NFL Expert Picks for Week 8

11-2 in week 7!! I’m back on top of my game and I’m now 67-37 (.644)  for the season. No time to rest on my laurels this week. Let’s get right into week 8.

Buccaneers @ Vikings I like the Vikes. Vikings (5-2) are playing well and RB Adrian Peterson is running very well. QB Christian  Ponder needs to get his INTs under control ASAP, he had six last week. The Buccaneers (2-4) are inconsistent.

Panthers @ Bears The Panthers are in a lot of trouble and need some serious soul searching. The Bears are 5-1 and kicking butt. I like the Bears at home.

Chargers @ Browns The Chargers are just 3-3 but they’ve had a week off to get refocused. They have a lot of good talent so I expect to see them play well this week. Browns are 1-6.  I like the Chargers.

Seahawks @ Lions I’m taking the Seahawks. They are only 1-3 on the road but the Lions are no match for the Seahawks defense. In points per game the Seahawks defense is ranked third (15.1 points/games) behind Chicago (13 points per game) and San Francisco (14.3 points per game). The Lions scored just 7 points against Chicago last week and 19 against San Francisco in week 2. In addition, the Lions scored only 13 points in week four against the sixth ranked Minnesota defense. One more thing, the Lions will have just 5 days rest compared to Seahawks’ 8 days.

Jaguars at Packers As I said last week, the Packers are back. The Jaguars have been absent all season and now starting RB Maurice Jones-Drew is out with a foot injury. Packers win at Lambeau Field.

Colts @ Titans  Titans win at home.  First, The Titans are 2-1 at home and the Colts are 0-2 on the road. Second, Titans starting RB Chris Johnson has finally woken up and he’ll be facing a defense that is 26th against the run giving up 141.7 yards per game. Now, the Titans defense is giving up the most points per game in the league, 34, and they have several defensive injuries to overcome. I don’t think that will matter in the end because they should outscore the Colts and the defense will find a way to excel in front of the home crowd.

Patriots @ Rams Patriots win. I am calling this one by the numbers. The Rams are giving up 20 points per game which ranks 10th in the league and the Patriots are ranked 1st in scoring with 31 points per game. The Patriots are giving up 23.3 points per game which ranks 19th in the league and the Rams are ranked 26th in scoring with 18.6 points per game.

Dolphins @ Jets I like the Dolphins. The Jets are 3-1 after overtime losses but I like the Dolphins to beat the Jets at home. The Dolphins are coming off an extra week of rest and I like how their defense matches up to the Jets. The Dolphins’ passing defense is average to below average (20th) and the Jets’ passing offense is way below average (30th). The Dolphins’ rushing defense is great (4th) and the Jets rushing offense is average (10th).

Falcons @ Eagles The Eagles are 13-0 when returning from a bye week and that is pretty amazing. However, the streak ends here. The teams are evenly matched on defense but the Falcons score 28.5 points per game and the Eagles just 17.2 per game. It doesn’t matter that the entire Eagles organization has been put on notice. They do not function together well and they should  have never signed Michael Vick. I like the Falcons to go 7-0.

Redskins @ Steelers Redskins will win. They’re getting better every week and they nearly beat the Giants last week. The Redskins defense struggles but so does the Steelers offense. The Redskins 5th ranked offense will lead the way to a win over the 12th ranked Pittsburgh defense.

Raiders @ Chiefs I don’t know how to pick this game. They both stink…very badly. Chiefs can’t win at home and the Raiders can’t win on the road. Chiefs QB Matt Cassel returns from an injury this week and they’re returning from a bye week. I’ll take the Chiefs.

Gaints @ Cowboys Giants win! Giants score 29.3 points per game to the Cowboys 18.8 points per game. The defenses are fairly evenly matched on paper with the Giants giving up 19.6 per game and the Cowboys giving up 22.2 per game. The problem is that Eli manning loves playing in Dallas and always puts up big numbers there. Dallas will be without Demarco Murray and Felix Jones is questionable.

Broncos @ Saints Both teams can put up big numbers but Denver actually has a defense. Take Denver.

Niners @ Cardinals Excellent defenses on both sides of the field in this game. The Cardinals offense is in a tailspin and they’ve lost their run game. Take the Niners.