WEEK EIGHT. Basically the halfway point of the season. And surprise surprise, the Patriots look like the league’s best team. Again.
Here’s this week’s set of games. Lots of teams on bye this week:
GAME OF THE WEEK – Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) at Dallas Cowboys (5-1), DAL by 4.5 – We’re about to learn a whole lot more about the NFC East after this pivotal Sunday Night matchup. The Eagles are playing out of their mind on defense, but the Cowboys have been able to run all over everyone they faced. If Ezekiel Elliot is able to get another big game going, the Eagles are going to be in a whole lot of trouble. But if they force Dak to win the game with his arm, they could pressure him enough to get the upset. When in doubt, take the home team in divisional games. Cowboys 24, Eagles 21
THURSDAY NIGHT – Jacksonville Jaguars (2-4) at Tennessee Titans (3-4), TEN by 3.5 – Who honestly gives a fuck? Titans 20, Jaguars 16
Cincinnati Bengals (3-4) vs. Washington Redskins (4-3) in London, CIN by 3 – Big game for both of these teams. The Bengals need to get back to .500 to move into the 2nd half of the season with a shot at the division title, the Redskins need to be able to keep pace with the winner of the Cowboys/Eagles game. I just think the Bengals are the more talented team, as well as the Redskins have played of late. Bengals 27, Redskins 20
Detroit Lions (4-3) at Houston Texans (4-3), HOU by 2.5 – The Texans have looked absolutely terrible in defeat this year, and Brock Osweiler has looked like one of the league’s worst quarterbacks whether in victory OR defeat. This is a game the Lions are capable of winning… which probably means they won’t, but I’ll take the upset anyway. Matt Stafford has put together an incredible stretch of 16 games under Jim Bob Cooter. UPSET! – Lions 26, Texans 17
Seattle Seahawks (4-1-1) at New Orleans Saints (2-4), SEA by 3 – The Seahawks have had so many games this season where their offense looked like something out of the 1930s. Rather concerning for a team that’s supposed to be a contender. Fortunately, they’re playing the Saints, who allow basically any offense to get on a roll. But will it be enough in the Superdome? I’m probably a fool, but I’m taking the upset. UPSET! – Saints 30, Seahawks 27
New England Patriots (6-1) at Buffalo Bills (4-3), NE by 6 – The Bills’ surprising loss to the Dolphins last week took a lot of the bite out of this game, as Buffalo would have been playing for their first sweep of the Patriots in memory. But with the Patriots basically back at full strength, you’re looking at a nonstop train directly to the Super Bowl. Patriots 34, Bills 20
New York Jets (2-5) at Cleveland Browns (0-7), NYJ by 4 – Always smart money to pick against the Browns. Jets 20, Browns 10
Oakland Raiders (5-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3), TB by 1 – Second week in a row that the Raiders are one-point underdogs to an average or worse team from Florida. What gives, oddsmakers? UPSET! – Raiders 33, Buccaneers 23
Kansas City Chiefs (4-2) at Indianapolis Colts (3-4), KC by 2.5 – A 4-2 record gets you third place in the AFC West this year, which says something about the strength of that division, for sure. This Chiefs team isn’t getting a whole lot of hype, but they’ve got a soft schedule outside the division and are playing good football. The Colts have been struggling against low-level competition and will have a fight to get to the playoffs in a bad division. Chiefs 24, Colts 17
San Diego Chargers (3-4) at Denver Broncos (5-2), DEN by 5.5 – What a difference a couple weeks makes. Suddenly the Chargers are close to putting themselves back in the wild card hunt, but to do it they’ll need to take down the Broncos for the second time in three weeks. Just a little too much to ask, IMO. Broncos 23, Chargers 16
Arizona Cardinals (3-3-1) at Carolina Panthers (1-5), CAR by 2.5 – I have lost all faith in the Panthers this season. What a disappointing season it’s been so far for both of these teams. UPSET! – Cardinals 28, Panthers 20
Green Bay Packers (4-2) at Atlanta Falcons (4-3), ATL by 3 – Hard to imagine a Packers team that has looked the way it has being able to go in and compete with this high-octane Falcons offense. Julio Jones might have 200 yards in the first half alone. Falcons 33, Packers 17
Minnesota Vikings (5-1) at Chicago Bears (1-6), MIN by 6 – While the Vikings will win, I anticipate this game being closer than many people expect. Cutler tends to play his best against the Vikings for some reason, and Bears/Vikings games in general tend to be a crapshoot. You never know with divisional football. Vikings 23, Bears 20
BYES: Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers
