Heading into Week 8 there definitely seemed to a losing trend for NFL teams coming off a bye week. But after NFL action this week, that trend seems to have been reversed. Prior to Week 8, teams coming off a bye had a combined record of 3-9. In Week 8 action, bye week teams posted a 5-1 record.

The five teams coming off a bye that won in Week 8 include the Buffalo Bills (beat Redskins 23-0), Cincinnati Bengals (beat Seahawks 34-12), New York Giants (beat Dolphins 20-17), Philadelphia Eagles (beat Cowboys 34-7) and San Francisco 49ers (beat Browns 20-10). The New England Patriots were the lone loser (loss to Steelers 17-25).
More on Week 8 Action Reverses Bye Week Trend

The NFL football season runs for 20 consecutive weeks, 17 for the regular season and three postseason games. Then we all have to sit and wait two weeks for the Superbowl to be played.  This two week lag leads to a media gap and takes the momentum out of the biggest sports game in the world.

Is there a possible solution to the problem?  Why not have the college football championship game played on the weekend before Superbow Sunday?  This would actually add more hype and more interest than any other time two week period in all of sports.  Can you image the media attention, the hype and the buzz it would create!

I know what many of you are thinking! What is wrong with the way things are now?

First of all, the NFL is a great organization and it’s product is superb, but making this one change would benefit the NFL, college football and all football fans in general.

Secondly, the week before the Superbowl is probably the weaking week in all of sports. I mean, after 20 consecutive weeks of anticipation we have to put everything on hold and twittle our thumbs for an additional week before the big game. 

Another issue is that all of the NFL storylines are played out. Aren’t you tired of stories about players’ pets and other totally ridiculous stories?

But perhaps the bigger issue is the way college football determines it’s national championship.  Instead of head to head competition in an NFL playoff like setting, a statistical scoring system determines who plays in the “daddy of the them all” to determine the national champion. 

Some say that the system is flawed because it is suspect to bias and political pressures from college bowl committees.  In fact college bowls are big business.  Adn after 12 continuous weeks of college football, they go on vacation for a month before the bowl games are played.

These weeks of layout take the momentum away from the teams that were on a roll. In addition, it is a one game situation, where momentum is taken away.  At least with a college football playoff scenario, played over the first few weeks of January, climaximg in the national championship game, the weekend before the Superbowl would add vigor and life to both the NFL and college football.

What do you think?

NFL Week 9 - Game To Watch Green Bay vs Tennessee

Green Bay Packers (4-3) at Tennessee Titans (7-0)

GAME INFO
November 2, 2008
Location: LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee
Time: 1:00 P.M. EST
TV: FOX

SPREAD
Tennessee @ home giving (-4.0). The Under/Over is 40.5
Odds come from Las Vegas Mirage a/o 11/2 6:00 a.m. EST

Green Bay is 4-3 against the spread (ATS) (2-1 as Visitors) while Tennessee is 7-0 (ATS) (4-0 at Home)
Green Bay is 5-1-1 ATS Over/Under (ATS O/U) while Tennessee is 4-3 (ATS O/U)

HOT ODDS TRENDS
Green Bay Packers
9-1 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in November.

Tennessee
7-0 ATS in their last 7 games on grass.
7-0 ATS in their last 7 games following a S.U. win.
7-0 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games.
6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.
5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.

TEAM STANDINGS
The Green Bay Packers (4-3) are tied for first place with the Chicago Bears (4-3)in the NFC North. They are followed by the Minnesota Vikings (3-4) and the lowly Detroit Lions (0-7). They are coming off there BYE week.
The Packers are averaging 25 points a game while giving up 22.

The Tennessee Titans is the only undefeated team left in the NFL. They are 7-0. 4-0 at home and only 1-0 against the NFC. The three teams behind them in the AFC South, the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and the Jacksonville Jaguars are all 3-4. The Titans kept their undefeated season alive by defeating the disappointing Indianapolis Colts @ home by a score of 31-21
The Titans are averaging 25 points a game while giving up only 12.

MOMENTUM
Kerry Collins has been asked to pass frequently in prior matchups with the Green Bay Packers. He isn’t likely to have to carry that much of a burden this time.

The Titans, who continue to get efficient play from Collins, look to remain the NFL’s last unbeaten team when they face the Packers on Sunday.

Tennessee (7-0) has been winning with dominating defense, a strong running game and sound decision-making from Collins. The veteran is averaging 28.0 passes in his six starts, completing 58.2 percent of them with three touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s gone five straight games without being sacked, and has been sacked once in 170 attempts on the season.

