay allows the fewest rushing yards per game (68) and rushing yards per attempt (2.9). If it can continue its dominance against a cold Derrick Henry, the Bucs should be in good shape. The Titans' workhorse has averaged 68 rushing yards and 3.4 yards per attempt over his last five contests. Tennessee is 3-13 when Henry runs for three yards per carry or less, 8-0 when he runs for six yards per carry or more. 

Inside Buccaneers roster: Employing the NFL’s sack leader (Shaq Barrett), the Bucs are moving closer to fielding their best edge-rushing tandem since perhaps Simeon Rice and Greg Spires in the early 2000s. Jason Pierre-Paul returned to practice last week, a promising sign for Tampa Bay’s 2018 sack leader. JPP’s offseason neck injury put him in danger of never playing for the Bucs again. JPP and Barrett teaming up could aid another poor secondary; the Bucs enter Week 8 last in pass defense.

Inside Titans numbers: Ryan Tannehill's first start with the Titans was a success, as he threw for 312 yards on 29 attempts (10.8 yards per attempt) and earned a 120.1 passer rating. It was Tannehill's first game with 300-plus passing yards on 10-plus yards per attempt since his 2012 rookie season. He should put up big numbers on a Buccaneers defense allowing the most passing yards per game (304.5). 

Inside Titans roster: Tennessee was able to land top-10 prospect Jeffery Simmons at No. 19 because of the ACL tear the defensive line talent suffered in February. Amazingly, the rookie debuted in Week 7 and recorded his first sack. Used mostly as an inside rusher on 20 snaps, Simmons is in line to provide a boost this season. This quick return also represents a major steal for Tennessee, from a long-term perspective, because there is no way he would have fallen to the Titans had the injury not occurred.

Arizona (3-3-1) at New Orleans (6-1), 1 p.m. ET 

Inside Cardinals numbers: Despite being led by a rookie quarterback, the Cardinals have only four turnovers, fewest in the league. Over their three-game win streak, Arizona has zero turnovers. Kyler Murray has fumbled once and has yet to lose a fumble, but his tight handle will be tested against a Saints defense that's tied for fourth in fumble recoveries (six). 

Inside Cardinals roster: His status as chief nemesis of David Johnson fantasy owners notwithstanding, Chase Edmonds has provided a spark during this three-game Cards win streak. The 2018 fourth-round pick out of Fordham has already eclipsed his rookie-year scrimmage yards total and is averaging 5.6 yards per carry. The explosive 23-year-old back may top out as a dangerous complementary piece, like Andre Ellington once did in Arizona, but Edmonds looked comfortable carrying the load during a three-TD day against the Giants.

Inside Saints numbers: The Saints have allowed fewer than 260 yards in four straight games, their longest such streak since 1992. Cameron Jordan leads the charge with back-to-back two-sack games; he is tied for fourth in the league with seven sacks. Jordan should have a great opportunity for a big game against the Cardinals, who allow the sixth-highest sack rate in the league (8.2 percent). 

Inside Saints roster: A recent report indicated New Orleans is seeking pass-catching help before the deadline, and it would be wise for the team to explore it. Teddy Bridgewater’s QB1 stay places the Saints as perhaps the NFC favorite, with Drew Brees’ return imminent. As Brees resumes his age-40 season, the Saints must maximize the time they have left with their passing icon. Michael Thomas’ 763 yards lead all other Saints wideouts and tight ends by at least 509 yards; bringing in a true complementary piece would make this a stronger roster than 2018’s No. 1 seed possessed.

Cincinnati (0-7) vs. L.A. Rams (4-3), 1 p.m. ET (LONDON)

Inside Bengals numbers: Cincinnati is historically terrible in the run game on both sides of the ball. Offensively, it is 32nd in rushing yards per game (53.1) and per attempt (2.9). Defensively, it is 32nd in rushing yards per game (189.0) and per attempt (5.2). Its rushing yardage margin of -951 is the worst through seven games in league history. With their next three games each coming against teams with a positive rushing differential, the Bengals are staring at 0-10. 

