NFL Week 8 Predictions: Projections for the Early Lines, Spreads and Odds

Don't look now, but the Dallas Cowboys can stake a claim to being the best team in the NFL. Their decisive 31-21 win over the New York Giants on Sunday was a statement-making victory and should vault them into the No. 1 spot in many power rankings.

Next week, the Cowboys will host Washington on Monday night. Can Tony Romo and Co. keep the train rolling?

Here's an early look at the odds for each of Week 8's games as well as a prediction for each contest. Just below the table is a closer look at three intriguing matchups.

Thursday, Oct. 23	Odds	Prediction	Projected Line
Sunday, Oct. 26	Odds	Prediction
Monday, Oct. 27	Odds	Prediction
San Diego at Denver	8:25 p.m.	Denver	N/A
Detroit at Atlanta	9:30 a.m.	Detroit	Detroit -3.5
St. Louis at Kansas City	1 p.m.	St. Louis	Kansas City -6
Houston at Tennessee	1 p.m.	Houston	N/A
Minnesota at Tampa Bay	1 p.m.	Minnesota	Tampa Bay -3
Seattle at Carolina	1 p.m.	Seattle	Seattle -4
Baltimore at Cincinnati	1 p.m.	Baltimore	Cincinnati -3
Miami at Jacksonville	1 p.m.	Miami	Miami -5
Chicago at New England	1 p.m.	New England	New England -7.5
Buffalo at NY Jets	1 p.m.	Buffalo	NY Jets -3
Philadelphia at Arizona	4:05 p.m.	Arizona	Arizona -2.5
Oakland at Cleveland	4:25 p.m.	Cleveland	Cleveland -7
Indianapolis at Pittsburgh	4:25 p.m.	Indianapolis	N/A
Green Bay at New Orleans	8:30 p.m.	Green Bay	Even
Washington at Dallas	8:30 p.m.	Dallas	N/A

Broncos Will Win Epic AFC West Duel

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Perhaps the San Diego Chargers were looking ahead to their huge clash with the Denver Broncos when they were upset by the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7. The Chargers dropped their second game of the season when the Chiefs outlasted them 23-20.

Now, the game the team more than likely circled on its schedule has arrived. There's no question that the Chargers have the necessary components to beat Denver. 

A similar core defeated Peyton Manning and Co. 27-20 last season after narrowly falling 28-20 in the first meeting and losing the rubber game in the postseason. This year, the Chargers defense has looked even better. Coming into Week 7, the defense was ranked in the top 10 against the run and the pass.

Getting pressure without blitzing is huge against Manning—especially if it comes from up the middle. The Broncos know this, and their counter against the Chargers has been to establish the run game early to put San Diego's pass-rushers on their heels.

Denver seemed to be prepping for the Bolts on Sunday night when it ran for 113 yards to help balance Manning's onslaught. With the running game clicking, the Broncos will win.

New England Will Crush the Bears' Season

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

To put it plainly, the Chicago Bears are in a must-win situation in Week 8. If they don't come out of Gillette Stadium with a win, they can kiss any realistic playoff hopes goodbye. The team is already feeling the pressure.

According to Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times, star receiver Brandon Marshall shouted the following in the locker room after the loss to the Dolphins:

"

Will you fight with your heart!

Do your job!

You just kick the ball!

"

Sounds like a shot at kicker Robbie Gould, among others. Afterward, Gould said the situation was “all good.” Unfortunately for Bear Nation, that's not the case, and a win over the Patriots doesn't look to be in cards.

The defense has been erratic, injured and downright bad on several occasions. In Week 7, defensive coordinator Mel Tucker was outschemed by Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin. Misdirection plays kept the Bears defense off balance and out of position.

On the strength of the read option, Ryan Tannehill ran for 48 yards. 

Tom Brady won't be running the read option, but you can bet the Patriots offense will take advantage of the Bears' undermanned secondary. To add to the bleak outlook, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is still throwing off his back foot and being careless with the football. He had two turnovers against Miami.

Head coach Bill Belichick is somewhere licking his chops as he thinks about the opportunity to play games with Cutler's mind. New England will win, and talk about Cutler's and Tucker's futures with the team will kick into overdrive. 

Dallas Will Keep Rolling

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Are the Dallas Cowboys really the best team in the NFL?

The Denver Broncos and the Philadelphia Eagles might have something to say about that, but Dallas has certainly proved to be for real. Romo is playing smart and utilizing all of his weapons. He's thrown 14 touchdown passes to six interceptions.

Running back DeMarco Murray set a record Sunday by becoming the first player in NFL history to begin the season with seven straight 100-yard rushing games.

The defense was horrendous last season, but it has turned things around. They aren't the 1985 Bears, but the Cowboys have surrendered 20 or more points only three times this season. That's good enough when the offense is playing as well as it has been.

On Monday night, Washington will try its hand at slowing down the Cowboys. Don't expect Dallas to miss a beat. Playing at home, the Cowboys will be ready to prove themselves on a national stage. Their division rivals aren't in position to offer much more than minimal opposition.

Colt McCoy came on and finished off Washington's 19-17 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, but an offense led by the Cleveland Browns castoff isn't exactly scary.

Also, Washington's defense has allowed 31.2 points per game in its last five. Dallas will roll.