Coming out of their bye week, the Buffalo Bills are no longer atop the Super Bowl odds. The same can be said about Bills quarterback Josh Allen and the NFL MVP odds, as Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes now leads at +150 at the BetMGM online sportsbook.
Now, in Week 8, we have what I’d call “bye-mageddon” with six teams on bye in the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks. These are the most teams we’ll see on a bye week at the same time for the remainder of the season.
Below, I’ll cast my predictions for each Week 8 contest:
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Chargers had a down Week 7 at home against the Indianapolis Colts, but it’s hard to trust Vikings QB Carson Wentz right now. He has four interceptions over his last three games.
Additionally, the Vikings play cover-2 and cover-3 more than any other defensive alignment. When facing those coverages this season, Chargers QB Justin Herbert has completed over 74 per cent of his passes.
PREDICTION: Chargers -3.5 (-120)
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants
The Giants beat the Eagles earlier this month on Thursday Night Football, but it’s going to be difficult to bounce back from that brutal Week 7 loss, allowing 33 points in the fourth quarter to the Denver Broncos.
Not only that, but Eagles QB Jalen Hurts is coming off his best passing performance, throwing for 326 yards and three touchdowns.
PREDICTION: Eagles -7.5 (-115)
Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins aren’t a functioning NFL roster right now, and the Falcons allow the fewest passing yards per game (141.2).
PREDICTION: Falcons -7 (-115)
Cincinnati Bengals vs. New York Jets
My sense is the Jets will announce Tyrod Taylor as the new starting QB any day now.
If so, he’ll bring a level of stability that can at least make them look like an acceptable NFL roster against a Bengals team that allows the sixth-most rushing yards (137.3) and third-most passing yards (257.1) per game.
PREDICTION: Jets +6.5 (-115)
Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots
While the Browns have a defence that I highly respect, allowing the third-fewest passing yards (173.7) and fourth-fewest rushing yards (82.4) per game, the Patriots have QB Drake Maye playing at an MVP level.
Also, let’s not forget that the Patriots have an even better run defence than the Browns, allowing just 77.1 rushing yards per game (third-fewest).
PREDICTION: Patriots -7 (-110)
Carolina Panthers vs. Buffalo Bills
The Panthers are averaging a league-high 193.3 rushing yards per game over their last three and are hosting a Bills team that’s allowing the second-most rushing yards per game this season at 156.3.
Also, Andy Dalton is under centre for an injured Bryce Young, which will likely result in fewer passes thrown in harm’s way.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I have to take the Panthers.
PREDICTION: Panthers +7.5 (-110)
Baltimore Ravens vs. Chicago Bears
The current point spread indicates that QB Lamar Jackson will be on the field, but he has yet to practice at the time of this writing.
Thus, there’s no way I can take the Ravens.
PREDICTION: Bears +6.5 (-110)
Houston Texans vs. San Francisco 49ers
With Texans wide receiver Nico Collins suffering a concussion against the Seahawks, it’s hard to have a lot of confidence in this offence, even if they’re facing a 49ers defence that allows 317.4 yards per game (19th).
Conversely, the 49ers have great weapons, including running back Christian McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle, who was back in the lineup this week. Additionally, WR Ricky Pearsall is trending in the right direction to get back on the field.
The Texans have a great defence, but I don’t trust their offence.
PREDICTION: 49ers +1.5 (-110)
New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers’ offence was stagnant against the Lions last week; that’s been the Saints’ story all season. QB Spencer Rattler hasn’t thrown for more than 233 yards in a game, and the Saints also lost some rushing production with RB Kendre Miller tearing his ACL last week.
PREDICTION: Buccaneers -4 (-110)
Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans
There’s no reason to beat around the bush with this one: the Titans are absolutely dreadful.
PREDICTION: Colts -14 (-110)
Denver Broncos vs. Dallas Cowboys
First, the Cowboys allow a league-high 401.6 yards and the third-most points (29.4) per game.
Second, the Broncos are third in pressures (119), while the Cowboys are tied for allowing the 11th-most (93).
Third, I’m taking the Broncos.
PREDICTION: Broncos -3.5 (-120)
Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
While the Packers have an excellent pass rush led by Micah Parsons, the Steelers have allowed a league-low 50 pressures.
This is thanks in part to Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers’ average time to throw being just 2.58 seconds (second-lowest among all QBs with at least 100 dropbacks).
I’ll side with the home team. Rodgers will get the ball out quickly and keep the offence moving.
PREDICTION: Steelers +3 (-110)
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Washington Commanders
The Chiefs are on a tear right now, winning four of their last five games and scoring 28 points or more in each of their previous four outings.
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels also injured his hamstring last week and was ruled out for this game.
The Chiefs at home is the play.
PREDICTION: Chiefs -10.5 (-105)
