NFL Week 8 Bold Predictions: Eagles finally score in first quarter, Jared Goff continues historic efficiency

Within the NFL, anything else can happen when the on-field motion is as hotly contested as it has been in 2024.

There were 58 games decided through seven numbers or fewer this season, the most through Life 7 of a season in NFL history, according to CBS Sports Research. As many as seven teams have had five or more games decided by seven issues or fewer: the Indianapolis Colts (seven), the Baltimore Ravens (5), the Cincinnati Bengals (5), the Cleveland Browns (5). , the Green Bay Packers (5), the Houston Texans (5) and the Los Angeles Rams (5).

What unexpected cases could fall ill in Life 8 given that the margins between winning and losing for seven weeks were closer than ever? Let’s take a look at five possible possibilities in the latest version of our bold NFL predictions from CBS Sports.

Jared Goff continues with record power against the Titans’ difficult crossover defense

The 2024 Detroit Lions are the only team to throw for more touchdowns (18) than incomplete passes (16) over a four-game span in a season since at least 1940 thanks to the historic power of quarterback Jared Goff. He has completed 83.5% of his passes (76-91) in each of his four extreme games since Life 3, which is the best over a four-game span in NFL history, according to CBS Sports Analysis. . His connection with Amon-Ra St. Brown during this run has been automated with the duo connecting on 25 of 26 goals, including an active streak of 21 direct completions.

Naturally, that could be a big part of the reason why Goff could be the fourth quarterback in NFL history with a passer rating of 140 or higher in three straight games joining Aaron Rodgers (2011), Hall of Fame. The famous Kurt Warner (1999) and Hall of Famer Roger Staubach (1971). Each of the three won the NFL MVP (Rodgers) or the NFL and Super Bowl MVP (Warner and Staubach).

Goff will struggle to maintain a final touch percentage around 80% against his Life 8 opponent in the Tennessee Titans, as his final touch percentage of 59.6% allowed this season is the fourth-lowest in the NFL. I’m betting it won’t change as Goff, St. Brown and Co. make their way to a high-scoring victory with Detroit’s quarterback finishing at least 80% of his throws.

Playground, a guess about Jared Goff’s accessories in DraftKings Sports Betting.

Eagles qualify in first quarter for first gear in 2024

Scoring in the first quarter for an NFL team, especially a playoff regular like the Philadelphia Eagles (4-2), will have to be a piece of cake. However, that hasn’t been the case: they have scored 0 points in the first quarter of six games this season. They are the only NFL team that has yet to score in the first quarter of this season.

A big explanation for why this is Philadelphia’s first-quarter turnover ratio of the opponent 3, which is the worst in the league this season with the Kansas Town Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers. Quarterback Jalen Hurts isn’t helping this purpose as he leads the NFL with 27 giveaways since 2023, but hasn’t thrown an interception in the last three games.

Breaking out of this first-quarter rut won’t be easy as the Bengals’ defense is heating up, allowing 10.5 points per game from Weeks 6-7, second-fewest in the NFL behind the top-ranked Eagles (9.5 problems according to with the match allowed). A vital explanation for why Pro Bowl edge rusher Trey Hendrickson’s totally pro-caliber games are. Hendrickson has consecutive games with 2.0 sacks, making him the first Cincy player with consecutive games of more than one sack since Antwan Odom in 2009. Cincinnati has been strong in the first quarter all season, giving up just 2.4 points. per game in the first quarter, the third fewest in the NFL this season.

That won’t be a problem on Sunday, as Philadelphia gets on the scoreboard in the first quarter of an hour of the game. Hurts is on a week to post a career-high in finishing touch percentage this season (67.8%, which currently ranks ninth best in the NFL), and Pro Bowl receiver AJ Brown has made a touchdown reception in all three games. has acted this season. He’s also been a bulky playmaker, averaging a career-high 20.3 yards per catch this season, fourth-most in the NFL. Hurts will be consolidated with Brown for a large number of games that end in Philadelphia entering the edge zone or at the destination of the minimum area to reach the leaderboard in the first quarter for the first speed in 2024.

