NFL 2023 Week 8 Prequel
Thursday, October 26, 2023, 8pm
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills (-8 1/2) — The Bills on paper have Super Bowl potential but have been struggling. Yet at home against the Buccaneers, they have more than enough firepower. Baker Mayfield is not playing that badly, but the Bills have more talent on both sides of the ball. Bills cover
Sunday, October 29, 1pm
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins (-9 1/2) For 20 years of Patriots dominance, they frequently lost games in Miami no matter how bad the Dolphins were. Now the Dolphins are good and the Patriots are awful. Yet just when the Patriots were declared dead, they shocked Buffalo. Nevertheless, the Patriots like to run the ball. The Dolphins have too much speech on offense. If the Dolphins grab an early lead, that removed the ability to New England to grind it out. Dolphins cover
New York Jets (-3) at New York Giants — The Jets are technically the road team, giving them an extra home game in their own stadium. One rule of the Giants is to never ever lose to the Jets. Tyrod Taylor is playing well in place of Daniel Jones. The jets have the better defense, but the Giants are not defensive slouches. It is still not a wise move to trust Zach Wilson. Upset special, Giants win outright.
Jacksonville Jaguars (-2 1/2) at Pittsburgh Steelers — The Steelers have been inconsistent while the Jaguars have been slowly building something special. Doug Pederson likes to innovate on offense while Mike Tomlin likes stone age football. Trust Trevor Lawrence over Kenny Pickett. Jaguars cover
Atlanta Falcons (-2) at Tennessee Titans — These teams are both inconsistent. Yet at home, Derrick Henry should be able to get going. This allows Mike Vrabel to play smash mouth and not rely on Ryan Tannehill to do too much. Upset special, Titans win outright
Houston Texans (-3) at Carolina Panthers — The Texans have been a pleasant surprise. The Panthers have been winless and awful. This is the first contest between Bryce Young and CJ Stroud, the top two picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. So far Stroud has had more success. Stroud has Jonathan Taylor to take the pressure off. The Texans have the better defense. Texans cover
Los Angeles Rams at Dallas Cowboys (-6 1/2) — The Cowboys have been exposed as overrated, but they are still better than the struggling Rams. Sean McVay and Mike McCarthy both know offense. Matthew Stafford is better than Dak Prescott, but the Cowboys have the better defense and more weapons on offense. The Rams are rebuilding but fighting hard. Cowboys win but fail to cover
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (-1) — Both teams are surprisingly bad, but the Vikings got a big emotional win over San Francisco. The Packers have been pathetic, losing to lowly Denver. Jordan Love is simply not getting it done. Kirk Cousins knows he could be trade bait right before the deadline, so expect him to play like a man who wants to stay. For years, the home team won this game, but the Packers are just uninspiring. Upset special, Vikings win outright
New Orleans Saints at Indianapolis Colts (-1) — The Colts lost a one point heartbreaker to Cleveland due to controversial calls from the officials. Yet the Saints have underachieved. Derek Carr is getting frustrated, with some justification. The Saints have the better defense, but until the offense stops dropping passes, it is hard to give them the benefit of the doubt. Colts cover
Philadelphia Eagles (-6 1/2) at Washington Commanders — The Eagles bounced back from their only loss with a decisive win over a very good Miami team. The Commanders looked pathetic in losing to an equally bad Giants team last week. These teams tend to play close games, so throw out the records. Eagles win but fail to cover
4pm
Cleveland Browns at Seattle Seahawks (-3) — With help from a pair of controversial calls, the Browns won a thriller over Indianapolis last week. A letdown would be normal, especially against a Seattle team that is well coached, at home, and seeing Geno Smith play competently. The Seahawks have solid receivers. The Browns have a decent defense, but go with the letdown angle. Seahawks cover
Baltimore Ravens (-8 1/2) at Arizona Cardinals — The Ravens blasted a very good Detroit team last week. Now they play an awful Cardinals team. Yet the spread is high for a road team given that the Cardinals have been losing close games. The Ravens win by running the ball and playing defense, with help from a phenomenal kicker. The Cardinals lack the offensive firepower. Ravens win but fail to cover.
Kansas City Chiefs (-8) at Denver Broncos — The Chiefs have beaten the Broncos 16 straight times. Despite a win over lowly Green Bay, the Broncos are still awful. Patrick Mahomes has yet to see his offense gel as easily as in past years, but the Chiefs are still winning. The spread is high for a road team in a division game, and the Broncos have some talent on defense. A garbage touchdown at home could beat this spread. Chiefs win but fail to cover
Cincinnati Bengals at San Francisco 49ers (-5 1/2) — After a 5-0 start, the 49ers have lost two straight games. Worse, Brock Purdy is missing his first game since he is in concussion protocol. Yet even with backup Sam Darnold, the 49ers can run the ball with Christian McCaffrey. The 49ers have too many weapons and the Bengals are not the same team from the last couple of years. The 49ers have a nasty defense as well. 49ers cover
8pm
Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Chargers (-8 1/2) — The Bears throttled the Raiders, but this week they come back to earth. The Chargers consistently underachieve, but they gave Kansas City a run for their money last week in a loss. The Chargers are much better than the Bears, but the Chargers do not blow anybody out. Chargers win but fail to cover
Monday, October 30, 8pm
Las Vegas Raiders at Detroit Lions (-8) — The Raiders got blasted by a horrendous Chicago team last week. Now they travel to face a good Lions team angry over a humiliating loss last week. Yet the Lions lost on the road to a very good Baltimore team. The Lions have speed. The Raiders have an inept offense and have not fixed the secondary in a decade. The spread is high but this is the week the Raiders finally quit on Josh McDaniels. Lions cover