NFL Picks week 8

I apologize for not writing consistently recently. I hope to change that. I have been in a little bit of an existential funk combined with the need to get the hell away from the computer during personal time. I have a lot of planned topics that I hope to get up in the next few days and weeks. But lets get to some football picks for Sunday’s games. Now that the calendar is about to turn to November. Weather.com becomes an important resource, be very careful of weak armed QBs in the cold and wind.

Denver Broncos at Baltimore Ravens -3

Baltimore has lost three tough games in a row after looking like the best team in football for the first three weeks. Vegas and a lot of the insiders believe this is where Denver gets their first blemish, I do not. The Raven defense has looked mediocre and Flacco has come back to earth. I think that Nolan and the Bronco D contain Ray Rice, putting the game in the hands of Orton against the Raven D. I like Orton and Brandon Marshall against the perimeter of the Ravens’ D. Outside of Ed Reed, Ngata and Murder Ray (who all play up the middle), the Baltimore Defense is weak, too quite week. The weather is supposed to be mild with not a lot of wind, which should mitigate Flacco’s arm strength advantage over Orton. Taking Denver and the points.

Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears -13

I am still not picking this game, but I want to address the state of the Bears with ten games left. I am so fucking pissed off that I have been having trouble sleeping or smiling for the past three weeks. We have yet to play a complete game, our offense line vying for worst in the league status (non-Buffalo division) and our “fantasy stud” sophomore running back is playing like a douche. Our defense has played well (except our DTs which haven’t been behind the line of scrimmage in 3 years. Think West Berliners staring at the Berlin Wall and after a while forgetting what the other side was like and becoming resigned to the fact that the wall would never come down. I hate Tommie Harris and want him cut or incarcerated for grand theft at times but refuses to force turnovers, which is a fatal because we are built as a small, fast defense so by the end of the game we get worn down and humped up and down the field.

Pleasantly surprised by the receivers and overall happy with Midway Jay although the red zone TOs have been killers.

Houston Texans at Buffalo Bills +3.5

Unfortunately for the Bills, the upstate New York weather is supposedly going to be unseasonably mild and stud Texan Andre Johnson is going to be able with his bruised lung. This has been a passing league for the past few years and with good weather and his security blanket, Matt Schaub should be able to get the job done on the road. Super Mario might have set a record for sacks in a game going against Harvard and that tissue paper Bill Oline. Taking Houston and giving the points.

Vikings at Packers -3

I think this game is a toss up. The weather isn’t going to be that great for Favre (low 40s), the turf at Lambeau should slow down Jared Allen, and Winfield is out for the Vikings. But #28 is still their running back, they still have that O-line, and they are going to be highly motivated to win for #4. The Packers are going to be jacked up for the game and are coming off a big W, and when Rodgers gets time he is filthy. But I have yet to see the Packers beat a really good team in the past 22 games and when I am not sure, I will take the points. Vikings.

San Fran Niners at Peyton Manning -13.5

That spread is a monster, and I think Joe Staley can keep Freeney off new starter Alex Smith long enough for the Niners to cover but not win.

Miami Dolphins at New York Jets -3.5

Battle of the new young signal callers that I like less than everyone else covering football. After watching all of Henne’s 55 games at Michigan, he is just too stiff and prone to big picks to be any better than a middle of the road QB. Sanchise doesn’t have the arm strength to hurt you consistently. Bad time to be a Jet fan, bust QB and a buffoon HBC. Sell high on the J-E-T-S. Even though Rex Ryan was the one that shut down the wildcat, I think this new version will move the ball and score enough to cover and win. Taking the Fins and the points.

St. Louis Rams at Detroit Lions -4

Stafford has been updated to probable, so I am going to take the Lions and give the points. The Rams are putrid.

Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys -9.5

Seattle just doesn’t have the horses to hang with a Cowboy team in JerryWorld coming off a big home W against the Falcons. Like Mora as a coach and think he can get them turned around eventually but can hide terrible players. Romo has a good stretch in him and should be the difference maker for the ‘boys for a few games. Taking the Cowboys and giving the points.

Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers -16.5

I hate the Chargers and think they are weak mentally. They need to get rid of everybody but Philip if they want to have any sustained success. But at home against a crap Raider team, I will swallow hard and hope that Philip can light them up enough to cover the monster spread. Chargers.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans -3

This game is gross. The AFC South should be ashamed of itself. I have written before that these in division games are always close and I expect this to be the same, but I will never, ever take VY and give points. Jags and the points.

Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals -10

The Panthers have quit, it has been a nice long and successful run for Foxy but it has to end. No first round pick in a monster QB draft. Gotta to clean house, find a new ball coach and hope the Locker gets to you in 2011. I hated writing this. The Cardinals are going to throttle the black cats.

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles +1

Westbrook is listed as doubtful and I don’t see the Eagles beating the G-men without him. The weather should not effect Eli’s passing and the Giants play well in division games. Giants giving the point.

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints +11

I think that the Falcons are well coached and will not lay two eggs in a row on the road. I have trouble laying double digits for in division games especially when they are both dome teams. Taking the Falcons and the points.