Sorry, y’all, my first week missing posting the picks last week with a busy week getting ready for a cross-country trip to throw myself in the middle of football and baseball madness in the beautiful Pacific Northwest while downing Scuttlebutt’s Big Dumper beer.
Week seven was experienced on the west coast and with the international game kicking off at 6:30am local time, it made for an interesting day of watching football. As usual, the NFL delivered an amazing package of games last week highlighted by
Thursday Night Football gave us the ”Icy Hot Bowl” with elite quarterback Joe Flacco outdueling Aaron Rodgers with Cincinnati clawing their way back into the AFC North race with a 33-31 win over the Steelers.
Matthew Stafford continued the strong week for quarterbacks of a certain age with a five touchdown performance across the Atlantic Ocean as the Rams blew out the Jags 35-7.
Two weeks after trailing 17-3 heading to the fourth quarter against the Eagles, the Denver Broncos rallied against another NFC East team as they trailed 19-0 headed to the fourth quarter and 26-8 before an amazing rally and 33-32 win.
The Jets put up another anemic offensive attack losing 13-6 with quarterback Justin Fields benched and Panther’s quarterback Bryce Young leaving with a high ankle sprain.
On Sunday Night Football, the 49ers continued stacking W’s with Christian McCafferty leading the way along with a strong defensive performance as Atlanta struggled on offense again.
And ending the week on Monday Night Football with a double-header as the Lions’ defense shut down the Tampa Bay offense and the Seahawks tried to soothe the raw emotions of a grieving Seattle after the Mariners were eliminated in game 7 of the ALCS with a 27-19 win over the Texans.
This week’s games will try to match or top week seven’s entertainment. It all kicks off Thursday Night on Amazon with two preseason favorites desperate for a win with the 3-3 Vikings visiting the 4-3 Chargers. The Vikings are trying to tread water with Carson Wentz filling in for J.J. McCarthy and the Chargers fighting off injuries trying to keep up with the Broncos and energized Chiefs.
All four AFC East teams play (not each other) in the early Sunday window, facing off against AFC and NFC South squads. San Francisco plays Houston and the Giants and Eagles are in the early window as well, plus the Bears in a suddenly winnable game against the Lamar Jackson-less Ravens.
There are only three games in the 4:05/4:25PM Eastern time block with Tampa Bay and New Orleans in an NFC South grudge match. Tennessee visits Indy and Dallas visits Denver. Sunday Night Football on NBC features the return of Aaron Rodgers to Green Bay. It wraps up Monday night with the reeling Commanders traveling to Kansas City for another “Mr. Taylor Swift and Ma’homey” in prime time.
Each week during the season, I make my picks with my buddy David on his SportsKrunch with DKrom podcast as we’ve done regularly for the past five years (and pre-pandemic as well).
Fortunately for you regular listeners of the show, I was back on vacation this week (I know, I know, what a slacker!), so the great Carl Dumler more than ably fills in for me. Check out the episode as it is available here.
Please give a listen each week on your preferred podcast provider. All back episodes are available here at Apple podcasts.
Last Week: Straight up: 9-6; Against the Spread: 6-9
Season Totals: Straight up: 67-40-1; Against the Spread: 54-54
Lock of the Week: 5-2
Upset Special: 2-5
Now, on to the week eight picks!
2025 NFL Week 8 Picks
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
VIKINGS 25 @ CHARGERS 27
Spread: Chargers -3: Vikings
Moneyline: Chargers -175, Vikings +145: Chargers
(edit: I still am shocked that Minnesota didn’t show up on either side of the ball. 0-1 vs Spread and 1-0 Moneyline to start the week)
SUNDAY, OCT. 26
1PM GAMES
BILLS 30 @ PANTHERS 13
Spread: Bills -7: Bills
Moneyline: Bills -355, Panthers +280: Bills
BROWNS 14 @ PATRIOTS 17
Spread: Patriots -7: Browns
Moneyline: Patriots -375, Browns +295: Patriots
GIANTS 24 @ EAGLES 27
Spread: Eagles -7.5: Giants
Moneyline: Eagles -425, Giants +330: Eagles
BEARS 21 @ RAVENS 20 (UPSET SPECIAL)
Spread: Ravens -6.5: Bears
Moneyline: Ravens -290, Bears +235: Bears
JETS 20 @ BENGALS 27
Spread: Bengals -6.5: Bengals
Moneyline: Bengals -305, Jets +245: Bengals
DOLPHINS 9 @ FALCONS 24 (LOCK OF THE WEEK)
Spread: Falcons -7: Falcons
Moneyline: Falcons -360, Dolphins +285: Falcons
49ERS 25 @ TEXANS 24
Spread: 49ers -1.5: Texans
Moneyline: Texans -112, 49ers -108: 49ers
4:05/4:25PM GAMES
BUCCANEERS 34 @ SAINTS 19
Spread: Buccaneers -4.5: Buccaneers
Moneyline: Buccaneers -238, Saints +195: Buccaneers
COWBOYS 38 @ BRONCOS 40
Spread: Broncos -3.5: Cowboys
Moneyline: Broncos -185, Cowboys +154: Broncos
TITANS 10 @ COLTS 38
Spread: Colts -14: Colts
Moneyline: Colts -1200, Titans +750: Colts
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
PACKERS 28 @ STEELERS 24
Spread: Packers -3: Packers
Moneyline: Packers -180, Steelers +150: Packers
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
COMMANDERS 26 @ CHIEFS 40
Spread: Chiefs -10.5: Chiefs
Moneyline: Chiefs -625, Commanders +455: Chiefs
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