NFL Week 8 Calls

Here are my Week 8 Predictions...

Texans @ Bills: Both teams won last week as Houston held on over San Francisco and Buffalo beat the Panthers. I just don't feel like the Bills are a good team. I'm not completely sold on the Texans either but I think Matt Schaub is a top-tier NFL QB. A bruised lung for star wide-out Andre Johnson may slow down the Texans offense but I think they could still put up enough points to get the win on the road. 24-16 HOU

Browns @ Bears: Boy was last week ugly for the these two teams. Da Bears got rolled up by the Bengals and the Browns got stomped by the Packers. Jay "Never Combs His Hair" Cutler has to play better for the Bears to be a factor in the NFC. The Browns are already looking forward to who they will pick with their top 5 draft pick next April. Matt Forte should run well for Chi-town and I think the Bears cruise to a big win at Soldier Boy Tell 'Em Field. 31-13 CHI

Seahawks @ Cowboys: The Boys made me look stupid last week... just the like the giant panda did to field reporter Brian Fantana in Anchorman. Dallas played well in all 3 phases of the game and beat up the Falcons. WR Miles Austin has quickly become a can't miss fantasy player. As for Seattle, they are coming off a bye week and need Matt Hasslebeck to have a big day if they want to win in big D. I don't see it happening though. 27-20 DAL

Rams @ Lions: This will be an awful game. The Rams are so bad. The Lions are not much better. The only real good player you might want to see play in this game is out with an injury (WR Calvin Johnson). I guess someone has to win this game unless they end up in a 6-6 tie. I'll go with the Lions because they are at home and I said that the Rams won't win a game all year. In a real beauty the Lions win. 20-13 DET

Broncos @ Ravens: On the other hand, this should be a really good game. Both teams had a extra week to rest up and prepare for this one. The Broncos look to remain undefeated and the Ravens look to get above .500. I think the Joe Flacco plays well in this one and RB Ray Rice is the difference. The Broncos get bucked for the first time this season. 27-17 BAL

49ers @ Colts: The Niners lost a tough one last week at Houston. The Colts won a nail biter over the Rams 42-6. San Francisco named former #1 pick and Helix High grad Alex Smith the starter after playing well late last week. He may struggle a little more this week against an aggressive Indy D. Throw TDs and promote products... that's what Peyton Manning does. I expect more of the same from the good Manning and the Colts stay undefeated. 31-17 IND

Dolphins @ Jets: The Fins blew a huge first half lead at home against the Saints last week. I look for them to struggle again this week against a pretty good New York defense. The Jets were so worried last week against the Raiders that Mark "Sanchise" Sanchez was eating a hot dog on the bench in the 3rd quarter. Sanchez struggled last time in front of the home crowd so I look for him to try to prove his worth in this divisional game. Thomas Jones should have a good day for the Jets as well. 27-20 NYJ

Giants @ Eagles: This rivalry is always huge. The Giants lost last week to Arizona so they will be chomping at the bit to ruffle the Eagles' feathers. Philly looked great on Monday Night... but they did play the god-awful Redskins. WR DeSean Jackson is probably the best big-play threat in the league and I look for him to have another big play for a TD this week. Elijah Manning is going to have to play better this week if he wants to the G-Men to win. As if Philly wouldn't be crazy enough for this game, the Yankees play the Phillies in Philadelphia in Game 4 of the World Series on Sunday night. I think the Eagles win this one but barely. 31-30 PHI

Jaguars @ Titans: This usually would be a good match up but not this year. Jacksonville is really struggling and the Titans have the owner telling the head coach who to start at QB. I think whoever Jeff Fisher decides to start (Vince Young or Kerry Collins) they should beat the Jags. David Garrard has not been impressive at all this year for Jacksonville and he should play better this week against a struggling Titans secondary. I still think Chris Johnson has a big day for Tennessee and I really just can't picture them going 0-7. 24-20 TEN

Raiders @ CHARGERS: The Raiders showed that they may be for real after putting together back-to-back inspired performances...oh wait, they played like crap last week at home against the Jets. JaMarcus Russell was benched in the 2nd quarter after already turning the ball over 3 times. Then in the post game interviews, told reporters that everyone else was doing things wrong and that's why he is struggling... way to be a leader buddy. Anyway the Bolts finally played a good overall game, albeit against the Chiefs. I look for the CHARGERS to continue this momentum and pound a disorganized Oakland team. Look for LT to finally topple the 100 yard rushing mark this week and find the end zone. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger says " Go Chargas... Go!" 34-17 SD

Panthers @ Cardinals: Arizona showed that travelling East to play may not be that big of a deal. They went into New York and beat the Giants on Sunday Night. This week they return to their nest in Glendale and should beat a struggling Panthers squad. QB Jake Delhomme has thrown around 73 picks this year and is still the starter... that should show you the depth the Panthers have at QB. DeAngelo Willams should have a decent day against a solid Cardinals front 7. Kurt Warner and Co. should put up big numbers at home and get the "W". 27-16 ARZ

Vikings @ Packers: Who would have thought it? Brett Favre at Lambeau wearing a white uniform with purple and yellow trim instead of the green and yellow. Apparently hell has frozen over for some die-hard Packers fans. Anyway this should be a really good game, but I think that the protege upstages the master on Sunday. Former Dunder Mifflin employee Aaron Rodgers will play well at home and prove GM Ted Thompson right. Favre will struggle a bit and the Vikes will lose their 2nd straight contest. "The Beast" Adrian Peterson should have a good day in a losing effort. The Pack is back. 31-28 GB

MNF: Falcons @ Saints: Great Monday Night match up this week. It is the only prime time game this week as their is no Sunday Night game due to some other sport called baseball... I think that's how you say it. The Falcons need a win here and the must rely on Matt "Matty Ice " Ryan and Michael "The Burner" Turner. However their nicknames alone can't propel them for the win. Drew Brees and the Saints have been unreal and don't seem to get flustered if they are down. The Saints always play well in the spotlight and especially at home. I think those trends continue and Brees' huge night carries the New Orleans to 7-0. 34-20 NO

Jake's Power Rankings through Week 7

1. New Orleans Saints

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Denver Broncos

4. Minnesota Vikings

5. New England Patriots

6. New York Giants

7. Cincinnati Bengals

8. Pittsburgh Steelers

9. Arizona Cardinals

10. Philadelphia Eagles

Jake's Bottom of the Barrel Rankings

28. Kansas City Chiefs

29. Detroit Lions

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

31. Tennessee Titans

32. St. Louis Rams

That's it for Week 8...

---J