NFL Week Eight Pigskin Predictions

THURSDAY
VIKES over bucs
Jerome Simpson catches his first touchdown pass of the season and Christian Ponder throws for 250 yards and two touchdowns, as the Purple pillage the Buccaneers at home.

PREDICTION: VIKES 27, bucs 20 [RESULT: bucs 35, vikes 16]



Bears RB Matt Forte

SUNDAY (NOON)

BEARS over panthers
Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has been overcome by a bounty of scrutiny and despair this year. The despondent second-year quarterback has appeared flustered and self-doubtful. Could this be the week he pulls it together? Newton takes a step forward this week, but it comes in a losing effort. Despite 300 yards combined passing and rushing from its quarterback, Carolina (1-5) comes up short against the superior team in Chicago today. A big day from Matt Forte leads the Bears to a four-point win and a 6-1 record for the season.


PREDICTION: BEARS 24, panthers 20

Chargers over BROWNS

Cleveland’s era of ineptitude reeks back the late-1980s. The Pittsburgh Pirates of the NFL have had three winning seasons in the past 22 seasons – a combined record of 108-203. It’s a two decade-plus era of disgust amounting to 34.7%. The Browns are hoping to climb out of this gaping hole on the arm of its 29-year-old, 1^st round draft pick Brandon Weeden. Without a lot of weapons surrounding him, Weeden has played well. But the team still stinks. Following a bye week after a miserable three-pick fourth quarter performance against Denver, single-handedly causing his team a loss, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers welcomes a trip to north Cleveland today. Rivers feeds off the league’s 28^th-ranked pass defense, throwing for 300 yards and three touchdowns as San Diego downs the Browns by 10.

PREDICTION: chargers 27, BROWNS 17

LIONS over hawks

Detroit’s high-octane offense of last season appears to have a flat tire thus far in 2012. Needing a boost from its running game, Mikel Leshoure carries the ball 20 times for 80 yards, complementing Matthew Stafford and the Lions passing game en route to an impressive defeat of the 4-3 Seahawks at home.

PREDICTION: LIONS 24, hawks 17

Packers WR Randall Cobb

PACK over jags

Fantasy owners, get your Randall Cobb and James Jones into your lineups! Heck, maybe even picking up 37-year old Donald Driver is a good idea. Missing his top two weapons (WRs Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson), a hot Aaron Rodgers uses all second-hands on deck to pounce on the 1-5 Jaguars today. Green Bay wins this game with ease.

PREDICTION: PACKERS 27, jags 6

colts over TITANS

Andrew Luck dices up a porous Titans pass defense as the Colts get road victory No. 1 today in Tennessee.

PREDICTION: colts 28, TITANS 20

pats over RAMS

Tom Brady shows the Queen of England who’s the King of New England. Brady connects with his favorite target Wes Welker 10 times to lead the Patriots past the Rams at London’s Wembley Stadium.

PREDICTION: pats 30, RAMS 17 (in London)

JETS over fins

AFC East division foes beat up each other defensively, as the teams struggle to find any offense. In the end, the Jets top the Dolphins on a late-game pick-six.

PREDICTION: JETS 17, fins 10 

Eagles QB Michael Vick

EAGLES over falcons

Disgusted by turnovers but not discouraged by his confidence as a quarterback, Michael Vick plays with conviction today against the 6-0 Falcons. Philadelphia WR Jeremy Maclin finds rhythm with his embattled quarterback today, as Vick connects with him for 8 catches, a hundred yards and a score. The Falcons become the league’s lone undefeated team no longer, as the Eagles edge Atlanta by three.

PREDICTION: EAGLES 27, falcons 24

STEEL over skins

Much like pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg has breathed new hope into the Nationals, Robert Griffin III has revitalized football in the nation’s capital. The Redkins of recent years could not compete with the perennial playoff-bound Steelers, especially in Pittsburgh. Today, Griffin and company give the Steel Curtain a strong test. But the NFL’s No. 1 defense gives little crease to Griffin’s rushing holes and passing airways today. Conversely, Griffin’s counterpart Ben torches a week Washington secondary. Ben Roethlisberger passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns to lead Pittsburgh to victory.

PREDICTION: STEEL 24, skins 20

 

SUNDAY (LATE)

CHIEFS over raiders

Kansas City and Oakland make it evident that they are the two inferior teams of the AFC West. In a game rife with turnovers, the Chiefs eke out an overtime win over the Raiders. 

PREDICTION: CHIEFS 23, raiders 20 (in OT)
 

Cowboys QB Tony Romo

BOYS over giants

The Cowboys entered the season with high expectations (well, aren’t they always high in Dallas?). Through six games, however, the team has been the epitome of mediocrity. Despite the disappointments, however, Jerry’s Boys could suddenly vault into the NFC elite with a sweep of the Super Bowl champ Giants this afternoon. New York may be the NFL’s hottest team right now, barging into this showdown on a three-game winning streak. But today, constantly-scrutinized Tony Romo throws for 300 yards and leads Dallas (3-3) past Eli Manning and the G-Men.

PREDICTION: BOYS 27, giants 20 

SNF

saints over BRONCOS
Can the once 0-4 Saints recover in time to save its playoff hopes? It’s a long climb out of that pitfall, but if anyone can do it it’s Drew Brees. Facing a daunting challenge against a resurgent Peyton Manning in Denver will be difficult, especially for New Orleans’ 27^th-ranked passing defense. This Sunday Night showdown promises plenty of fireworks, as Brees’s bunch upsets Manning’s Broncos at Mile High.

PREDICTION: saints 31, BRONCOS 27

49ers RB Frank Gore

MNF

niners over CARDS
The reeling Cardinals try to rally its troops and keep its once-4-0 record over .500 at home in primetime tomorrow night. But victories against San Francisco are hard to come by and the 49ers enter this game fresh after 10 days rest. Frisco’s bruising running back Frank Gore continues to cruise following his 131-yard performance Oct. 18 against Seattle, as the Niners dispatch Arizona in desert.

PREDICTION: niners 17, CARDS 13

Bye teams: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Houston