Week 8 Picks

Due to technical difficulties beyond our control, Gabe missed out on Week 7 last week. It was a shame, too, as The Big Caprese posted his best week so far this season. In the interest of fairness, we'll let Week 7 go as a bye and my big week last week will not be added to the overall score.

Anyway, Captain Adobo vs. Young Tony Soprano.....Round 8.....let's get to it.

Last Week: (Dave: 9-5, Gabe: n/a)

Season: (Dave: 37-46-3, Gabe: 41-42-3)

Broncos (+1) at Niners (from London)

Dave: Broncos - Tough call. In one corner, you have a team that just got absolutely housed by Oakland, allowing the Raiders to drop a point shy of a 60-burger. In the other corner, there's San Fran, who got beat by previously winless Carolina and had to eek out its only win the week before against the Raiders. The Niners have been the season's biggest disappointment and I think Denver's better than the team that got taken to the shed last week. Broncos by 6 in another ugly one across the pond.

Gabe: Broncos - When in doubt this year, take the AFC over the NFC. I think both of these teams aren't good. Like Dave says, this game will be ugly. Broncos win.

Jags (+6.5) at Cowboys

Dave: Cowboys - The nail was put in the coffin for both the Cowboys and my keeper league big money team when Tony Romo's clavicle snapped like a twig at the hands of Marc Anthony Jr's Giants. The Jags have the league's worst defense and, while I think we'll see Stephen McGee(the new backup, from Texas A & M) at some point this season, Jon Kitna is serviceable enough to whoop on Jacksonville at home. Cowboys are in desperation mode as they get ready to do the world a favor and get Jon Gruden out of the booth and onto the sidelines. Cowboys by 13.

Gabe: Cowboys - Here's the deal...if the Cowboys can't get up and win this game, at home, after being pounded by my Giants, against a terrible Jags team, then they need pull a Gabe Week 7 and not show up for the rest of the year. The Cowboys will win easily, and give their fans more meaningless hope and fill them with even more meaningless bluster. Boys by 13.

Redskins (+2.5) at Lions

Dave: Redskins - Matt Stafford's back and just in time to get his bell rung by the The Orak Attack(Brian Orakpo). The Lions' calling card this week is finding ways to lose and Stafford's going to need a half to shake the rust off before he starts launching bombs to "Megatron". Redskins are always due for a letdown, as we saw with the loss to St. Louis, but I like them to pull off the W here. Redskins by 6.

Gabe: Lions - As I said when the Skins played the Rams, this exactly the kind of game the Redskins always lose. Matthew Stafford will not employ the Jay Cutler chuck and duck that made DeAngelo Hall look like a superstar last week. I think the Skins do have a letdown and the Lions win by a touchdown.

Packers (+6) at Jets

Dave: Jets - This one was a bit difficult, too. The Jets are going to win this game, but can they beat a Packers team, that has lost all three of its games by a combined nine points, by more than a field goal? New York gets Revis Island back and healthy and that takes away the one thing Green Bay does well, which is pass. I see L.T. and Shonn Greene go for 100 a piece, Rex Ryan going for a goddamn snack at halftime, and Mike McCarthy feeling the temperature under his caboose heat up after this one's over. Jets by 10.

Gabe: Jets - The Packers always seem to play in close games. They never seem to have a runaway, either direction. The problem is they are playing the Jets who have a great defense and an efficient offense. They thrive on the close game. Jets by a touchdown.

Panthers (+3) at Rams

Dave: Rams - Much like Matt Ryan did a couple years ago, Sam Bradford has made me put my foot in my mouth after doubting him in April. He's putting up numbers with wideouts pulled straight off of XFL rosters and Steven Jackson, while beat up, is still a force. On defense, Gabe's former mancrush Coach Spags has finally brought a pass rush to Nellyville. James Hall has been getting to the quarterback, as has former Wahoo Chris Long. None of this bodes well for Matt Moore and the Panthers, who are riding high after notching their first W but may be in over their heads against a surprisingly decent Rams squad. Rams by 6.

