The Philadelphia Eagles have been dominating the NFC East for some time now. There was a ripple in the calm waters recently when the team suddenly dropped a couple of games, but those fears have been put aside and the team is, once again, in control within the division. Washington is coming off a much needed bye week after the club lost, 24-14, to a winless Carolina Panthers' team. 

   Final Analysis: Philly is too strong for most teams and certainly has the edge over a Commanders' group that just has not been able to find ways to consistently win games. Philadelphia 30-17. 

SUNDAY 1:00 PM: LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (1-7) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (4-3-1)

G-Men Showing Signs of Getting in a Groove. Chargers Unhappy With QB Herbert

    The New York Giants began their season a bit shaky and doubt was beginning to creep in. A loss two weeks ago to the reinvigorated Vikings, 31-24, did little to alleviate the anxiety. However, the team was able to win its third game out of its last four with a big win over the AFC West leading Denver Broncos last week and that has the team poised to make at least a wild card run. The Chargers were thumped by the Raiders, 37-11, leading to the benching of QB Justin Herbert in favor of Notre Dame rookie Riley Leonard. Leonard proved mostly ineffective and the team's 195 rushing yards was, mostly, window dressing stats in the second half. The running game, though, has been pretty solid for the Bolts, but the attack has not been consistent and the defense has not been good enough to keep the team in games.

   Final Analysis: The Giants' defense has slowly risen back into the top 10 and should continue trending that way. The effectiveness of the D should allow the team to move more to its desired style of a ball possession and punishing run game combined with a game management passing scheme. New York 26-16.

 SUNDAY 1:00 PM: DENVER BRONCOS (5-2) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (4-3)

Showdown at Arrowhead

    This is, arguably, the biggest game Denver has played in many years. A win in KC would secure first place within the division and push the lead over the Chiefs to two full games. The team is coming off a loss to the Giants with the Broncos going 2-2 over their last four outings after starting the season off going 3-0. The Chiefs might be rounding into form. After losing to Baltimore, 34-20, the team has run up back-to-back romps over the Tennesse Titans (38-22) and Dallas Cowboys (37-17). The team has looked a lot like the club that won the title a season ago as HB Isaiah Pacheco destroyed the Dallas' defense to the tune of 179 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns and QB Patrick Mahomes zipped the ball through the air for 299 yards passing and 2 more scores. Backup Kalel Mullings added 97 yards on 14 tries as the Chiefs rolled up a stunning 301 yards rushing! The rush defense, though, was not overly impressive as Cowboys' rookie Dylan Sampson ran for 141 yards on 27 carries. KC's defense did shut down Dak Prescott sacking him 6 times, picking him off once, and limiting him to a 50% (15-30) completion rate day. Prescott would finish with a season low 129 yards passing.

   Final Analysis: Denver has shown it can win this type of game, but the team may have its hands full if the Chiefs play to the level they have over the past two games. The Broncos' defense has been up and down much of the season and will need to be on its A game in this one. Kansas City 27-22.

SUNDAY 1:00 PM: CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-7) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (5-2)

Panthers Abandon Sanders? Dolphs Look to Take Over in AFC East

   The excitement in the Chalotte air was buzzing when the team drafted Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders with the 5th overall selection in this year's PFL draft. However, as time has elapsed, the Panthers have become less and less confident in the team's ability to protect the rookie enough to succeed in the passing game. Last week the team stopped passing the ball completely, after Sanders was sacked 6 times in 12 dropbacks, and went almost exclusively to the running game. HB Chuba Hubbard would barrel forward 40 times for 168 yards in the club's, 21-6, loss to the high flying Atlanta Falcons. In the two games versus the Falcons, both losses, Sanders has completed 13 of 27 pass attempts for 141 yards and 15 sacks! Rookie LT Will Campbell, who was drafted 9th overall out of LSU and was widely viewed as an excellent choice to be Sanders' blindside protector has been a complete mess allowing a staggering 19 sacks in his first 8 games in the PFL! That total is the third most allowed by any LT in the league. Miami is right on the heels of the Patriots in the AFC East and seem to be trending towards a divisional crown. They eased past the Bengals, 28-24, last week while New England was upset by the ascending Buffalo Bills, 37-21. Miami's defense is giving up just 17.7 PPG and the team has a +3 turnover margin compared to Carolina's -5 ratio.

