2016 NFL Week 8 Predictions, Picks and Preview

For the first time this season, no team will enter a week undefeated with the Minnesota Vikings suffering their first loss of the season last Sunday at the hands of Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles. Congratulations to those who bet that the Vikings would lose first before the Cleveland Browns get a win. Well, time to move on to the next week. Here are our picks and predictions for NFL’s Week 8 games.

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2016 NFL Week 8 Complete Picks

Thursday, October 27

Jacksonville Jaguars (+3.5) at Tennessee Titans (-3.5) – 9:30 PM ET

The Jaguars stink. People thought this was going to be a breakout year for Jacksonville before the season began, but what’s happening is simply the opposite. The Jaguars are now 2-4 and are coming off a 33-16 loss to Oakland. Gus Bradley’s seat should be scorching hot next week if they were to lose to the Titans, who are also seeing a regression in the performance of their quarterback.

Marcus Mariota threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns on 22 of 37 passes in a 34-26 home loss to the Colts in Week 7, while getting sacked three times and fumbling the ball twice. Mariota faces the Jags’ decent pass defense next. Jacksonville is seventh in the league against the pass with 215.3 yards per game. Mariota and DeMarco Murray can go wild on the ground, though, as the Jags run defense is ranked just 18^th overall.

Writer’s Prediction: Tennessee wins, 27-24.

Sunday, October 30

Washington Redskins (+3) at Cincinnati Bengals (-3) – 1:00 PM ET

The Redskins saw their four-game win streak end on Sunday with a 20-17 loss to Detroit on the road. They could’ve averted the setback had Josh Norman stayed in the game. Norman was removed from the game in the third quarter with a concussion, paving the way for the Lions’ passing attack to hum much better in the second half.

The Redskins need Norman back on the field next week to help contain A.J. Green and the Bengals’ offense that averages 276.9 passing yards per game, which is good for fifth in the league. The Bengals had a gimme last week, trouncing Cleveland at home, 31-17, and will look to go back-to-back for the first time this season next Sunday.

Writer’s Prediction: Cincinnati wins, 28-23.

Kansas City Chiefs (-2.5) at Indianapolis Colts (+2.5) – 1:00 PM ET

The Colts caught a glimpse of how good Andrew Luck can be when he’s afforded of a clean pocket, as the offensive line allowed just two sacks in a 34-26 win over Tennessee on Sunday. Luck passed for 353 yards and three touchdowns without an interception altogether in that game. A repeat of that performance is in the view of Luck, as he’ll be getting the toothless Kansas City pass rush that is tied for the fewest sacks in the league with just 8.0.

The Chiefs, however, can take advantage of the Colts’ leaky rushing defense that allows 118.6 rushing yards per game. Spencer Ware will be the biggest threat to Indy, having rushed for 77 yards on 17 carries in a 27-21 victory over the Saints on Sunday.

Writer’s Prediction: Indianapolis wins, 31-27.

Oakland Raiders (+1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1) – 1:00 PM ET

Suddenly, the Bucs are on a win streak. After whipping the defending NFC champion Panthers in Week 5, Tampa Bay followed that up with a 34-17 bludgeoning of San Francisco on Sunday. While a victory over the punching bag 49ers isn’t something to be too proud of, the Bucs could use any momentum they can get heading into a showdown with Derek Carr and the Raiders.

The Raiders, who edged Jacksonville on Sunday, 33-16, will have to play tighter defense though if they are to avoid getting trucked by Jameis Winston and company. The Raiders are 22^nd overall in scoring defense and last in the league both in passing and rushing defense.

Writer’s Prediction: Oakland wins, 32-28.

Seattle Seahawks (-3) at New Orleans Saints (+3) – 1:00 PM ET

Offense vs. defense is one name for this game between the Seahawks and Saints. Another one could be defense vs. no defense. The Seahawks rank fourth overall in the scoring defense with just 14.0 points allowed per game and they showed how vicious their stop unit when they held Arizona to just six points in a draw last Sunday. The Saints, on the other hand, are last in the NFL with 32.5 points given up per contest.

Writer’s Prediction: Seattle wins, 28-24.

