Week 8 predictions according to the New York Times. Contra-picks in red font.
Thursday Night’s Game
Baltimore Ravens (4-3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4), 8:15 p.m., Amazon Prime
Line: Buccaneers +2 | Total: 45.5
Pick: Buccaneers +2
Sunday’s Best Games
Arizona Cardinals (3-4) at Minnesota Vikings (5-1), 1 p.m., Fox
Line: Vikings -3.5 | Total: 49
Pick: Cardinals +3.5
Las Vegas Raiders (2-4) at New Orleans Saints (2-5), 1 p.m., CBS
Line: Saints +2 | Total: 49
Pick: Saints +2
Chicago Bears (3-4) at Dallas Cowboys (5-2), 1 p.m., Fox
Line: Cowboys -9 | Total: 42
Pick: Cowboys -9
San Francisco 49ers (3-4) at Los Angeles Rams (3-3), 4:25 p.m., Fox
Line: Rams +2 | Total: 43
Pick: Rams +2
Giants (6-1) at Seattle Seahawks (4-3), 4:25 p.m., Fox
Line: Seahawks -3 | Total: 45.5
Pick: Seahawks -3
Green Bay Packers (3-4) at Buffalo Bills (5-1), 8:20 p.m., NBC
Line: Bills -10.5 | Total: 47
Pick: Bills -10.5
Sunday’s Other Games
Denver Broncos (2-5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5), 9:30 a.m., ESPN+
Line: Jaguars -2.5 | Total: 39
Pick: Broncos +2.5
Carolina Panthers (2-5) at Atlanta Falcons (3-4), 1 p.m., Fox
Line: Falcons -4 | Total: 41
Pick: Falcons -4
Miami Dolphins (4-3) at Detroit Lions (1-5), 1 p.m., CBS
Line: Lions +3 | Line: 51.5
Pick: Dolphins -3
New England Patriots (3-4) at Jets (5-2), 1 p.m., CBS
Line: Jets +2.5 | Total: 41
Pick: Jets +2.5
Pittsburgh Steelers (2-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (6-0), 1 p.m., CBS
Line: Eagles -11 | Total: 44
Pick: Steelers +11
Tennessee Titans (4-2) at Houston Texans (1-4-1), 4:05 p.m., CBS
Line: Texans +1 | Total: 40.5
Pick: Titans -1
Washington Commanders (3-4) at Indianapolis Colts (3-3-1), 4:25 p.m., Fox
Line: Colts -3 | Total: 39.5
Pick: Commanders +3
Monday Night’s Game
Cincinnati Bengals (4-3) at Cleveland Browns (2-5), 8:15 p.m., ESPN
Line: Browns +3 | Total: 48
Pick: Bengals -3
Supporting blurbs available upon request. Tidbits:
- When Tom Brady can get the ball off and his receivers hang onto those passes he’s still very good: Football Outsiders considers them to be 31st in running the ball but a top-10 passing offense.
- It seems as though the market is waiting for the Giants to come back to Earth: They’re underdogs yet again this week, which may be fueled by the absence of a single Giants receiver with 200 receiving yards for the season.
- Buffalo, now the betting favorite to win the Super Bowl, has a way of turning even venerated quarterbacks into underdogs. Before the Bills’ Week 6 drubbing of Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes had never been a home underdog. This week, it’s the first time in Aaron Rodgers’s 18-year career that he has entered a game as a double-digit underdog.
- Unbeaten Philadelphia has won only two of its games by double digits. Pittsburgh has kept all but two of its games within six points. The Eagles should continue their winning streak, but the Steelers could cover.
- Week after week, the Commanders have attracted sharp money and so far this week the public, and the pros seem to be on the same side, taking the points with Washington.