   Final Analysis: Carolina seems disheartened with their offense. The defense has played pretty well much of the year, but the offensive impotence has remained despite rejecting Bryce Young and going with Sanders. Miami is a dangerous team with a defense that is playing solidly. Miami 28-15.

 1:00 PM: DETROIT LIONS (1-6-1) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (4-3-1)

Vikes, Coming Off Big Back-to-Back Ws, Surging in NFC North!

    Don't sleep on the Minnesota Vikings folks. After dumping both the New York Giants and the undefeated Green Bay Packers last week, 24-15, the team is on a roll. They will be heavy favorites in their matchup this week versus Detroit and then get their bye week. They do have a rugged back half of their season on tap, but the schedule is also loaded with opportunities to make some serious noise in the NFC. The Lions, still, are without ownership and keep paying the price for it.

   Minnesota was able to confuse the Packers' offense all game long last week. The defensive schemes allowed the Vikings to shut down both the top level running game of Green Bay as well as the passing of QB Jordan Love. Love's 55 QBR was the worst he has posted over the past two seasons, while rookie sensation HB Nicholas Singleton saw his streak of 100+ yard rushing games halted with just 80 yards on 24 carries (3.33 YPC)!

   Final Analysis: The Vikings are playing excellent ball at the moment and should cruise here. NO LINE

1:00 PM: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1-6) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (6-2)

Falcons Closing in on NFC South Title. Colts In Free Fall?

   Last year the Colts came out of nowhere to make it to the playoffs and then shock the Miami Dolphins. This season, though, has a decidedly different feel to it and the play of several AFC newcomers could lock the team out of any playoff window. At this stage in the season, any more losses could signal the beginning of the end for Indy. The team has moved much more towards a passing team with Anthony Richardson heaving it around the field and the running game has taken a serious back seat despite having one of the top running backs in football, Jonathan Taylor. After averaging 22 carries and 76 YPG in his first three games, Taylor's workload has been reduced to 11.5 carries per game and just 31.75 YPG! Richardson, for his part, has been sacked 52 times and tossed 6 interceptions compared to just 10 TD throws on the year. The Falcons have been winning with a solid defense that leads the league with 13 takeaways! QB Malik Willias has only been sacked 25 times all season while completing 71% (155-218) of his passes. Only Green Bay's Jordan Love (19) and Dallas' Dak Prescott (19) have been sacked les than Willis.

   Final Analysis: Indianapolis and Atlanta have similar type quarterbacks. However, the Falcons use their tailback, Bijan Robinson, quite a bit while the Colts have been trending more and more away from using Taylor. Atlanta 24-18. 

1:00 PM: CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-6) AT BUFFALO BILLS (5-3)

Sinking Cinci Faces Barrelling Bills

   A long history of second-half surges is going to have to play itself out, yet again, if the Bengals hold out any realistic odds of making the post-season party. They are coming off another hard luck loss, 28-24, to the Miami Dolphins. The offense has scored 15 or fewer points in seven of eight games this season and that has put a nearly impossible burden on a defense that has, quite frankly, played good enough to give the team an opportunity to win most weeks. QB Joe Burrow has been sacked 71 times due, mostly, to being put into far too many predictable passing situations as the running game has been dreadful. The backfield, featuring rookie HB Ja'Quinden Jackson, has been responsible for a meager 2 rushing touchdowns on the season. The Bills finally broke through last week and upset the New England Patriots in convincing fashion, 37-21! The win was the team's third out of its last four games and has them sitting right on the doorstep of both the playoffs and first place within the division. The turnaround can be attributed to the team's ability to get QB Josh Allen enough pass protection to be effective as well as a solid running game led by HB James Cook. Cook raced through the Patriots' defense last week for 201 yards and 2 touchdowns on 31 carries. He leads the AFC in rushing with 866 yards and 7 TDs while averaging 5 YPC!

   Final Analysis: Two teams that appear to be heading in opposite directions. The Bengals' lack of scoring punch should allow the Bills to play a more conservative game that plays well to their running style and pass protecting schemes. Buffalo 27-16.

1:00 PM: CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-6) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-1)

Can Browns Stun Wounded Pack?

