Richard Graves goes up against the Bills Backers in NFL week eight

Image: After a win in week seven, Richard now takes on the Buffalo Bills UK fans

Week seven yielded an important victory for Sky Sports reporter Richard Graves who edged out the Patriots UK fan base, to move to a 2-3-2 record.

In week eight, Richard faces Matt Swain, who runs the UK Bills Backers Fan Club @BillsBackersUK. A win here would see him move to .500 for the season, primed for a second half play-off push.

Richard's 2016 Results

Richard UK Fan Base Season Record
v Jaguars 10-6 11-5 0-1
v Bengals 10-6 7-9 1-1
v Redskins 5-11 9-7 1-2
v Raiders 8-7 8-7 1-2-1
v Vikings 9-5 10-4 1-3-1
v Eagles 9-6 9-6 1-3-2
v Patriots 8-7 7-8 2-3-2

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans (Friday, 12.30am Sky Sports 1) 

Richard: The Houston Texans are the only team in the AFC South with a winning record but they've suffered three defeats themselves this season. Everyone else in the division has four, making this a hugely significant contest between the Jaguars and Titans.

In their most recent meeting last season, Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles had a huge day - throwing a career high five touchdown passes, three of them to wide receiver Allen Robinson. The problem is, he's only thrown nine in six games total this season and not one in the first half of a game this year. The slow starts are piling the pressure on the Jaguars young but talented defence and it's pressure their inexperienced unit is struggling to overcome. 

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Image: DeMarco Murray could be the key to victory for the Titans against division rival Jacksonville Jaguars

The Titans are also struggling to learn how to win but the positives are there. The running game is the strength of this team with DeMarco Murray looking something like the version we saw in Dallas two years ago, and second year QB Marcus Mariota appears to be slowly growing into his role. He enjoyed success against the Jaguars last year, throwing three touchdown passes and running in an 87 yard score when they last met.

With Jaguars defensive tackle Roy Miller out for the season with an achilles injury, the running defence will be an area of concern for Jacksonville and it could prove to be the deciding factor in this game. Until the Jaguars overcome this year's offensive woes, it's becoming difficult to back hem with any confidence. Titans

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Bills Backers: I see this as a close match up with it being a possibly one score game at the end. I can see the Titans taking this one, basing their game around the number two ranked rushing offence. Titans

Washington Redskins @ Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday, 1:00pm Sky Sports 3)

Richard: The final International Series game of 2016 takes place at Wembley but it likely takes place without top cornerback Josh Norman after he suffered a concussion in the Redskins' defeat to Detroit last week, and that could have a huge influence on this game. 

That in itself will give Washington a huge problem when it comes to covering star receiver A.J Green. When he plays well, the Bengals tend to win. He tormented the Cleveland Browns last weekend, making stunning catches and finishing with 169 receiving yards and a touchdown. 

Image: A.J Green had another big week against Cleveland, can he impress in London on Sunday?

Despite a shaky start to the season, Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins has played well in the last five weeks. Last weekend's loss to the Lions snapped a four game winning streak. In that time, Cousins has a passer rating of 99.2 and wide receiver Jamison Crowder is fast becoming one of the his biggest weapons - he now has three receiving touchdowns this year, as well as a punt returned for a score.

The problem is, the Redskins are erratic - often getting into good field position before being the architects of their own downfall. In Detroit it was running back Matt Jones losing fumbles which left them chasing the game, and Cousins has also been guilty of turning the ball over. 

Image: Kirk Cousins and the Redskins will hope for a bounce back victory this weekend at Wembley

Man for man, the Bengals are the more talented team and they're the more consistent performers. By the time they leave Wembley on Sunday, expect both teams to have a 4-4 record. Bengals

Bills Backers: I think that the Bengals will come out on top here. They have had a mixed season, but quarterback Andy Dalton will always have Green and Jeremy Hill to sweep their way to victory. If the Bengals defence can get pressure to Cousins and put him off his stride, Cincinnati should leave London with the win. Bengals

New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills (Sunday, 4:45pm Sky Sports 3)

Richard: The Patriots were playing pretty weak in September without Tom Brady. Now he's back, they're almost irresistible and they have a point to prove going into this game. It's only a month ago the Bills went into Gillette Stadium and kept New England off the scoreboard - that won't happen this weekend. 

The Bills are still reeling from a humiliating defeat in Miami when their defence was torn apart by Jay Ajayi, who ran for more than 200 yards on his own. Adding to Buffalo's woes, their own running back LeSean McCoy aggravated a hamstring injury and he must now be a serious doubt for this game. Throw into the equation injuries to receivers Marquise Goodwin and Robert Woods last Sunday as well - not to mention the long term absence of Sammy Watkins and you begin to wonder where the Bills offence will come from. Patriots

Bills Backers: My heart says the Bills will clean sweep the Pats, something that has not happened since 1999, but with question marks over McCoy and the depleted receiving core it will be a struggle on offence. Not to mention Brady is back and hasn't shown signs of any rust. It pains me to say it but I think the Patriots will get their revenge this weekend. Patriots

Image: Tom Brady is yet to lose a game since returning from his four game suspension

Green Bay Packers @ Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, 8:15pm Sky Sports 3)

Richard: Victory over NFC North rivals the Chicago Bears was as welcome for the Green Bay Packers as defeat was a surprise for the Atlanta Falcons at home to the San Diego Chargers last week. 

