Fansided

5 NFL teams on upset alert in Week 8

By Cody Williams

Oct 18, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) and Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman (23) at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) and Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman (23) at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 11, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap (96) against the Seattle Seahawks at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap (96) against the Seattle Seahawks at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Cincinnati Bengals

Several weeks ago, I swore off picking against the Cincinnati Bengals because all it was doing was painting me out to be a fool as they proved time and again to be a viable top-tier team this season. While their status as one of the league’s best and one of the remaining undefeated teams in the league is still in tact, I’m going against my word and putting the Bengals on upset alert against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The argument as to why the Steelers have a legitimate shot at knocking off the Bengals in Week 8 is almost entirely revolving around the fact that Ben Roethlisberger is returning to action this week after being out of action since Week 3 with an MCL injury. Not only is Big Ben substantially better for the Steelers at quarterback than Mike Vick or Landry Jones, but he’s also got his full complement of weapons around him for the first time all season as Le’Veon Bell’s first game back was in the game Roethlisberger was injured in and Martavis Bryant was still suspended at that time.

Moreover, this game is going to be played in Heinz Field. That’s a distinct home-field advantage to begin with for Pittsburgh, but with Roethlisberger coming back, the crowd in Pittsburgh should be even more raucous than normal. Despite how good he’s been this year, I don’t like the sound of that for Andy Dalton. It’s not a certainty, but the makings of the Bengals being upset this week are there.

Next: No. 4 Baltimore Ravens

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