Week 8 Panel Picks
If week seven was the party, week eight is the hangover. Last week, we were spoiled with numerous barnburners, most notably between the Packers and Texans, Lions and Vikings, and Chiefs and 49ers. This week, the game of the week might be Buccaneers vs Falcons which is never a good sign.
Regardless, you should tune into your TVs this week because you never know what kind of fantastic finishes can result from two mediocre teams or what kind of upsets can come out of a game where the home team is favored by 11 points.
As for us? We’ll be tuned in too, in an attempt to put together our third straight great week. Last week, no panelist finished worse than 11-5 and although there were no changes in the standings, who is cut out for picking games and who isn’t is starting to take form.
With a jumbled up group of six panelists separated by just four games, a lot can happen this week. Here’s what needs to happen for everybody.
Primetime Games
Early Window
Late Window
Most alike picks: Seven different duos picked three games differently.
Least alike picks: Jackson and I disagreed on nine of the 16 games this week.
Most upsets picked: Jackson went out on a limb this week, picking upsets in half of the games.
Fewest upsets picked: George picked the minimum upsets required of two.
Most picks with majority: Last year’s top-two, George and Theo, were in the majority for every game.
Most picks against majority: Jackson picked with the minority four times.
What Stands Out?
49ers vs Cowboys is the historic and current headline given their battles over the years and the must-win feel surrounding this Sunday Night battle. Though the Niners are more banged up than any team in the league, their pedigree is carrying them through this game, at least according to the panel. They received six of the eight votes.
Last week seemed to filter out which teams are truly terrible because there are more spreads of seven or greater than I have ever seen. The Patriots, Titans, Browns, Saints, Panthers, and Raiders are all underdogs by at least a touchdown.
Speaking of the Saints, one thing that jumped out to me was that they have four votes. What about 0-5 in their last five games, allowing 30.2 PPG in that span, and playing a backup quarterback with a coach that the whole team wants to be fired screams victory against a solid, physical, motivated team with a good quarterback playing in their own building? Apparently, Ray, Josh, George, and Jackson have the answers to that question.
Bears vs Commanders would have perhaps been the game of the week if it weren’t for Jayden Daniels’ rib injury keeping him off the field. Despite that, six of the panel members are still rolling with Washington this week because of how good the Commies looked without Daniels last week. Either that, or they still think he’s playing.
For the first time, there was indecision in three of the games. Bengals vs Eagles, Cardinals vs Dolphins, and Saints vs Chargers all split votes which means we could have some games come down to the wire this week.
Playoff Picture
Let’s pretend our majority pick in each matchup won this weekend. Here are the projected playoff matchups on Wild Card Weekend.
AFC
(1) Kansas City Chiefs vs BYE | Kansas City was last the one seed in 2022.
(2) Houston Texans vs (7) Indianapolis Colts | Houston defeated Indianapolis 29-27 in week one.
(3) Baltimore Ravens vs (6) Denver Broncos | The Broncos have score 10.0 PPG in their last three games against the Ravens.
(4) Buffalo Bills vs (5) Pittsburgh Steelers | Buffalo beat Pittsburgh 31-17 in the Wild Card round last season.
NFC
(1) Detroit Lions vs BYE | The Lions have never finished the season as the one seed in their franchise’s history.
(2) Washington Commanders vs (7) Philadelphia Eagles | These teams will face off in week 12 and 16.
(3) Atlanta Falcons vs (6) Jordan Love | These teams are both averaging 28 PPG in their last four games.
(4) San Francisco 49ers vs (5) Minnesota Vikings | Minnesota has beaten San Francisco is two straight regular season meetings.
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