NFL Predictions Week 8: Steelers-Saints and Other Halloween Week Picks

I have to admit, this season has been fun to watch thanks to its unpredictability. I mean, who knew the Cowboys would be 1-5, the Raiders would put up 59 in one week and Randy Moss would once again be a Viking?

Anyway, about the only sure thing to come out of this season so far is the realization that the AFC is the varsity conference. Oh, and that as long as the Raiders’ next four opponents score at least 17 points, they will be assured wins. After all, the Raiders did score as many points in four quarters last week as they normally score in four weeks. They’re done for a while. 

And how fitting is it that in a season as crazy as this one, Halloween just happens to fall on a Sunday? At the rate this season is going though, this will be the one week everything goes according to plan. 

Is it too late to lobby Commissioner Goodell for two AFC teams in the Super Bowl? I’m just sayin’. 

Anyway, here are my picks for the week.

Miami Dolphins @ Cincinnati Bengals

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATLANTA - OCTOBER 24: Terrell Owens #81 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates his touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons with Andrew Whitworth #77 at Georgia Dome on October 24, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Miami is 3-0 on the road and Cincinnati has lost three in a row. Both teams are third in divisions where the two teams above them seem to be running away from them.

The winner of this game gets a leg-up on a Wild Card spot. Cincinnati’s offense has to take off sometime, doesn’t it? I’ll take the Bengals at home. Besides, how can you root against a team that wears black and orange on Halloween?

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Dallas Cowboys

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 25: Quarterback Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys wears a sling on the sidelines after a left shoulder injury against the New York Giants at Cowboys Stadium on October 25, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Gett

My wife thought I was crazy when I told her I had the Cowboys going 8-8 this season. In my defense, they have Wade Phillips, and Jason Garrett only seems to be a talented play-caller in odd years. They also have one of the toughest schedules.

Now, with Romo gone and that secondary playing horribly (add butter and a glass of orange juice to Mike Jenkins and you have breakfast), I can’t see them being any better than 5-11, and that may be a stretch. However, to steal a Bermanism, they circle the wagons and get a win. I’ll take the Cowboys.

Washington Redskins @ Detroit Lions

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 17: Shaun Hill #14 of the Detroit Lions rushes against the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium on October 17, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Talk about a wacky season so far. The Lions are 1-5 and have a point differential of plus-six. Has that ever happened before? That tells me that they haven’t been blown out and usually have a chance to win at the end.

Washington, on the other hand, is 4-3 with a point differential of minus-three. I told you this was a crazy season (and it’s not even half over). The Lions are due for a home win (DeAngelo Hall doesn’t get any picks, because Stafford doesn't throw his way unlike Jay Cutler). I’ll take the Lions.

Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs

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KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 24: Quarterback Matt Cassel #7 of the Kansas City Chiefs passes during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 24, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Okay, so I was almost catastrophically wrong about the Bills last week, but I blame that on the Ravens.

Kansas City has a weak schedule and seems to be taking advantage of it. The Chiefs are also at home.

If Ryan Fitzpatrick plays well again this week and keeps his team in it, I will pick the Bills next week at home against Chicago. But not this week. I’ll take the Chiefs.

Carolina Panthers @ St. Louis Rams

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TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 24: Quarterback Sam Bradford #8 of the St. Louis Rams looks for an open receiver against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 24, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

Every time I say someone’s seat is getting hotter (Tom Coughlin, Eric Mangini) they pull the proverbial rabbit (or four like Tom Coughlin) out of the hat and cool the seat off.

So this week there will be no mention of how hot the seat is under John Fox. I’m not even going to comment on how red his backside is right now. I’m just not going to do it. Nor am I going to say it will be even hotter after this week (and you can’t make me). But I will take the Rams.

Green Bay Packers @ New York Jets

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DENVER - OCTOBER 17: Running back LaDainian Tomlinson #21 of the New York Jets celebrates his touchdown against the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on October 17, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Before the season began, this was one of those games you circled on the schedule. Two teams with Super Bowl potential meeting in the middle of the season. Now, it’s just another game where the AFC will take the NFC’s lunch money and send them back to their conference with their tail between their legs.

