Steelers win another in primetime in Week 8 NFL picks and predictions

Last week was not kind to me. Despite nine games up, the six games I got wrong - I got really wrong. The Broncos, Jaguars, Seahawks, and Steelers all won comfortably.

I'll wear the egg on my face and look to improve this week. A roughly 60% win-rate isn't the worst place to be.

This week, the matchups seem fairly obvious, so we should all be prepared for some insane upsets. Let's tackle this week's slate of games and pick some winners.

Season Record: 61-44

Thursday Night

Minnesota Vikings @ Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams remain a team in limbo due to injuries. I'm convinced that they can become a playoff contender once they get healthy. But the trade rumblings surrounding the team are concerning. A home matchup against a Vikings team looking to get right is a dangerous environment.

Winner: Vikings, 28-13

Sunday Early Window

Philadelphia Eagles @ Cincinnati Bengals

I've got a strange hunch on this one. The Eagles have dropped some games this season that they otherwise shouldn't with the caveat of injury. The Bengals are in full desperation. If they can strike at the Eagles quickly, the Bengals could escape with a win. I think they'll do just that.

Winner: Bengals, 21-18

Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns have a chance to shock the world against Baltimore. With Jameis Winston at quarterback, I believe the Browns lean on Nick Chubb and play inspiring defense. Slowing down Derrick Henry isn't easy, but the Browns have a front seven with enough talent to bet on. I'm taking Cleveland. It wouldn't be the first strange loss for Baltimore this season.

Winner: Browns, 17-13

Tennessee Titans @ Detroit Lions

The Titans bailed on the season when they shipped off DeAndre Hopkins. Whether Will Levis is back or not, the Titans do not stack up well against the Detroit Lions. Expect Detroit to get up early and cruise in front of the home crowd at Ford Field.

Winner: Lions, 31-7

Arizona Cardinals @ Miami Dolphins

The Cardinals have rekindled hope in the desert. At 3-4, there are winnable games in Arizona's near future and it the adventure begins with the Miami Dolphins. Tua Tagovailoa is expected to make his return, which should grant the opportunity for this Miami offense to wake up. Tagovailoa won't play timid, but his recklessness in an effort to save his team may prove to be his undoing.

Winner: Cardinals, 24-20

New York Jets @ New England Patriots

We'll learn all there is to know about the Jets if they manage to lose this game. The Patriots will play their AFC East foe closely, without a doubt. How New York responds is the key. This is where Aaron Rodgers takes over and gets this offense going in the right direction.

Winner: Jets, 21-16

Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The chances both teams would come into this game off a loss weren't exactly zero, but it is still surprising they lost in such an ugly fashion. Both the Falcons and the Buccaneers appeared to be on a roll, but now their momentum is out of whack. I trust Kirk Cousins to play the cleaner game in this round, so I'll stick with Atlanta on the scoreboard.

Winner: Falcons, 28-24

Green Bay Packers @ Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars ended their two-week stay in London with a convincing win over the Patriots. However, the Jaguars are far too talented to be 2-5. A gauntlet of top-tier teams kicks off with Green Bay. Jordan Love is spreading the ball around and moving around the field at an impressive pace. But, he does lead the league in interceptions. Jacksonville has to capitalize on any opportunities that come their way. I'm going with my gut on this one.

Winner: Jaguars, 21-20

Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans

CJ Stroud hasn't been the beacon light of consistency in 2024, but he's still been reliable. Even when he is playing bad, he doesn't put his team in a bind with costly turnovers. Anthony Richardson on the other hand has been consistently below average and puts his teams in a bind with costly turnovers. Expect more of the same, but for Houston to come out on top thanks to their defense.

Winner: Texans, 13-3

Sunday Late Window

New Orleans Saints @ Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers let one slip away, but this week shouldn't be quite as stressful. After all, the Saints have replicated their 2023 season. They started with an unexpected bang. And then there was no follow-up. New Orleans has been trending downward for too long. Jim Harbaugh's guys will take advantage of that and control the game.

Winner: Chargers, 20-7

Buffalo Bills @ Seattle Seahawks

This is a fun cross-country trip for Buffalo. The Bills have steadily cleaned up their offense and the addition of Amari Cooper is paying off well. The Seahawks have been a touch more inconsistent, but they tend to hang around. Still, the momentum of picking up a dominant road victory over Atlanta should carry over. Give me Geno and Seattle in a shoot-out.

Winner: Seahawks, 38-33

Carolina Panthers @ Denver Broncos

This will either be a rock fight or another chance for Bo Nix to let the game slow down and show some improvement. Bryce Young is back in the lineup with something to prove. Even if it is a rock fight, at least the storylines are worth it. Denver inspires more trust, so I'll stick with the home team.

Winner: Broncos, 27-18

Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders

The rich get richer. The Chiefs bring in DeAndre Hopkins and now things get more interesting. Patrick Mahomes has been shaky in the box score, but the final score keeps coming up in his favor. That's largely because of that Kansas City defense. The Raiders have a tough enough time against average teams. Good luck.

Winner: Chiefs, 23-10

Chicago Bears @ Washington Commanders

Whether he plays this week or not, let's hope Jayden Daniels is back on the field soon. If he powers through and plays, this game becomes a sneaky important game. There's no doubt these two teams will be vying for playoff spots late in the season. The winner of this game in Week 8 will hold a significant tie-breaker. Because of the uncertainty with Daniels's availability, I have to stick with Chicago.

Winner: Bears, 23-22

Sunday Night

Dallas Cowboys @ San Francisco 49ers

Wouldn't it be nice if it were the 1980s? These two teams have seen better days and expected better ones ahead. The fact is Dallas can't run the ball or reliably stop it. The 49ers are dealing with significant injuries and can't seem to overcome them. Both have just one win of significance in their surprisingly sluggish starts to the season. It's a coinflip, a coinflip that should be weighted in favor of the home team with a better rushing attack.

Winner: 49ers, 21-14

Monday Night

New York Giants @ Pittsburgh Steelers

The Giants have a pass rush that should draw some considerable concern to the Steelers offense. Russell Wilson will be tasked with often throwing off rhythm and from strange angles. However, their run defense is lackluster and Najee Harris has hit a stride recently. As for the New York offense, spamming Malik Nabers with targets hasn't exactly led to wins. The Steelers may have turned the corner on playing down to the competition.

Winner: Steelers, 33-10