NFL Game Picks: Week 8
Everyone in the league is looking up to the Arizona Cardinals, the lone undefeated team remaining in the NFL. Will the Packers be the team to dethrone that rank?
Here are some predictions for this week's matchups.
Green Bay Packers (6-1) vs. Arizona Cardinals (7-0)
Two of the top-five teams in the league square off in what will project to be the best Thursday Night Football game of the year. The lone undefeated team left faces its toughest test as it faces the Packers led by last year’s MVP, Aaron Rodgers.
Star Packers wide receiver Davante Adams got placed on the NFL’s COVID list so he will miss this game. The Cardinals will do just enough defensively against an undermanned Green Bay offense to stay undefeated.
Prediction: Cardinals 31, Packers 27
Carolina Panthers (3-4) vs. Atlanta Falcons (3-3)
Carolina benched quarterback Sam Darnold in Week 7, but he will start this week against a Falcons team who has played well recently. The Panthers, who started 3-0, have lost four straight, but look for the slight upset in this NFC South matchup.
Prediction: Panthers 24, Falcons 21
Miami Dolphins (1-6) vs Buffalo Bills (4-2)
The Deshaun Watson rumors will do anything but help the Dolphins break their losing streak. Coming off the loss then the bye week, expect Josh Allen to light up Miami’s secondary.
Prediction: Bills 34, Dolphins 17
San Francisco 49ers (2-4) vs. Chicago Bears (3-4)
The 49ers have not played well offensively the whole year, but neither has the Chicago offense. Expect Jimmy Garoppolo to make one less mistake than rookie Justin Fields, and San Francisco to win a nail-biter.
Prediction: 49ers 20, Bears 17
Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3) vs. Cleveland Browns (4-3)
The Browns look to get Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb and Jack Conklin back this week from injuries, and they will provide just enough offense against a good Steelers defense to get the win.
Prediction: Browns 21, Steelers 20
Philadelphia Eagles (2-5) vs. Detroit Lions (0-7)
The Lions have played most teams tough this year, and they are too good to not win a game this year. They get their first win against a struggling Eagles team this week.
Prediction: Lions 27, Eagles 24
Tennessee Titans (5-2) vs. Indianapolis Colts (3-4)
Colts quarterback Carson Wentz has played his best football since 2017, but Wentz and the Colts offense will not be able to keep up with a red-hot Derrick Henry and Tennessee’s offense.
Prediction: Titans 30, Colts 20
Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) vs. New York Jets (1-5)
Rookie quarterback Zach Wilson will miss the first of a few games with a PCL injury, and Mike White is primed to start. The AFC-leading Bengals will not look past the Jets as they will improve to 6-2.
Prediction: Bengals 27, Jets 10
Los Angeles Rams (6-1) vs. Houston Texans (1-6)
The Rams survived a scare from the Lions in Week 7, and in Week 8, they get another light week against Houston.
The Texans have not been able to score recently, and that will continue against Los Angeles.
Prediction: Rams 41, Texans 13
New England Patriots (3-4) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (4-2)
The Patriots offense broke out last week against the Jets, scoring 54 points. The last time the Chargers played, they got destroyed by Baltimore. New England will do enough to stop Justin Herbert and get an upset win.
Prediction: Patriots 27, Chargers 24
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5) vs. Seattle Seahawks (2-5)
Urban Meyer and the Jaguars got their first win in London in Week 5, and the Seahawks offense has looked anemic without Russell Wilson. Trevor Lawrence plays well against a bad defense, and scores the upset.
Prediction: Jaguars 23, Seahawks 21
Washington Football Team (2-5) vs. Denver Broncos (3-4)
The Broncos have struggled in their four-game losing streak, as the offense and defense have not performed like they did in the first three weeks.
Washington’s defense played well enough to win against the Packers in Week 7, as now they get to face a bad Broncos offense. Washington goes into Mile High and upsets Denver.
Prediction: Washington 20, Broncos 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-1) vs. New Orleans Saints (4-2)
The Saints did not deserve to win on Monday Night Football, while the Bucs dominated the Bears. New Orleans might be the most confusing NFL team, but Tampa Bay easily handles them this week.
Prediction Buccaneers 35, Saints 20
Dallas Cowboys (5-1) vs. Minnesota Vikings (3-3)
The Sunday night game features two good offenses. The Cowboys defense, led by Trevon Diggs, has played well enough to not let opposing teams outscore Dallas’ amazing offense. This will continue in Week 8.
Prediction: Cowboys 30, Vikings 21
New York Giants (2-5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (3-4)
The Chiefs have not looked like the Chiefs everyone knows, as they would not be in the playoffs if they were to begin today. Kansas City is bound to get the offense and defense to click together one week, and this will be that week.
Prediction: Chiefs 37, Giants 27
Jack Dempsky is a first-year majoring in business management. To contact him, email jmd7563@psu.edu.