Gabe: Rams - Are the Rams for real? Maybe so. They play good defense, especially rushing the passer, so whoever is under center for the Panthers is going to have a long day. I think the Panthers will be frustrated on offense and Steve Smith starts punching people by halftime. Rams by 7.

Dolphins (+2) at Bengals

Dave: Dolphins - I know they're at home, but how can you favor the Bengals against any halfway decent team with how up-and-down they've been all year? Carson Palmer has regressed into USC sophomore Carson Palmer, Cedric Benson is back to 2008 Cedric Benson, Ochocinco has disappeared and this Bengals D? Yikes. Who would have thought T.O. would be Cincy's lone bright spot? As for Miami, Brandon Marshall's presence has made Davonne Bess a household name and, against a Bengals D with no pass rush, Chad Henne should be able to spread it around. Phins by 7.

Gabe: Dolphins - Carson Palmer only plays well when his team is down four touchdowns and the opposing defense goes into base defense. That's when the blinders come off and all of sudden and can see the T.Ocho show on the field. (An aside; the T.Ocho show is real, it's on Versus.) So, either this game is not a runaway and Palmer plays like shit, or it is a runaway and the Bengals are losing but playing inspired football. Either way, they lose.

Bills (+7.5) at Chiefs

Dave: Bills - It's crazy. First time I pick against my wife's Chiefs this season and it's against....Buffalo....AT Arrowhead? I know. I'm asking for trouble. Still, Buffalo may have found something in Ryan Fitzpatrick, who slung it pretty well against a much tougher Ravens D last week. I see the Chiefs winning this one, but I can see Buffalo hanging with KC enough to lose by less than a touchdown. Chiefs by 6.

Gabe: Chiefs - I think the Bills offensive emergence will be short lived. If there is one thing KC can do it's stop the pass. The Bills may have snuck up on the Ravens, but they won't do that to the Chiefs. Professor Fitzpatrick and rest of the Bills' O comes back down to earth and the Chiefs win by 10.

Titans (+3) at Chargers

Dave: Titans - I don't care if it's Vince Young, Kerry Collins, Neil O'Donnell, Billy Volek, Chris Chandler or even Steve McNair's corpse at QB for Tennessee, I have no faith in the Chargers pulling out the W. Yes, this is around the time San Diego flips the switch and rights the ship, but do they have the talent to that this time around? Ryan Mathews has been a bust, Vincent Jackson's still out, Malcolm Floyd and Antonio Gates are banged up and, oh-by-the-way (Gruden voice) Tennessee's pretty good. Chris Johnson runs all over this toothless Chargers D and scores on the ground and through the air and the Kenny Britt touchdown streak continues one more week. Titans by 14.

Gabe: Titans - Not much disparity in my and Little Silvio Dante's picks this week. I agree, the Chargers are toothless and the Titans run all over them. Titans by 10.

Bucs (+3) at Cardinals

Dave: Bucs - Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris must have been at AT&T Park and got some free doobies after the Giants game(Google it!) when he said Tampa Bay was the best team in the NFC, but the Bucs are better than people give them credit for. Josh Freeman, as Bill Simmons is fond of saying, just wins football games. Cadillac Williams, while so washed up his fingers should wrinkle, still has some juice left(if not, LaGarrette Blount may be able to punch in a score or two.......see what I did there?......cricket...cricket.....moving on). Meanwhile, "The Scorin' Mormon" Max Hall gets Steve Breaston back but it won't be enough just yet. Freeman will make plays with his arm and legs and Tampa wins a close one but, sorry Raheem, you still aren't the team to beat in the NFC. Bucs by 3.

Gabe: Bucs - The Cardinals are terrible. The Bucs use this silly "keep the game close and then let Josh run the two minute drill" game plan, but that shit works. Bucs get the outright win in this week's installment of "Game Gabe wouldn't watch if they were played in his backyard."

