Week 8 NFL Predix

By Jacob Sanders

Now is the time that you’d think that we would have figured out who are playoff teams are. Well, outside of the Patriots, Saints, 49ers and Packers, I think it would be hard to argue any other playoff team is guaranteed to get in. Yes, even with winners like the Vikings, Seahawks, and Ravens, I wouldn’t even guarantee their spot in the playoffs. This is also why I try to tell myself every year that post-Week 10 is when you should judge teams. Yet here I am. Judging them every week with only about 60-70% accuracy. Guess that’s better than nothing, right?

Sanders went 10-4 last week putting him to 68-38-1 on the season. He also thought the VIkings would kill the Redskins last Thursday by 3 more or more scores. It was 19-9 but a win’s a win and he is 1-0 this week.

DEN Broncos vs IND Colts

There’s one way to look at this Sunday morning matchup. You got a team who hasn’t flinched since losing their franchise QB to retirement, and are currently leading their division at 4-2. On the other side of the field, you’ll see a team who has given up on their season and is already trading pieces away. So, who should I be picking? The obvious answer is the Colts. Does that mean I’m going to pick them? Well, when Jacoby Brissett is really coming into his own while the Colts defense is one of the better youthful units in the League, it’s hard to justify picking against them.

Broncos 14 Colts 26

TB Buccaneers vs TEN Titans

There’s a lot to dig here. And by a lot to dig, I mean that there’s a lot to dig when trying to pick who the worse team is. Sure, the Titans have 1 more win, but that’s because they’ve had the chance to play for one more week. What the Titans got going for them though, is possible stability at the QB position right now. Heavy emphasis on POSSIBLE. The Bucs, however, are completely ruined if you ask me. Jameis Winston is not an NFL starter and is, at a best, a backup QB in this league. In a quarterback league, I’ll pick the team with the better QB. Also, the Bucs can’t defend against the passing game that well. Signs point towards a Tennessee W.

AZ Cardinals vs NO Saints

This game should fall under “must watch” tv. Crazy idea, but hear me out. Drew Brees is coming back and it should be an exciting comeback for future HoF to step onto the field again after Teedy B did a wonderful job filling. That alone should be the reason everyone needs to watch this game. However, I’ve got something more exciting for you to watch: Kyler Murray. Let me tell you something. I was anti-Kyler Murrary going into this year. I thought him going No. 1 was the dumbest thing the Cardinals could have done. I was DEAD wrong. Kyler Murray is the most exciting athlete in Arizona sports now and helped jump-start one of the most boring offenses in the NFL to become one of the most entertaining. Will this one be a classic shoot-out though? I doubt it. My gut tells me that reality hits when Kingsbury’s offense meets a top tier defense. However, I am more than willing to be surprised. But that’s what my reaction will be: surprised if this Arizona offense does more than I’m imagining.

Cardinals 17 Saints 28

CIN Bengals vs LA Rams

Welp. This one’s looking to be a snooze-fest. Andy Dalton is supposed to be starting and A.J. Green is still out. There’s little reason to believe the Bengals are going to pull off the upset against the Rams, especially after watching them bounce-back last week. After a 3-3 start to the season, the Rams really needed to catch an easy break. Facing the Falcons and then the Bengals  is pretty good break if you ask me. Look for the Rams to have another outstanding offensive performance against another weaker NFL defense.

Bengals 14 Rams 35

NY Jets vs JAX Jaguars

So. That was a...umm… game(?) by the Jets last week. And one I think everyone should forget. Throw the game tape away. That was a mess and nothing that anybody can learn from. My goodness, Adam Gase is terrible at game-planning. Maybe in Jacksonville, he’ll have better luck and Sam Darnold won’t be seeing so many phantoms. Alright, I’m done giving the Jets a hard time. For some real football analysis, the Jaguars are a steady team with Minschew under center. He’s certainly better than Blake Bortles and the Jaguars have shown to be a team that can beat the lower ends of competition. Considering where the Jets currently stand, yeah, I can see the good ol’ Jags taking a W at home.

Jets 13 Jags 19

NY Giants vs DET Lions

There’s been some...well...lack of playmaking from the Giants with Jones under center and even with the Giants having their weapons back last week, they couldn’t pull off a win against the Cardinals. Next stop for them is in Detroit against the feisty Lions. 2-3-1 may not be much to take to the bank, but the team is a lot better than their 2-3-1 record says they are. Knowing that, it’s hard to not take the Lions here. Matt Patricia’s D should take full advantage of Daniel Jones making rookie mistakes.

Giants 16 Lions 24

LA Chargers vs CHI Bears

You could argue for either team here, and I’d give you a thumbs up. Matter of the fact is, I really thought this Bears team was going 8-8 this season with the Packers winning their division and the Vikings getting a wildcard. So far so good on that prediction. However, what I didn’t expect was that the Chargers would be as bad as they are. Sure, the injuries don’t help, but this team is a far cry from what they were last season and so is Melvin Gordon as well. All this being said, I’m having a hard time believing the Chargers offense is going to move well, if at all against this Bears defense. So, just based on the fact I expect the Bears D to wallop this injured Chargers offense, I guess I have to pick the Bears. However, I don’t like having to pick this game at all.

