NFL Picks, 2026 Week 8

Last week, I think it was Cris Collinsworth on Sunday night, who made a good point.  Do we even know who's actually good in the NFL?  So many of the teams we thought should be pretty good are either below .500 or, when they lose, they get blown out.  Then we have teams who people didn't think would be any good over .500 or leading their divisions.  Then you've got the undefeated Vikings, who keep winning, even though no one understands how.

Thursday Night: Green Bay (Win)

Ravens (4-3) at Bills (5-1): Buffalo-This is what I'm talking about.  Is Baltimore good or not?  Back-to-back division losses has dropped them from 4-1 to 4-3 and the bottom of the AFC North.  Things don't get any easier this week, either, with a trip to Buffalo.  The Bills, by and large, are one of those teams that has so far lived up to lofty expectations.  Although, their last home game was their first loss in their new stadium, so you know they'd like to give their fans a show.

Titans (1-6) at Bengals (4-2): Cincinnati-When good teams see the Titans on their schedule, especially at home, they have to take advantage.  The Bengals consider themselves a good team.  And they're in a what figures to be a tight division race all season long.  They know just how devastating a loss to Tennessee would be.  Meanwhile, a 5-2 record will have Cincinnati sitting comfortably heading into the second half of the season.

Cardinals (2-5) at Cowboys (3-4): Dallas-Dallas finally got back in the win column on Monday night in Philadelphia.  Now the Cowboys return home with a chance to get back to .500 and, more importantly, move within a half-game of the first-place Giants (who are on their bye week).  So, maybe that confidence Jerry Jones has is in his team isn't misplaced.  It's not such a crazy thought to see them in the playoffs.  If you want to be a playoff team, though, you can't lose to the Cardinals at home.

Vikings (6-0) at Lions (4-2): Detroit-And then there was one.  With the 49ers and Chiefs losing last week, that leaves the Vikings as the only remaining undefeated team.  Minnesota's days of having a 0 in the loss column definitely seem numbered, though.  In fact, I think it ends this week.  The Lions know the importance of this game.  They're either three games out with the Vikings holding the tiebreaker or one game out with the tiebreaker.  In the NFC North, having the tiebreaker is significant.  Detroit won't waste the opportunity, especially knowing what Minnesota's upcoming schedule looks like.

Raiders (3-4) at Jets (2-5): Las Vegas-I called it!  The Jets actually enter a game as the favorite...and go on to lose to the previously winless Dolphins!  Although, it's the Jets, so it shouldn't really be too surprising.  Think about the difference that made, though.  If they'd won, they'd be 3-4 and have a chance at getting to .500 this week.  Instead, they're 2-5.  It's only a one game difference, but it looks so much worse.  Especially since it's about to become 2-6.  The Raiders, meanwhile, will be the team who comes out of this game with a .500 record.

Browns (5-2) at Steelers (5-2): Cleveland-They couldn't flex this game to Sunday night because the previous Browns-Steelers game was on a Thursday.  That's the only reason this battle for first place in the AFC North stayed as a 1:00 start.  I'd argue that Pittsburgh needs a win here more.  The Browns won that first game, so this would be a one-game lead with a season sweep.  However, I just have a feeling that's exactly what'll happen.  Cleveland moves into sole possession of first place.

Falcons (3-4) at Buccaneers (2-5): Atlanta-What's going on in the NFC South?!  Just when we thought Carolina might be the best team in the division, they give up 43 to Tampa Bay at home!  Then, some weeks, we think Atlanta might be the best team.  Like last week, when they handed the 49ers their first loss of the season.  So, what'll happen here is anyone's guess.  I'll say Atlanta if, for no other reason, than to not have the entire division be under .500.

Colts (2-5) at Jaguars (4-2): Jacksonville-It's Jacksonville's third straight home game, but their first in Florida since Week 3.  That was intentional to give the construction crew an entire uninterrupted month to work on their stadium.  And, if you'd told them they'd split their London games, they would've been happy with that.  Except, they probably would've expected a loss to the Eagles and a win over the Texans, not the other way around.  They would've (already) had a stranglehold on the AFC South had they beaten Houston.  Still, a victory this week against Indianapolis will mean a three-game division lead.

Chargers (0-6) at Rams (3-4): Rams-One of these teams will finally win a home game!  (Yes, the Chargers are technically the road team, but you get the point.)  I don't think anyone expected either the Rams or Chargers to be in this position at the Battle of SoFi, but here we are.  Even if they win, this season's not gonna get any better for the Chargers.  The Rams, the overwhelming preseason Super Bowl favorites, still have a chance to climb out of the hole they've dug for themselves.  Need to assert whose stadium this really is first, though.

Chiefs (5-1) at Broncos (5-2): Denver-Denver beats Seattle in overtime.  Then Seattle's defense completely dominates Kansas City.  Does that mean this little three-week round robin ends with the Chiefs beating the Broncos?  Or does the transitive property apply and it means Denver hands Kansas City its second straight loss after a 5-0 start?  That's what I think will happen.  You know the Broncos were all over that game tape of the Seahawks-Chiefs game.

Patriots (4-3) at Dolphins (1-5): New England-During the Brady years, Miami was always a thorn in the Patriots' side.  That's not really the case anymore.  But the Patriots sill remain on guard for their annual trip to South Florida.  They know that they'll have a tough game on their hands.  It doesn't matter that the Dolphins only have one win and it came against the Jets.  New England will avoid the upset, but Miami will make them work for it.

Eagles (2-5) at Commanders (1-4-1): Washington-For some reason, they didn't flex it out.  So, we're stuck with Philadelphia-Washington on Sunday night.  Neither team is having the type of season they'd want.  There's no denying that.  Yet, the NFC East isn't very strong this season, so the division is still within reach.  Have to win here, though.  The Commanders should get Jayden Daniels back this week.  The Eagles won't have Jalen Hurts for the rest of the year.  That's enough of a difference for me to give Washington the nod.

Bears (5-2) at Seahawks (4-3): Seattle-Seattle's three-week primetime stretch ends with another one that isn't exactly easy.  They get the Bears at home on Monday night.  That dominant win over Kansas City coupled with San Francisco's loss to Atlanta suddenly puts the NFC West back in play for the Seahawks.  Chicago, meanwhile, is in a four-way NFC North race.  So, this is a big game for both teams, and not just because the winner will have the head-to-head tiebreaker should that come into play.

This Week: 1-0
Last Week: 6-8
Overall: 55-52-1