Week 8
NFL GameDay predictions

Week 8 is coming fast, and the NFL is closing in on the mid-point of the season as October comes to its final week. Some teams have been disapointing: Indianapolis, Dallas, San Diego, Detroit and Cincinnati to name a few. Other teams have been a surprise: Tennessee, Buffalo, Carolina and Atlanta to date. So, where will these teams go from here? Will they melt down like Detroit did last year after starting off 6-2 and then going 1-7 the second half of the season? Time will tell.

Week 7 was a good week for me, as I went 9-5. My biggest disappoints were the NY Jets losing in OT to the Raiders and the Chiefs didn't want to pull off an upset against a strong Tennessee team. Oh yeah, St. Louis beat the 'Boys and all chaos is breaking lose in the Big-D. The NFL is never as predictable as the emotion and heart that is shows within the player.

There are some excellent games in Week 8. The cream of the crop is New York Giants at Pittsburgh Steelers. To tough teams with storied followings square off in Heinz Field for a thriller and possible classic match up. This week 8 matchup is a strong possibility for the next Super Bowl. Next is Atlanta at Philadelphia. Is Matt Ryan good enough to win on the road against a tough Phily crowd? The week 8 NFL Monday night game features Indy at Tennessee, which would have been a classic if Indy had not struggled so bad this year. But a Peyton Manning homecoming back to Tennessee will always be a good time for him and the fans.

So lets stop chatting and get to the to the Week 8 predictions. First, the NFL teams that have a BYE week are: Chicago, Denver, Green Bay, and Minnesota. So most of the NFC North will be off.

Tampa Bay at Dallas Cowboys
As if the whole football world hasn't been watching the Cowboys all week long after their embarrassing loss to St. Louis, the media of the world had to follow every word that was on the T.O call in show, including Tony Romo telling the world that he is not going to play this week. So now the pressure is on Brad Johnson and the rest of the offense to return the luster of the shining star. But Tampa has other plans. A road win would instill more confidence in a team that is looking very good lately. If Jeff Garcia plays to his potential, and the running game is moving forward, Dallas will not have a chance. I expect the Cowboys to have some explaining to do after this game. Week 8 could be a breaking point for the Cowboys...
Buccaneers 24 Cowboys 14

Washington Redskins at Detroit Lions
I really don't know what to say about Detroit. Roy Williams is gone, the defense can not stop a bad song, and it appears to be the land of confusion. Why not through it deep 5 or 6 times a game to Calvin Johnson? That was a perfect play. Washington won a tough game with Cleveland, with the running game outgaining the passing game. Expect that running game to have even more yards this week.
Redskins 41 Lions 20

Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
Buffalo looked really good against the Chargers last week, but West Coast teams cannot win in the early Eastern Time zone games. West Coast teams are 0-9, and the Chargers were no different last week. Miami disappointed me last week, as I expected them to win over a Baltimore team that cannot play consistantly. So how will the Dolphins respond this week? Million dollar question. They were on a roll, getting their act together, but no they have to find the heart to win at home against a team that is taking the NFL by storm. And I expect the Bills to continue their storm and cause a hurricane-like diaster for the Dolphins.
Bills 27 Dolphins 17

St. Louis Rams at New England Patriots
Both teams are coming off of high profile wins: The Rams with the biggest upset of the week (possibly the year) when they defeated the Cowboys. The Patriots looked like last years team with a dominant win at home last Monday night against the Broncos. Two things that worries me about the Rams: 1) when the running game is shut down, then what? and 2) their performance on the road. The Pats have lost Rodney Harrison for the year, a big loss, but I don't think it will be enough to give the advantage to the Rams in this game.
Patriots 24 Rams 16

San Diego Chargers vs New Orleans Saint in London, England
Why does the NFL do this? An American sport overseas where NFL Europe failed. I know the answer, money, but it throws off the whole season for these two teams will be in chaos when they get back. The Saints are hurting: Reggie Bush is out for a while, the defense was weak against a tough Carolina team, and the offense only scored 7 points. What's up with that? Chargers aren't doing to much better either. Big loss to the Bills last week, and their season is in need of a gut check or they will be a has been for 2008. In a game that could have had an explosive showing of two of the top QBs and running backs in the NFL, this game will fizzle into a boring game if Drew Brees doesn't have his recievers on track. The only exception will be the fans going nuts and beating drums like they do during a European Futbol game.
Saints 24 Chargers 21