Chargers 13 Bears 16

PHI Eagles vs BUF Bills

I’ve started to come to terms that the Eagles just may not be as good as I thought. Their defense has been beyond leaky, and the Eagle offensive line can’t seem to protect Carson Wentz. Overall, the Eagles operation appears to be a complete mess. Meanwhile, the Bills are riding high. I can’t state how much I love this Buffalo Bills team. Are they Super Bowl contenders? Not at all. But this team is so much damn fun to watch. The defense is solid, the team, overall is well coached, and Josh Allen can make things happen. Yes, Allen’s inconsistencies lead to the offense being inconsistent, but this team is mentally tough and can give you a hell of a go around. Just ask the Patriots. Anyway, don’t expect the Eagles to match up to the Bills. The Bills are just a better team with better coaching.

Eagles 17 Bills 21

SEA Seahawks vs ATL Falcons

Let’s put this simply. Matt Schaub is playing for the Falcons. Matt. Schaub. Yes, he is still in the NFL. Not many people seem to know that. However, I did, and I also know why he’s a backup. He’s a guy who knows the Falcons system, but not a guy who can save the Falcons offense. Certainly not a guy who’s going to beat Russell Wilson either. If you ask me, this looks like another beating the Falcons are gonna take.

Seahawks 27 Falcons 17

CAR Panthers vs SF 49ers

This is probably the toughest matchup to predict this week. The 49ers are the lone undefeated team in the NFC while the Panthers are a fierce team that’s hard to gameplan for. With Run CMC having an MVP season, and the Carolina defense forcing more turnover than a restaurant, picking the undefeated team isn’t so easy. What’s made the 49ers great though, has been their defenses ability to shutdown opposing offenses and giving their own offense the blissfulness to only having to score only 3-4 times a game. Fun fact that tilts this game into the favor of the 49ers: they’ve been the best team at shutting down pass-catching RBs. Another way of saying it: the 49ers are the best bet at shutting down Run CMC, if that’s even possible this season.

Panthers 21 49ers 24

CLE Browns vs NE Patriots

The Browns got a week of rest and are probably fired up to put their season on the line against the Patriots. Hell, Jarvis Landry even claimed they’re going to go into New England and win the game! Great. Classic bulletin board material for the Patriots. Which means the Patriots are going to beat the Browns into oblivion. Here’s my take. I’m tired of the Patriots being seen as bad because they haven’t beaten a good team yet. Not only are they undefeated but they have CRUSHED every opponent in their way outside of Buffalo (who by the way, IS A GOOD TEAM). If you ask me, this matchup is a massive coaching mismatch. Expect Bellichick’s defense to come in ready to manhandle the Baker Mayfield and Co. Contrary to some analysts nationwide, I don’t believe this game will be close. It was silly to think the Jets could compete with the Patriots and it’s silly now to think the Browns are going to compete.

Browns 13 Patriots 35

OAK Raiders vs HOU Texans

I’ll say it. This Raiders team, if not good, is a competitive team. Yes, the defense just isn’t very good as was showcased last week. However, this Raiders offense moves the ball efficiently every week and has been keeping them in games. Going 3-3, this Raiders offense has flown under the radar, and it’s probable that Josh Jacobs takes ROTY for his efforts. That being said, I’m not sure it’s good enough to beat the Texans with Watson becoming a legit top-tier franchise QB. Watson has honed in on his skills and has placed this Texans team on his back. He shows up again this week against a porous Raiders D.

Raiders 19 Texans 27

GB Packers vs KC Chiefs

So far, and yet so close to being able to watch an old-guard elite QB vs new-guard elite QB on Sunday Night Football. Instead, we get Matt Moore vs Aaron Rodgers. Ummm, okay. So, what you’re saying is that Matt Moore’s gotta find a way to throw quickly in rhythm against a Packers defense that’s been one of the best pass-rushing defenses in the League. Okay, then. Amidst my sarcasm is a tone of seriousness here. This is a tall task to ask of Matt Moore. He’s being asked to play on SNF against one of the premier defenses of the League. On top of that, he has to outpace an Aaron Rodgers who has found his place in a new and refreshing Packers offensive attack. That’s...quite unfortunate for Matt Moore. And quite unfortunate if you’re the Chiefs defense. The Packers pick up a big win on the road to stay on top of the NFC.

Packers 27 Chiefs 17

MIA Dolphins vs PIT Steelers

There are people picking the Dolphins to win this game this week. Why? This Steelers team might be 2-4 and playing a lost season, but they certainly aren’t dead in the water. Nor are they incapable of beating bad teams. What needs to be considered here, is not only did the Steelers give the Chargers a drubbing last week, but this team also just has better coaching than the Dolphins do. On top of that, T.J. Watt is having an All-Pro season so it probably doesn’t matter whether Fitzpatrick or Rosen is playing quarterback. T.J. Watt’s gonna feast under primetime lights.

Dolphins 10 Steelers 21