NFL Picks Week 8: Bye Week Bonanza

Here are the picks for the week. Sorry these are late on Friday. I did not mean it to be, but things got in the way. I will not make excuses for it, just my bad. Enjoy Week 8.  

Dallas (4-3) at Detroit (4-3) (-3) 12:00 pm FOX - Are we going down the same road with Detroit? They gave up 372 yards to Andy Dalton last week. Their biggest weakness has always been their secondary. Enter in Tony Romo whose having a great season thus for Dallas.  This seems like a game where Romo will factor big in. Much has been made about Dallas' defense in the last couple weeks but Washington and Philadelphia are not world beaters by any means. This will be their biggest tough and Brandon Carr versus Calvin Johnson should be a fun matchup. I like Dallas in this one. I think people are unfairly lumping them with the brutal NFC East and it is not fair. They show out again this week. DAL 27-23

Cleveland (3-4) at Kansas City (7-0) (-9) 12:00 pm CBS - Do you know Cleveland has given up the second-most sacks in the league?  Do you also know Kansas City leads the league in sacks by more than 10?  Jason Campbell is starting at quarterback which seems like the proverbial white flag given his struggles last year in Chicago. I think Kansas City's defense dominates in this one and carries the Chiefs to their eight consecutive win. KC 21-6

Miami (3-3) at New England (5-2) (-7) 12:00 pm CBS - Miami is who we thought they were!  At least for me. I thought the Dolphins were not that good and I feel vindicated after their third straight loss to Buffalo at home.  They head to an angry Foxboro where the Patriots suffered arguably one of their worst losses in some time. Tom Brady heard everyone telling him how he is washed up and I feel like the jury is still out on him truthfully yet I expect him to play better. While I think New England will win this football game, I cannot trust them enough to cover the seven-point spread. NE 24-20

Buffalo (3-4) at New Orleans (5-1) (-11.5) 12:00 pm CBS - Remember how I said last week, I do not think Buffalo will get blown out this year?  I still believe it. I think they have an underrated defense led by the Defensive Rookie of the Year front-runner Kiko Alonso and Mario Williams whom is showing he was worth the money. Thad Lewis in the Louisiana Superdome worries me a bit yet if they focus on using Fred Jackson, they can at least stay in this game. I think this might end up being the best game of the early slate with the Saints pulling out a late win. NO 28-20  

New York Giants (1-6) at Philadelphia (3-4) (-6) 12:00 pm FOX - Pretty sure I have figured out the Eagles. They are a team who is good against inferior opponents yet struggle when they see a real team in front of them. The Giants did not suddenly fix all their problems with a win against Minnesota. They are still a struggling defense facing a high-powered offense (They still are one, remember Nick Foles suffered a concussion last week). LeSean McCoy and Michael Vick get done leading to Philadelphia getting their first sweep against New York since 2010. PHI 34-21

San Francisco (5-2) (-17) vs. Jacksonville (0-7) (Played in London) 12:00 pm FOX - Another game in London with the opponent having zero wins. Big Cat Country, SB Nation's Jacksonville blog did an awesome preview of the game that is worth your time and your belly laugh. Chad Henne will start again for Jacksonville and he has thrown for over 300 yards in his first two games as a starter. I do not know if Henne will be able to do as such against San Francisco's defense who are 5th in passing defense. I think the Niners do just enough to cover. SF 35-16  

New York Jets (4-3) at Cincinnati (5-2) (-7) 3:05 pm CBS - This will be ugly. Two of the top defenses going against each other in this one meaning this comes down to which quarterback makes the least amount of mistakes. Geno Smith is a pure roller coaster and I do not know if I could trust him on the road against a tough defense. Yes, this means I have to trust Andy Dalton in the process as well. No way I am laying seven points though. CIN 17-13

Pittsburgh (2-4) (-3) at Oakland (2-4) 3:05 pm CBS - This is a tough game for me to gauge honestly. Pittsburgh has won two straight and Oakland is coming off a bye plus plays well at home. I am not quite sure if Pittsburgh might have just got off to a shitty start, or if they are a below-average team therefore I will be taking Oakland because I believe in Terrelle Pryor. OAK 28-21

Washington (2-4) at Denver (6-1) (-14) 3:25 pm FOX - THE RETURN OF SHANNY. This is probably not that big of a deal given the Redskins are not having a good year thus far. Robert Griffin III did look better last week and he will have another big game this week. This will be another shootout for Denver and there is absolutely no way they cover a 14-point spread. Way too high.  But Denver wins the game. I am not too worried about them against Washington. DEN 38-34

Atlanta (2-4) at Arizona (3-4) (-2) 3:25 pm FOX - There is one thing that gets forgotten a lot is Arizona is a pretty good home team. Atlanta has beaten St. Louis and Tampa Bay thus far. They do get Steven Jackson back which will help things on offense, but their defense is still a problem meaning Carson Palmer has a nice day for the Cards. ARI 23-17

Green Bay (4-2) (-10) at Minnesota (1-5) 7:30 pm NBC - Check our preview of this game as well as the playlist that features Prince, Sleigh Bells, Bob Dylan and Atmosphere.

Monday
Seattle (6-1) (-11) at St. Louis (3-4) 7:25 pm ESPN - Kellen Clemens is starting at quarterback. There is a World Series game on Monday night potentially being a 2-2 matchup or the Cardinals could clinch the championship. Not a chance, bet the house on Seattle.  SEA 34-7

Bye Week: Chicago, San Diego, Tennessee, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Houston

Record:

Straight Up - 68-41

ATS - 47-57-1