Week 8 Picks

Thursday Night
Tampa Bay @ (-6.5) Minnesota
Joe: TB. Don't expect Tampa to win but has to be another weird, close Thursday night game, right? What controversial thing will Schiano do this week? I'm going with tear-away uniforms
Mike: MIN. I think in the future, to appeal to the women and gay viewers, the NFL will have Body Paint week. Fortunately, this will also include the cheerleaders.
Final: Tampa Bay by 19. This seems highly dangerous so I'd have to say Goodell will approve it. Also, what about the gay women viewers? Maybe a flannel night?? (J)

Sunday
San Diego @ (+2.5) Cleveland
Joe: SD. A little reverse psychology on the Browns since I know they read this.
Mike: CLE. Of course they read this. That explains the 3rd and 4th page views we get each week.
Final: Cleveland by 1. Turns out I'm psychotic or something. (M)

Carolina @ (-7.5) Chicago
Joe: CHI. The Bears D might outscore the Panthers O.
Mike: CHI. Cam Newton will be doing the Charlie Brown headhang.
Final: Chicago by 1. Even when the Panthers play their best, they still lose. (xx)

Seattle @ (-2.5) Detroit
Joe: DET. For the sake of my fantasy life, please let this be the week Stafford actually throws a TD or 2. He's on pace for 13 this year. Great 1st round pick. He threw over 40 last year. Needless to say, (which why say it) I suck at fantasy.
Mike: DET. Don't blame yourself. This might actually be a good time to trade for Lions players.
Final: Detroit by 4. It took until 20 seconds were left but the Lions pulled out a win and Stafford finally had a good game. (JM)

Jacksonville @ (-13.5) Green Bay
Joe: GB. This might be another 6 TD game for Rodgers.
Mike: GB. True dat.
Final: Green Bay by 9. Packers spent too much time toying around and not enough time covering the spread. (xx)

Indianapolis @ (-3.5) Tennessee
Joe: TEN. Rookie QBs on the road scare me.
Mike: IND. Titan quarterback scare me. And vegetables.
Final: Indianapolis by 6. By the way, Andrew Luck is good. And really lucky that last throwback play in OT wasn't picked off. Am I the only one who noticed this before the great run by Ballard?? (M)

New England @ (+6.5) St. Louis (IN LONDON)
Joe: NE. While English football is all about feet (so is their food apparently), the Pats show those Brits how fun it can be to play a game using arms and hands.
Mike: STL. Remember when Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson in Japan and the audience was all confused because they were expecting Godzirra? Same thing here. 
Final: New England by 38. Is this dance anti-English? (J)

Miami @ (-2.5) New York Jets
Joe: MIA. I had the Jets picked all week but then I remembered I can't stand them and that takes precedence over making the correct choice.
Mike: NYJ. Sounds like your rationale in a lot of life choices. Hahahahahaha.
Final: Miami by 21. Don't question my choices. (J)

Atlanta @ (-2.5) Philadelphia
Joe: PHI. Atlanta barely beat Oakland and Carolina at home, they won't be so lucky in Philly.
Mike: ATL. It'll be rainy, cold and windy -- just like home for the Falcons.
Final: Atlanta by 13. I still don't trust the Falcons. (M)

Washington @ (-5.5) Pittsburgh
Joe: WAS. Shootout in Pittsburgh??
Mike: PIT. Redskins should rename themselves the Bullets. That would end the controversy.
Final: Pittsburgh by 15. Big Ben in stripes, unfortunately not inmate stripes. (M)

Oakland @ (-1.5) Kansas City
Joe: OAK. This is not where Brady Quinn's legend begins.
Mike: OAK. Oh, his legend is well established.
Final: Oakland by 10. The legend lasted half a quarter. (JM)

New York Giants @ (+1.5) Dallas
Joe: NYG. You know they have stripper poles in the stadium and the players run out of a bar on to the field?? That can't be good.
Mike: NYG.  I did not know that.
Final: NYG by 5. Dallas wins if Dez isn't wearing goalie gloves. Geez, how big are those things?? You know what they say about guys with big hand though.....they have huge gloves. (JM)

New Orleans @ (-6.5) Denver
Joe: NO. Back-door cover Brees. Sounds like a video I saw in a shop one time.
Mike: DEN. The Saints are over and out.
Final: Denver by 20. Manning MVP?? (M)

Monday
San Francisco @ (+6.5) Arizona
Joe: ARI. Seems like a one possession FG type game. Alex Smith keeps the home team close enough to cover.
Mike: SF. Nah, this will not be close. All the retirees in attendance will be home by halftime.
Final: San Francisco by 21. Alex Smith > John Skelton. (M)

Joe: 6-8
Mike: 9-5