Inside Bengals roster: Over the past 25 years, the Bengals have made exactly one regular-season trade -– their 2011 Carson Palmer swap that landed them first- and second-round Raiders picks. Not including the recently extended Tyler Boyd, the winless Bengals have 13 players in their fourth year or later. They are probably behind the tanking Dolphins on the rebuild trajectory. A.J. Green is a surefire trade chip, and while his ankle injury has complicated matters, he has returned to practice and teams are calling. The Bengals risk losing Green in March for merely a 2021 comp pick if they don’t deal him now.  

Inside Rams numbers: Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp, and Robert Woods are the only trio in the league with more than 400 receiving yards each. However, they've hit a rough patch over the past two weeks, as all three have averaged under 40 yards per game. They should have a golden opportunity to get back on track against an awful Cincinnati defense allowing the fourth-most net yards per pass attempt (7.7). 

Inside Rams roster: Dante Fowler’s three-sack Sunday helped Los Angeles to a blowout win, but this showing also illuminates the difficulties this franchise will have next year. Fowler is one of several middle-class Rams set for free agency –- with defensive tackle Michael Brockers and linebacker Cory Littleton chief among this group. Jared Goff’s contract and the impending market-resetting Jalen Ramsey deal will make it difficult for L.A. to retain this class of player. Kupp’s contract will need addressing in 2020, too. All of this raises the stakes for the 2019 Rams to make good on their all-in bet.

Philadelphia (3-4) at Buffalo (5-1), 1 p.m. ET

Inside Eagles numbers: The Eagles must stop digging early holes. Their offense has scored a touchdown on 16.7 percent of first-quarter drives (22nd), and their defense has allowed a touchdown on 38.9 percent of first-quarter drives (26th). The Philadelphia defense will have no excuses against a Bills offense ranked 30th in turnover frequency (21.1 percent) and 24th in touchdown rate (15.8 percent) in the first quarter. 

Inside Eagles roster: Philly ranks 27th in pass defense, and no Eagle corner ranks among Pro Football Focus' top 75. It is past time for GM Howie Roseman to swing a deal -– be it Chris Harris from Denver or seeing what it would cost to pry younger assets like Miami’s Xavien Howard or Atlanta’s Desmond Trufant – to help solve this problem. With the Eagles sitting on an aging roster and $24 million-plus in cap space, they took too big of a risk at one of the NFL’s premium positions.

Inside Bills numbers: In Week 7, Buffalo defeated Miami, but it was unimpressive. The historically anemic Dolphins offense put up season-highs of 21 points, 381 yards, and 24 first downs against Buffalo's vaunted defense. Each of those three marks were the worst allowed by the Bills this season. 

Inside Bills roster: Buffalo’s AFC East affiliation may hurt its reported hunt for a wide receiver, with many movable talents residing in Miami (DeVante Parker, Albert Wilson) or New York (Robby Anderson, Demaryius Thomas) after Tuesday’s deals. But if the Bills don’t make a trade, they have an anchor in John Brown. The Bills made a $9M-per-year bet on the former Cardinals and Ravens deep threat, and he’s become more than that for Josh Allen. Brown has been hyper-reliable for a receiver-starved franchise, joining Michael Thomas as the only receivers to post 50-plus yards in each game.

L.A. Chargers (2-5) at Chicago (3-3), 1 p.m. ET

Inside Chargers numbers: Los Angeles' passing attack is good, ranking ninth in net yards per pass attempt (7.1). However, teams have shut down Keenan Allen, who has averaged 40 yards over his past four games after averaging 134.7 over his first three. Finding space will likely be even more difficult against a Bears defense ranked sixth in fewest net yards per pass attempt (5.7) allowed. 

Inside Chargers roster: Although injuries and more late-game issues are derailing Philip Rivers’ age-38 season, the Chargers can say they’ve located their Melvin Gordon successor. While neither Gordon nor Austin Ekeler can find running room behind Los Angeles’ battered offensive line, the explosive ex-UDFA has already topped his 2018 receiving yards total. At 488, he is on pace for over 1,000. Only three backs –- Marshall Faulk, ex-Charger Lionel James and Roger Craig -– have done that. Ekeler’s rookie deal expires after 2019, but he can be kept through the 2020 season via restricted free-agent tender.

Inside Bears numbers: Chicago's passing attack is abysmal, as its average of 5.8 yards per pass attempt ranks last. The Bears have not attacked deep, averaging 4.8 air yards per completion, worst in the NFC and 29th overall. The Soldier Field boos will grow even louder if Mitch Trubisky's offense cannot get going against the struggling Chargers defense, which has allowed the fourth-most yards per pass attempt (8.7). 

