Chris Simms' Week 8 NFL Picks

Everyone knows that injuries are a major part of the NFL. However, people might not realize just how impactful significant injuries can be. As a former player, I can tell you that even potential injuries can affect the entire organization.

Not knowing whether or not you're going to have a player can impact a team's psyche.

If you're a quarterback and you might not have your left tackle or your top running back, you might spend the week worrying about pass protection and the game looking over your shoulder for that pass-rusher you're sure is coming. If you're a defensive player and you know your top receiver isn't available, you might play more aggressively than normal, hoping to make a big play to help out the offense.

Injuries affect the coaching staff too. Say you're the New England Patriots and tight end Rob Gronkowski is 50-50 for the week. You have to practice the normal game plan as if he's going to be in the game, but you also have to install a backup plan in case he isn't. Either way, the players go into the game without a full week's preparation for the game plan that is used.

As we enter the midpoint of the 2017 season, injuries are going to have a huge impact on the outcomes of games. This is why making picks before Thursday night's game—long before most final injury reports are released—can be difficult. We know, though, that key players like Joe Thomas, Jason Peters and Josh Norman won't be available. Those kinds of injuries are going to make a difference in Week 8.

How do I see Week 8 unfolding? Let's take a look.

Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens

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When: Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET (NFL Network, CBS, Amazon), M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore

The Baltimore Ravens are really beat up right now, and that's a problem. The Miami Dolphins are dealing with injuries as well. We already know about Jay Cutler, but I'm more concerned with the health of tackle Laremy Tunsil.

When I break down the game itself, I see a low-scoring, physical matchup. The Dolphins are going to try to run the ball, regardless of whether they have early success. This should help keep the Ravens defense honest and help the pass game, which is starting to find its way.

The Ravens should try to exploit Miami's pass defense, which is the Dolphins' biggest weakness. However, Baltimore's inconsistent passing attack isn't likely to take full advantage. At the same time, it's going to be difficult for the Ravens to run the ball against Miami's defensive front. There's a ton of talent and depth on the Dolphins defensive line, and it's going to make life difficult for the Ravens.

Expect Miami to squeeze out a win in a close, hard-hitting contest.

Prediction: Dolphins 17, Ravens 16

Minnesota Vikings at Cleveland Browns (in London)

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When: Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET (NFL Network), Twickenham Stadium, London

The biggest thing with the contest between the Minnesota Vikings and the Cleveland Browns is the quarterback shuffle in Cleveland. DeShone Kizer is starting after being benched multiple times, and it's hard to believe he'll be able to lead an effective attack against a special Minnesota defense.

The Browns don't have a horrible offense, but they find ways to screw things up—Kizer especially. He'll do some good things, but there are three or four throws every game that leave you scratching your head. He just isn't a consistent thrower of the football, and he makes plenty of rookie decisions.

The Cleveland defense can slow down the Vikings to a degree, and the Minnesota offense is a little beat up along the offensive line. However, Browns star pass-rusher Myles Garrett is in the concussion protocol, so Cleveland might not even be able to capitalize.

Ultimately, the Vikings defense should be too much for the Browns in and of itself. What we've seen from Case Keenum and Latavius Murray has been encouraging, and the Vikings should be able to get enough offense to win.

Prediction: Vikings 24, Browns 10

Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots

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When: Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (CBS), Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

The Patriots are beginning to hit their stride, and that's scary. However, the same can be said about the Los Angeles Chargers, who have figured out their identity over the past few weeks. Their pass defense is pretty good, and the pass rush is fantastic.

That makes this an intriguing matchup because New England is a team that is geared toward the pass. The Patriots offensive line against Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram is a concern, as edge pressure has been a problem for New England all year long.

The Patriots defense is improving, though. I saw some new coverages on film against the Atlanta Falcons, which tells me the coaches are more comfortable with the players and their ability to do their jobs. If the Patriots can play the Chargers defensively the way they did the Falcons, L.A. is going to struggle to put points on the board.

New England's run game has been quietly good this season too, so the Patriots do have the ability to attack the Chargers' biggest weakness. As long as Bill Belichick has the sense to play to his team's strengths and against L.A.'s weaknesses—I'll tell you a secret, he does—New England should be able to pull this one out.

Prediction: Patriots 31, Chargers 27

Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints

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When: Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (Fox), Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans

This is one of my favorite games of the week. The Chicago Bears match up well with the New Orleans Saints because of how they try to win games. The Bears play sound, physical defense, try to control the tempo with a strong running game and have Mitch Trubisky make a couple big throws a game. This is a strategy that could keep the Saints offense out of rhythm.

The Saints, though, don't just rely on Drew Brees anymore. The defense is getting to be really good—it's certainly getting better every week. New Orleans is big enough and tough enough up front to challenge the Bears running game too.

