#285: 2021 Week 8 NFL Preview (with Hal Bent)

1. Week 7 Takeaways -Me: House cleanings await the Bears and Broncos -Hal: Bengals with statement win, Gruden might have been holding the Raiders back all along, Kyle Pitts and Ja’Marr Chase are stars in the making 2. Truth or Exaggeration -NO team should trade for Deshaun Watson until his legal issues are resolved -The Panthers would be a MUCH better destination for Deshaun Watson than the Dolphins -Albeit with a 17-game caveat, Kyle Pitts will break the all-time rookie receiving yardage record for tight ends, which was set by Mike Ditka in 1961 with 1,076 -Ja’Marr Chase is already making an excellent argument to be considered a top-five WR in the NFL -Should the Raiders make the playoffs, they should HIGHLY consider promoting interim head coach Rich Bisaccia to full-time head coach -Even though they are still yet to win a game this season, the Lions are absolutely headed in the right direction under Dan Campbell -D’Ernest Johnson is going to permanently force his way into the Browns RB rotation over these next several weeks, making it a three-headed monster once Kareem Hunt gets healthy 3. Packers at Cardinals Preview -How do the Packers attack the Cardinals through the air minus Davante Adams, Allen Lazard AND Marquez Valdes-Scantling? -After seeing Kyler Murray take quite a pounding against the Texans, how should the Cardinals protect him better (other than better OL play) on a short week? -Key matchups and picks 4. Cowboys at Vikings Preview -Is this Vikings secondary significantly less fearsome than it has been in recent years and thus extremely vulnerable if the front four can’t get to Dak Prescott? -Even with Dalvin Cook fully healthy, should the Vikings still give around 25-33% of the touches to Alexander Mattison? -Key matchups and picks 5. Picks for all other Week 8 Games        -49ers at Bears        -Eagles at Lions        -Panthers at Falcons        -Dolphins at Bills        -Bengals at Jets          -Steelers at Browns        -Titans at Colts        -Rams at Texans        -Patriots at Chargers        -Jaguars at Seahawks        -Washington at Broncos        -Bucs at Saints        -Giants at Chiefs 6. Bold Predictions        -Hal: Lions win in OT on a blocked punt return for a TD        -DKrom: Aaron Rodgers throws for at least 350 yards and 4 TD’s, 150 of those yards and 3 of those TD’s to Randall Cobb 7. Challenge Flags        -DKrom: Patrick Mahomes….don’t go for the home run all the time        -Hal: Bengals, Rams, Bills….do NOT overlook your opponents, no matter how inferior they are