Week 8 Preview

As crazy as week 7 was with blowouts coming from 2 AFC West teams and 2 high scoring shootouts in the early games we can only hope for a week as good this time around. The AFC is shaping up to be a battle between the big two of the AFC North(Pittsburgh and Baltimore) against the big two of the AFC East ( New York and New England) While the NFC is starting to look like the Giants conference to lose. However we’re only half way there and there are a lot of stories still left to be written.

Randy Moss starring in: The Return

A few weeks ago The Patriots sent Randy Moss to the Minnesota Vikings for a draft pick and nothing else. Now it’s time for him to return to the Patriots who haven’t loss sent they sent him away but have missed the explosive element he added to their offense. The Patriots are looking like the Patriots of old with a collection of small receivers who will work themselves open in pretty much any part of the field.  However the Viking have enjoyed both the deep threat that Randy Moss provides as well as the attention it draws which has opened up space for Percy Harvin to get back to his play making ways of last year. However this hasn’t lead to a drastic increase in wins as they’re only 1-2 since adding Randy Moss.  This has to be the game Randy had circled once he got traded and I’m genuinely excited to see what he does.

Darren McFadden and Mike Williams starring in: Now who’s the bust?

The Raiders Seahawks game stars two college superstars who seemed like busts during the early part of their careers. It’s especially exciting to me because I absolutely loved both of these players coming out of college and was ecstatic when the Raiders picked McFadden 4^th out of Arkansas and was almost as excited when they picked up Mike Williams only to drop him 5 weeks later. McFadden only being in his third year; the bust label seemed a bit quickly placed however Mike Williams ate himself out of the league multiple times after being picked 10^th by the Detroit Lions so the label was more apt. However both players have been rejuvenated this year and are putting together solid years, or in McFadden’s case a pro bowl quality one. The question is who will emerge this game with another sterling performance to add to their 2010 resume. Last week McFadden had 196 total yards and 4 touchdowns while Williams had a solid 11 catches for 87 yards and one visit to the end zone. I doubt either puts up similar numbers but I also doubted either player would be this good this year so we know how much I know when it comes to these guys.

Miami @ Cincinnati

Cincinnati -2.5

“Oh hi there Carson, sorry for saying all those bad things about you all these weeks. We’re still cool right?” On behalf of Screen and Roll out I’d like to send my apologies to Carson Palmer who demonstrated that he is in fact not a corpse and is a real live quarterback. Let’s see if he can put together a performance like that two weeks in a row. The most troubling part of last week’s Falcons Bengals game as a Bengals fan is Carson Palmer has a once in a season game for him and you still lose. The Dolphins can’t win games at home but are currently undefeated on the road.  The Dolphins are the epitome of a 3-3 team not particularly good in any area but not awful in any area either. Something tells me the Dolphins get their first loss of the year on the road this year and I started reading the literature I’ve been getting from the Church of Caron Palmer.

Bengals 24

Dolphins 20

Jacksonville @ Dallas

Pick Em

Say hello to your starting QB Dallas

I really have no idea who to pick in this game. Dallas is absolutely done. Their season is over, no Tony Romo for the rest of the year and they’re 3 games back in their division. Jon Kitna isn’t leading a comeback from the brink of oblivion, but he might lead them to a victory or two during this year. As far as wins go I don’t think you can ask for much more than playing the Jags at home. The only team the Jags have beaten on the road is the Bills and they did that in a shootout. As bad as the cowboys have been and as bad as they’re going to be they’re still better than the Bills. Watching that Monday night game the only thing I took from it for the Cowboys was that Dez Bryant is a legit play maker right now. As bad as Jon Kitna and that offensive line are he still has the makings of 3 go to players at the wide out position in Miles Austin, a rejuvenated Roy Williams, and the up and coming Dez Bryant. I think that’s enough to beat a Jags team that doesn’t know how to travel.

Cowboys 31

Jags 24

Washington @ Detroit

Detroit -1.5

The glorious return of Matthew Stafford at home against a Redskins team coming off a 4 interception day.* Correction a Redskins team with DeAngelo Hall coming off a 4 interception day. He was absolutely ridiculous last week making a 1 handed interception that he took to the house as well as 3 more interceptions of Jay Cutler. Obviously that has a lot to do with Jay Cutler who still wouldn’t avoid DeAngelo Hall right now according to his own words. I think we all want our Quarterbacks to be confident, but when you’ve thrown as many touchdowns as interceptions a little humility wouldn’t hurt. Either way despite those 4 picks the Redskins are still the leagues 2^nd worst team in pass defense so they’ll still vulnerable maybe just not as vulnerable on Hall’s side. The last time we saw Detroit they played what seems like the best in the NFC Giants to a very close game on the road. Combine that with their home beating of the Rams and I like the Lions in this one.

