NFL Pick’ems: Week 8

Last Week’s Picks: 9-5

Overall Picks Record: 62-45

Back-to-back weeks of 9-5… Not bad, but 10-4 just sounds better (thanks for blowing it, Chargers!)

Let’s do this!

Washington Redskins (1-6) @ Minnesota Vikings (5-2)

Winner: Minnesota Vikings

With 10 touchdowns and three straight games of over 138 passer rating, Kirk Cousins is suddenly the hottest QB in the league. After an auspicious start to the season, he’s kept his Pro-Bowl receivers happy, his coaches happy, everybody’s been happy in Minnesota. Of course, the Vikes have been winning! However, the questions remain… Can Cousins win consistently against winning teams? Can he do what he did in the past three weeks – against three of the bottom six worst passing defenses in the league statistically – against a top-10 defense? Cousins has the capability to perform well against a contender, we see flashes of it in his accuracy, and in his decision making against some of the weaker defenses. But at this point, it has become a mental crutch of sorts that Cousins has to get over this season – before it’s too late for his credibility as a starter in this league.

While the tone in Minnesota has been light, in Washington, there is a tone of… nothingness. The press-conferences are dead – there is no energy, no hope for the future. It’s like watching the subjects of a dictator being forced to listen to state officials, who drone on about how everything is so prosperous, while in reality, people are starving outside the palace. At one point, Case Keenum was asked about how he felt facing his former team, the Vikings. Keenum, a journeyman QB, made a clever joke about how if things continue, he’ll be asked about facing his former team every week! It was quite funny, actually. In the room, no one laughed. No one at Redskins Park really cares anymore, to the point where the starting quarterback can’t even get a chuckle out of the reporters covering the team.

Seattle Seahawks (5-2) @ Atlanta Falcons (1-6)

Winner: Seattle Seahawks

These teams are at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to records, but last week both took a beating in their home stadiums. Russell Wilson and the offense were shut down by the Ravens, who had two defensive touchdowns in a 30-16 victory. The Seahawks defense has been middling, ranked 16th against the run and 14th against the pass. More concerning is that they’ve been struggling to finish sacks despite their new duo of Jadaveon Clowney and Ezekiel Ansah playing together for the past three weeks. The Hawks are coming into this game with just 11 sacks on the year through seven games, 26th in the league.

The Falcons have been pretty bad in most statistical categories besides being the second-ranked passing offense in the league, as well as 11th in sacks allowed. Unfortunately, Matt Ryan suffered an ankle injury in Week 7, and will be out for Sunday’s game. The 38-year-old veteran Matt Schaub will make his first start since 2015. Even with Ryan, the Falcons would have been hard-pressed to win this game against an NFC contender. If there’s a game for the Seahawks defensive line to feast, this would be it.

Los Angeles Chargers (2-5) @ Chicago Bears (3-3)

Winner: Chicago Bears

The Chargers lost to the Titans in one of the most bizarre manners you will ever see in professional football. With seconds remaining, the Chargers were denied twice from the one-yard line after the refs ruled touchdowns for both plays, only to reverse both calls, ending the Chargers’ rally. after reviews showed Gordon was short on the first, and fumbled on the second. Head coach Anthony Lynn sounded broken after the game, as you would expect after experiencing a roller-coaster of emotions that ended with a downward plunge. A loss like that has the potential to break a team’s spirit, and it would take a legendary turnaround for the Chargers to salvage this season.

The Bears’ loss to the Saints was not as bizarre, but perhaps just as meaningful in the ever-competitive NFC North. They’re currently bested in the division by the 6-1 Packers and the 6-2 Vikings, teams that look like they could win 10 games or more this season. The Bears finish the season on a brutal four-game stretch against the Cowboys, Packers, Chiefs, and Vikings. A winnable game at home is an opportunity they can’t let pass if Chicago is to return to the postseason.

