Rams Won’t Struggle Much With Rested Pack
Week 7 Results: 9-5
Record this season: 64-43
I have some good news and bad news for you guys.
The good news is that the NFL season to this point has been f****** incredible and we’ve already seen just about every type of wild and wacky thing happen.
From two ties in consecutive weeks, the Browns winning a game, Kansas City’s offense, Philadelphia’s stumbles, upsets, and the emergence of new contenders. There’s been little more you could’ve asked for as a fan of the NFL.
The bad news? We’re nearly halfway through the season …. Already!!!
That’s something that always seems to suck about the NFL is that it comes and goes. Whilst our attention at times is turned away to the end of the MLB season and beginning of the NBA and NHL season, the NFL on Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays just doesn’t feel like enough sometimes.
The Week 8 slate features a London calling for Blake Bortles, who just might get left in London if he continues to reincarnate “Bad Blake” vs the Philadelphia Eagles.
Elsewhere, the Baltimore Ravens and Carolina Panthers hook up in a hard-hitting matchup in Carolina while the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings rematch of their classic NFC Divisional round game from a season.
The premier matchup in Week 8 is a NFC showdown in Los Angeles as the undefeated Los Angeles Rams host California native Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.
It’s sure to be a fun week of games across the NFL. Here are my picks for Week 8 of the NFL season.
Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans
The Miami Dolphins are hurting at wide receiver with injuries which makes the defensive gameplan for defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel simple: Stack the box and make Brock Osweiler — who’s actually playing good football — beat you. Consider it done.
Prediction: Houston Texans 27 Miami Dolphins 16
Philadelphia Eagles vs Jacksonville Jaguars
The Philadelphia Eagles have yet to win two consecutive games this season. That’s something their counterparts this Sunday in London can’t attest to, but they’ve fallen on hard times losing four out of their last five. With Blake Bortles going against this front four, expect that trend to continue.
Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles 22 Jacksonville Jaguars 16
New York Jets at Chicago Bears
Take out the 333 passing yards, three total touchdowns and 81 rushing yards, Mitch Trubisky was awful vs New England last Sunday in a 38-31 loss. That may be unfair, but when you’re completing 52 percent of your passes and was lucky to end the game with only two interceptions thrown, that’s an issue. What’s not an issue? The Bears defense facing a quarterback in Sam Darnold who is tied for the most turnovers in the NFL with 11 this season.
Prediction: Chicago Bears 27 New York Jets 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals each week look more and more like the team we expected rather than a 4-1 team they were just a few weeks ago. After facing two high-powered offenses, they face another that has a propensity to be turnover prone. Tampa Bay has not won a road game since Week 1 and have surrendered 41 PPG in their last two road games.
Prediction: Cincinnati Bengals 34 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28
Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions face a Seattle Seahawks team that has more than recovered from an 0-2 start. Stafford historically has struggled vs the Seahawks, but something that should help him in this one is the emergence of running back Kerryon Johnson. Johnson exploded for 158 rushing yards last Sunday and now faces a Seahawks defense 4.7 yards per carry.
Prediction: Detroit Lions 23 Seattle Seahawks 21
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
The Denver Broncos are the only team in the NFL to slow down the Kansas City Chiefs offense as they represent the only team to not surrender at least 30 points to Kansas City this season. That’s something that won’t be lost on Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense, who without crowd noise being a factor should decisively dominate this matchup at Arrowhead.
Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs 36 Denver Broncos 16
Washington Redskins at New York Giants
The New York Giants are awful, but there are obvious reasons this game at MetLife Stadium can be close. Washington is devoid of playmakers on the outside to exploit New York’s weaknesses in the secondary. Add in that Odell Beckham Jr. loves playing against Josh Norman and you have the recipe for…a Giants loss, next.
Prediction: Washington Redskins 24 New York Giants 14
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers may have had a bye week, but that doesn’t mean nail-biting times won’t be on the docket at the Big Ketchup Bottle this Sunday. Cleveland’s defensive scheme is a problem for the Steelers offense, but Cleveland’s banged up some on that side of the ball. That and James Connor are enough to sway me to the home team.
Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers 29 Cleveland Browns 26
Baltimore Ravens at Carolina Panthers
When looking at this matchup, what concerns you if you’re the Carolina Panthers defense is speedster John Brown on the outside. After that, you like your chances. If Baltimore Ravens’ running back Alex Collins can’t improve on his 3.6 yards per carry output, it’ll be a long day for Joe Flacco vs this defense.
Prediction: Carolina Panthers 17 Baltimore Ravens 13
Indianapolis Colts at Oakland Raiders
The Indianapolis Colts supported Andrew Luck with a newfound rushing attack in a 37-5 win over Buffalo last week. That would appear to be music to Frank Reich’s ears as the Oakland Raiders are surrendering 4.7 yards per carry and can’t pressure the quarterback.
Prediction: Indianapolis Colts 27 Oakland Raiders 23
Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams
The Green Bay Packers had a bye week to prepare for this nearly unstoppable machine in the Los Angeles Rams. Still, it’s hard to feel confident about Green Bay’s chances. I’m not in love with Green Bay’s offensive line nor their ability to not get beat deep by the best deep-ball team in the NFL.
Prediction: Los Angeles Rams 42 Green Bay Packers 27
San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers represent the battle of nowhere as in nowhere but up from here. Both of these teams are a combined 2-12 with Arizona’s lone win coming vs San Francisco in Week 5. Beathard is a turnover machine, something that will factor in once again on the road.
Prediction: Arizona Cardinals 20 San Francisco 49ers 16
New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings
It’s true that the Minnesota Vikings are on a three-game winning streak. It’s also true that those wins came against teams that aren’t in the same playing field as New Orleans. The Vikings defense is rounding into form, but they haven’t faced an offense as complete as this one since Week 4 when they allowed 38 points to the Los Angeles Rams.
Prediction: New Orleans Saints 27 Minnesota Vikings 23
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills
The New England Patriots give up a lot of points and the Buffalo Bills are on pace to be one of the worst offenses in NFL history. It doesn’t matter who plays quarterback for Buffalo, Tom Brady’s track record vs the Buffalo Bills and the Patriots red-hot offense will be enough here on the road.
Prediction: New England Patriots 30 Buffalo Bills 13
What are your thoughts on this week’s predictions? Leave your comments below!
Comments