A new week of football gives sports fans and bettors much to be excited about with some big games on the horizon. To give you an overview on how some of the most intriguing games will play out, here are the experts’ picks for Week 8 of the 2014 NFL season.
These are not the only experts covering the NFL. We give you our complete picks and predictions for all the football games in Week 8. In the meantime, give your fantasy team a boost with our weekly fantasy football pickups and drops before the start of this week’s action.
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Expert Picks for the 2014 NFL Week 8
CBS Sports
NFL Week 8
Line
Pete Prisco
Jason La Canfora
Will Brinson
Josh Katzowitz
Ryan Wilson
John Breech
San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos
-7.5 DEN
Broncos
Broncos
Chargers
Chargers
Chargers
Chargers
Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons
+3.5 ATL
Lions
Lions
Falcons
Falcons
Lions
Lions
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
-1.5 CIN
Bengals
Ravens
Ravens
Ravens
Ravens
Bengals
Miami Dolphins at Jacksonville Jaguars
+5.5 JAC
Jaguars
Dolphins
Dolphins
Jaguars
Jaguars
Dolphins
St. Louis Rams at Kansas City Chiefs
-6.5 KC
Chiefs
Chiefs
Chiefs
Chiefs
Rams
Chiefs
Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
-3.5 TB
Buccaneers
Buccaneers
Vikings
Vikings
Vikings
Vikings
Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers
+4.5 CAR
Seahawks
Seahawks
Panthers
Panthers
Seahawks
Seahawks
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets
-3.5 NYJ
Jets
Jets
Bills
Jets
Bills
Jets
Chicago Bears at New England Patriots
-6.5 NE
Patriots
Patriots
Bears
Patriots
Patriots
Patriots
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
+2.5 TEN
Titans
Texans
Texans
Texans
Texans
Texans
Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals
-2.5 ARI
Cardinals
Eagles
Cardinals
Cardinals
Cardinals
Eagles
Oakland Raiders at Cleveland Browns
-7.5 CLE
Browns
Browns
Raiders
Raiders
Raiders
Raiders
Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers
+3.5 PIT
Steelers
Colts
Steelers
Steelers
Colts
Colts
Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints
-1.5 NO
Packers
Packers
Packers
Packers
Packers
Saints
Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys
-9.5 DAL
Cowboys
Cowboys
Redskins
Cowboys
Redskins
Cowboys
The Cleveland Browns were blown out 24-6 by the then-winless Jacksonville Jaguars a week ago. For Week 8, four experts from CBS Sports believe that the last winless team in the NFL, the Oakland Raiders, will have their way with the Browns, or at least keep it close.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Under interim head coach Tony Sparano, Raiders rookie quarterback Derek Carr has mixed up his game by including long bombs instead of short but sure passes earlier in the season. Carr’s longest passes in the past two games have gone beyond 50 yards as he threw a long 77-yard touchdown to Andre Holmes against San Diego and a 55-yard pass to Brice Butler against Arizona.
Carr should be able to make a couple of excellent reads on the Browns’ secondary which has allowed 23 passes of 20 yards or more (eighth most in the NFL). The rookie has already ripped San Diego’s defense (ranked third in the league in passing defense) for 282 yards and four touchdowns. If the Raiders can protect Carr, and stats show they can with the least sacks on a QB in the league (five), he can throw well enough to give the Raiders their first victory of the season. Continue reading our complete preview here.
Another intriguing pick for CBS Sports’ panel is on the Sunday Night Football showdown between two superstar quarterbacks in Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and New Orleans’ Drew Brees. The panel was almost unanimous in picking the Packers to win the game.
The Saints haven’t lost at home in the regular season since December 30, 2012. However, Rodgers and the Packers are poised to end that streak. The Saints are allowing 373.7 passing yards and 27.5 points per game, something that should get Rodgers licking his chops. The Packers QB is one of the most efficient in the game today. He has 18 touchdowns, one shy of the league-best 19 owned by Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck.
Rodgers has also made wide receiver Jordy Nelson look way too good, averaging 15.1 yards per catch with six touchdowns in the season. Nelson ranks second in the league with 712 receiving yards so far this season.
The Saints’ Drew Brees had a spell of bad decision making in the past few weeks. He has thrown five interceptions in the past three games, just one less of Jacksonville rookie quarterback Blake Bortles’ six in the same time span. One of Brees interceptions proved too costly as he threw an interception deep inside Saints territory in a 24-23 loss to Detroit on October 19. For more on this primetime showdown, check out our complete preview here.