    The Browns waltz into Lambeau Field to take on a Packers' team that is coming off a dismal, 24-15, loss to an inspired Minnesota Vikings' squad. Cleveland played tremendous run defense last week versus the Pittsburgh Steelers allowing a scant 14 yards on the ground! That is a huge number when facing a Packers' team that leads the NFC in rushing with rookie HB Nicholas Singleton the PFL's top runner so far (977 yards). If the Browns can shut down the Green Bay running game, they have a terrific opportunity to pull off the upset. A big problem, though, is Cleveland's propensity for turning the ball over. Their 12 giveaways, combined with a defense that has just 3 takeaways, has led to a league worst -9 turnover margin, while the Packers are tied for the league lead with just 2 giveaways all season long. Green Bay is 4th in the league with 55 sacks and the defense is yielding a league low 12 PPG. That, obviously, does not bode well for a Browns' team that is scoring at a 15.6 PPG clip and is one of three PFL teams without a rushing touchdown.

   Final Analysis: Green Bay will be fired up coming off the bad loss last week. The offense really struggled for the first time this year, but the defense played well again. Not sure the Browns can score enough to stay with the Packers. Green Bay 28-18.

GAME OF THE WEEK

4:05 PM: PITTSBURGH STEELERS (6-2) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (7-0)

BITTER RIVALS MEET IN MAJOR CONFRONTATION!

   The Pittsburgh Steelers have battled their way into a big time game against their top rival, the Baltimore Ravens. After starting the season at 1-2, the defense was being criticized for under-achieving. Since then, however, the staunch Steeler D has rebounded with a vengeance. Pittsburgh has reeled off five consecutive wins behind a defense that has held all five foes to 14 or fewer points! At the same time, rookie QB Quinn Ewers has been playing precisely as the franchise had hoped. The ex-Texas Longhorn has completed an amazing 78.8% (123-156) of his pass attempts during the winning streak with 7 touchdowns, 1 interception, and just 15 sacks! The ground game still has not been very good, however, with top back Najee Harris averaging a dreadful 2.9 YPC! Speedsters Rashid Shaheed and Calvin Austin have been tough to stop. Shaheed (96 speed) leads the team with 49 receptions, while Austin (95 speed) is averaging 16.1 YPC. The lack of a running game, though, could prove fatal versus the powerful Ravens. Baltimore's defense is allowing just 31.29 YPG against the run. That stat is forcing teams to the air allowing the defense to really get after the quarterback (66 sacks). 

   Both teams can score, but the Ravens are one of just two AFC teams (Denver is the other) averaging over 30 PPG (31.1 PPG). In the "hard to believe" category, Ewers actually has a higher QBR than Baltimore's Lamar Jackson! Ewers checks in with a 119.6 QBR compared to Jackson's 116.5. Ewers has thrown 15 TD passes with 3 picks while Jackson has 18 TD passes and 3 picks.

   Final Analysis: Neither team has shown much ability to run the ball effectively. Derrick Henry (3.0 YPC) has not been much better than Harris. The two QBs have been playing at about the same level. The Steelers' defense has been playing great recently. However, if there is a slight difference, it has to be the fact the Ravens have 8 takeaways and a +5 turnover margin compared to Pittsburgh's 4 takeaways and -1 TO ratio. Baltimore 25-19. 

4:05 PM: TENNESSEE TITANS (3-4) AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (3-5)

Two Cold Teams in Hot Water...

    This is a matchup between two teams that are heading in the wrong direction. The Titans are entering this contest with back-to-back losses in which the defense gave up a whopping 83 points! LA has lost three in a row and their defense has surrendered some 82 points over its last two outings! Obviously, defense, or lack of it, has been a major culprit in the demise of these two franchises. 

   While the Titans' defense has come under heavy criticism, the offense, in particular the passing of QB Will levis, has to bare some of the blame as well. Levis has tossed 9 picks on the season (second most in the league) leading to a team -7 turnover margin (Third worst in the PFL). The Rams have gotten decent play out of QB Matt Stafford and RB Kyren Williams, but the defense is dead last in the league allowing 2536 yards and 317 YPG against the pass...

   Final Analysis: The absence of top defense will almost guarantee a shootout styled game. Levis should find room to pass vs the porous LA secondary, but he has to avoid the big turnover. The Rams can score and have been involved in a few up and down type games already. A wild one seems likely. Los Angeles 36-32.

