NFL Picks Week 8: Desperate Teams That Will Get Huge Victories

Desperation can do a lot of things to a lot of NFL teams. For some, it is the galvanizing force that carries them to the postseason. For others, it can rip them apart at the very seams, ending a season once filled with hope. 

There might be a handful of teams that fall in the middle of the pack, but for the most part everyone will deal with adversity and desperation at least once during the season. It is all about how you respond that shows the world your true character. 

As we get ready for Week 8—yes, we are almost halfway home—here are the teams who will get much-needed desperation victories.

San Diego Chargers (at Cleveland Browns)

It wouldn't be proper to talk about desperate teams without discussing the San Diego Chargers. 

After the "Monday Night Meltdown" against Denver in Week 6, the Chargers have had two weeks to sit around and stew about everything that has gone wrong. Yet for all their issues, they are still a 3-3 team, which is basically good enough to be the No. 2 seed in the AFC if the playoffs started today. 

Granted, a lot of the reason to love the Chargers this weekend has more to do with their opponent than anything special about them, but it doesn't change the fact that they will walk out of Cleveland with a 4-3 record. 

The only weapon the Browns have on offense is Trent Richardson, but he will be taken out of the equation by a surprisingly stout San Diego run defense (2nd in the NFL in yards allowed). 

The Chargers are one of the best in the league at forcing turnovers—13 through six weeks—and Brandon Weeden has proven to be quite adept at turning the ball over with 10 interceptions already. 

It probably won't be the prettiest game, but a win is a win. 

Chargers 27, Browns 14

New England Patriots (at St. Louis Rams)

There seems to be a common theme in the NFL right now: If you are a team that has lofty expectations but have struggled to meet them, go play in St. Louis. 

It happened last week with the Green Bay Packers, who are suddenly getting talked about as one of the NFC's best again because they beat the Rams by 10 points. 

Why go against a trend that is working, especially when you have a New England team that looks as lifeless as it ever has under Bill Belichick. 

The Patriots are in desperate need of a spark somewhere because they are an ugly team to watch. They keep blowing leads in the fourth quarter, and the secondary is a disaster that constantly gets bailed out because of a good defensive line. 

Tom Brady is still great, but because everyone expects so much out of him, 2,104 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions through seven games is not good enough. 

The Rams were able to move the ball against the Packers, racking up 354 total yards, but when they need to make a big play, there was no one who could make it. 

For all their faults, the Patriots are going to run all over the Rams on the friendly turf in St. Louis. 

Patriots 31, Rams 14

San Francisco 49ers (at Arizona Cardinals)

Remember when Arizona was 4-0 and people were talking about how this team was different? Three straight losses later, they are exactly who we thought they were. 

But what about the 49ers? After looking so good against the Jets and Bills, this is a team that is struggling in two areas of the game that we haven't seen them struggle in for a long time: turnovers and run defense. 

Against the Giants and Seahawks, the 49ers defense has allowed 285 yards on the ground. By comparison, they allowed just 411 yards on the ground in their first five games. 

Then there are the turnovers. The 49ers are minus-three in turnovers the last two weeks, and Alex Smith has thrown four of his five interceptions in those two games, including a dreadful read in the back of the end zone last week vs. Seattle. 

Yet for all their flaws the last two weeks, the 49ers should breeze past the Cardinals. Arizona's offensive line is the worst in the NFL. John Skelton is a backup quarterback masquerading as a starter because of injuries and circumstances. 

The 49ers can still run the ball down your throat when they want to, even if Frank Gore does need his workload lightened due to injured ribs. Jim Harbaugh knows what makes the 49ers tick and will use that to get them ready to go on Monday night. 

49ers 27, Cardinals 13

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