Views from 400’s Week 8 Thursday Night Football Roundtable

Every Thursday, the guys from Section 400 are here to answer the biggest questions heading into the Thursday Night Football game.

In this week’s roundtable, the guys talk Baker Mayfield, the struggling Bills, best bets, the horrendous NFC South, and more.

Here is what Section 400 writers Brian Hauch, Jack Albanese, and Matt Kolen have to say ahead of Thursday’s game between the Bucs and Bills.

Mild Buffalo

Brian Fluharty/USA TODAY

After two straight sizzlin’ hot seasons, the Bills haven’t looked like the elite version of themselves for most of 2023. Are you worried about Josh Allen and Co.?

BH: There is an old adage about every sport. If you are going to struggle, you better struggle early. I think Buffalo will be fine, but I am slightly concerned after last week’s loss to a HORRENDOUS Patriots team.

JA: Something happened to these Bills in London. Since their loss to my Jags across the pond, the Bills have only one once, and it was against Daniel Jones-less Giants at home 14-9. This team has suffered some crucial defensive injuries, but that’s no excuse for the offense’s lack of production. I am worried.

MK: This is kind of who the Bills are right? They’ll continue to be a playoff team but as long as Patrick Mahomes is still there and the AFC continues to be a strong conference, the Bills won’t be winning a Super Bowl.

Ghost Pepper

AP Photo

The Bucs still have a lot of talent left over from the squad that won the Super Bowl in 2020. Can this team make a run at the playoffs or is Baker Mayfield holding them back?

BH: I really don’t think Baker is THAT bad. Last week’s loss to the Falcons was a game you would have liked to see the Bucs win, especially at home, extra especially because we were all over them in the podcast. The NFC South is bad enough that anyone can win it. I’m not writing the Bucs off.

JA: Tampa Bay had every chance to beat the Falcons at home last week and couldn’t find the offense to do so. I don’t think it’s fair to put this all on Baker when the Bucs have possibly the worst run game in the league. The division is bad enough for this team to win it, but they’re not real contenders for a Lombardi.

MK: The Bucs do have a lot of talent but yes, Baker is not the answer if they want to make the jump back into winning playoff games.

Mango Habenero

Buffalo News

After a cold start to the season, Dalton Kincaid finally got hot last week, catching 8 passes for 75 yards in the loss. Will the rookie continue solid production for the rest of the year or was last week a mirage?

BH: He’ll continue to be productive, but don’t expect big games like this one every week. Rookies always tend to get more involved as the season goes on, and I think last week was just a case of Bill Belichick making the Bills beat them without Stefon Diggs.

JA: Well, the other tight end in Buffalo is Dawson Knox, and he was sidelined last week due to injury. As long as Knox is sidelined, there’s no reason to expect Kincaid to slow down his production. I expect to his a boost in his role from here on out.

MK: I think Kincaid has the ability to be a strong tight end in the league for years to come. The only way I see him falling off is by catching the injury bug, which has been a common theme in today’s NFL.

Sweet and Spicy

Elsa/Getty Images

Favorite bet in this interconference game?

BH: My heart is telling me James Cook any time touchdown. My brain is tellng me Bucs +9.5 . I’ll continue to bet against the Bills until they prove they can cover, or even win, against inferior teams.

JA: I also like Tampa Bay +9.5. The Bills are in shambles right now and this is too many points on a short week.

MK: Stefon Diggs let us down for the first time of the season last week. I think Josh Allen goes to Diggs early and often tonight. Give me Diggs over 86.5 receiving yards.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner

Getty Images

Who’s winning the first game of week 8?

BH: I’ll take the Bills in a close one, 24-19.

JA: Buffalo wins ugly again, 18-16.

MK: Bills get back on track 27-12.