NFL 2025 Week 8 Prequel
Thursday, October 23, 2025, 8pm
Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Chargers (-3 1/2) — The Chargers perpetually underachieve, so it is hard to judge them on talent alone. Carson went is no scrub, so he can go blow for blow with Justin Herbert. This game could go either way depending on who has the ball last. Chargers win but fail to cover
Sunday, October 26, 1pm
New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals (-6 1/2) — Joe Flacco looked good in his debut against a good Pittsburgh team. Now he is at home against the worst team in the league. The Jets are a mess, but the spread is too high for a team still finding its way. A garbage touchdown is certainly possible. Bengals win but fail to cover
Chicago Bears at Baltimore Ravens (-6 1/2) — The Ravens are a 1-5 team, but Lamar Jackson returned to practice this week. If he can play, that changes the entire calculus. The bears have won consecutive road games where they trailed 24-16 in the fourth quarter and won 25-24 on the final play. This is a totally different game with Jackson in it. Yet there will still be some rust. Ravens win but fail to cover
Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons (-7 1/2) — As awful as the Dolphins are, the Falcons are too inconsistent to trust the high spread. Yet flip it around. As inconsistent as the Falcons are, the Dolphins truly are awful. The Falcons do not blow teams out. Falcons win but fail to cover
Buffalo Bills (-7 1/2) at Carolina Panthers — The Bills are a good team that keeps playing down to the level of their competition. The Panthers are supposed to be awful, but they have quietly worked their way to a 4-3 record. The Bills will right the ship but the spread is too high given that the Bills are not blowing teams out. Bills win but fail to cover
San Francisco 49ers at Houston Texans (-1 1/2) — The return of Brock Purdy should give the 49ers a lift. Both teams have a good defense but the Texans offense has been scattershot at best. They don’t have enough offensive production to trust them. Upset special, 49ers win outright
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (-7 1/2) — The Giants led at Denver last week 19-0 after three quarters and 26-8 with 6 minutes left…and lost. They gave up 33 points in the fourth quarter. The eagles are winning close games, not blowing teams out. Jaxson Dart has shown a spark. The Giants with Dart might be able to keep the game just close enough. They beat the Eagles ine New Meadowlands,, but don’t expect a sweep. The Eagles will get their revenge. Eagles win but fail to cover
Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots (-7) — Bill Belichick coached both of these teams. Mike Vravel has the Patriots in the right direction while the Browns have a decent defense and a mess of an offense. The Browns lack the offensive talent to keep thus game competitive. Patriots cover
4pm
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-4 1/2) at New Orleans Saints — The Buccaneers will be angry after their loss at Detroit. The Saints are a mess. Yet the Buccaneers win close games in cardiac fashion. The Saints could make this a close game. Buccaneers win but fail to cover
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (-14 1/2) — The Colts are 6-1 and looking very good. The Titans are a complete and total mess.This game could be over by halftime. Don’t expect the Colts to have a letdown. They will move the ball at will. The spread is high, but the difference in talent is that severe. Colts cover
Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos (-3 1/2) — The Cowboys have no defense. The Broncos got shut out for 3 quarters last week and scored 33 points in the fourth quarter. They will not have a letdown at home. Bo Nix and Dak Prescott can both sling it, but the Broncos have the much better defense. Given how prolific the Dallas offense is, expect a close game. Broncos win but fail to cover
8pm
Green Bay Packers (-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers — The Steelers lost a heartbreaker at Cincinnati while the Packers barely survived Arizona. These are both good teams but not great teams. Aaron Rodgers faces off against his old team for the first time. Jordan Love would love to beat Rodgers in the same way Rodgers obsessed over beating Brett Favre. This is one game to go with the home field. If the Steelers can run the ball, they will win. Upset special, Steelers win outright
Monday, October 27, 8pm
Washington Commanders at Kansas City Chiefs (-12 1/2) — These are teams going in the opposite direction. The Chiefs offense is getting healthy and returning to what they have been the last few years. The Commanders have regressed. Forget the high spread. The Chiefs are winning games big and the Commanders were blasted at Dallas by 22 points. Chiefs cover