NFL Week 8 Picks

Overall record: 58-46

The NFL's best team, the Pittsburgh Steelers will take its talent to the Big Easy and face off against Drew Brees and the angry New Orleans Saints who are coming off an embarrassing loss at home to the Cleveland Browns. Can the Steelers slow down the Saints potentially explosive passing game and win their fourth consecutive road game this season? How about the Oakland Raiders, laying the smackdown on the Broncos in their own crib. Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris thinks his team the 4-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the best team in the NFC.

Several teams this week face must win games or else this week. Two of those teams are the Chargers and the Bengals. The Chargers faithful are hoping this season is just another slow start and that the team is ready to take off and take its rightful place as the AFC West's best team. Special teams breakdowns and an ability to run the football with consistency are just a couple reasons why the Chargers are 2-5. It as seems as though the Bengals have turned the ball over everytime they are ready to go in for the tying or winning score lately. Without further ado here's my NFL week 8 picks.

Sunday Morning Games

Green Bay Packers (4-3) @ New York Jets (5-1): NFL Week 8 Picks

The Packers got back on track with a much needed win against Brett Favre and the Vikings last Sunday on Sunday Night Football. This week, it gets a little bit harder for the Packers as they head to the Meadowlands to take on Mark Sanchez and the red-hot Jets. Darrelle Revis, who's been ineffective at times with a bad hamstring, declared himself 100 percent healthy this week. The Jets have had two weeks to prepare for this matchup because they had a bye week last week. Not a good sign for the struggling Packers. Aaron Rodgers needs to get the ball out of his hands quickly or he could be knocked out of the game. Jets win

Denver Broncos (2-5) @ San Francisco 49ers (1-6): NFL Week 8 Picks

So NFL wants to promote the physical game of football in London and this is the matchup the good people of Britain get? Talk about not fair. This game should be called the scary bowl. Both teams play as of late has been downright scary. Former heisman trophy winner Troy Smith will get his shot to get the 49ers season back on track as he takes over the starting duties at quarterback for the injured Alex Smith. The Broncos are coming off arguably their most embarrassing loss in franchise history, 59-14 to the Raiders. I don't know if the Broncos fans have noticed, but their defense has gotten progressively worse since defense coordinator Mike Nolan was fired last season. Frank Gore should be able to pad his stats and get the 49ers their second win of the season. 49ers win

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4) @ Dallas Cowboys (1-5): NFL Week 8 Picks

You know what? I'm kind of happy the Cowboys' season is over. I mean who brags to the media that they're a Super Bowl team when they have only won a couple playoff games since 1996. Dallas, just win a freaking game. I know I'm being mean Cowboys fans, but come on did you really think the Boys could make the Super Bowl with Wade Phillips as their clueless head coach? I didn't think so either. Even though Jacksonville got beat pretty bad two weeks in row by the first place Titans and Chiefs respectively, I don't think they are that bad. The Jags can win this game if they don't turn the ball over. That means you David Garrard. I think Jon Kitna will find some chemistry in game with Roy Williams. Dallas should win this game since they are at home. Cowboys win

Miami Dolphins (3-3) @ Cincinnati Bengals (2-4): NFL Week 8 Picks

Miami has been a weird team this season. They are 3-0 on the road and 0-3 at home. I think Miami should play all their games on the road if this trend continues. The Bengals are one of five underachieving teams along with Dallas, San Francisco, San Diego, and Minnesota. Both teams are the epitome of inconsistency. Carson Palmer is nursing a hip injury, so that will be important to keep an eye on this matchup. Bengals cornerback Leon Hall is nursing a hamstring injury. Brandon Marshall has to be licking his chops to have a big game against the Bengals iffy secondary. Dolphins win

Carolina Panthers (1-5) @ St. Louis Rams (3-4): NFL Week 8 Picks

I expect the Rams defense to shut down the Panthers terrible offense in this one. Enough said. Rams win

Washington Redskins (4-3) @ Detroit Lions (1-5): NFL Week 8 Picks

The Lions get their starting quarterback Matthew Stafford back in this game. Quietly, the Lions have been a much improved offense team averaging 24 points a game. The Lions are the 7^th best passing team, averaging 259 yards a game. The Redskins are the 31^st pass defense in the NFL. Both teams struggle generating a decent run game. I like the Lions to win this game because they play well at home. Lions win