Lions 27

Redskins 17

Green Bay @ NY Jets

Jets -6

Don't Blitz this man. Or that mustache

As tough a win as the Packers got last week I don’t know how the Jets aren’t favored by more coming into this game. They’re a 5-1 team that can pretty much do everything and they’re getting a presumably healthy Darrelle Revis back this week.  The Packers on the other hand are 1-2 on the road having lost to both the Redskins and the Bears; neither an overly impressive team. However both of those games were games where the Packers shoot themselves in the foot without a doubt the question becomes have the Packers put those problems to bed or are they still around. With no running game in Green Bay I don’t know how they’re going to get the jets out of their nickel and dime sets or how they’re going to get those 3^rd and shorts that offenses need to get going. I think they’re going to be in a lot of 3^rd and longs which play right into the Jets defenses hands as they’ll bring the house. Here’s where I see the game turning, Aaron Rodgers eats blitzes for lunch, and he prefers his lunch to be the big play variety. Rex Ryan doesn’t change his style for any QB and that will be his undoing this weekend. Pack in the upset

Green Bay 30

Jets 27

Buffalo @ Kansas City

Kansas City -8

After getting robbed against the Texans the Chiefs took out their frustration on an over matched Jaguars team beating them in pretty much every phase of the game on their way to a 42-20 blowout. Dwayne Bowe might have finally turned the corner and put his drops behind him, that toe tapping back of the end zone grab last week was absolutely diseased.  The Chiefs still run the rock the best in the league and stop the run just almost as well being ranked 5^th in run defense. The Bills aren’t looking to run the football they’re looking to pass it early, often, and deep. Ryan Fitzpatrick for all the jokes I’ve made about him has definitely livened up this Bills passing attack, as they’re currently in the top 10 of the NFL. Watching the Bills last week play the Ravens that tight I can’t discount them because I still think the Ravens are a good team. I just don’t think the Bills have learned how to win games yet, and I don’t think they figure it out this week.

Chiefs 31

Bills 30

Denver @ San Francisco

Pick Em

Wow. This sure will get people in London excited about football. Getting to watch two of the worst teams in the NFL play, wow what a treat. For all those 49er fans calling for David Carr they got their wish and then he was just as terrible as anyone who knows football knew he would be. The 49’ers have some skilled players they just don’t have any one to get them the ball. We can’t talk about terrible without bringing up the Denver Broncos and the putrid performance they put together last week, they were beat by 45 points. The game was essentially over in the first quarter as they were down 24-0 at that point however they made it respectable scoring 14 points to the Raiders 59. Games like that tend to be aberrations however I don’t know how you can like the Broncos after what just happened to them last week, maybe they rally around each other and their sense of pride and beat the 49’ers, I just this is going to be Troy Smiths coming out party. How he wasn’t the choice of the 3 Qb’s the 49’ers had to begin with I’m not sure, but I’ve always like that guy and I think this week he show’s me why.

49ers 27

Broncos 20

Carolina @ St. Louis

St. Louis -3

Carolina got their first win last week against the 49’ers which doesn’t say much about the Panther’s that we didn’t already know. The Rams on the other hand are coming off a heartbreaking last second loss to the Bucs on the road. They lost with less than 20 seconds left on the clock, but now they return home where they’re undefeated this season. With no DeAngelo a lot of people would think the Carolina running attack would be less effective but when Williams went down last year Jonathan Stewart was absolutely untouchable leading several fantasy teams (mine included) to championships. The problem is the Panthers passing game hasn’t been good enough to open up lanes for either Stewart or Williams, last week was the exception as Matt Moore managed to get going for over 300 yards. Despite the passing attack they put together last week the Panthers still struggled on the ground. After losing a game they shouldn’t have last week on the road the Rams will recover against a team that still hasn’t put together a balanced offensive game.

Rams 24

Panthers 20

Tampa Bay @ Arizona

Arizona -3

Actually called poor mans Jamarcus Russel

Arizona is back on the Derek Anderson express after Max Hall was knocked out of yet another game. Tampa Bay just got a solid win at home against a very competitive Rams team prompting their coach to declare them the best team in the NFC. Sorry to break it to you Raheem but you’re not even in the best team in your division. However they’ll be the best team on the field against the Cardinals. Josh Freeman is looking like what a lot of people thought Jamarcus Russell would be when he came into the league, a big QB who’s mobile, tough to bring down, and with a cannon for an arm, hopefully that’s the only time I’ll ever use Jamarcus Russell and Josh Freeman in the same sentence if you’re a Bucs fan.

Bucs 17

Cardinals 13

Tennessee @ San Diego

San Diego -3.5

Tennessee can’t seem to lose against NFC teams while the Chargers just can’t seem to beat anybody. However this isn’t a NFC vs. AFC battle this is a conference game where the Titans don’t fare as well. After an absolutely insane performance last week from Kenny Britt can we count on something similar against a Chargers defense that is still getting the job done despite their special teams and turnover struggles. At 2-5 the Chargers are still ranked 1^st in total offense and defense making those stats seem absolutely worthless. Every week seems like the week we stop picking the Chargers but once again they’re the favorite against a 4-2 coming off a solid win. I just can’t pick the Chargers, they may have all the pieces but they just don’t fit.

Titans 27

Chargers 20

Minnesota @ New England

Patriots -5.5

Tom Brady In the two games since the Randy Moss trade he has been mediocre at best, if not outright bad. He has 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions over the past two games, while in the 4 prior to that he had 9 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. This seems like the perfect opportunity to show the New England what they gave up to the Vikings. It looks more and more likely that Brett Favre will once again cheat injury and manage to play another Sunday. The Patriots have strung together 4 straight wins after their loss in week 2 to an impressive Jets team. They seem to be coming together like the Patriots teams of old with an offense that’s just effective enough to win the game and a defense that will always keep their offense in the game. However I just can’t imagine Randy Moss not going off and putting a nice 150 yard 2 touchdown game on the pats just for the sake of revenge.

Vikings 30

Patriots 24

Seattle @ Oakland

Oakland -1.5

As good as Oakland looked last week they could just as easily look as bad this week, but honestly after watching that game and then looking at how the Seahawks put up their points I just don’t see it. The Seahawks are a team that will win most if not all of their games at home but continue to struggle on the road.  The Seahawks have been excellent stopping the run this year ranked 2^nd in the league and this week they will truly be tested against Darren McFadden coming off his best game as a pro. Combine that with a Raider defense finally having success against a legitimate offense and there’s seems to be a lot of momentum for the Raiders. However you could have said the same thing after they beat the Chargers and they proceeded to lay an egg against a winless 49’ers team. However that was also without Darren McFadden who seems to be the motor to this raider offense on the ground and through the air. Raiders make it to .500

Raiders 27

Seahawks 24

Pittsburgh @ New Orleans

Saints -1.5

The Steelers come off a game that they shouldn’t have won against the Dolphins and now go into a battle of the past 2 Super Bowl champs. Both teams seem to be headed in different directions however with the Steelers cruising at 5-1 and the Saints struggling at 4-3 coming off a blowout loss to the Browns. Neither team looked good last week, but the Saints have only been 1-2 at home which is incredibly troubling because that home field advantage was a huge part of what lead them to their NFL championship last year. The saints typically like to get their running game going to set up the play action pass but that’s going to be incredibly difficult against the Steelers defense. 2 of the Saints 3 losses have been against 3-4 teams and they have a lot of trouble blocking schemes that disguise their pressure and that’s exactly what the Steelers love to do. I think the Saints are going to be on the wrong end of two straight AFC North beat downs. Steelers go into who dat nation and crush the Saints.

Steelers 38

Saints 24

Houston @ Indianapolis

Indianapolis -5.5

A rematch of the game that started the year off with a bang, we were introduced to Arian Foster and vulnerable Colts team all at the same time in Houston during week 1.  Has the Colts run defense improved enough to not have a repeat of what happened in week 1? Peyton Manning is so great we take him for granted but once again he’s putting up MVP caliber numbers, so far this year he has 12 touchdown passes to go along with only 2 interceptions. As bad as that week 1 game looked the Colts were an Austin Collie fumble away from having that game within a touchdown. Speaking of Austin Collie, but he and Dallas Clark will be out this week with Dallas Clark being placed on IR. Every week Peyton Manning seems to pull another player out of thin air and make him into a solid NFL player I just wonder who it will be this week. As good as Peyton Manning is, I still think the Colts run defense is terrible and the numbers agree as they’re ranked 24^th against the run. Arian Foster is averaging 5.5 yards a carry and I think it will only improve against the Colts. However if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s this, never pick against  Peyton Manning when the lights come on, he’s money in general but during night games he’s solid gold. Colts win despite not being able to stop the run.

Colts 34

Texans 30