New York Giants (2-5) @ Detroit Lions (2-3-1)

Winner: Detroit Lions

Recovering from a three-game losing streak in the NFL is tough. That’s what both these teams will look to do this Sunday – unless the Lions feel like going for another tie this season. Detroit fans are still bitter after the controversial loss in Green Bay last week. The secondary has struggled without CB Darius Slay – a hole that has turned this defense from respectable to bad – ranked 29th against the pass and 31st overall. Offensively the Lions have been consistent, scoring 27+ points three out of their last four games. WR Marvin Jones recorded a career-high four touchdowns last week in the Lions loss 42-30 loss the Vikings. Unfortunately, starting RB Kerryon Johnson suffered an injury that landed him on IR.

Saquon Barkley returned for the Giants last week and should be near full recovery from a Week 3 high-ankle sprain. Despite the stud running back’s presence, the Giants offense looked similarly flat for large parts of their 27-21 loss to the Cardinals. The offensive line allowed eight sacks, some of which were due to Daniel Jones’ indecisiveness. The Giants’ top wideout Stirling Sheppard will be out for this game. There’s talent on this offense but they need time to gel, which is difficult when guys are going in and out with injuries. The defense has been equally as abhorrent as Detroit’s; when it comes down to picking between two bad teams, you’ve got to go with the better quarterback – that’s Matthew Stafford in this matchup.

New York Jets (1-5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4)

Winner: Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jets Sam Darnold said he was “seeing ghosts” during the 33-0 blowout on national television by the Patriots, and probably had some ghostly nightmares about his performance later on. The second-year starter had his worst day as a pro, as he threw for just 86 yards and four interceptions, each one looking worse than the last. He finished with a passer rating of 3.6 – no, not 30.6, but 3.6 over four quarters. The “ghosts” comment was equally as bad, but it’s not the end of the world for Darnold. The kid has plenty of arm talent, and isn’t the first QB to be picked off four times by the Pats’ defense in recent years (ahem, Peyton Manning).

The Jaguars secondary is decent but they are vulnerable against the run, ranked 11th in rushing yards allowed. Head coach Adam Gase would be smart to get Le’Veon Bell involved early and often, and allow Darnold to get into a rhythm with some short throws. The bad news is, the Jets are dealing with multiple injuries on the offensive line, and the Jaguars defense has the 5th-most sacks in the league (21). They should have plenty of opportunities to pressure Darnold into a repeat turnover-fest. Undoubtedly, teams will look to use the same gameplan as the Patriots to confuse Darnold with similar coverages. Behind Leonard Fournette’s punishing runs and Gardner Minshew’s efficient passing, the Jags should pull out a close victory at home.

Cincinnati Bengals (0-7) @ Los Angeles Rams (4-3)

Winner: Los Angeles Rams

The trade for Jalen Ramsey looks pretty good so far, as the corner’s presence was felt in the Rams 37-10 win over the Falcons. He was physical with Julio Jones, holding the premiere receiver to under 100 yards for the day. The Rams need every win they can get with the Seahawks and 49ers setting the pace in the division. They couldn’t ask for an easier opponent than the 0-7 Bengals – a dumpster fire on both sides of the ball. Andy Dalton threw three picks last week, and probably has a couple more in him with Aaron Donald ready to terrorize the hapless Bengals line.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-4) @ Tennessee Titans (3-5)

Winner: Tennessee Titans

Surely, the Buccaneers will be thinking about moving on from Jameis Winston as their starter at the end of the season. The 5th-year QB has more turnovers than any other player since 2015, and absolutely killed his team’s chances last week by throwing five interceptions in a 37-26 loss to the Panthers. It’s one thing to make mistakes while learning a new offense, but Winston has shown the same poor decision making and mechanics no matter who is calling the plays. He is capable enough to light up some of the weaker secondary’s, but against a balanced defense with a pass-rush, Winston collapses under the pressure. The Titans are a balanced defense with a pass-rush, ranked 10th in sacks, 8th in yards allowed, and 5th in points against.

The Titans defense finally received some help, surprisingly, with Ryan Tannehill running the offense. Unlike Marcus Mariota, Tannehill was able to push the ball down the field and complete more than just screens and in-routes, in a more traditional drop-back offense. The defense then won the game with an incredible goal-line stand to survive 23-20 against the Chargers, and technically keep their season alive. Though with a rough schedule ahead that will include the Chiefs, Saints, and Colts, the Titans likely dug themselves a hole too deep to emerge from.

Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) @ Buffalo Bills (5-1)

Winner: Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles were embarrassed in a critical game that was touted as the deciding battle of who would go on to win the division. However, in the NFC East, nothing is decided until the fat lady sings in 17th and final week of the season. It’s been one of the most unpredictable divisions for years, and for now the title is still up for grabs between three teams. That could change this week if the Eagles don’t win this game. At 4-4, they would still be alive, but a 3-5 hole in the stacked NFC Conference would almost certainly be a death sentence. After all, Nick Foles won’t be around to take them on a magical playoff run this time. It’s time for Carson Wentz to lead his team, or take a back seat to Dak Prescott as the second-best quarterback in the division.

The Bills have a damn good team – they’re balanced, tough, and disciplined. There’s just one problem: their leader is a turnover machine. Incredibly, the Bills have continued to win with Josh Allen being top-10 in both interceptions and fumbles. The defense just continues to clean up the offense’s mess, but how long can that last? This is a do-or-die type game for the Eagles, while the Bills are sitting pretty at 5-1. Hunger could be the determining factor in this game, and the Eagles are looking pretty starved for a win.

Arizona Cardinals (3-3-1) @ New Orleans Saints (6-1)

Winner: New Orleans Saints

The Cards have won three in a row after starting 0-3-1 on the season. The importance of the return of CB Patrick Peterson can’t be overstated for this defense that has looked much more cohesive with their leader back on the field. LB Chandler Jones had a dominant four-sack performance in the Cards 27-21 win over the Giants last week. Kyler Murray is beginning to come into his own, as he’s been finding different ways to win week-to-week. In Week 5 it was with his legs, in Week 6 with his arm, and a combination of the two in Week 7. Once the rookie begins to put it all together, the league will be forced to take notice of the growing offensive threat in Arizona.

This will be the toughest test yet for Murray as the Saints defense ranks top-third of the league in almost every category. The bigger story is that Drew Brees is ready to return for the Saints. This could work in Arizona’s favor if Brees is either affected by the thumb injury, or just plain rusty after missing five weeks of action. However, to bet on the rookie Murray over the all-time passing-leader Brees, in good faith, would be a poor man’s decision. Just as Brees comes back, the Saints star RB Alvin Kamara will miss time due to a hamstring, but so will the Cardinals’ starter David Johnson – essentially a “wash”.

Denver Broncos (2-5) @ Indianapolis Colts (4-2)

Winner: Indianapolis Colts

Frank Reich and the Colts asserted themselves as a legit contender last week in their 30-23 win over the Texans. Deshaun Watson is in the conversation for MVP, and the Colts defense frustrated the cerebral quarterback into two interceptions while allowing just one touchdown through the air. Meanwhile, Jacoby Brissett may have vaulted himself into that same conversation with a four-touchdown performance. The QB in his fourth year now has a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 14:3 on the season, and his completing 65% of his passes. With that kind of efficiency to go along with bruising run game led by the Colts Guard Quenton Nelson. In just his second year, Nelson is basically the Aaron Donald of the league’s offensive linemen, routinely pancaking defenders and just generally dominating the line of scrimmage. When you’re showing up in weekly highlight reels as an O-lineman, you know you’re good. Like, really, really good.

The Broncos defense has played better of late, but sadly they can’t get any help from Joe Flacco and the offense. The dink-and-dunk style of Flacco combined with an inefficient run game has produced one of the league’s hardest-to-watch offenses. Things are about to get uglier, as the Broncos traded their long-time top receiver Emmanuel Sanders to the 49ers this week, essentially signaling a rebuild for next season

Carolina Panthers (4-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (6-0)

Winner: San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers believe they can go on a deep playoff run this year. They doubled-down on that belief by trading for Emmanuel Sanders, sending 2020 third and fourth-round picks to Denver to make it happen. With Sanders, the Niners receiving core gains instant credibility, as the veteran is still one of the better route-runners in the league at age 32. He also seems like a perfect fit for Kyle Shanahan’s offense that involves lots of short crossing-routes and allows for receivers to run after the catch, a specialty of Sanders. The defense has proven to be one of the better units in the NFC, if not the league, as they are balanced both up front and on the back end with Richard Sherman playing some of his best ball.

