NFL Picks Week 8: San Diego Chargers and 3 Teams on Upset Alert

Week 8 of the NFL season brings with it some serious tests for top teams.  These three teams are all in playoff contention, but they need to avoid an upset today if they want to stay in the conversation.

Cincinnati Bengals at Seattle Seahawks

The Cincinnati Bengals are without Cedric Benson today in Seattle, arguably the toughest place to play in the NFL.  The Seahawks have a good running defense, and if the Bengals can't establish the run, they are in for a long day.

The Seahawks have been without quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and running back Marshawn Lynch recently, but both players are healthy and it looks like they won't be held back by injury.

The Seahawks have a good shot at upsetting the Bengals just like they did the Giants in Week 5.

San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs

The Chargers travel to Kansas City for Monday Night Football, and they should be on upset alert.  The Chiefs looked like the worst team in football in the first three weeks, losing two games by 34 and 45, respectively, before losing to the Chargers.

Despite that, the Chiefs have gone 3-0 recently, and are ranked seventh in the league in rushing yards per game despite losing Jamaal Charles for the season.

The Chiefs look good right now, and the Chargers barely beat them when the teams met in San Diego, winning 20-17.  If the Chargers don't come out strong in this game, they are about to be toppled and kicked out of first place in the AFC West.

Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos

The Detroit Lions started 5-0, looking like one of the best teams in the NFL.  However, they have lost two straight and are traveling to Denver to take on the Broncos.

This will be Tim Tebow's second start and his first at home this season.  After playing horribly for most of the game last week, Tebow led a comeback and the Broncos won in overtime.  Now they host the Lions, who are slipping in front of an electric crowd that is expected to be the largest of the season.

The Broncos have nothing to lose, and with an excited crowd behind them they have the potential to upset the Lions if Tebow plays like he did for the last few drives of the game against Miami.