Who Ya Got? Tylersalt's Week 8 Picks and "Expert" Analysis
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by Tylersalt
It's been a few sub-par weeks in a row for me, so I'll have to try to pick it up this time around. Last week could have been better, as David Garrard's injury and subsequent replacement by the immortal Quinn Gray hit me on Monday night after just /barely/ missing out on the Texans on Sunday. My Redskins should elect Neil Rackers as team MVP, but they won't be nearly as lucky this week going up against the buzzsaw that is the New England Patriots. Analysis is going to be a little shorter than usual, because it's late and I'm tired. Deal with it. Enough talk, let's get to my picks.
Last week: 7-7 (picked NE, NO, NYG, WAS, KC, CIN, SEA)
Season so far: 59-43 (.578) -- Good enough to win the NL Central! Oops, wrong sport. Sorry, baseball on the mind.
HOME TEAMS IN CAPS (spreads included for reference -- picks are to win outright)
Colts (-6.5) over PANTHERS
The Carolina D has not been the unit it has been in the past (although Julius Peppers finally showed up last week with a sack), but even a Marvin Harrison-less Colts offense will not struggle to get past them. The big Week 9 game (you know the one), will go off as advertised, with a clash of unbeaten teams.
PATS (-16) over Redskins
The Redskins actually match up pretty well against the Patriots. The secondary of Carlos Rogers, Shawn Springs, Fred Smoot, Sean Taylor, and LaRon Landry is one of the most solid units in the NFL, and they will be able to play well against the New England spread offense. Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts will be able to run on a surprisingly porous New England rush defense. HOWEVER, this is a team on a mission, and they will not be stopped, especially by a team whose hallmark this season has been maddening inconsistency and poor play calling. One streak will end -- the Patriots will not cover the spread, but that's it. Redskins drop to .500 and Patriots remain undefeated.
Chargers (-9) over Texans
I don't have a home team listed because I'm still not sure when and where this game is going to be played because of the awful wildfires in San Diego. I'm a little loathe to put this game so high, because there's a possibility this Chargers team comes out distracted (and rightly so), but I think they manage to provide some distraction for the San Diegans and put a straight whoopin' on the Texans, courtesy of one Mr. LaDanian Tomlinson.
Steelers (-3.5) over BENGALS
The Bengals are not going to be able to match Ben Roethlisberger score for score like they were able to with the Jets last week, and their lack of defense is going to catch up to them. The road team has won the last seven meetings between these two teams, and that streak continues on Sunday.
Giants (-9.5) over DOLPHINS (at Wembley Stadium in London)
Poor English people. You get all excited at the beginning of the season that you get to see a regular season NFL game, then the 0-7 debacle that is the 2007 Miami Dolphins come to London Towne. All those European Dolphins fans (seriously! There are a bunch) are going to be disappointed by the thrubbing they get from Eli Manning, Plaxico Burress, and the rest of the NFC's hottest team.
TITANS (-7) over Raiders
I'm officially off the Raiders bandwagon. Vince Young is back for the Titans, LenDale White is starting to cast doubts on who was the better USC running back in the draft two years ago, and the Raiders do not travel well, especially to the east coast.
Browns (-3) over RAMS
This could go the other way, with the Rams getting stud RB Steven Jackson back, but I think the Browns are going to be able to outscore St. Louis here. Derek Anderson is quietly putting together a fantastic fantasy campaign, and the Browns are relevant this late in the season for the first time in a long time.
BEARS (-5) over Lions
Brian Griese will be able to pick this Lions defense apart. 5-2 and the best winning percentage this late in the season for Matt Millen just aren't in the cards. Maybe the Lions will pick someone on the defensive side of the ball in the draft next year! No? Another wide receiver you say, Mr. Millen? Okay.
Bucs (-3.5) over JAGS
Two words: Quinn Gray. Bad break for the Jags, who were really headed in the right direction. The Bucs will be able to present Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew with 8- and 9-man fronts and stop the Jacksonville running game cold.
Saints (-2) over NINERS
Alex Smith is coming back for San Fran, but they couldn't score any points before he got hurt. The NFL had better hope that the Niners start winning soon or their plan to penalize the Pats for SpyGate will backfire and New England will get a very high draft pick from San Fran.
VIKINGS (+1) over Eagles
I don't like anything I'm seeing from this Eagles team. Donovan McNabb has been almost completely ineffective. However, the Vikes are definitely headed in the right direction. Plus, Kelly Holcomb will be starting in place of the injured (and awful) Tarvaris Jackson. This could come down to a battle between Brian Westbrook and Adrian Peterson (if Brad Childress will give him the damn ball).
Bills (+3) over JETS
Jets are straight bad. Marshawn Lynch has a field day. Chad Pennington doesn't last the game.
Packers (+3) over DENVER
Champ Bailey shouldn't be available for the Broncos on Monday night, which plays right into the hands of the Packers. Perhaps Green Bay can get its anemic running game going against the worst rushing D in the league.
Byes: Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens
