Week 8 NFL Picks

With such an unpredictable NFL season where some bad teams are dominant (Cinci, Denver...) and some bad teams are atrocious (Washington, KC, Tennessee, St. Louis, Detroit...) I thank the baseball gods for our Phillies being in the World Series every day. Not that I am satisfied with just a World Series appearance. That being said, let's get some picks going for what will probably prove to be another boring NFL Sunday.

(Home team in CAPS)

Houston over BUFFALO

Is this really the end of TO? I tend to think not. As I and many other fans have said, if TO had problems with McNabb, Romo, and Garcia, he's not gonna be thrilled with Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick. I think he has one more productive season in him with a competent QB. Do I have anything to say about this game? No, it will be boring.

CHICAGO over Cleveland

Time to fire Lovie Smith. This Bears team shouldn't be dominant by any stretch of the imagination, but a beat down by Marvin Lewis really has to get that seat hot doesn't it? I'm not the biggest Jay Cutler fan in the world but 3-3 just ain't cutting it. Talk about poetic justice in Denver eh?

DALLAS over Seattle

The Cowgirls are quietly playing some pretty good football and they are doing so as more of a team than the shows that their great teams of the past have put on. Romo hasn't been as dominant as his old flashes of brilliance, but he is not the key to this team winning. They have better than mediocre parts at every position and have found a way to win. Hard to bash the 'Girls for being taken to OT by the Chiefs after the Eagles uninspiring play against the Raiders and Redskins in successive weeks. That Raiders game was, by the way, among the 3 most boring football games I have ever seen. It's up there with the Eagles tie of the Bengals last year and the 2008 Brut Sun Bowl where Oregon State "beat" Pitt 3-0. It wasn't raining, snowing, or doing anything with an "ing" at the end. NOTHING happened.

DETROIT over St. Louis

Why do we have another game every week that looks on paper as if it might be the least intriguing game of all-time? It's probably not a good thing for the NFL when this game will most likely be topped by another matchup in the second half of the season... or 2, or 12.

BALTIMORE over Denver

I haven't picked Denver this year. And I don't intend on picking them any time soon. This canNOT be a good football team, it just can't. Flacco, please torch Dawkins.

INDY over San Fran

Could be potentially interesting as long as Indy doesn't grab a huge lead in the first quarter. San Fran has the mental toughness to hang in this game, though I don't think the final box score will show that.

Miami over NY JETS

The Jets may have beaten up on the Raiders last week, but the Jets should be defined by the inconsistent play of Mark Sanchez. He hasn't put together successive wins since Weeks 2 and 3. Oh and he has 4 more interceptions than TDs.

EAGLES over NY Giants

I put this one on Eli Mannings' shoulders. He hasn't lost at Lincoln Financial Field but his injured heel thing may cause him to throw a few errant passes thanks to some Trent Cole dynamo. If Manning has a good game, the Giants win. I personally don't think that Manning will have a good game which by my definition should lead to an Eagles win. Looking for that Philly over New York sweep today!

TENNESSEE over Jacksonville

It's happening today. The return of the Madden 08 Cover Boy. The, and I quote "future Hall of Famer and Super Bowl winner," Vince Young! Another drawl of a game.

SAN DIEGO over Oakland

This might be the last chance for LT to stay relevant. Seems like we're saying that every week. This is actually the week though.

ARIZONA over Carolina

Is Arizona back? I think we can expect a quietly dominant run from the Cardinals that will at first be quiet, then everyone will label it quiet, then it will be so loud that they lose in the first round of the playoffs because they will be playing the Bill Simmons "Nobody Believed in us!" card, only they know that they will be playing this card. By the way, got to meet Bill Simmons - one of the inspirations of this blog - at a book signing for his new book "The Book of Basketball" last Tuesday. There must have been 1000 people there - for a dude writing about other people play sports! This man is living the dream!

Minnesota over GREEN BAY

This is the reason that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named came out of retirement. He wants to stick it to his old team and he will probably thrive off of the boos in Lambeau.

NAAAAHHLINS over Hotlanta

40 seconds til the Eagles game!!! DrewBreesgoeswildonAtlanta'sdefense.

Go Phillies!

Season: 65-36

GOOOO PHILLLLLIIIIEEEEESSSS