Week 8 NFL Predictions

Thursday

Game: Miami at New England

Prediction: Miami - While New England is a very good team and is the probable favorite to win the AFC this year, they are not without their flaws, I have an incredibly difficult time seeing them run the table, and in a shortened practice week to prepare for the suddenly hot Miami Dolphins, I'm going to go with the upset in this one. I was quite skeptical of an early-season coaching change making much difference for the Dolphins, but they've outscored their competition 82-36 in their two games since the move was made, appear to be playing with passion and intensity again, and I look for that to continue in this Thursday night, as the resurgent Dolphins win by 4.

Result: New England 36 Miami 7

Record: 0-1

Sunday

Game: Detroit vs. Kansas City (in London)

Prediction: Detroit - With the combined record of 3-11, the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs are two of the most disappointing teams in football, yet also two teams which aren't nearly as bad as their records indicate. Both teams are fairly solid defensively, so without Jamal Charles in the backfield for Kansas City, I give the offensive advantage to Detroit. So long as Matthew Stafford doesn't become a turnover machine which happens at times, I like the Lions in this one, by 6.

Result: Kansas City 45 Detroit 10

Record: 0-2

Game: Tampa Bay at Atlanta

Prediction: Atlanta - Atlanta's explosive offense hasn't been nearly as potent the past couple games. Look for them to get back on track at home against a young, inexperienced, and inconsistent Tampa Bay team. I like the Falcons by 10.

Result: Tampa Bay 23 Atlanta 20 OT

Record: 0-3

Game: Arizona at Cleveland

Prediction: Arizona - Historically speaking, West Coast teams don't tend to fare well when playing 1 pm games on the East Coast (Eastern Time Zone anyway). However, I'm going to go against history in this one, as I feel the Arizona Cardinals are simply a much better football team than the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland had trouble mustering anything against another NFC West team, St. Louis, this past weekend. Expect more of the same in this game. I'm taking the Cardinals by 10.

Result: Arizona 34 Cleveland 20

Record: 1-3

Game: San Francisco at St. Louis

Prediction: St. Louis - The San Francisco 49ers have been two completely different teams in home and away games this year. At home, they're 2-2, being outscored 60-51 (average of 15-12.8), while on the road, they're 0-3, being outscored 120-52 (average of 40-17.3). Look for that trend to continue as St. Louis' front seven gives Colin Kaepernick fits and the Rams go on to win by 10.

Result: St. Louis 27 San Francisco 6

Record: 2-3

Game: NY Giants at New Orleans

Prediction: New Orleans - These two teams are like carbon copies of one another. They both feature two Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks in Eli Manning and Drew Brees. Their offenses feature explosive young wide receivers. Not only that, but both teams' Achilles heel has been their defenses. With Drew Brees' shoulder issues appearing to be a thing of the past and with the game being in New Orleans, I'm giving the slight edge to the Saints. New Orleans by 4.

Result: New Orleans 52 NY Giants 49

Record: 3-3

Game: Minnesota at Chicago

Prediction: Minnesota - Minnesota appears to be a team on the rise in the NFC North while Chicago appears to either be a team in decline or a team appearing to stay stagnant. If Matt Forte has a big game for the Bears, they could very well come out victorious in this one at home. However, I don't see that happening, think the Vikings' front seven will give Jay Cutler headaches, and Adrian Peterson will have a big day for the 4-2 Vikings. I'm going with Minnesota by 3.

Result: Minnesota 23 Chicago 20

Record: 4-3

Game: San Diego at Baltimore

Prediction: San Diego - These have to be two of, if not the two most disappointing teams in the AFC this season. Both teams' defenses have been atrocious for most the year and their offenses haven't lived up to expectations. Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers, coming off an embarrassing performance against the Oakland Raiders, are likely angry, frustrated, and will take out that anger and frustration out on the Ravens' mediocre (being kind...) defense. I'm taking the Chargers by 4.

Result: Baltimore 29 San Diego 26

Record: 4-4

Game: Cincinnati at Pittsburgh

Prediction: Pittsburgh - This pick is fully dependent on whether or not Ben Roethlisberger is healthy and starts for the Pittsburgh Steelers. If either Michael Vick or Landry Jones start for Pittsburgh, I'm going to go with the Cincinnati Bengals. However, I have a hunch Roethlisberger is going to come back to square off against his team's AFC North rival, and if so, I'm going to go with Big Ben and the Steelers by a field goal.

Result: Cincinnati 16 Pittsburgh 10

Record: 4-5

Game: Tennessee at Houston

Prediction: Tennessee - I've completely lost faith in the Houston Texans. J.J. Watt may be a stud and Jadaveon Clowney may be a great player in the future, but the rest of that defense is awful. To make matters worse, the Texans' quarterback situation is anything but settled and halfback Arian Foster's season is now over due to an injury. Even if Marcus Mariota doesn't start for the Tennessee Titans, I have a feeling I'll go with them anyway against the seemingly hapless Texans. I'll take the Titans by 6.

Result: Houston 20 Tennessee 6

Record: 4-6

Game: NY Jets at Oakland

Prediction: NY Jets - At 3-3, Oakland definitely appears to be an improved team. Being as young as they are, they're also an incredibly inconsistent team. Keeping that in mind, I'm going to have to give the edge in this one to the New York Jets. Their front seven and secondary should make things much more difficult on Derek Carr and the Raiders offense than they saw in their game against San Diego on Sunday. I'll take the Jets in this one by 4.

Result: Oakland 34 NY Jets 20

Record: 4-7

Game: Seattle at Dallas

Prediction: Seattle - Dallas may have gone from Brandon Weeden to Matt Cassel, but the end result was the same, another loss. At 2-4, the Cowboys have to feel quite fortunate to be playing in the NFC East, where a 9-7 or 8-8 record could very well win the division. Seattle's coming off a big Thursday night win in San Francisco, and with a win here in Dallas, will be back to the .500 mark at 4-4. Seattle hasn't been the best of road teams under Pete Carroll, but I have a difficult time seeing them fall to the injury-riddled Cowboys. I'll take the Seahawks by 10.

Result: Seattle 13 Dallas 12

Record: 5-7

Game: Green Bay at Denver

Prediction: Green Bay - To put it simply, I currently trust Aaron Rodgers going up against the Denver Broncos' defense much more than I trust Peyton Manning going up against the Green Bay Packers' defense. I'll take the Packers in this one by a field goal.

Result: Denver 29 Green Bay 10

Record: 5-8

Monday

Game: Indianapolis at Carolina

Prediction: Carolina - While the Indianapolis Colts should win the AFC South yet again, they're not a very good football team at this juncture. Their offensive line has been anything but solid. This has limited their running game, not to mention resulted in Andrew Luck becoming more turnover prone this year than he was a year ago. The Colts' defense is also sub-par. The strength of the team, the passing attack, isn't as efficient as it was last year. Carolina, meanwhile, is strong where Indianapolis is weak. The Panthers' offense revolves around a power running attack and their defense is one of the top four or five in the NFC (perhaps along with Seattle, Arizona, St. Louis, and possibly Minnesota). Given this, I think Carolina should win yet again and improve to 7-0 with a 7-point victory at home.

Result: Carolina 29 Indianapolis 26 OT

Record: 6-8

Week 8 Record: 6-8 (.429)

Overall Record: 69-50 (.580)