NFL Week 8 Picks: Which Teams Will Be This Week's Biggest Surprises?

A surprise win doesn't necessarily mean an upset win. Even if a team is on the rise, we sometimes expect them to fall sooner or later.

Either that, or a team—who's normally inconsistent—manages to play with a little more consistency than usual and steals a win.

In any event, here are three surprise wins in Week 8, that are not necessarily upsets.

Kansas City Chiefs (vs. San Diego)

You might be able to call this one an upset, but not so fast. The Chiefs are on a roll and San Diego is significantly underachieving (even when they win). Plus, the game will be held in Arrowhead Stadium, one of the most difficult venues for an away team in NFL history.

Here, the Chiefs establish their seventh-ranked ground game as best they can against the Bolts' 21st-ranked rush defense. It's not enough for them just to run, but thanks to QB Matt Cassel's ability to buy time with his feet, Kansas City has a slight edge.

Thanks to San Diego's lack of a second half performance in Week 7 on the road, that carries over into Week 8, where the Chiefs defense put the stake in the Chargers before the fourth quarter even begins.

Chiefs 26, Chargers 17

Cincinnati Bengals (at Seattle)

This game is a surprise because the Cincinnati Bengals are going to get another win on the road, while the Seahawks are going to fall again at home.

It's not so much that Cincy's Top-Five defense is going to blank Seattle, it's more about the Bengals' confidence to win on the road and play manageable football on offense. Even though Seattle does have a solid defense, Cincinnati's is much more effective than the Cleveland offense that the Seahawks faced last week.

RB Cedric Benson gets plenty of carries, but Seattle's 20th-ranked pass defense is no match for rookie WR A.J. Green and TE Jermaine Gresham.

Bengals 24, Seahawks 13

Carolina Panthers (vs. Minnesota)

The reason why this game is a surprise is solely based on Carolina's defensive game plan—stop RB Adrian Peterson and force rookie QB Christian Ponder to beat you.

Of course, if this doesn't turn out to be their game plan, Peterson is going to run for 300-plus yards.

Anyway, putting eight—and occasionally nine—guys in the box will be needed to stop Peterson. Minnesota's pass offense is still very weak and pass defense is Carolina's strength.

When the Panthers have the rock, Cam Newton will have a field day against one of the NFL's weakest pass defenses. What's more, there's no reason for Carolina to run the ball, because Newton will just scramble when necessary. Newton's targets are good enough to get open provided Jared Allen isn't in his face all day.

Panthers 20, Vikings 14

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