On the other side of the ball, the Saints have the weapons to attack the Chicago defense if they can get into a rhythm. Chicago tries to overpower teams with its front seven, but the Saints aren't going to be consistently overpowered. New Orleans has one of the best offensive lines in the game, a strong rushing attack and, of course, Drew Brees to attack Chicago's questionable secondary.

In a matchup of contrasting styles, I'm going with the more experienced quarterback and the home team.

Prediction: Saints 20, Bears 12

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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When: Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (Fox), Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

This is a really big game for both the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The main matchup is the Buccaneers offense against the Panthers defense, which is one of the best in the NFL. Luke Kuechly is on track to return for Carolina, and this is going to be a fun battle to watch.

If Jameis Winston has time, he's going to make some big plays in the pass game. At the same time, though, the Panthers have the talent up front to put some pressure on him and force him into some of those stupid mistakes we see on an almost weekly basis.

On the other side, the Buccaneers defense against the Panthers offense is more of a mismatch. Tampa isn't great against the run or the pass, and there aren't any real playmakers on the defense. The Buccaneers pass rush is one of the worst in football—just seven sacks on the season—which will give Cam Newton the time he needs to attack downfield.

Carolina should be able to control the tempo with its power run game and hit the occasional big play through the air. I'm not convinced the Buccaneers will be able to dominate enough on offense to answer.

Prediction: Panthers 27, Buccaneers 21

Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals

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When: Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (CBS), Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati

The Indianapolis Colts defense, plain and simple, is the worst in football. At least, that's how I view it. Against a Cincinnati Bengals team that does have a couple of elite playmakers on offense, that's a problem. Don't be surprised if receiver A.J. Green goes off like he did a few weeks ago against the Buffalo Bills (189 yards and a touchdown).

The Colts don't defend the pass well, they don't defend the run well, and unless Andy Dalton has a meltdown, the Bengals should be able to take advantage.

I really think highly of the Bengals on the other side of the football too. Cincinnati is legit at all three levels of the defense. It's hard to envision Indianapolis mustering a whole lot of offense against the Bengals. The Colts' biggest weapon is wideout T.Y. Hilton, and the Bengals have the cover corners to neutralize him.

Expect Cincinnati to win somewhat convincingly.

Prediction: Bengals 27, Colts 14

Oakland Raiders at Buffalo Bills

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When: Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (CBS), New Era Field, Orchard Park, New York

The Oakland Raiders are playing tough, and we know the Buffalo Bills are going to play tough. This should make for one of the better games of the week.

Buffalo matches up well with the Raiders for a couple of reasons. The Bills run the ball well, and they're not going to beat themselves on defense. They're going to make Oakland earn everything it gets on offense.

What is concerning is the fact the Raiders seem to be getting hot in the pass game. The Bills secondary is a little beat up too. However, some of Oakland's success in Week 7 may have come due to a bad Kansas City Chiefs defense. The Bills should be able to fare better and counter with their run game.

If the Bills run the ball with success, they're going to win this game. That's going to open up what Tyrod Taylor is able to do in the passing game and off play action, and it's going to keep Derek Carr and the Oakland offense off the field. The Bills have done a good job of limiting big plays too, other than against A.J. Green and the Bengals.

The fact this game is 10 a.m. Oakland time may be the extra edge needed to tip the scales in Buffalo's favor.

Prediction: Bills 23, Raiders 20

San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles

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When: Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (Fox), Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Eagles are 6-1. The San Francisco 49ers are 0-7. It might sound silly, but I still think this game can be close.

The Eagles are coming off a short week. They're also missing star tackle Jason Peters. The 49ers have a decent offensive line and a good enough run game to keep the Eagles in check to a degree. Kyle Shanahan is good at devising ways to neutralize opposing teams' defensive strengths. Even if the 49ers simply run away from Fletcher Cox every time, they should be able to get some production on the ground. This, in turn, should help keep the defense, and Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, off the field.

What's concerning, though, is that the 49ers defense is not a good group. They got torn apart in all phases last week against the Dallas Cowboys. Philadelphia has an aggressive offense that can capitalize. While the Eagles don't have any skill players who will scare a defense, Wentz can.

If he has the slightest window down the field, Wentz is going to take it. He can also hurt a defense with his legs.

Expect this game to be close for a while, but expect Wentz to eventually take over.

Prediction: Eagles 27, 49ers 20

Atlanta Falcons at New York Jets

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When: Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (Fox), MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

This is the fourth game in a row for the Atlanta Falcons against an AFC East team. Expect it to go a little differently than last week's against New England, though it won't be easy.

Atlanta's offense wasn't as bad against the Patriots in Week 7 as people think. They had a blocked field goal, missed a chip-shot field goal and got stopped on 4th-and-goal from the 1. Things looked bad on the scoreboard, but it wasn't a total disaster for the Falcons.

