NFL Week 8! Mike Firesmith's Picks!

The Bears were down and out early in the year and they still don't look like last year's Super Bowl contenders. The Lions  looked good early in the season but have waned. Lovie Smith isn't going to let this season go without a fight, and every game is going to be just that. If Farve keeps winning the NFC Norse is locked down. If either of these teams wants to survive, this game is a must win. The loser digs a hole, and the Bears dig one deeper.

Bears win.

Dear god please don't. Vinnie Testaverde is a billion years old, color blind, and plays poorly in big games. The Colts are a more complete team than the Panthers were when they played in the Super Bowl. Carolina needs this one a lot worse than the Colts do, but they are not in the same league.

Colts win.

The 4-2 Steelers go to play the 2-4 Bengals and on paper it's not much of a match. But there is bad blood between these two, and the Bengals are the  AFC North Cellar Dwellers and the Steelers are the top dogs. Look for the Bengals to come out screaming. I still think the Steel will prevail, but it's going to be closer then it looks.

Steelers Win

The 2-4 Eagles travel to Minnesota where the 2-4 Vikings await to see if the Packers win the division outright or fizzle out to a wild card spot. The Eagles are watching Dallas walk away with everything and the Giants trailing them. Both teams are, mathematically, still in the hunt, but I'm mathematically still in the hunt for the lottery tonight. I'll take the Eagles just because they have a better QB.

Eagles Win.

The only interesting thing about the 3-3 Browns playing the 0-7 Rams is if this might be the week that the Rams win one. Why the hell not? No one can lose them all.

Rams Win.

The 4-2 Titans are being visited by the 2-4 Raiders. As beat up as the Titans are, they're still better than the Raiders.

Titans win.

The 5-2 Giants cannot afford to go to sleep in this game. Yes, Miami is 0-7 but as I just pointed out, no one loses them all. Miami got a public and humiliating spanking last week and this week they might be looking for some measure of redemption.  I hope the Giants are too good for this.

Giants win.

It's hard to believe that the Tampa Bay Bucs are 5-3. They just keep hanging in there. The Jacksonville Jaguars, 5-2, can't seem to find a groove. The Bucs still don't have a running game, however, and this week the hard hitting Jags will leave an impression.

Jaguars win.

Houston (4-3) began the season strong but they have not been the same since losing to the Hapless Atlanta Foul Cons. The Chargers have not looked like the Chargers yet. Worse yet, for the Chargers, is they're playing at home. Their stadium was a shelter for homeless wildfire victims until today. Will the smell of smoke, and possibly scandal from the people being displaced distract? Actually, I think it will.

Texans win.

The 2-4 Bills play the 1-6 Jets. The Bills are a less worse team.

Bills win.

The 2-4 Saints play the 2-4 49-ers. The Saints are a less worse team.

Saints win.

The surprising 4-2 Redskins take on the almost unstoppable Patriots. The Redskins will not surprise, the Pats will not be stopped.

Pats win.

Green Bay, at 5-1, has played well up to the point they got beat, and even then it was close. But they are playing more on raw intensity supplied by Favre than with talent. This is a team that has to find a way to play football without a dinosaur doing all the work. The Broncos, ont eh other hand, smashed the Steelers last weekend in a game most thought would lose ( I picked them to win, thank you). They are always tough at home, and they are always loud. Can Farve beat the Broncos? Yeah, I think so, on a Monday night, yea.

Packers win.

Last week I went 10-3. Shocking yes, but even a blind hog can find one acorn. I'm 63-40 for the year.