Joe Mixon rushes to score in fifth straight game with Colts

Backup Joe Mixon is the centerpiece of the Houston Texans’ offense in 2024. He’s averaging the third-most yards per game (100.5) in the NFL this season, behind top-ranked Saquon Barkley (109.7) and Derrick Henry (124.7). ). . Houston also averages 9.8 more points per game (27.8) when playing compared to when not (18.0).

Mixon has had a special and rare streak of luck against the Texans Life 8’s opponent in the Indianapolis Colts: he has made a quick landing against them in four consecutive games, making him the first running back to do so since The Player of Jacksonville Jaguars professional bowler Maurice Jones-Drew in the 2006-2008 seasons. If he can get to the edge on Sunday, he will become the 1/3 player with a quick landing in five straight games against the Colts, joining Greg Bell (1984-1989) and Dominick Williams (2003-2005).

Statistically it is not likely to happen, given how rare the feat is. However, with Indianapolis possessing the second-worst run protection in the NFL (159.9), and Texans quarterback CJ Stroud coming off the worst game of his NFL career against the Packers in Life 7 ( passed for a career-low 86 yards), Mixon may have a long shot.

Take a look at the unpublished one. FanDuel promo code to bet on Joe Mixon accessories.

Garrett fails to list the capture in the fourth direct game

Three-time Cleveland Browns first-team All-Pro running back Myles Garrett, the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is a beast, of course. His 92.5 sacks since entering the league in 2017 as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft are second-most in the NFL at that pace, behind the Steelers’ top pro, TJ Watt,’s 101.0, and it’s a nice result. He started 2024 with four sacks in seven games.

On the other hand, none of the four have come in the last three weeks against Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. One would assume that streak could come to an end Sunday against Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. One reason Jackson loves to climb and lengthen plays with his toes is because his moderate throwing speed is 3.05 seconds, the ninth-longest in the NFL this season. The other is that Garrett has 6.5 sacks of Jackson in nine pro meetings.

Unfortunately for Garrett, that cross luck against Jackson will not continue on Life 8 on Sunday. The Ravens have allowed nine sacks on the season, the fewest of any team this season, and their 30.4% quarterback rush rate also ranks 10th best in the league. Jackson is filling the most efficient quarterback position ever, known by all NFL quarterbacks in passer rating (118.0) and rushing yards (455). He is the first certified quarterback to do so through Life 7 since Hall of Famer Steve Young in 1992, the first of two NFL MVP seasons. Garrett won’t take Jackson to the pasture to catch him on Sunday, and his unlikely drought will continue.

Josh Allen extends longest streak of career without INT against long Seahawks secondary

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen drew comparisons to Hall of Famer Brett Favre because they share the traits of having a right-arm bazooka and a transfer factor. Since joining the league in 2018, Allen ranks 1/3 in the league in touchdown passes (179), but in his first six years (2018-2023), his 78 interceptions led the NFL.

Fast forward to today, and Allen has played shutout football with 12 touchdown passes and no interceptions to start 2024. He is the 1/3 quarterback in NFL history with 12 or more touchdown passes and denial of interceptions during the first seven games of a season. along with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles (2013) and Kansas Town Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (2017). Allen’s consecutive games without an interception is the longest streak by a point guard quarterback in Costes history.

He’ll be challenged to rack up that run entering Life 8 against one of the NFL’s longest cornerback duos in the Seattle Seahawks tandem of Riq Woolen (six feet, 4 inches tall with a 33 5/8 arm inches). ) and Devon Witherspoon (six feet tall with a 31 1/4-inch arm). Alternatively, Allen will stay away from the numerous obstacles in Seahawks senior coach Mike Macdonald’s defensive scheme and keep the interception open on Sunday.