Week 8: The Crystal Ball Says:

11-4 last week improving to 68 – 39.  It’s a crazy season and injuries abound, but a lot of the cream is starting to rise to the top. Let’s see what is in store for this week:

Carolina @ Tampa Bay – Carolina has been playing good football and are .500. Tampa is a mess, yet starting to play with a little more intensity. I think Carolina is a better team, but I look for a competitive divisional game.  Carolina 24 – Tampa Bay 16

San Francisco @ Jacksonville – They are not in Jacksonville, but London, so there is no home field advantage. The Niners have gotten past their little down turn earlier and are playing well. Jacksonville may not win a game. They might, but not this week. San Francisco 38 – Jacksonville 14.

Cleveland @ Kansas City – Cleveland has benched Brandon Weeden and called on Jason Campbell to lead the troops. They could have picked an easier opponent. The KC defense is smothering, and the offense; although leaning too much on Jamaal Charles is pretty efficient. The Chiefs grab a lead and hold on to it. Kansas City 26 – Cleveland 17.

Miami @ New England – Miami is coming off a bad loss to Buffalo and the Pats are coming off a bad loss to the Jets. It is simply not the same Patriot offense and the vast improvement we looked for from the Dolphins isn’t that vast. Call me a name dropper, but I have to still go for the Patriots in this contest. Brady and the system are still proven winners. New England 31 – Miami 20.

Buffalo @ New Orleans – The Saints are coming off a bye and Buffalo is coming off a nice win against the Dolphins. The Saints are fresh and at home, and the Bills are basically one dimensional. Both defenses are playing well, but the Saints firepower is too much. New Orleans 35 – Buffalo 17.

Dallas @ Detroit – This is one you could predict a shootout. Every time we do this, it turns out to be a defensive struggle. I do like the showdown between Stafford to Calvin and Romo to Dez. I look for this one to be a good one. I like Dallas’ defense better, but Reggie Bush is a difference maker. This one should be really close in Detroit. Dallas 37 – Detroit 30.

New York Giants @ Philadelphia – The Giants finally won one against a horrible mess called the Vikings. The Eagles are coming off a low scoring affair where they lost Nick Foles to a concussion. This sets the stage for Mike Vick again. Can Big Blue keep it going? This is a team many predicted to win the division. Relying on Peyton Hillis is risky, but Cox is all they have behind him. McCoy is still awesome in Philly. In this division, the Giants are still alive. Philadelphia 27 – New York 26.

New Jets @ Cincinnati – The Jets surprised everyone by beating the Patriots. The Bengals have quietly gotten to 5-2 and are playing sound football. Oh yeah, Andy Dalton proved he can pass when called upon. The Jets defense is tough as is the Bengals. It comes down to making plays. I will have to go with who I think makes more.  Cincinnati 21 – New York 17.

Pittsburgh @ Oakland – Pittsburgh is on a 2 game win streak and traveling to visit a team who humiliated them last year with a surprise win.  Oakland is coming off a needed bye and is looking to improve themselves. The Steelers are still alive in the division and seem to be playing with more urgency. Revenge could be in store. Pittsburgh 27 – Oakland 19.

Atlanta @ Arizona – We know of the injury troubles with both teams. Arizona’s offensive line is horrid at best, and Fitzgerald has been hampered almost all season. On the other side, Atlanta hasn’t fared much better. Julio Jones is gone, Steven Jackson will be tenuous at best all year, and Roddy White has been hurt all season. Neither team can run. Everything tells me to take the Cards at home, but for some reason, I like the Falcons this week. Atlanta 27 – Arizona 22.

Washington @ Denver – The Skins win over Chicago got them back on track, right? Considering Denver is coming off their first loss and are at home, I would guess Washington is on the wrong track this week. Their defense can’t handle Denver. Denver 38 – Washington 24.

Green Bay @ Minnesota – Green Bay is starting to role and Eddie Lacy gives them a legitimate run game. Minnesota is a mess, but it looks like they are going back to Christian Ponder this week. That is a good thing. The Vikes are a TOTAL disaster without him. Still it doesn’t look promising for Minnesota fans this week. Green Bay 28 – Minnesota 14.

Seattle @ St. Louis – Bradford is gone for the Rams. Seattle is rolling and no matter how St. Louis played the division last year, this is 2013. Seattle will roll. Seattle 34 – St. Louis 17.

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