NFL Week 8 Predictions

I love NFL football on Halloween weekend.  Besides seeing all the interesting and creative costumes that the fans wear (like that guy dressed as Bill Cowher at the Steelers-Patriots game in '04), it also makes the dramatic upsets even more thrilling.  Anything can happen, no matter how freaky it might seem. 

And last week was pretty ghastly for me prediction-wise.  I went a pitiful 6-7, which puts me at 59-44 (57.3 %) on the season.  What sorts of thrills, chills, and horrors are we in for this Halloween?  (Hopefully nothing as horrifying as Clemson's performance against Georgia Tech on Saturday night.  GAAAH!) 

Giants over Dolphins

• I kinda feel bad for Tony Sparano.  It's hard to do your job when the folks who hired you basically told you that they had no confidence in you at all heading into the season.  Didn't the Raiders do sort of the same thing to Lane Kiffin back in '09?  On the other side, the Giants have been one of the more puzzling teams this season.  One week they're kicking butt; the next, they don't show up at all.  This week, though, it won't matter which Giants team we see this week, because the winless Miami Dolphins are in town.  

Texans over Jaguars

• Just when I thought Houston had packed it in after dropping two in a row, they went and dumped a family-sized carton of butt-whoop on the Titans.  No reason they won't do the same to the Jags, even without Andre Johnson.  

Titans over Colts

• Only one word can describe the Colts' 62-7 loss to New Orleans last week: ouch!  

Panthers over Vikings

• Battle of the Rookie QB's, Round Three: Cam Newton vs. Christian Ponder.  

Saints over Rams

• New Orleans gets a treat this Halloween by facing two winless teams back-to-back.  The Rams will need a lot of tricks to stop a high-powered Saints offense that scored 62 last week.  

Ravens over Cardinals

• Arizona's going to have a tough enough time fighting jet lag, let alone one of the league's best defenses. 

Lions over Broncos

• The scare that Matthew Stafford's injury last week gave Detroit was a week too early for Halloween.  Fortunately for them, Stafford looks like he'll be ready to go on Sunday, and the Lions should get back on track against Denver. 

Bills over Redskins
Steelers over Patriots

• Tom Brady has had his way with the Steelers these last few seasons.  This time, though, Pittsburgh will be prepared with the league's second-best pass defense.  Not saying New England's a pushover, though.  These next two weeks will show us exactly what kind of team the Steelers are (they've got a rematch with Baltimore next week).   Should be a good show. 

49ers over Browns
Bengals over Seahawks
Eagles over Cowboys
Chiefs over Chargers

• Looks like the Chiefs have finally found their groove, having won three in a row without two of their key players, RB Jamaal Charles and S Eric Berry.  The Chargers have yet to show that they can beat legitimate teams after falling to the Jets last week.  The momentum looks to be in KC's favor.  

Have a happy Halloween, and be safe trick-or-treating.  Oh, and for those of you readers in Clemson, especially those of y'all looking for a safe place for your kids to trick-or-treat, come to the Trunk-or-Treat at St. Andrew's Catholic Church this Sunday evening from 4 to 8.  I'll be there dressed as Troy Polamalu (my girlfriend's idea!), so stop by and say hi. 

Stay frosty, y'all!  And GO STEELERS!

B-)