New York Jets (-2.5) at Cleveland Browns (+2.5) – 1:00 PM ET

You have to give the Browns some credit for not pulling themselves out of the league despite all the embarrassments and misfortunes this season. The latest mishap came in the form of a Cody Kessler concussion, which the QB suffered in the 31-17 loss to Cincy on Sunday. Kevin Hogan is going to be Cleveland’s sixth starter this season should Kessler’s brain need more time to heal.

Like the Browns, the Jets are far from being content on their quarterbacks with Geno Smith injured and Ryan Fitzpatrick playing like the mediocre starter that he is. That said, the Jets are fresh off an encouraging 24-16 win over Baltimore. Playing Cleveland next should boost their confidence even more.

Writer’s Prediction: New York wins, 24-21.

New England Patriots (-5.5) at Buffalo Bills (+5.5) – 1:00 PM ET

Tom Brady and the Pats have revenge on their minds, as they’re about to take on the Bills, who’s the only team to beat New England thus far this season. The Bills defeated a Brady-less New England back in Week 4, 16-0. Prior to a 28-25 loss to Miami on Sunday, the Bills were among the hottest teams in the league with four-straight victories, which included wins over Arizona and Los Angeles.

Brady has been playing possessed since coming back from suspension and he showed once again how zoned in he is this season with a fantastic performance in the Pats’ 27-16 taming of Pittsburgh on Sunday. In that game, Brady passed for 222 yards and two touchdowns sans a pick on 19 of 26 passes.

The battle could be won on the ground for the Pats, though, as the Bills rushing defense was molested in a 28-25 loss on Sunday to Miami, which racked up 256 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Writer’s Prediction: New England wins, 25-18.

Arizona Cardinals (+1) at Carolina Panthers (-1) – 1:00 PM ET

Hopefully for the Panthers, an extra week of rest will help them stop a four-game losing skid. Before heading into a bye, the Panthers lost a high-scoring game to New Orleans, 41-28. The Cardinals didn’t win nor lose their last game, as they settled for a draw with Seattle 6-6 on Sunday. The Cardinals should find their deadly form on offense against Carolina’s bumbling stop unit that currently sits just 29^th in the league in scoring defense and 24^th in total yards allowed per game.

Writer’s Prediction: Arizona wins, 24-22.

Green Bay Packers (+3) at Atlanta Falcons (-3) – 4:25 PM ET

The Packers suspended much of the doubt surrounding their offense with a 26-10 demolition of the Bears last Thursday. Still, Aaron Rodgers has to find a way to get Jordy Nelson back into form after the wide receiver had a dud of a performance in the Chicago game, catching just one of four passes for a mere nine yards.

Nelson needs to be more effective in what should be a fiery and high-scoring affair with Atlanta, which tops the league in scoring offense and total offense.

Writer’s Prediction: Atlanta wins, 35-28.

Philadelphia Eagles (+4.5) at Dallas Cowboys (-4.5) – 8:35 PM ET

Sorry Dallas, but let’s just get this out of the way: how about them, Eagles? The Eagles slayed a giant on Sunday, defeating the previously unbeaten Minnesota on the road, 21-10. Philly had no love for its former quarterback Sam Bradford with the Eagles recording six sacks.

The Eagles’ pass rush will be in for an acid test next Sunday, though, with a matchup against Dallas’ top-rated offensive line. The Eagles will tie Dallas atop the NFC East standings with a victory.

Writer’s Prediction: Dallas wins, 24-21.

Monday, October 31

Minnesota Vikings (TBA) at Chicago Bears (TBA)– 8:30 PM ET

The Vikings now know the feeling of how it’s like to be Cleveland (at least for a week) after suffering their first loss of the season on Sunday against the Eagles. Sam Bradford was thoroughly beaten up by Philly’s pass rush, which took him down six times.

The Vikings could get right back up, however, next week when they play the skidding Bears, who suffered their sixth loss of the season last Thursday against the Packers. The Bears are also going to be without Brian Hoyer, who broke his left arm in the Green Bay game. With Jay Cutler unlikely to play and Hoyer no longer an option under center, look for some guy named Matt Barkley to get the start for the Bears.

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