The big topic at the water cooler lately is, “who’s in your top four?” Ideally these would be two teams from each Conference, but for the sake of argument why not think about both scenarios. It’s impossible to leave the Los Angeles Rams out of the conversation, as they’re undefeated and through seven weeks, haven’t even really been tested by any of their opponents. So there’s 1 team from the Natioanl Football Conference.
The New Orleans Saints, having already gone through their bye week, are undefeated in their last five games and seem to be putting up points at-will. Funny how the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles are typically not in this conversation, at least through seven weeks of the season, especially not after losing to the Carolina Panthers in the way they did ™ giving up 21 unanswered points in the 4th quarter. Also worth nothing the Saints defense, despite picking up Eli Apple earlier this week, still is extremely liable, so other teams in contention for a spot in this arguement have to be the Vikings, Packers, and Panthers.
In the American Football Conference, the top two teams are easier to identify. The Kansas City Chiefs are another team with an amazing offense yet are liable to be have a 50-spot hung on them honestly against any team that finds a groove. Despite this, to ignore just how good their offense is would be disrespect to Andy Reid and this author would never commit such act. As far as the number two team ™ yeah, Pats.
Also for the record, if this scenario were, who are the best four football teams right now regardless of Conference, I’d easily go with (in-order) Rams, Patriots, Chiefs, Vikings. There are a lot of teams I liked pre-season (Jaguars, Steelers, 49ers) whose expectations have done a complete 180.
Game of this week to watch in Chicago (besides the Bears game at noon against the New York Jets, which unfortunately has turned into a must-win) on paper has to be Aaron Rodgers returning to the west coast to face the undefeated LA Rams. Give me the best quarterback of all-time against an undefeated team with a good defense and I’m set.
Week 8: October 25 — October 28, 2018
Bye teams: Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Chargers
Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans
@ NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
Thursday, 7:20pm CT, FOX
Miami Dolphins bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
Houston Texans bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
Philadelphia Eagles (away) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (home)
@ Wembley Stadium, London, England
Sunday, 8:30am CT, NFL Network
Philadelphia Eagles bars: DIAG, Mad River Bar & Grille
Jacksonville Jaguars bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
New York Jets at Chicago Bears
@ Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Sunday, 12:00pm CT, CBS
New York Jets bars: Country Club, Butch Mc Guire’s, Inc.
Chicago Bears bars: The Scout Waterhouse + Kitchen
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals
@ Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Sunday, 12:00pm CT, FOX
Tampa Bay Buccaneers bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
Cincinnati Bengals bars: Merkle’s Bar & Grill, Sully’s House Tap Room & Grill, Kincade’s
Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions
@ Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Sunday, 12:00pm CT, FOX
Seattle Seahawks bars: Brownstone Tavern, Scot’s, Newport Bar & Grille
Detroit Lions bars: Dugout Sports Bar & Grill, DIAG, Avenue Tavern, The Tin Lizzie, Grand River, O’Malley’s Pub
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
@ Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Sunday, 12:00pm CT, CBS
Denver Broncos bars: The Irish Oak, Riverview Tavern & Grill / Robey Pizza
Kansas City Chiefs bars: Sedgwick’s
Washington Redskins at New York Giants
@ MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Sunday, 12:00pm CT, FOX
Washington Redskins bars: Joe’s Bar on Weed Street
New York Giants bars: Trinity, Racine Plumbing
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
@ Heinz Field, North Shore Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Sunday, 12:00pm CT, CBS
Cleveland Browns bars: Vaughan’s Pub, John Barleycorn Wrigleyville, The Field House
Pittsburgh Steelers bars: Old Crow, Prost!, Riverview Tavern & Grill / Robey Pizza, Joe’s Bar on Weed Street, Lincoln Tap Room, Durkin’s Tavern
Baltimore Ravens at Carolina Panthers
@ Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Sunday, 12:00pm CT, CBS
Baltimore Ravens bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
Carolina Panthers bars: Timothy O’Toole’s
Indianapolis Colts at Oakland Raiders
@ Oakland Alameda Coliseum, Oakland, California
Sunday, 3:05pm CT, CBS
Indianapolis Colts bars: Sedgwick’s, Sluggers, Four Shadows
Oakland Raiders bars: Tavern on Littlefort, Finley Dunne’s Tavern
Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams
@ Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
Sunday, 3:25pm CT, FOX
Green Bay Packers bars: Trophy Room, Matilda, Ranalli’s, Waterhouse Tavern And Grill, Will’s Northwoods Inn, Gold Star Bar Inc, Kroll’s South Loop, Nisei Lounge
Los Angeles Rams bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
@ University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Sunday, 3:25pm CT, FOX
San Francisco 49ers bars: Grand River, Cheesie’s Pub & Grub
Arizona Cardinals bars: NFL Sunday Ticket Chicago Bars
New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings
@ U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sunday, 7:20pm CT, NBC
New Orleans Saints bars: Frontier, Fizz Bar & Grill
Minnesota Vikings bars: Redmond’s, Cubby Bear
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills
Monday, 7:15pm CT, ESPN
New England Patriots bars: Ironside Bar & Galley, Old Town Social, The Hidden Shamrock, Theory Sports Div Lounge, Tripoli Tavern, Kasey’s Tavern, Brendan’s Pub / Lower Broadway
Buffalo Bills bars: Delilah’s, Lincoln Station