Kansas City Chiefs at New York Jets
The Chiefs were a huge disappointment to me last week. I guess the Titans are just that tough of a team this year. More power to them. The Jets cannot win on the road, as Oakland wins in OT with a 57-yard field goal to upset the Jets. But this game is at home, and the Jets have been pretty good, despite how ugly they do win. This week is no exception.
Jets 31 Chiefs 17

Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles
This one could be a great game if the Falcons bring their A game. Atlanta is playing good, but they are very weak on the road. Phily is a wishy-washy team this year, losing badly to Washington at home and then winning big the next week. Phily can't win a tight game, they have to score 35+ points to win, and that will be difficult against Atlanta. But the Falcons haven't proven themselves either.... So...... Week 8 GameDay of the Week # 1
Eagles 34 Falcons 28

Oakland Raiders at Baltimore Ravens
Which Baltimore offense will show up for this game? The one that can score 30 points a game or the one that can't make a first down? And what is up with bounty hunters? Yeah, like they never exchange money for taking guys out of a game. And I believe Ray Lewis is completely innocent too..... Anyways, the Ravens are a better team, and with home field advantange and having a West Coast team play an East Coast team at 1:00 PM EST, the chips all fall to the Ravens.
Ravens 28 Raiders 16

Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers
Another West Coast team travels to the East Coast for an early game. Last time Arizona did that they were embarrassed by the Jets. This time will be no different. Carolina is hitting on all cylinders right now, and Arizona still has not convinced me that they are a road warrior team to win in the East Coast. Carolina is coming off of a big win against division rival New Orleans, and to shut New Orleans down to only 7 points is pretty impressive. Arizona had the week off, but I don't see them pulling off an upset here.

Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars
Not a bad game here. Cleveland played tough against a good Redskins team, losing by three but holding the Skins to only 14 points. Jacksonville is coming off a bye week, and should be well rested, especially with home field advantage with this game. Cleveland is involved with player/management controversy with Kellen Winslow talking again and Browns management not taking his comments too friendly. The Jags have their issues with receiver Matt Jones lovin' his weed. But back to the game. The Browns have not proved to me that they are big time like they expected to be. The Jags haven't either, but they are doing a better job at restoring the roar. I pick the Jags thanks to home field advantage.
Jaguars 24 Browns 21

Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans
Houston has been on a roll with their 4 game home field advantage for the month of October. Granted, the win over Detroit isn't much to brag about, but it is a W and that is more than Detroit or Cincinnati has. Cincinnati will try again, but without Carson Palmer in the lineup, I don't see this one happening for them.
Texans 24 Bengals 19

New York Giants at Pittsburgh Steelers
Wow! Potential Super Bowl matchup here, as both teams are very strong and doing very well. Pittsburgh has home field advantage, a big issue here. But they are also without their running back who had a bounty on him last week. Giants appear to be in good form, but they soured their last game at Cleveland looking lost and confused when previously they were so good on the road. I don't expect the Giants to be that bad, but I don't expect them to be good enough to win at Pittsburgh either. Week 8 NFL GameDay Game of the Week #2
Steelers 31 Giants 28

Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
This is the fired or soon to be fired game. The 49ers fired head coach Mike Nolan this past Monday, and interim head coach Mike Singletary is in charge. Seattle coach Mike Holgrem just looks lost and confused. Mike Singletary had some fire in him this week, and I expect the players to respond, and "win one for the Gipper."
49ers 16, Seahawks 13


Monday Night Football Week 8
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
If Indy was doing better, this would top the Atlanta/Philadelphia game. But Indy is struggling hard right now, losing to Green Bay and not finding an identity on offense or defense. I predicted an upset by KC Chiefs over the Titans last week, but Tennessee took care of business as usual in KC and made me a believer. The defensive line is pretty damn impressive, and it could take them all the way to the AFC Conference finals if they stay healthy. Indy has had better days, and Sunday will not be one of them.
Titans 35 Colts 21

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