Week 8 Previews:

As the season clock approaches High Noon, there remains no great consensus as to the teams that appear destined for the playoffs, other than Tennessee, the Giants and Pittsburgh. Injuries and inconsistent levels of play have pretty much been the story lines for the majority of the teams so far. Unless you have a dog in the fight, the only game that appears to be worthwhile watching is Giants-Steelers.

At Ravens -6.5 Oakland 36

Hopefully the Ravens won’t have a “bounty” out for any member of the visitors this week, but such drastic measures may really not be required. True, the Raiders played well in their overtime win at home last week and there’s not much confidence that the Ravens’ offensive explosion last week was indicative of a trend. Coach Cable had the Raiders in good form last week, and the team did play well the last time they traveled East a few weeks ago. The key to the game will be Oakland’s ability to run against the League’s toughest run D. It just may be too tall an order.

Projected Final Score: Ravens 20, Oakland 13


San Diego -2.5 New Orleans 46
(At London)

Let’s hope the Wembley pitch is in better shape this year than last, when the combatants slogged it out in ankle deep muck. If there’s one game that ought to be “off the board” in a season, it should be the NFL’s annual London sojourn. The travel and logistics involved simply throws any statistical analysis out the window. Both teams are coming off tough road losses and are looking at this game with about as much anticipation as root canal work. Both teams have failed to live up to expectations so far and the sun is nearing high noon. Each team has played like worldbeaters and bums at certain points of the season. The Saints will be without Reggie Bush for 2-4 weeks with minor knee surgery, so that puts a crimp in their offensive (and special teams) attack. According to the BBC, the weather for the game will be fine, and there’s enough firepower to go around so look for an aerial shootout.

Projected Final Score: San Diego 27, New Orleans 24

At NY Jets -12.5 Kansas City 38.5

The Chiefs come to the Meadowlands without their starting and backup quarterbacks (IR) and “star” runner (suspended for behaving like a cretin). It really doesn’t put them in a particularly good spot against a team that’s looking to work their way into respectability. The Jets had the opportunity to drop a lesser team last week and let it slip through their fingers. The schedule maker has bent over backwards to give the Jets a flying start, and one of these weeks they have to repay the debt.

Projected Final Score: NY Jets 27, Kansas City 13

Buffalo -1.5 At Miami 42.5

These are the times when the South Florida heat and humidity cause opponents from colder climes to wilt in the fourth quarter, no matter how powerful. The Bills had a big home win last Sunday while Miami had a real tough time with the Ravens (who decoded the “Wildcat” without much trouble). The Bills are in the driver’s seat in the AFC East but their lead is precarious. They’ll TCB in three quarters and survive the fourth.

Projected Final Score: Buffalo 23, Miami 20

At Dallas -3.5 Tampa Bay 40.5

Is this the week when the Cowboys summon the fortitude necessary to compete and win as a team? Brad Johnson has enough weapons at his disposal to win, though no one would apply the “dynamic” label to his skill as a quarterback. The Bucs may not possess the same level of talent, but right now they’re playing better team football than Dallas. There’s nothing more dangerous than a wounded animal who’s cornered, and that’s where the Cowboys are. If they lose Sunday, they’ll be playing out the string.

Projected Final Score: Dallas 24, Tampa Bay 20

At Philadelphia -8.5 Atlanta 46

Both teams coming off byes, the 3-3 Eagles host the surprising Falcons, looking to get back into the NFC East hunt. Both offenses are statistically equal, but McNabb ought to have easy pickin’s against Atlanta’s 26th-rated pass defense and Michael Westbrook appears to be over his rib injury. So far, Matt Ryan has been successful but far more effective at home than on the road. But his homecoming may not be worth remembering. Michael Turner needs to have a big day carrying the ball for Atlanta if they hope to keep the chains moving.

Projected Final Score: Philadelphia 27, Atlanta 16

At New England -6.5 St. Louis 43

The Patriots kicked Denver’s ass last Monday, capitalizing on five turnovers for their most lopsided win since the Brady Days. But they lost another of their stalwarts when Harrison went down for the year (and maybe for good) with a torn leg muscle and neither Jordan or Morris ius expected tp play this week. The Pats have already suffered a pair of lopsided defeats this year, so a swing in the positive definitely did wonders for the team’s confidence as they carry on without veteran leaders on both sides of the ball. The Rams are 2-0 under Jim Haslett and suddenly football is fun once more in St. Louis. The Patriots should look at this team not as a composite but a new identity, strictly after the coaching change. The Rams’ offense revolves around the health of Steven Jackson and the defense capitalized on four turnovers against Dallas. The Patriots do not have a back like Jackson at their disposal but they do have guys who can take it “up the gut” with success. If the Patriots come out and play their game, they’re a better team than St. Louis, despite their injuries.