4:15 PM: NEW YORK JETS (1-6) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (5-2)

Raiders Look to Pillage AFC West. Jets Seeking Answers

  The Vegas Raiders find themselves in a vurtual tie atop the AFC West following Denver's loss to the Giants last week. They have big time wins over the Giants, Chiefs, and Eagles, but have also suffered losses to the Broncos and a big upset to the Cleveland Browns on their resume. In short, the Raiders are a dangerous team with more than enough flaws to lose on any given weekend. New York has dropped six in a row since their season opening win over the New Orleans Saints. Rookie QB Jalen Milroe does look like the future in Jet-Land and backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen form a good, young backfield. The Raiders answer with rookie QB Cam Ward, who ranks 2nd in the PFL with a stirling 127.6 QBR, and rookie tailback Omarion Hampton.

   Final Analysis: The Jets have had problems scoring, averaging just 16.9 PPG, compared to the Raiders' 28.7 PPG resume. In addition, Vegas is giving up 21.1 PPG while the Jets have been allowing teams to score at a 33.57 PPG rate. Las Vegas 27-20.

4:15 PM: DALLAS COWBOYS (4-4) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-2-1)

Pokes-Niners in Crucial Tangle

   While there is still quite a bit of season left, the reality is this matchup could prove pivotal. Dallas has been a bit of a yo-yo team this season and just seems to have not quite gotten it all together yet. They were trampled by the Kansas City Chiefs last week, 37-17, as KC rumbled for 301 yards on the ground! The run defense has been a worrisome spot much of the year, but the Cowboys now face a San Fran team that usually absconds from running the ball in favor of letting QB Brock Purdy heave it all over the field. Purdy has already posted four games where he has tossed 4 TD passes and he has recorded three games where he has thrown for over 400 yards! He leads the PFL with 21 TD passes and is tops in the NFC with 2493 yards. 

   Final Analysis: San Francisco leads the league in scoring (33.6 PPG) and is tied atop the league with a +7 turnover margin due to a defense that ranks second in both takeaways (12) and interceptions (9). Dallas is right there with 12 takeaways of their own and a +5 TO ratio. However, Dallas seems much more willing to run the football with rookie HB Dylan Sampson and QB Dak Prescott does not absorb many sacks (25). The ability, or willingness, to run the ball has the Cowboys with the third best 3rd down conversion rate (42%) in the league. Do see this one being a case where the Niners are probably going to have success throwing the football. However, if Dallas can stay patient, run the football a bit, and avoid the big mistake, they can win this one. Nonetheless, San Fran has scored 30+ points in six straight games, while the Cowboys have exceeded 30 points just once all year. San Francisco 31-23.

 8:20 PM: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (4-4) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4-4)

Have Seahawks Stabilized? Bucs Go Forward Without Leadership 

   The Seattle Seahawks played, arguably, their best overall game last week as they demolished the Tennessee Titans, 45-13. HB Kenneth Walker ran for 115 yards and 4 rushing touchdowns and the defense mauled Titan QB Will Levis for 14 sacks and 3 interceptions led by star sophomore DE Byron Murphy's 4.5 traps. Tennessee, literally, opted to not even bother to run the ball with HB Tony Pollard rushing just 3 times for 19 yards! The Bucs are now without ownership, so it remains to be seen what their future holds.

   Final Analysis: When Seattle can run the ball, stop the run and get after the quarterback, and QB Geno Smith can game manage, they are tough to beat. They get a rudderless Bucs' team this week. NO LINE

    The Arizona Cardinals have been flying under the radar for much of the season. However, they come into this one with an offense that is averaging 29.5 PPG and an unforeseen running game that is churning out over 130 YPG paced by RB Trey Benson who comes into this one with 761 yards rushing! And, on the defensive side of the ball, consider that the Cardinals are only giving up 18.71 PPG with 8 interceptions! QB Kyler Murray has thrown just 2 picks all season long and has recorded three 300+ yardage games over his last four outings! And, as one last note of significance, top WR Marvin Harrison will return this week from an injury. The Jags have been good at times and not so good at other times. The club seems almost obsessed with throwing the ball, over and over, to WR Brian Thomas who has three double-digit reception games to his credit. That total is more than the rest of the receiving corps combined with only WR Christian Kirk posting a double-digit performance this season. The Jags' defense has been a bit under-rated coming in with a league high 74 sacks and allowing only 18.25 PPG. 

   Final Analysis: As stated, Jacksonville has been a bit topsy turvy this season, They have gone 5-0 in games in which they have tallied 26+ points in a game, but they have gone 0-3 in contests where they have put up 21 or less points. This one could get down to basic numbers. Can the Cards hold the Jags down? Yes. Arizona 24-22.