This should be a fun game to make your Sunday evening entertaining. Take the Packers (+1) or the Saints (-1) now and get yourself set for Sunday Night Football.
Bleacher Report
NFL Week 8
Line
Pick
San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos
-7.5 DEN
Chargers
Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons
+4 ATL
Falcons
Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers
+5 CAR
Seahawks
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
Pick ‘Em
Ravens
Miami Dolphins at Jacksonville Jaguars
+5.5 JAC
Dolphins
St. Louis Rams at Kansas City Chiefs
-7.5 KC
Rams
Chicago Bears at New England Patriots
-7 NE
Bears
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets
-2.5 NYJ
Bills
Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
-2.5 TB
Vikings
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
Pick ‘Em
Texans
Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals
-2.5 ARI
Eagles
Oakland Raiders at Cleveland Browns
-7.5 CLE
Raiders
Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers
+2.5 PIT
Colts
Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints
Pick ‘Em
Packers
Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys
-10 DAL
Cowboys
Bleacher Report not only picked the Chargers to cover against the Broncos, they also picked San Diego to win outright. However, that may be difficult for the Chargers to back as they are facing a short week, and will play in high altitude at Mile High Stadium.
Aside from the physical factors going against the Chargers, their secondary didn’t look spectacular as it was picked apart by the winless Oakland Raiders for 282 yards and four touchdowns with a rookie behind center just two weeks ago. They’ll have a hard time containing Peyton Manning who throws for 308 yards per game with 19 touchdowns in the season.
Still, the Chargers managed an upset last season as they bested the Broncos 27-20 in Denver as they kept possession for 38 minutes in the game. Even with a shaky secondary, San Diego can manage to keep Denver’s offense off the field with effective offense.
Phillip Rivers has been efficient throwing 63.4 percent for 265 yards per game and eight touchdowns in the past three weeks. Meanwhile, rookie running back Branden Oliver has rushed for 282 yards in the past three games. While, Oliver may struggle against the Broncos’ front seven (allowing 74.3 rushing yards per game), his build and size should be enough to keep possession on third-and-short situations. Get yourself even more informed on this AFC West showdown. Check out our complete analysis and prediction here.
Convinced by Bleacher Report’s pick of the Chargers defeating Denver? Take the underdogs to win outright at a whopping +310 price.
FOX Sports
NFL Week 8
Line
Pick
San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos
-8 DEN
Chargers
Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons
+3.5 ATL
Lions
Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers
+5 CAR
Panthers
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
Pick ‘Em
Ravens
Miami Dolphins at Jacksonville Jaguars
+7 JAC
Jaguars
St. Louis Rams at Kansas City Chiefs
-7.5 KC
Rams
Chicago Bears at New England Patriots
-7 NE
Bears
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets
-2.5 NYJ
Bills
Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
-2.5 TB
Vikings
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
+1 TEN
Push
Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals
-2.5 ARI
Eagles
Oakland Raiders at Cleveland Browns
-7.5 CLE
Browns
Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers
+2.5 PIT
Colts
Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints
Pick ‘Em
Packers
Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys
-10 DAL
Redskins
The Ravens are a favorite pick for experts this week, as both Bleacher Report and CBS Sports had a number of picks for Baltimore. FOX Sports followed suit, except their pick wasn’t suspect to human biases or opinions. FOX Sports have the Ravens winning 23-19 using simulations made by WhatIfSports.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is looking like a world beater with seven touchdowns in his last two games. Wide receiver Torrey Smith has shaken off a slow start to the season and averaged 18.9 yards per catch in the past two weeks with three touchdowns, while Justin Forsett is coming off 206 yards on 37 carries in the past two games.With a well-rounded offense, the Ravens have developed into one of the most dominant teams in the NFL outscoring opponents by 89 points.
Meanwhile, the Bengals have regressed. After going 3-0 to start the season, Cincinnati went 0-2-1 in their last three games while being outscored 107-54. They’ll also potentially miss leading receiver A.J. Smith due to a toe injury. Green caught six passes for a season-high 131 yards and a score in the season-opening win over the Ravens.
Despite their shaky form in the past few weeks, the Bengals have won seven of their last nine meetings against Baltimore. They should be highly-motivated to defend their house after their humiliating 27-0 loss to Indianapolis last week. For more on this intriguing divisional matchup, read our complete preview here.