Projected Final Score: New England 23, St. Louis 17.

At Carolina -4.5 Arizona 43.5

The Panthers are a tough nut to crack at home, as they pummeled a good Saints team last week and look to do the same to the Cardinals. Whenever the Cards travel East, they play like the pumpkins that used to be Cinderella’s magic coach. Brett Favre passed for six touchdowns the last time Arizona was in the Eastern Time Zone, and Carolina is far superior to the Jets.

Projected Final Score: Carolina 24, Arizona 21

Washington -7.5 At Detroit 43.5

After seven weeks, the Lions really need to ask themselves whether they can win a single game this year. This is one week in which they have a unique opportunity to prevail. So far, the ‘Skins have played to the level of their competition, going 2-1 in the NFC East while playing disappointingly in their last two games (1-1). The Lions have lost their last two games on the road by a combined 9 points and have remained competitive in recent weeks. If the levee is going to break for the Lions, it has to be this week.

GRATUITOUSLY FOOLISH UPSET SPECIAL OF THE WEEK:

Projected Final Score: Detroit 24, Washington 23

At Jacksonville -6.5 Cleveland 41

After posting a big home win in Week 6, the Browns quickly reverted to their losing ways in Washington last week. It’s time to admit that Anderson caught lightning in a bottle last year and to bring in Quinn off the bench to determine whether he can play in the big leagues. Any hope the Browns had for a postseason berth has passed and they may want to start playing for next year (as well as ridding the facility of that virulent staph infection that has plagued several members of the team). It’s a different story for the Jags, as they’ve played well all year and will be in the fight come tournament time. They smoked Denver on the road in Week 6 and are refreshed and ready to crush Cleveland this week.

Projected Final Score: Jacksonville 24, Cleveland 13

At Pittsburgh -2.5 NY Giants 42.5

This is Sunday’s “must see” game, hands down. The G-Men roll into Pittsburgh to face a Steelers team looking to prove they can compete with the NFL’s best. No matter how well a team executes, Pittsburgh is a hostile environment for opposing teams to succeed. Big Ben will play tough and will set the tone by any means necessary, but his offensive line does not exactly resemble the famed “Seven Blocks of Granite”. Coach Coughlin needs to determine quickly if Brandon Jacobs can overpower Pittsburgh’s run defense. The Giants’ defense has done well this year despite the loss of several starters from 2007, but demanding such a high level of play in Pittsburgh may be asking too much.

Projected Final Score: Pittsburgh 23, NY Giants 20

At San Francisco -4.5 Seattle 42

What’s the ancient question about a tree falling in the woods with nobody listening? The great minds of philosophy must’ve had this game in mind.By the looks of things, Holmgren must really be regretting not walking away after last year, because this year has been an unmitigated disaster. Injuries have ripped through Seattle like a tornado and they may need to pull in some of the “12th Man” from the stands before the season is said and done. Without Hasselbeck, the offense is toast. He’s a “definite maybe” for Sunday. Mike Singletary makes his debut as a head coach for San Francisco. As a leader on the football field, his abilities were second to none. Whether he can make the transition to a successful head coach remains to be seen. Of the NFL’s 32 head coaches, 10 were former players, none of whom were in Singletary’s class. The last HOF player who had success as a coach was Ditka, so it would seem as if it’s not an easy jump, but look for the intensity level to be sky high for the ‘Niners.

Projected Final Score: San Francisco 20, Seattle 13

At Houston -9.5 Cincinnati 44

How bad are the Bungles?? So bad that theyt're 9 1/2 'dogs to a 2-4 team. Palmer is probably out for the season so now it's up to a True Son of Harvard to step in and lead the team to glory. Fitzpatrick may be a decent backup but neither he nor his teammates are going very far this year. Los Tejanos are in pretty good shape for this one and will not blow a chance to make it back to the ranks of the respectable.

Projected Final Score: Houston 27, Cincinnati 16