Inside Bears roster: Ryan Pace’s decision to draft Trubisky runs the risk of foiling the rest of the GM’s otherwise sound plan, and emergency options are scarce. The Bears could try to trade for Andy Dalton, Case Keenum or Ryan Fitzpatrick, but as midseason acquisitions, those below-average passers would be behind in Matt Nagy’s system. Trubisky’s $9.24 million 2020 salary is guaranteed, and the Bears are already projected to be over the 2020 cap. Chicago’s win-now Khalil Mack bet depleted its draft capital, and this roster blueprint suddenly looks a lot like the mid-2000s Bears’ Rex Grossman-anchored one.

N.Y. Giants (2-5) at Detroit (2-3-1), 1 p.m. ET

Inside Giants numbers: Daniel Jones has started only five games, but he is tied with Baker Mayfield for the lead in turnovers (12). Fumbles are the primary problem, as Jones leads the NFL with five lost fumbles. Detroit's defense  leads the league with eight fumble recoveries.

Inside Giants roster: Jones showed poor pocket presence on some of the Cardinals’ eight sacks Sunday. Still, eight sacks. GM Dave Gettleman’s “rebuilt” offensive line has issues on the edge, with left tackle Nate Solder having failed to live up to his $15.5M-average annual value deal and RT Mike Remmers giving the Giants exactly what should have been expected. Solder is on pace to allow more than the eight sacks yielded last season, and his recent restructure makes his 2020 salary difficult to shed. The Giants would face a $13M dead-money hit if they do, but they are still seeking short- and long-term tackle answers.

Inside Lions numbers: Detroit's defense is falling apart after a hot start; it is 26th in points allowed per drive (2.24) and 30th in yards allowed per drive (37.9). Run defense is a major problem, as the Lions are 28th in rushing yards per attempt allowed (4.9) and have given up at least 112 rushing yards in every game. Heads-up, Saquon Barkley! 

Inside Lions roster: Detroit had inked Quandre Diggs to an extension last year, so the same regime that oversaw that deal cutting bait so soon is eye-opening. The team will give time to second-year player Tracy Walker and rookie third-rounder Will Harris -– both of whom boast superior 2019 Pro Football Focus grades to Diggs’. This continues a Detroit secondary makeover, with only Darius Slay remaining a starter from the Lions’ 2018 back four. 

N.Y. Jets (1-4) at Jacksonville (3-4), 4:05 p.m. ET

Inside Jets numbers: In a brutal Monday night performance, Sam Darnold became the first quarterback since Nathan Peterman in 2017 to throw for under 100 yards and at least four interceptions. The Jets have 297 fewer passing yards than any other team, including the Dolphins. 

Inside Jets roster: After a second embarrassing MNF performance, it is certainly time for the Jets to get serious about obtaining draft capital for veterans not in their plans. Mike Maccagnan-era investment Leonard Williams, who is playing out his fifth-year option, qualifies, with teams showing interest. The former No. 6 overall pick is again underperforming and does not profile as a franchise tag candidate. Deep threat Robby Anderson may carry more value, but it might be wise for current GM Joe Douglas to keep his contract-year receiver to give Darnold as much help as possible.

Inside Jaguars numbers: The Jaguars are 3-0 against teams with a losing record, 0-4 against teams with a winning record. A night-and-day difference in Jacksonville's turnover margin is a huge reason for that disparity. Against losing teams, the Jaguars have no turnovers and six takeaways. Against winning teams, Jacksonville has seven turnovers and no takeaways.

Inside Jaguars roster: The defensive safety net Jacksonville established during Blake Bortles’ final seasons is not there for Gardner Minshew. The Jags rank 19th in total defense, and their DVOA mark (17th) does not point to much hidden value existing. In 2017 and ’18, the Jags deployed top-five defenses. This helps explain the team’s limitations against superior competition. The absences of Jalen Ramsey, Telvin Smith and Malik Jackson have hurt the team, and the “Sacksonville” D-line holdovers –- Calais Campbell, Marcell Dareus and Yannick Ngakoue -– face uncertain north Florida futures in 2020.