The Panthers are 4-0 since Kyle Allen took over for Cam Newton, and the passing game has looked completely transformed from the first two weeks of the season. Allen’s play has not been a fluke, as the young QB has shown a variety of throws that are made consistently by elite quarterbacks. In six career games, he has nine touchdowns to zero interceptions, while completing 65% of his passes. There’s a good chance Allen throws his first pick this week against a Niners defense with the 8th most interceptions in the league. If the Panthers are going to win this game, it will be behind a dominant performance by Christian McCaffrey.

Oakland Raiders (3-3) @ Houston Texans (4-3)

Winner: Houston Texans

The Texans were cooled down by the Colts last week, who took the division lead by a game. Deshaun Watson was contained and frustrated, though the Texans argue he was robbed of a first-quarter touchdown by a referee’s early whistle. Regardless, the offense did not look in sync without speed-demon Will Fuller – who will miss this game as well – to stretch the field and loosen up the defense. Regardless, it takes top-performing defense to stop Watson and company, something the Raiders do not currently have.

Oakland was obliterated by A-Rod and the Packers last week, surrendering five touchdowns through the air and 42 points overall. The early-season injury to Safety Jonathan Abram has blown the top off of this defense that had some potential to be a good group. The Texans also have some injuries in the secondary, so Derek Carr should find some room to throw. He could have his top target Tyrell Williams to throw to as well, as the reciever looks ready to return from injury. A high-scoring game seems pretty likely here, with the Texans getting the nod at home.

Cleveland Browns (2-4) New England Patriots (7-0)

Winner: New England Patriots

The Browns blew an 11-point lead in the first half, eventually losing 32-28 at home to the Seahawks. Baker Mayfield threw three interceptions to one touchdown, the second such team-killing performance he’s had this season. Mayfield leads the league in interceptions with 11 – he’s living up to his Brett Favre comparisons in that regard. On defense, the Browns will finally get 2nd-year stud cornerback Denzel Ward back from injury, which could turn this defense around from its current bottom-third ranking. Unfortunately for Cleveland, if either side of the ball was looking for a confidence boost, the Patriots are last team they’d want to face in a do-or-die situation.

Green Bay Packers (6-1) @ Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)

Winner: Green Bay Packers

This will be the first game the Chiefs will have started without Patrick Mahomes in over a year – and what unfortunate timing! This could have been an epic matchup between, arguably, the two most talented quarterbacks in the history of professional football. Alas, veteran Matt Moore, who has had some excellent performances in his career filling in for a starter, will get the nod. The 35-year-old can still push the ball down the field accurately, and with the array of weapons the Chiefs have in place at Moore’s disposal, he may not need to throw deep that much. If Moore can just get the ball into the hands of Tyreek Hill and MeCole Hardman in space, and let them go to work, there’s no reason with Kansas City offense can’t still be threatening. Is it anywhere near as dangerous as with a healthy Mahomes? Of course not, but can they still win some games? Absolutely.

This will not be one of those games, however, as the 6-1 Packers come into Arrowhead as one of the more balanced teams in the league. In particular, now that the Packers have established a heavy run-load as part of their identity, the Chiefs simply don’t have the tools up front on defense to contain Aaron Jones, and stop Aaron Rodgers from picking them apart. The Chiefs are missing multiple key starters on defense including Kendall Fuller and Frank Clark. A-Rod and the offense should pick up right where they left off from their 42-point performance in Oakland.

Miami Dolphins (0-6) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4)

Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers

While the “Duck” Hodges experiment was fun (and productive), Pittsburgh will get Mason Rudolph back this week after the QB was knocked unconscious in the Week 5 matchup against the Ravens. The Steelers showed some resolve in their 24-17 over the Chargers, a game most people thought they would lose with a third-string QB. They’ll get an easy matchup this week against Miami, and perhaps gain some momentum going into the second half of the season. The Steelers have a 6-game-stretch of winnable matchups at the end of the season, including games against the Bengals, Jets, and the Browns twice. It’s not over yet in the Steel City, but next week they’ll have a huge challenge with the Colts coming into town.

Note: This page is updated throughout the week to account for the latest injury updates and news around the league.