NFL Week 8 Quick Picks

Coming off my best week of the season (10 correct and 4 wrong), we have reached the halfway point of the crazy 2020 NFL season. This week’s schedule features more games that will be a close-fought battle and other games where this year’s worst teams have no shot at getting better.

Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers

Just a few years removed from a Super Bowl they should have won, the Falcons are experiencing one of the worst seasons in their team’s history. At 1-6 and Matt Ryan’s future under a microscope, the Panthers give the Dirty Birds yet another loss.

Prediction: Panthers 34 / Falcons 24

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills

This could be the Patriots’ last gasp in 2020. The Bills will be starving for a victory over Bill Belichick this Sunday and the opportunity to take control of the AFC East a division that New England has owned for like a lifetime. With a win, Buffalo will be 6-2 and the Pats 2-5. No doubt it is a must-win for New England but with all the must they can muster, it won’t be enough.

Prediction: Bills 27 / Patriots 13

Indianapolis Colts at Detroit Lions

Both teams need a win to stay in their respective divisional races. Detroit has won two in a row and will get a trifecta. Prediction Lions 33 Colts 27.
LA Rams at Miami. Getting the first start of his NFL career is rookie Tua Tagovalioa as he replaces veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick who did nothing wrong. “Fitz-magic” is used to his. After all, he has started and been a backup for an incredible eight different teams (Rams, Bengals, Bills, Titans, Texans, Jets, Bucs, and Dolphins). Strangely enough, not just the Bills but the ‘Phins are also ahead of the Patriots in the standings. Miami is riding a two-win streak while the Rams are just a game behind Seattle in their division. I like the upset.

Prediction: Dolphins 24 / Rams 20

Las Vegas Raiders at Cleveland Browns

For the Browns, they are now without Odell Beckham Jr. His season is done because of an ACL injury. They had to go toe-to-toe with Cincinnati last week for a late-game victory and the Raiders are licking their wounds after getting smoked by Tampa. Another shootout is in the works.

Prediction: Raiders 35 / Browns 31

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers

This is not the outcome Vikings fans envisioned for their 2020 season. 1-5 and fading fast. These two teams have opposite records and the Pack will keep Minnesota to just one victory this campaign.

Prediction: Packers 45 / Vikings 13

New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs

Like the Jets have any chance here. This will be ugly.

Prediction: Chiefs 51 / Jets 0

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens

Pittsburgh finds themselves in a second straight AFC Game of the Week. This game determines who the current bosses are of the AFC North. Just one loss between these two clubs and it belongs to Baltimore. The Steelers have had just one 7-0 start to a season and it came in 19878 when they went on to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 35-13 in Super Bowl XIII. After knocking off previously unbeaten Tennessee last week and nearly blowing a 20 point lead, incredibly throughout the history of their team, Pittsburgh has NEVER lost a game when leading by 20 or more. That record is an amazing 225-0-1. But no team gets through an entire season unbeaten anymore so the Black and Gold is due for a loss. It will be close though.

Prediction: Ravens 27 / Steelers 24

Tennessee Titans at Cincinnati Bengals

I doubt there are any NFL fans out there who aren’t impressed with Joe Burrow. The Titans know they could have at least tied the Steelers last Sunday and sent that game into overtime and they won’t make the same mistake again.

Prediction: Titans 37 / Bengals 21

Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos

Call this one the “basement game.” That’s because the loser will find themselves all alone in last place for the AFC West. This should be a close competitive game and a battle of young QBs. I think the Chargers edge Denver in talent. A very hard game to pick.

Prediction: Broncos 17 / Chargers 14

New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears

Bears fans were excited about Nick Foles taking over now there’s a buzz about bringing back Mitch Trubisky as the starting quarterback. Despite all the problems on offense for Chicago they are 5-2 and just a game behind Green Bay. The Saints need to keep pace with Brady boy.

Prediction: Saints 30 / Bears 17

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks fell from the unbeaten last week leaving only the Steelers with a perfect mark thus far in 2020. Jimmy Garoppolo got his long-awaited revenge on New England last week. Seattle comes back strong and will edge the Niners.

Prediction: Seahawks 28 / 49ers 17

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles

The two teams that are a complete mess in the league this season are the Jets in the AFC and the Cowboys in the NFC. Much was made of how Andy Dalton’s teammates failed to come to his aid Sunday when he suffered an illegal hit and concussion which most say speak to the lack of camaraderie and leadership in Dallas. With the distractions and disarray comes a loss.

Prediction: Eagles 37 / Cowboys 9

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Giants

The big question in this game is whether or not Antonio Brown makes his reappearance with Tampa the team he has signed on with. Even without him, this game isn’t close.

Prediction: Bucs 37 / Giants 13

Bye week: Arizona, Houston, Jacksonville, Washington