The New York Jets defense is better than New England's though. The Jets have enough team speed to match up with Atlanta's offense. Don't expect Julio Jones to run wild, and don't expect the Falcons to score points in bunches.

The question is whether or not the Jets can move the ball on Atlanta's defense. The Falcons have everything on all three defensive levels, and they have as much speed on that side of the ball as any team in the league. New York hasn't faced a defense with this kind of speed and range this season, which is why I think the Falcons can come out on top on the road.

Prediction: Falcons 24, Jets 21

Houston Texans at Seattle Seahawks

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When: Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET (CBS), CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

What a fun matchup the Houston Texans-Seattle Seahawks game is going to be. We're going to get the Deshaun Watson-led Texans offense against a Seahawks defense that is still a top-level unit. These are two physical teams who aren't afraid to slug it out.

Seattle is a little more susceptible to the run this year than in years past, and Watson and the Texans aren't afraid to put the pressure on a team with the run. That's an advantage for the Texans because it's likely to get Watson some favorable looks in the pass game.

If this game was at a neutral site, I'd pick the Texans with no hesitation. There are questions about the Seahawks, especially on offense. Three of Seattle's four wins came against teams with three combined victories between them. That's concerning.

Yet, it's difficult to count out a Seahawks defense that can wreak havoc on young quarterbacks—especially in Seattle. I'm still going to pick the Texans, but it's going to be a battle.

Prediction: Texans 19, Seahawks 16

Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins

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When: Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET (Fox), FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland

The Washington Redskins are beat up right now. They don't have their best corner, Josh Norman. They're also dealing with injuries to offensive linemen Trent Williams and Brandon Scherff. Those injuries are going to play big roles in Washington's matchup with the Dallas Cowboys.

Offensively, the Redskins have the weapons to take advantage of Dallas' biggest weakness: the secondary. However, those injuries along the line could balance things out because the Cowboys do have some talent in the front seven. If defensive linemen like Demarcus Lawrence and Maliek Collins have their way, it's going to be hard for the Redskins to run the ball. It's also going to be difficult for Kirk Cousins to have the time he needs to attack downfield.

While the Washington defense is much better than Dallas', the absence of Norman is huge. The Redskins might be able to keep Ezekiel Elliott and the run game in check for stretches. Without Norman on the field, however, the Cowboys will be able to stretch the field with Dez Bryant. 

With Elliott and the Dallas offensive line looking more like their 2016 versions, expect the Cowboys to eventually break through with the run and take control of the game.

Prediction: Cowboys 27, Redskins 23

Pittsburgh Steelers at Detroit Lions

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When: Sunday at 8:30 p.m. ET (NBC), Ford Field, Detroit

I worry about the Detroit Lions coming off the bye week. Teams often come out sluggish after the bye, and if Detroit isn't ready for the physicality the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to bring to town, the Lions are going to be in trouble.

The Steelers defense is tremendous. While the Lions offense is more well-rounded than in years past, Detroit doesn't have the weapons to keep Pittsburgh on its toes. It takes a special passing attack to slice up the Steelers. While Matthew Stafford is terrific, he doesn't really have playmakers beyond Golden Tate and Marvin Jones.

With Haloti Ngata out, it's going to be difficult for Detroit to slow Le'Veon Bell and the Pittsburgh ground game. The Detroit pass defense is average at best, and the Steelers do have the weapons to carve it up.

Pittsburgh is a team that has everything going in the right direction right now. If these two teams met in Week 1 or 2, I might like the Lions, but Pittsburgh has too much talent across the board and is hitting its stride.

Prediction: Steelers 24, Lions 17

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs

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When: Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN), Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

This AFC West battle is going to be big for both teams. It's almost a must-win for the Denver Broncos because if they drop to 3-4, they're going to be in trouble. The Kansas City Chiefs have lost two in a row, though, and will be just as motivated to put one back in the win column.

The Broncos do have the type of defense that can slow down the Chiefs, who are at their best when they can get chunk yardage off big plays. That's going to be tough against the No. 1 defense in football. The Chiefs are going to have to show they can move the ball methodically, and that proved difficult against both the Steelers and the Raiders.

Denver could struggle to move the ball as well, though. Injuries along the offensive line have made the running game less effective than it was at the beginning of the year. Trevor Siemian has been up and down as well.

Ultimately, though, it's hard to trust the Chiefs defense. Giving up big plays has been an issue all year long. Over the past couple weeks, Kansas City has been giving up points along with the big yardage. If the Broncos trust their defense enough to lean on it, they should be able to get just enough offense to pull out the upset.

Prediction: Denver 20, Chiefs 17