It looks like the Chicago Bears may have finally figured out how to use quarterback Justin Fields. On Monday night, he carried the ball 12 times on designed runs, picking up 55 yards and converting five first downs. Both of those numbers were career highs. This freed him up to throw out of the pocket, where he was 6 of 7 for 104 yards and a score. The Bears broke a three-game losing streak by blowing out New England, turning a 14-10 deficit into a 33-14 laugher. Mac Jones went to the bench for the Patriots in the second quarter, and Bailey Zappe led two quick scoring drives, staking the Pats to that 14-10 lead, but the lack of productivity in the second half means that the Patriots have a real QB controversy going into next week’s matchup against the impressive New York Jets. Which games should you include in your NFL sports betting next week? Don’t miss our suggestions.
NFL News: Must-Bet Games for Week 8
→ Thursday, October 27
Baltimore Ravens (-1.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (O/U 45)
(8:15 pm ET, Prime Video)
The Ravens continue to build leads…and then look shaky the rest of the way. They led the Cleveland Browns by double digits on Sunday and then watched the Browns close within three points. It took a blocked field goal and a strip-sack on the last game of regulation to end the Browns’ last offensive drive and secure a 23-20 win. The Ravens are now tied with Cincinnati for the AFC North lead with identical 4-3 records. It doesn’t help that the Ravens keep having to cycle through featured tailbacks. J.K. Dobbins just went on injured reserve two weeks ago, and last week it was Kenyan Drake providing a solid running game, but this week it was Gus Edwards. Luckily, the Ravens have the most reliable kicker in the game in Justin Tucker.
Tampa Bay started the 2022 campaign with a 3-1 record but has slid to 3-4 after an embarrassing 21-3 loss at Carolina on Sunday. It took until the fourth quarter for the Buccaneers to get that field goal, on a day when Tom Brady found Mike Evans wide open for a deep ball, only for Evans to bobble the ball away. The Buccaneers still have a stout running defense, and you have to think it wouldn’t take much for this talented passing group to get it back together. Also, the Ravens have spent the season squandering big leads – in each of their three losses, Baltimore has led by double figures at some point in the game. But can the Buccaneers take advantage? Given the problems that Lamar Jackson has with ball security and accuracy when under duress, I think Tampa Bay can sneak the cover on the short week. Buccaneers to cover.
→ Sunday, October 30
N.Y. Giants (+3) at Seattle Seahawks (45.5)
(4:25 pm ET, FOX)
The Seattle Seahawks have the best record in the NFC West right now, at 4-3. The Rams (3-3) had a bye last week, and San Francisco and Arizona are both 3-4. The Seahawks welcome another surprising team this week as the 6-1 New York Giants come to town. The Giants are just one of three teams in the NFC with zero or one losses (Philadephia is unbeaten, and Minnesota is 5-1 after their bye), and the Giants have taken down such impressive foes as the Green Bay Packers and the Baltimore Ravens. To be sure, the Giants have benefited from some luck this year; in Week 1, they scored a last-minute touchdown and two-point conversion to take a late lead and also watched the Titans miss a last-second field goal. In Week 7, they came back to take a lead over Jacksonville, but they needed to make a tackle inside the one-yard line to keep the Jaguars from taking the lead back with a game-ending touchdown. None of their wins have come by more than eight points, but they have made the most of their chances. Saquon Barkley has run for at least 100 yards in five of the team’s seven games, and despite the lack of a true #1 wide receiver, quarterback Daniel Jones has been efficient with the ball and avoided turnovers.
Quarterback Geno Smith has revived the Seattle offense; in three of their last four games, they have scored at least 32 points. Kenneth Walker III has emerged as a legitimate RB1 after the injury to Rashaad Penny; Walker has run for 353 yards in the last three games, averaging 6.78 yards per carry. The Seahawks did lose wide receiver D.K. Metcalf to a knee injury last week, but the diagnosis is still pending. The defense has forced two takeaways in five consecutive games and has posted 10 sacks over the last three contests. Given the Seahawks’ dynamic offense, I see them handing the Giants their second loss. Seahawks to win and cover.
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