I still think we should lobby the commissioner for two AFC teams in the Super Bowl. This game only strengthens that argument. I’ll take the Jets.

Denver Broncos @ San Francisco 49ers

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HERTFORD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: Troy Smith (L) and David Carr of San Francisco 49ers in a training session at The Grove Hotel on October 27, 2010 in Hertford, England. The San Francisco 49ers will meet the Denver Broncos in the NFL International Series r

I don’t care who the Broncos are playing against, because after letting the Raiders hang 59 on them, they are automatically underdogs.

The only way to retain any dignity is to make the playoffs, and that’s just not going to happen. Denver is playing like a junior varsity team in a varsity conference. I hereby banish you to the NFC! Oh, and I’ll take the Niners.

Tennessee Titans @ San Diego Chargers

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NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 24: Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans runs with the while defended by Asante Samuel #22 of the Philadelphia Eagles at LP Field on October 24, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans won 37-19. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty

Can anyone figure out the Chargers? Here is another example of this crazy season; the Chargers are 2-5 with a point differential of +28.  I’ll say it again, 2-5, point differential of +28. I can’t believe it either.

On the other side of this one, everyone was worried about stopping Chris Johnson at the beginning of the season. Y’all better start rolling a safety over the top of Kenny Britt before he starts putting up Randy Moss-when-he-cares type numbers.

This one comes down to a special teams mistake, and we all know who will be responsible for that. I’ll take the Titans.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Arizona Cardinals

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE - OCTOBER 24: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals looks on during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on October 24, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Regardless of who plays revolving-door-quarterback this week for Arizona, they are at home and still have Larry Fitzgerald.

Tampa Bay, on the other hand, is the antithesis of San Diego. Tampa Bay is 4-2 with a point differential of -30 (surely somewhere they won a game by forfeit and we just didn’t see it). I hate to keep beating a dead horse (point differentials), but this is nuts.

Anyway, the Cardinals are at home, so I’m taking them.

Minnesota Vikings @ New England Patriots

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 24: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England throws the ball against the San Diego Chargers during their NFL game on October 24, 2010 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

People will think I’m crazy for saying this, but I would like to see Tarvaris Jackson in this one. I know Brett Favre has the streak and all, but Minnesota desperately needs a win. New England hasn’t had the Tarvaris Jackson experience yet, and that benefits Minnesota.

However, Minnesota will still have to find a way to stop Tom Brady and the Patriots. A loss this week puts the final nail in the coffin (how fitting that it happens on Halloween) for the Vikings’ season. Consider them worm food. I’ll take the Patriots.

Seattle Seahawks @ Oakland Raiders

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE - OCTOBER 24: Wide receiver Mike Williams #17 of the Seattle Seahawks rushes against Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie #29 of the Arizona Cardinals at Qwest Field on October 24, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

I’m not sure what’s going on with Seattle this year, but they just might pull this NFC West thing off (however, given the NFC’s lowly jayvee status this season, this isn’t much of an accomplishment).

Luckily for the Seahawks, they get one of the few AFC jayvee teams this week. I’ll take the Seahawks on the road.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ New Orleans Saints

Marc Serota/Getty Images

MIAMI - OCTOBER 24: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 passes against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on October 24, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

I’m going to lobby the commissioner for yet another new rule: any defending Super Bowl champion who loses to the Cleveland Browns AT HOME shall be suspended for an entire week. That’s right, you do not get to play the next week so, therefore, you forfeit.

To me, this is just as large an offense as sending pictures of your junk to a female in your organization. It’s despicable and unprofessional. Oh, and in case you haven’t guessed, I’m taking the Steelers.

Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts

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LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 17: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts throws a pass against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on October 17, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

This one should be fun. I don’t care who is lining up at wide receiver for the Colts, you don’t bet against Peyton Manning in prime time. Actually, you shouldn’t bet against him at all.

Besides, Indy can’t afford to be behind the Texans by one game with two losses to them to boot.

Manning pulls some guy out of the stands, hits him with two touchdown passes and the Colts win (it is Halloween after all). I’ll take the Colts. 

Note to all drivers: Keep on the lookout for our little ghosts and goblins this weekend. May everyone return home safely.

Happy Halloween!