Carolina (4-2) at San Francisco (6-0), 4:05 p.m. ET

Inside Panthers numbers: The Panthers defense finds the football. Carolina is ranked first in sacks per game (4.5) and second in passes defended per game (6.2).

Inside Panthers roster: Kyle Allen faces by far his toughest assignment yet, against a dominant 49ers defensive line. Should the second-year passer fare even decently in this spot, it will be hard for Ron Rivera to bench him for Cam Newton. That said, when Newton was healthy to start 2018, he had the Panthers at 6-2 and looked comfortable in Norv Turner’s offense. A healthy Newton, free to beat defenses with his legs, raises Carolina’s ceiling. But the Newton of the past 11 months lowers the floor. This will not be an easy call, and Carolina may well be delaying it.

Inside 49ers numbers: San Francisco's defense can't play much better. It has allowed only 10 points over their three games coming out of the bye week. The 49ers have held opponents under 200 yards in each of those games, becoming the first team to do that in three straight games since the 2011 Texans. 

Inside 49ers roster: San Francisco paid up to acquire Emmanuel Sanders from Denver, and the 10th-year veteran immediately becomes Jimmy Garoppolo’s most reliable wideout. Sanders’ work under ex-49ers OC Rich Scangarello, whose system is derived from Kyle Shanahan’s, will make this transition easier. Sanders can work in the slot or out wide, and his 367 yards are nearly double any 49er wideout’s total. The run-oriented 49ers have not asked their quarterback (seven TD passes) to do too much, but that will change against stiffer competition.  

Oakland (3-3) at Houston (4-3), 4:25 p.m. ET

Inside Raiders numbers: Despite the Week 7 loss, Josh Jacobs took advantage of a mismatch against a bad Packers run defense, running for 124 yards on 5.9 yards per carry. Jacobs, ranked fifth with 92.3 rushing yards per game, is the first Raider with back-to-back 120-yard rushing games since Justin Fargas in 2007.

Inside Raiders roster: Jon Gruden’s purge of ex-GM Reggie McKenzie’s draft picks continues, with the Raiders sending 2017 first-rounder Gareon Conley to the Texans. Getting a third-round pick for an inconsistent cornerback could be viewed as a win. At the same time, the Raiders now have just one homegrown first-rounder on their roster from before 2018 – safety Karl Joseph, Oakland’s top 2016 pick. Just eight players acquired before 2018 remain. Gruden’s top cornerback pick in his second Raiders stay –- second-round rookie Trayvon Mullen -– will take Conley’s starting spot.

Inside Texans numbers: The Texans' defense must do better in crucial situations, as it ranks 27th in third-down conversion rate allowed (46 percent) and 30th in red-zone touchdown rate allowed (68 percent). The pass rush must step up near the goal line. Houston has just one sack in the red zone. 

Inside Texans roster: For the second straight year, the Texans acquired a player who will face his old team in his first game with Houston. Conley follows 2018 deadline addition Demaryius Thomas in that regard. But Conley cost Houston a third-round pick, and the GM-less franchise has given up an amazing amount of draft capital over the past three months. Houston has traded five first-, second- or third-round picks in that span and currently holds just one Day 1 or Day 2 choice in 2020 (a second-rounder). That is not an appealing draft war chest for a GM candidate.

Cleveland (2-4) at New England (6-0), 4:25 p.m. ET

Inside Browns numbers: The Baker Mayfield-led passing attack is ranked a highly disappointing 29th in pass offense EPA. That is mostly due to Mayfield's interception issues, as he leads the NFL in interceptions (11) and interception rate (5.6 percent). Cleveland could not ask for a more difficult matchup in Week 8. The Patriots' defense allows the lowest passer rating versus league average in history (-55.8, allowing 35.6 versus league average of 91.4).

Inside Browns roster: With Trent Williams perhaps off the table, Cleveland may be pivoting to Giants left tackle Nate Solder. A report surfaced linking the Browns to the ninth-year veteran, and it’s clear John Dorsey is not throwing in the towel on 2019. The second-year Browns GM erred by placing Mayfield behind suspect tackles Greg Robinson and Chris Hubbard. But taking on Solder’s contract -– which includes a staggering $19.5 million 2020 cap number -– would create another problem. The Browns, who hold $34M in cap space, rank 25th in Football Outsiders’ pass protection metric.

