The NFL closes out the month of October this weekend (next Thursday is October 30). The Colts, Broncos, and Patriots remain the surprises of the league, all sitting in first place heading into Week 8. This weekend, the Colts and Patriots face the Titans and Browns, respectively, and should maintain their leads. The Broncos host a dangerous Cowboys squad in what should be a significant test of their AFC West lead.
Last week featured some upsets, but was more about the wild comebacks by division leaders. The Broncos scored 33 points in the fourth quarter and overcame a 19-point deficit with six minutes left in the game to shock the Giants. The Packers overcame a 13-3 deficit against the Cardinals, and won on a touchdown after the two-minute warning to close out the game.
Survivor pools took some hits in Week 7 thanks to the Bengals upsetting the Steelers, but those two comebacks prevented an ugly weekend. I did well with my picks for last weekend, noting the Broncos-Giants game as a potential trap. I didn’t see it quite going like what we saw, but coming off a London game, I figured the Broncos could be in for a letdown.
We’re back for another week of Survivor picks with some safe, value, and trap picks. The Chiefs and Colts are double digit favorites against the Commanders and Titans, respectively. The Eagles are a 7.5-point favorite against the Giants after losing in embarrassing fashion in New Jersey two weeks ago. Can they bounce back and are we confident enough to use them?
On to Week 8 picks!
Safest picks
Chiefs over Commanders
Colts over Titans
The Chiefs were an incredibly popular pick last week, and anybody who didn’t use them then will likely use them this week against a Commanders squad that won’t have Jayden Daniels. If you haven’t used the Chiefs, you should either use them this week or save them for Week 16 at the Titans.
Speaking of the Titans, it’s likely that most people in your pool have picked the Colts already. Indy is playing well, but this is the best remaining week to use them based on projected spreads through the end of the season.
Best value picks
Falcons over Dolphins
Any Falcons fan will tell you to stay away from their squad most any week. The Dolphins are reeling, but the Falcons are as inconsistent as they come. That being said, this is a good matchup for them and a lot of folks will avoid Atlanta.
Trap picks
Bengals over Jets
Eagles over Giants
Live by the Flacco, die by the Flacco. The Bengals are a bad football team but they somehow figured something out with Joe Flacco last week against the Steelers. The TNF corollary applies however, with things generally being bananas on Thursday. These are two bad teams and you just don’t know what Flacco you’ll get. I could see Cincinnati being a somewhat popular pick this week given how bad the Jets are, but I recommend folks be wary.
I think we see the Eagles beat the Giants in emphatic fashion. And yet, after what happened two weeks ago, I wouldn’t touch this game with a ten-foot pole. I’d save the Eagles for Week 15 against the Raiders.
