NFL Week 8

CHICAGO 5.0 Detroit
Pittsburgh 3.5 CINCINNATI
Indianapolis 6.5 CAROLINA
TENNESSEE 7.5 Oakland
Cleveland 3.0 ST. LOUIS
NYG 9.5 MIAMI
Philadelphia 1.0 MINNESOTA
NYJ 3.0 Buffalo
SAN DIEGO (Pick 'em) Houston
TAMPA BAY 4.0 Jacksonville
New Orleans 3.0 SAN FRANCISCO
NEW ENGLAND 16.5 Washington
DENVER 3.0 Green Bay

Chicago's back, right? Well, I'm skeptical and I like the Lions to keep it close.
The Steelers did not impress last week against the Broncos but I like them to pull it together against a division foe.
The Colts will roll.
The Raiders are a little better than people give them credit for and I suspect the Titans are not quite as good as others say. I like the Raiders to keep it close.
The Rams have been poor all year long but the visiting Browns offer them a shot at a victory, I think this is their week to pull it off.
The Giants have both sides of the ball in good working order and the Dolphins absolutely do not. Look for NYG to roll. (Playing a regular season game across the ocean is a travesty, incidentally. I understand the NFL's desire to go global but as a sports fan I see the NFL as uniquely American. And though I am fascinated by international competition curiously I have no interest in watching other countries play this game. Furthermore, if the NFL is interested in going global, screw Europe, go to Latin America)
The Eagles were my pre-season pick to win the NFC while the Vikings were my pre-season pick to be the out-of-nowhere meteor of the NFC. Both have disappointed but I think the Vikings a little less so--unless they continue to fail to give Peterson more than 12 touches!--so I'll take the home dog.
The Jets are coming apart, the Bills suck but at least they're fully intact. I like the Bills to win outright.
How will the wildfires affect the Chargers? I think they're clearly the better team so how can I hesitate on a pick 'em? I guess I won't.
Jax without their QB seems like ripe picking for the underappreciated Bucs at home.
The Niners and Saints have both flailed something awful this year. The Saints certainly have more explosive talent but I'm inclined to take the Niners at home. I like the home dog to win straight up.
I know the Patriots are better than anyone else around but I cannot stand these massive spreads they're getting. This week it catches up to them. The Pats win but the Skins keep it close (enough).
The Broncos looked pretty good against the Steelers with two banged up corners. But I think the Steelers were itching to lose whereas the Packers have already gotten that giveaway game out of their system (much to Chicago's delight). I'll take the Packers to get the W.