Inside Patriots numbers: The Patriots have three defensive shutouts and have not allowed more than 10 offensive points in a game. They have 17 more interceptions than touchdown passes allowed (18-to-1), the largest disparity through seven games in the Super Bowl era. Cleveland's Baker Mayfield has thrown an interception in seven consecutive games.

Inside Patriots roster: New England attempted to sign Mohamed Sanu in 2016 and tried to trade for him in April, and now that the eighth-year wideout is finally a Patriot, he stands to help an offense that lacks its usual firepower. The versatile 215-pound receiver should slot in alongside Julian Edelman and Josh Gordon while helping the Pats gain some of their coveted malleability. Dealing a second-round pick for a 30-year-old receiver who has never cleared 900 yards is steep, but with Tom Brady now 42 and on an expiring contract, there is no point in holding too much back.

Green Bay (6-1) at Kansas City (4-2), 8:20 p.m. ET

Inside Packers numbers: In Week 7 against Oakland, Aaron Rodgers finally had his breakout game, posting his first career perfect passer rating (158.3) in a five-touchdown outburst against the Raiders. He is ranked fifth in net yards per pass attempt (7.3). The Chiefs present Rodgers with a surprisingly difficult challenge, as Kansas City's defense ranks eighth in fewest net yards per pass attempt allowed (5.8). 

Inside Packers roster: When Packers brass decided on Matt LaFleur, he had one year of NFL play-calling experience -– and it ended with the Titans’ offense ranking 27th. After Rodgers’ dominant Week 7 showing, it’s becoming clear LaFleur’s concepts are working. Green Bay’s offense functioning at this level without Davante Adams, and with fellow starters Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Geronimo Allison battling injuries, shows improvement from a slow September. Considering the defense’s early-season work, this may be the most complete Packers team in at least five years.

Inside Chiefs numbers: Kansas City hopes it gets the 2016 version of Matt Moore as it awaits Patrick Mahomes' return. That season, Moore went 2-1 in three starts for the Dolphins as he threw eight touchdowns, averaged 8.3 yards per pass attempt, and posted a 106.5 passer rating. Green Bay's pass defense is susceptible to the big play, allowing the third-most yards per completion (13).

Inside Chiefs roster: While Frank Clark’s re-emergence certainly helps the Chiefs’ cause, the organization’s two supplementary defensive ends faring well in Denver was big for a defense that will be asked to contribute more without Mahomes. Alex Okafor and Emmanuel Ogbah, the former signed to a three-year deal worth $18 million and the latter landed via trade with Cleveland, have 6.5 combined sacks. Overall, Steve Spagnuolo’s pass defense has climbed to fourth in DVOA. His group, which still features a cornerback weakness, will need Clark’s wingmen to keep that pace going.

MONDAY

Miami (0-6) at Pittsburgh (2-4), 8:15 p.m. ET

Inside Dolphins numbers: In Week 7 at Buffalo, the Dolphins had season-highs in first downs (24), yards (381) and points (21). It was their second consecutive week setting new bests in first downs and points. Defensively, the Dolphins have allowed under 30 points in consecutive weeks, after giving up 30-plus in their first four games.

Inside Dolphins roster: Mark Walton’s ascent in Miami’s backfield points to an imminent Kenyan Drake trade. The fourth-year back has struggled behind the Dolphins’ replacement-level offensive line, but he was productive on better teams from 2017-18. The Dolphins received a fourth-round pick for Jay Ajayi in 2017, and the more elusive Drake only has 333 carries on his NFL odometer. Miami can still expect a Day 3 pick for Drake, but the former third-round choice should help another team’s backfield soon.

Inside Steelers numbers: Pittsburgh has forced a turnover on 22.1 percent of drives, best in the league. It could build on that number against Miami, whose 18.8 percent turnover rate is second worst. 

Inside Steelers roster: In trading Marcus Gilbert to Arizona, Pittsburgh broke up its offensive line group that played together (when healthy) from 2015-18. But the Steelers still grade as Football Outsiders’ top pass-protecting unit, and right tackle Matt Feiler is a key reason why. The Steelers called on Feiler to replace an injured Gilbert last season, but in his first time as the unquestioned starter, Feiler sits as a top-five tackle in Pro Football Focus' view. This is good news for a team that has its other four O-linemen on veteran contracts. Feiler is not due for unrestricted free agency until 2021.