NFL Week 8 Preview

Miami Dolphins @ NY Jets
Spread: Jets, -3.5
o/u: 40.5
The Jets may be the favorite here, but they couldn't stop the Wildcat last time out, and I don't think things have improved. In fact, without Kris Jenkins, and with Bart Scott playing with knee problems, things look worse for the Jets. However, Calvin Pace showed last week he is completely comfortable in the new defense after missing the first four weeks. Having it come against the hapless Raiders really doesn't tell us much, though. Over the past few years, Jets in-division games have been high scoring and close, and I don't see any reason why this one won't be, too.
Pick: Dolphins 31 - Jets 27


NY Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles
Spread: Ginats, -1
o/u: 44
The NY/Philly rivalry really heats up this weekend, as the Knicks play the 76ers tonight, the Giants play the Eagles tomorrow, and the Yankees/Phillies World Series continues until at least Monday. Nobody seems to know this better than Donovan McNabb, as he always seems to pick up his game at home against the Giants. The problem comes with Brian Westbrook and his concussion. Even if he plays, he may not be as effective as the Eagles would like. What they have going for them is the Giants losing two straight, and looking bad doing it. A blowout loss to New Orleans was followed by an offensive meltdown against Arizona. Against a tough Eagles defense, with Mario Manningham injured, and now finding out Ahmad Bradshaw is playing with a broken foot, the Giants prospects look slim.
Pick: Eagle 28 - Giants 17

St Louis Rams @ Detroit Lions
Spread: Lions, -4
o/u: 44
The schedule makers must be having heart attacks after seing how things have played out the past few weeks. Two weeks of blowouts, and now the winless Rams enter Detroit to play the one-win Lions. With Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson expected to play this week, I have to think that halfway through the season, the Lions will have two more wins than all of last season.
Pick: Lions 28 - Rams 6

Seattle Seahawks @ Dallas Cowboys
Spread: 9.5
o/u: 46
Three weeks ago this looked like this would be an easy win for Seattle. They had just blown out Jacksonville 41-0, and the Cowboys were only beating winless teams. Then Seattle followed up their win with a 27-3 loss to Arizona, and Miles Austin woke up the Dallas offense. The 37-21 trampling of Atlanta last week tips this one in the Cowboys favor.
Pick: Cowboys 35 - Seahawks 21

Cleveland Browns @ Chicago Bears
Spread: Bears, -13
o/u: 40
The borwns have the worst defense in the NFL, yardage-wise. Matt Forte might be having a terrible year in Chicago, but running against the leagues worst rush defense might make this a breakout week for him. On top of that, the Bears want to take out their frustrating 45-10 loss last week on someone. Who better than the Browns?
Pick: Bears 35 - Browns 6

Denver Broncos @ Baltimore Ravens
Spread: Ravens, -3
o/u: 41.5
Both teams are coming off their bye week, which means they'll be well rested and read to play. Vikings-Packers aside, this has potential to be the best game of the weekend. The good news for the Broncos is the Ravens pass defense isn't what it used to be. With Kyle Orton playing mistake-free ball, and the Broncos still having one of the leagues best Ds, this should be in Denvers favor.
Pick: Broncos 24 - Ravens 20

Houston Texans @ Buffalo Bills
Spread: Texans, -3
o/u: 41.5
With the Texans finally breaking their win/loss/win/loss streak, both teams are coming off back-to-back wins. The only difference is the Bills did it against two struggling teams, and the Texans against two good teams. Both teams need a win here to stay competetive in their divisions, but the Texans have played well most of the season, while the Bills have mostly sputtered.
Pick: Texans 24 - Bills 10

San Francisco 49ers @ Indianapolis Colts
Spread: Colts, -12
o/u: 44.5
The 49ers looked like the early season team to beat in the NFC West. After getting crushed by Atlanta 45-10, then trailing 21-0 in Houston at the half, they look like a team that got lucky a couple of times. With Alex Smith back under center, they came back last week, coming up just short, 24-21. The Colts look like they do every year: The best team in the NFL, until they lose in the playoffs. With the season not quite halfway done, and the Colts still unbeaten, this one will probably be high scoring, but the Colts will cover.
Pick: Colts 45 - 49ers 28

Oakland Raiders @ San Diego Chargers
Spread: Chargers, -16.5
o/u: 41.5
This should be one of the Chargers easy wins this year. Traditionally against their division, they're all easy wins. But with the Broncos still undefeated, the Chargers need every win they can get. Really, the only thing to watch in this game will be if JaMarcus Russell plays the whole game, and if Philip Rivers likes ketchup or mustard on his hot dog.
Pick: Chargers 35 - Raiders 10

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans
Spread: Titans, -3
o/u: 45
Congratulations, Tennessee! You're favored to win a game! That doesn't mean you're going to win, but its a moral victory. The only differences between this game and the 37-17 beating the Jags handed the Titans in Week 4 are the location and the Titans QB. The Vince Young Experiment is back in action this week, and Vince may run the ball instead of throw a pick, but that doesn't always add up to wins.
Pick: Jaguars 31 - Titans 17

Minnesota Viking @ Green Bay Packers
Spread: Packers, -3
o/u: 47.5
What the Vikings have going for them: they already beat the Packers once this year, the pressure to stay undefeated is off, Brett Favre's arm. What the Packers have going for them: they're coming off two blowout wins, a suddenly improved running game, Brett Favre's arm. Favre essentially takes away home field advantage here, since he played in Green Bay for so long. The elements that always cause havoc for warm weather and dome opponents won't bother him. What does cause concern is his turnover-filled performance last week against Pittsburgh. Green Bay's D has allowed 3 points the last two weeks, but it was against the Lions and Browns. Favre may have been sacked 18 times this year, but he's also only thrown 3 picks, and lost one fumble. Two of those turnovers and four sacks came last week. None of them came Week 4 against Green Bay.
Pick: Vikings 35 - Packers 24

Carolina Panthers @ Arizona Cardinals
Spread: Cardinals, -10
o/u: 41
Last week, the Cardinals went into NY and made the Giants look bad and the Panthers looked bad at home against the Bills. The Panthers have looked bad all season, and there's no reason to think they'll look better now. When these teams last met, Jake Delhomme threw 5 INTs. He hasn't been the same since. I'm putting the over/under on Delhomme INTs at 3 for this one.
Pick: Cardinals 34 - Panthers 10