NFL: Week 8 Predictions

At 11-2, week 7 was the best week of predictions I’ve had all year, so here’s hoping I can keep the roll going and improve on the 58-46 record I have this season.

Week 8 sees the International Series game at Wembley between the New England Patriots and the ‘home team’ St Louis Rams, and the headliner match-up between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys. But it is early Friday morning where we start, and an interesting match-up in Minnesota.

[BYES: Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals]

Friday 1:20am

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-24 Minnesota Vikings

The Bucs visit Minnesota off the back of a huge offensive performance, but a weak defensive effort, and the Vikings (perfect at home) should be able to use Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin to good enough effect to win this one. Christian Ponder should put together a better effort than last week, but the danger is that if he keeps making mistakes and being careless with the football, Minnesota’s defense and key players could find themselves under a lot of pressure.

Sunday 6:00pm

Carolina Panthers 10-27 Chicago Bears

Cam Newton’s sophomore woes continue, and things don’t look like getting better at Soldier Field against a quick, strong, opportunistic Bears’ D. The Carolina defense has improved, but won’t be able to contain Matt Forte, who I expect to have a huge statistical day to the tune of 150+ yards and 2 TD’s, one rushing, one receiving. Fully fit, Forte makes the Bears a very impressive team, helping Jay Cutler’s consistency on offense, and if the defense keeps making plays, they could challenge for the big prize.

San Diego Chargers 24-13 Cleveland Browns

Cleveland’s young weapons have been making a good impact the past few weeks, but it is the previously decent looking Browns’ D that is a concern right now. They are giving up lots of yards through the air, and teams are picking on everyone not called Joe Haden with great success. I expect a balanced offensive game plan from San Diego, and one that will keep the ball out of Browns hands for long enough to make this a comfortable win for Philip Rivers’ Chargers away from home.

Seattle Seahawks 13-20 Detroit Lions

This could easily turn into a defensive slug-fest, and the two teams with the most talked about hail-mary plays may well have to turn to the all-or-nothing call once again after an hour of defensive line domination. I just have a feeling that Calvin Johnson finally gets his first touchdown since week 3 at a crucial time in this game.

Jacksonville Jaguars 6-33 Green Bay Packers

No MJD = big time struggle for Jacksonville. Chad Henne also looks like he might start at QB for the Jags against the rapidly improving Packers, which also adds up to Green Bay enjoying their evening. Expect big yardage for Aaron Rodgers in this one, 350+ with 4TD’s looks more than achievable.

Miami Dolphins 13-19 New York Jets

On paper, this game looks like a dream matchup for the Dolphins. A team with a run-first offense and a poor run defense is playing exactly to Miami’s strengths, but recently, Jeremy Kerley and Dustin Keller have added a real threat to the Jets’ passing game, and the defense has stepped up big time to cover the loss of Darelle Revis. This Jets team may be more talented than we thought, and I expect their defense to confuse Ryan Tannehill and take away some gifts.

Atlanta Falcons 27-28 Philadelphia Eagles

This one should be a cracker, and if both teams play up to their potential, could end up in the realms of a classic. The two biggest issues are Michael Vick’s turnover problems and the Atlanta defense. Unless Vick and the Eagles’ offense hands the ball off to LeSean McCoy more than 25 times in the game, it will be difficult for Vick to keep consistency in the passing game. The Eagles are 3-0 when McCoy has 25+ carries, and 0-3 when he has less than 25 carries… Pretty simple winning formula isn’t it? The Falcons’ D is a bit of an unknown, but it has given up a lot of yardage on the ground, and it is this fact that sways the game in Philly’s favour.

Washington Redskins 30-34 Pittsburgh Steelers

This can’t be anything less than a shootout, it has the potential to become a ridiculous shootout. While being difficult to call, the trip to Heinz Field is a tough one for an experienced NFL signal caller, let alone a rookie one, talented as RGIII is, and after losing one of his main weapons for the season in Fred Davis, I think Big Ben wins this for his side.

Indianapolis Colts 27-31 Tennessee Titans

Another game with the potential for frenetic scoreboard action and one that sees the reinvigorated Titans offense take on Andrew Luck’s rebuilding Colts. In the end, I think that’s the way the scoreline could read, with the more experienced Tennessee team edging out the young Indianapolis side, but Luck will do his very best to keep it close.

New England Patriots 27-20 St Louis Rams [@ Wembley Stadium]

Something isn’t seeming to click right in New England just yet, but when safeties Patrick Chung and Steve Gregory return, along with impressive rookie linebacker Dont’a Hightower, I think we could see an altogether different Patriots’ D, and much better at that. This week though, the fact that St Louis have forfeited a home game to play in London could come back to bite them. They have been impressive at home, but on the road they have looked a little vulnerable, and while their corners may take away the wide threats of the Patriots, the TE’s may have a very nice day indeed.

Sunday 9:05pm

Oakland Raiders 24-20 Kansas City Chiefs

Two teams with issues all over the field meet in Kansas City, and the Chiefs have just made theirs much worse by choosing Brady Quinn as their starting QB. They lead the league in turnovers, and with Quinn in, I can’t see much improvement. Their defense is also sieve-esque, and with Carson Palmer looking more and more comfortable each day, expect the Raiders to produce offensively. However, this is a game that has the potential to be littered with turnovers, so it could come down to who holds onto the ball for longest.

Sunday 9:25pm

New York Giants 23-20 Dallas Cowboys

The marquee matchup of week 8 sees the impressive Giants visit Jerry’s house, the home of a Dallas team coming off a high of a win in Carolina. The Giants are looking for revenge after their loss earlier in the season to Dallas, and will desperately want to avoid the Cowboys having a tiebreaker over them. This game comes down to two key injuries: DeMarco Murray and Sean Lee, both Cowboys. They are influential players, and how they play seems to drag the team in that direction, I don’t think that without them, they can withstand a very good Giants outfit.

Monday 1:20am

New Orleans Saints 24-34 Denver Broncos

Another game with shootout potential, and with two of the best QB’s of the past 10 years. Drew Brees and Peyton Manning will both throw for 300 yards and 3TD’s, but Manning will lead a more balanced offense and if Willis McGahee can add 80+ yards and a TD, Denver should win this game. The Saints are improving, and Joe Vitt is back on the sideline, but this game comes too quick for them.

Tuesday 1:30am

San Francisco 49’ers 31-10 Arizona Cardinals

I think this scoreline could be conservative. I have a feeling that the Niners will decimate the Cardinals offensive line like nothing we have seen so far this year, and create turnovers from every part of this Arizona offense. Alex Smith may not have to do much, apart from hand the ball off to Frank Gore 30+ times, who should have a good day against this Arizona front seven, who are struggling against the run right now. That offensive line for the Cards is really really horrible, like ‘Hostel’ horrible.