Buffalo Bills (0-6) @ Kansas City Chiefs (4-2): NFL Week 8 Picks

The winless Bills will try their best to get their first win in noisy Arrowhead Stadium. Good luck with that one. I won't be surprised to see the Bills put up a good fight in this game. If Ryan Fitzpatrick is given time in the pocket, he's more than capable of picking the Chiefs 25^th ranked pass defense apart. I expect the Chiefs to counter by using their potent running game to exploit the Bills 32^nd ranked run defense, which gives up over 174 yards a game. The Chiefs are extremely tough at home (3-0 on the season). Chiefs win

Sunday Afternoon Games

Tennessee Titans (5-2) @ San Diego Chargers (2-5): NFL Week 8 Picks

Vince Young will be back in the lineup for the surprising Titans. At 5-2, the Titans are one of the top teams in the AFC. A friend of mine told me to never pick a team to win that's desperate like the Chargers. There's just no way that I can see the Chargers falling to 2-6. Phillips Rivers is 3-0 in his young career against the Titans. The Titans are a team that's susceptible to the pass if they don't get to the quarterback in time. The Chargers have the 4^th ranked defense and that will come in handy as the Titans will force feed Chris Johnson to keep the explosive passing game of the Chargers off the field. If San Diego can get a big lead and make the Titans, a passing offense, which isn't their strength, the Chargers will secure their 3^rd win of the season. Chargers win

Minnesota Vikings (2-4) @ New England Patriots (5-1): NFL Week 8 Picks

Vikings receiver Randy Moss makes his return to New England after being traded to the Vikings three weeks ago. Vikings coach Brad Childress need to tell Brett Favre to sit down and rest his bad ankle this Sunday against the Patriots. Tarvaris Jackson gives the Vikings the best chance to win. Yes, you read it right. A healthy Tarvaris Jackson is much more effective against the Patriots because of his ability to scramble when the play breaks down. The Patriots need to focus their attention on slowing down Adrian Peterson whose averaging 114 yards rushing a game. Peterson has been the Minnesota offense this season because the Minnesota passing game has been ineffective. Vikings defensive end Jared Allen needs to find a way to make his presence felt in this game. The Patriots have won 15 consecutive games against NFC opponents. Look for the Patriots to be efficient on offense and improve to 6-1 on the season. Patriots win

Seattle Seahawks (4-2) @ Oakland Raiders (3-4): NFL Week 8 Picks

This game should be known as the respect bowl because both teams are looking for a little respect. Nobody predicted that Seattle would be in first place in the NFC West as this point in the season. Not with an aging Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback at least. I can't recall picking the Raiders in any games this season because they are like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde from week to week. The Raiders play well at home and I wouldn't expect any different in this game. If the Raiders can generate a passing game, they can exploit Seattle's 29^th ranked pass defense. Raiders win

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2) @ Arizona Cardinals (3-3): NFL Week 8 Picks

Tampa Bay comes into this matchup after an impressive win at home over the improved Rams. I bet the Cardinals would love a quarterback of Josh Freeman's caliber on their team. The Cardinals can't run or pass despite they have one of the best receivers in the NFL in Larry Fitzgerald. The Cardinals may find some success on the ground against the Buccaneers 31^st run defense. The Cards defense needs to step up and force some turnovers as well to give themselves a chance at the upset. Buccaneers win

Sunday Night Football on NBC

Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1) @ New Orleans Saints (4-3): NFL Week 8 Picks

The Steelers are coming off a controversial win over the Miami Dolphins; however a win is a win in the National Football League. The Saints have been very inconsistent this season and with a loss could fall to 4-4. If you look at the Saints who have they beaten this season that impresses you? The key to the game will be the Steelers ability to keep the Saints big play ability in check. The Steelers are more balanced on offense and that gives him a huge edge. The Saints have the third best pass defense in the NFL. I see this being a field goal game. This game could go either way. This was a really tough game to pick. Steelers win

Monday Night Football on ESPN

Houston Texans (4-2) @ Indianapolis Colts (4-2): NFL Week 8 Picks

I think this could be the best Monday Night Game of the season. The Texans and Colts are both 4-2 in this intriguing matchup of high powered offenses. The Texans beat the Colts in Houston 34-24 behind 231 yards from Arian Foster week one. If the Colts want to win the AFC South for the fourth time in five years, they have to win this game. The Colts are a surprising 0-2 in the AFC division. The Colts are banged up right now. Tight end Dallas Clark is out for the season. Running back Joseph Addai and Austin Collie with be out of action in this game. The Texans have had two weeks to prepare this matchup. Peyton Manning will have to be Superman for the Colts to win. This was a tough game to pick a winner because both teams have a major weakness. The Colts can't stop the run and the Texans can't stop the pass. Look for the Texans to pound the ball with Foster to keep Peyton Manning off the field. Texans win