NFL Week 8 Picks: Which QBs Will Guarantee Their Teams Victory?

Depending on whether their team wins or loses in a given week, quarterbacks seem to get all of the credit or all of the blame, regardless of what type of contribution they actually made to the contest. However, there are two quarterbacks who will this week be the deciding factor in their respective teams' wins.

The New Orleans Saints take on the winless St. Louis Rams this Sunday, and it will be quarterback Drew Brees' arm that gives the team the early lead. The Rams aren't adept at playing from behind, and the Saints passing game is the easiest and quickest way that they can get on the board.

Brees is the No. 2 quarterback in the NFL, with 212 completions for 2,477 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. It's evident that their 5-2 record can be primarily attributable to Brees' contributions on offense, and that's what's going to define their game this week against St. Louis.

One of the biggest surprises of the season is the impressive performance of Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton.

Newton has 152 completions for 2,103 yards, eight touchdowns and an additional 266 yards and seven touchdowns from 57 rushes.

Newton has certainly solidified himself as one of the league's best quarterbacks, despite the fact he's just seven games into his professional career. He's the main reason why the Panthers have remained competitive in close games, although they've won just twice this season.

The team as a whole is rallying around Newton, resulting in their second win of the year in Week 7 over the Washington Redskins. They get another chance to improve their season this week, when they host the 1-6 Minnesota Vikings.

The Vikings haven't lived up to expectations thus far this season, with veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb being benched in favor of rookie Christian Ponder. What's more, they've had trouble against the run and the pass, which makes Newton's versatility a significant threat in this game.

There's no way that the Panthers are a competitive team without Newton leading their offense. This week, it will be Newton's skills that advance them to their third win of the season.