Seahawks (+2.5) at Raiders

Dave: Seahawks - After scoring 59 points on division rival Denver, the Raiders may have shot their load for the next couple weeks. Lest we forget, this Oakland squad has had its issues scoring in weeks past. Seattle has a sneaky good defense, and Darren McFadden, while finally breaking away from bust status finally, will find it much more difficult to break loose against the 'Hawks. I see Jason Campbell throwing a couple picks and Seattle pulling out another ugly W.

Gabe: Raiders - Speaking of games I wouldn't watch if they were played in my backyard....I don't know how this game will shake out. The Raiders are so dysfunctional and unpredictable. Apparently Gradkowski is healthy enough to be a back-up, but not start over Campbell? It must mean he lost his leg in practice and they are hoping the prosthetic makes it to Oakland before game time, because a one-legged Gradkowski is better than a full strength Campbell. That said, I'm still not getting off of my Seattle suck bandwagon. Oakland by a touchdown.

Vikings (+5) at Patriots

Dave: Patriots - Even Marlee Matlin is tired of hearing about Brett Favre and his bum ankle and the typical "Will he or won't he play?" drama. Look, Favre's playing because Chilly knows he does more long term damage by benching Favre against his will(because he'll sulk all season or just flat out retire) than throwing him out there against New England and have him get hurt worse. Childress owes his extension to Favre. He begged Favre to come back. He can't turn his back on him now that the chips are down. Should he? Absolutely, but he won't. Like every other coach Favre has had, he will cowtow to "The Riverboat Gambler". The Favre drama has overshadowed two big stories here. One, Randy Moss returns to Beantown for the first time after being dealt almost a month ago. Second, this vaunted Vikings pass rush has apparently ducked into the hole the Chilean miners were pulled out of. "The Rhinestone Cowboy" Jared Allen? One sack. You know how you beat Bieber Brady and the Pats? You smack him in the mouth. Minnesota hasn't proven they can do that. Pats stick it to Moss, win by 10.

Gabe: Patriots - The Pats and their luck. As Bill Simmons said earlier this week, is there not a better week to be playing the Vikings? Brett Favre will probably start on one good ankle, the Minny pass rush has disappeared, Brad Childress is trying to assert control but no one's listening. This just feels like a Pats runaway. New England by 14

Steelers (PK) at Saints

Dave: Steelers - Best Sunday night game so far. Steelers are the best team in the NFL and, while the loss of DE Aaron Smith hurts them big time, this Pittsburgh D is still formidable enough to stuff the Madden-cursed Saints. Saints will struggle to stop Rashard Mendenhall. Big Ben's rust still needs to be shaken off and that will make this game closer than it should be but I like Troy Polamalu to pick off a couple Brees passes and the Steelers win this one by a field goal.

Gabe: Steelers - The Saints have learned they can't just roll the ball out and win anymore. The Steelers play mean defense. The Saints have no running game and no more magic. Pittsburgh is going to smack the Saints in the mouth and win.

Texans (+5.5) at Colts

Dave: Colts - I've said this many times on this very website.....YOU DO NOT PICK AGAINST PEYTON MANNING AT NIGHT! Yes, Dallas Clark is out. So is Austin Collie. So is Joesph Addai. Yes, Houston waxed Indy in Week 1. I know that. You know that. Most importantly, Peyton knows that. Another factor that doesn't get talked about enough: Peyton's little brother Eli is starting to get MVP buzz. You think Peyton isn't going to want to both stick it to a division rival that upset them in the opener as well as show up his emerging younger brother? I see a Manning putting on a show on a Monday night for the second straight week. Colts shut down Arian Foster and Indy wins by a touchdown in a shootout.

Gabe: Colts - This is simple...no way the Texans sweep the Colts. Not this year, not next year, not any year in which Peyton Manning is still wearing the blue and white no. 18. And this game is on Monday Night. Nuff said. Colts by 1o.