NFL picks Week 8: Chiefs-Lions and all others

Oct 19, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston (50) pressures San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) as he throws an incomplete pass in the first quarter of the game at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego Chargers at Baltimore Ravens (-3)

This game is just sad. Baltimore (1-6) was supposed to be one of the best teams in the NFL, and San Diego (2-5) was a darkhorse in the AFC West. Instead, both teams are atrocious.

Pick: Baltimore 20, San Diego 16

Minnesota Vikings (-1) at Chicago Bears

Minnesota (4-2) is taking care of business, despite being very unimpressive in most of its wins. Last week, the Vikings finally earned a road win, beating the Lions at Ford Field. Can they make it two in a row against Chicago (2-4)? Nope.

Pick: Chicago 24, Minnesota 21

Arizona Cardinals (-5) at Cleveland Browns

Arizona (5-2) is one of the best teams in the NFL, and could be in the conference championship against the Packers come January. Cleveland (2-5) is surprisingly not a terrible team, although the offense is extremely one-dimensional.

Pick: Arizona 27, Cleveland 21

Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans (NO LINE)

For the love of everything good and pure…

Pick: Houston 20, Tennessee 19, Humanity 0

New York Giants at New Orleans Saints (-3)

New York (4-3) is trying to stay in the front of the NFC East race. Meanwhile, New Orleans (3-4) shocked the masses by spanking the Colts last week. This might be the hardest game of the week to predict.

Pick: New York 23, New Orleans 20

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers (NO LINE)

Assuming Ben Roethlisberger is back for this game, we are looking at a potential epic. Can Cincinnati (6-0) finally go into Pittsburgh (4-3) and slay the dragon? Roethlisberger is going to be pumped through the roof for this contest.

Pick: Pittsburgh 24, Cincinnati 23

San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams (-9.5)

This is a huge line. St. Louis (3-3) is definitely the better team and should be favored over San Francisco (2-5), but 9.5 points? The Rams don’t have much of an offense, so this is a bit rich for my blood.

Pick: St. Louis 21, San Francisco 16

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