Collins, though, was asked to throw the ball more than usual Monday night against AFC rival Indianapolis, and went 24-for-37 with 193 yards and no interceptions in a 31-21 Titans win. He needed to put the ball in the air with the Colts using four linebackers to slow a Tennessee ground game that set a franchise record with 332 yards rushing against Kansas City the previous week.

“We can’t be happy,” Collins said. “We’ve got to put this game behind us and focus on the next game. I think that’s what allowed us to put this streak together is the fact that regardless of what happened the week before, we are able to put it behind us and move on to the next opponent.”

That performance, however, was still a far cry from what was required from Collins in his last two games against Green Bay (4-3). He set a career high with 59 pass attempts - which he has since matched - for the New York Giants in a 34-25 loss Jan. 6, 2002, and put the ball in the air 53 times for Carolina in a 37-30 defeat Sept. 27, 1998.

Those were two of the three highest pass-attempt totals of Collins’ career, but he might not come close to approaching that in this contest with the Packers struggling to stop the run.

Green Bay is allowing 141.9 yards per game on the ground. The Titans, meanwhile, have averaged 145.0 rushing yards a contest.

The running back combination of Chris Johnson (626 yards, four touchdowns) and LenDale White (327 yards, 10 TDs) has helped Tennessee score 30 or more points in four of its last five games, its best stretch since scoring at least 30 in five straight early in 2003.

The outstanding rushing attack has complemented the NFL’s best scoring defense. Tennessee has allowed 87 points, 23 fewer than Pittsburgh and Baltimore (110).

“Each week every team gets an opportunity to go out and play. We’ve had seven opportunities and won each of our games,” Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck said. “No one expects us to have an undefeated season, and that’s great, but we know every time we step on that field we have a shot to beat anyone we play.”

The Titans, though, will be facing a Packers team that has averaged 27.7 points per game, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers is healthier after a bye week. Rodgers got a chance to rest after gutting out three straight games with a sprained right shoulder.

Rodgers did manage to play well during that span, completing 70.5 percent of his passes for 707 yards and six TDs with one INT. He completed 75.0 percent (21-for-28) of his attempts for 186 yards and a TD in a 34-14 victory over the Colts on Oct. 19, as Green Bay moved into a tie with Chicago atop the NFC North.

The bye also gave the Packers defense a chance to get healthier. Cornerback Al Harris (spleen) and safety Atari Bigby (hamstring) appear ready to return from injuries.

Harris, coming off his first Pro Bowl last season, was injured in the Packers’ Sept. 21 loss to Dallas, and initially there was concern that he might be out for the season.

Bigby’s hamstring injury has been overshadowed by Harris’ absence, but the safety’s physical presence was an important part of the Packers’ success last season. Bigby has missed five games.

“Obviously I think every team in the league has to deal with injuries,” Green Bay defensive end Aaron Kampman said. “How you weather that, in a lot of ways, factors into the success of your season. Now, we obviously had a little skid there. Didn’t handle it the way we would have liked to. There’s a number of variables for that. But that’s in the past. We’ve got a two-game winning streak here, and we want to make it three.”

This will be first meeting between the Packers and Titans since Oct. 11, 2004, when Tennessee won 48-27 at Green Bay.
The Dallas Cowboys started the season strong, winning their first 3 games. Since then, they are 2-3.

KEY INJURIES (a/o 11/2)
Green Bay Packers
DOUBTFUL:
Linebacker Desmon Bishop (hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE:
Wide Receiver JOrdy Nelson (Ankle)
Tack Chad Clifton (knees), Defensive End Jason Hunter (hamstring), Linebacker
PROBABLE:
Danny Lansanah (hamstring), Quarterback Aaron Rodgers (right shoulder) and Cornerback Charles Woodson

Tennessee Titans
OUT:
Linebacker Colin Alfred (groin)
QUESTIONABLE:
Cornerback Chris Carr (back), Defensive End Kyle Vanden Bosch (groin)
PROBABLE:
Defensive End Dave Ball (concussion), Running Back Quinton Ganther (concussion)

KEYS TO THE GAME:
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers faces a Titans defense that kept the Colts’ big gains to a minimum and essentially took away Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison. Titans RB Chris Johnson could have success against a Packers defense that ranks toward the bottom of the league in giving up an average of 141.9 rushing yards per game.

PICK PREDICTION: Packers 21 Titans 20
The Titans hadn’t played a worthy opponent until last week against the Colts. And if it weren’t for some key interceptions of Peyton Manning, things would have been completely different. The Packers are coming off a BYE week and are well rested.