The Falcons remain the leaders of the NFC South with a 4-3 record fuelled by the number one ranked offence, leading the league in scoring with 32 points per game. For Green Bay's injury depleted secondary, this match up poses a tough test trying to keep super star receiver Julio Jones quiet, while keeping the dual threat of Devonta Freeman and Telvin Coleman in check. 

While they may not be openly discussing it, the form of quarterback Aaron Rodgers has also been a cause for concern in Green Bay this season. He hasn't been his usual clinical, accurate self and that's borne out by a relatively meagre 62.4% completion rate. Injuries to Eddie Lacy and James Starks have weakened their rushing attack and that has only serves to increase the weight of expectation on Rodgers. 

When these teams last met two years ago, it was a high scoring affair with the Packers coming out on top, 43-37. Expect plenty of points again, only this time a different outcome. Falcons

NFL Wembley: Ways to watch

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Bills Backers: Stopping the Falcons offence is easier said than done, and it will be a difficult task for Green Bay to emulate the performance of Seattle two weeks ago.

Without Lacy and possibly Starks, it will fall on Rodgers to have a big game, with the Falcons giving up an average of 300 yards to opposition quarterbacks. This will be a tough and close game, but my feeling is the balanced and potent Falcons offence will see them home. Falcons

Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys (Monday, 12:20am Sky Sports 3)

Richard: Who would have thought at the outset of training camp that this week eight match up would be between Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz? Not only that, but who would have then predicted that with those two QBs, this would be a game for the division lead?

Image: Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz has impressed in the first half of his rookie year

The Eagles were able to conquer the last remaining undefeated record when they overcame the Minnesota Vikings last weekend and once again their defence played a starring role. Only the Vikings and Seahawks have conceded fewer than the Eagles 88 points this season, and their +6 turnover differential is the 5th best in the league. 

The Cowboys' own defence has surprised many this season. Expected to be one of the worst in the league, it's currently ranked 7th in points allowed (17.8 per game) and in turnover differential (+4) but it's their offence which is the strength of the team. Rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott is the NFL's leading rusher with 703 yards, while Dak Prescott continues to improve every week. The Cowboys are riding a five game winning streak behind a dominant offensive line and unless the Eagles can find a way to beat Dallas in the trenches, it's difficult to see that winning streak ending in Philadelphia. Cowboys

Bills Backers: What a combination the Cowboys have at QB/RB in Prescott and Elliot, who have been a breath of fresh air for the franchise. In a battle of the two rookie passers, look for Dak to come out victorious, and Elliott to put the exclamation mark on the game. Cowboys

Image: Dak Prescott will continue to start for the Dallas Cowboys after their bye in week seven

Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears (Tuesday, 12:15am Sky Sports 1)

Richard: Not for the first time this season the Vikings are being asked to respond to adversity. They overcame the loss of QB Teddy Bridgewater a week before the season kicked off. They overcame the loss of star running back Adrian Peterson in week two. Now we'll see how they respond to their first defeat of the season after an anaemic offensive performance against the Eagles. 

Image: Jay Cutler returns from injury to lead the Bears against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night

Chicago have plenty of their own issues to deal with. Bryan Hoyer looked a lock to keep the starting QB job until he broke his arm in the loss to Green Bay so it's time to welcome back Jay Cutler. However making a return against the league's top ranked defence is a tall order. For that reason alone, Minnesota's poor offensive performance last week is not a real concern in this game. As he's done all season, quarterback Sam Bradford just needs to efficiently manage this unit while the Vikings defence will get opportunities to turn the game in Minnesota's favour. Vikings

Bills Backers: Chicago can't buy a win at this moment in time, and this week face a Vikings team who are looking to take make a statement after their loss the Eagles last week. I can't see the Bears getting a win, even with home advantage, and the Vikings will continue to lead the NFC North. Vikings

Tie-breaker! For the first time, our two teams have predicted the same results so it comes down to a final pick! Richard believes there will be five touchdowns in the game at Wembley, whereas the Bills Backers have gone for six.

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NFL Predictions - Week Eight

Richard Bills Backers
Jaguars @ Titans Titans Titans
Redskins @ Bengals Bengals Bengals
Patriots @ Bills Patriots Patriots
Cardinals @ Panthers Cardinals Cardinals
Lions @ Texans Lions Lions
Seahawks @ Saints Seahawks Seahawks
Chiefs @ Colts Chiefs Chiefs
Jets @ Browns Jets Jets
Raiders @ Buccaneers Raiders Raiders
Packers @ Falcons Falcons Falcons
Chargers @ Broncos Broncos Broncos
Eagles @ Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys
Vikings @ Bears Vikings Vikings
Tie-Breaker Five Touchdowns Six Touchdowns


 

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