Week 8 NFL picks

ON FOOTBALL

It's too bad the Colts and Patriots have to play next week, because I seriously believe if they didn't they'd both have a shot at going undefeated. They are that good.

It's also too bad they're in the same conference, which means the AFC championship game will be more climatic than the Super Bowl (like usual).

Of course everything can change in the course of an afternoon. Tom Brady could break his right hand. Peyton Manning could fall down the stairs and fracture his left leg. But neither of those scenarios is likely.

OK, time to get to the picks. Two of them are no-brainers. The rest are not so easy, as I try to improve on last week's 9-5 record and boost my 53-35 overall mark.

At London: NY Giants (5-2) 31, Miami (0-7) 10: Anyone who watches this game is wasting a beautiful afternoon.

At Cincinnati (2-4) 27, Pittsburgh (4-2) 21: Huge divisional game. Bengals can get back into race with win.

At Tennessee (4-2) 23, Oakland (2-4) 14: Three more field goals for Rob Bironas.

At Chicago (3-4) 31, Detroit (4-2) 17: The Lions win at home and get killed on the road. No change here.

At Minnesota (2-4) 21, Philly (2-4): Must-win game for both teams. Ugly. Plenty of turnovers. Home team survives.

Cleveland (3-3) 34, at St. Louis (0-7) 13: Man, the Rams are terrible. St. Louis fans are already focusing on college hoops season and the arrival of Rick Majerus.

Buffalo (2-4) 19, at NY Jets (1-6) 13: The Bills have more to play for.

At San Diego (3-3) 28, Houston (3-4) 21: Chargers pull off comeback victory in front of raucous home crowd just excited to be witnessing football game.

At Tampa Bay (4-3) 20, Jacksonville (4-2) 10: Brutal defensive battle in which Bucs batter backup Jags QB Quinn Gray.

New Orleans (2-4) 27, at San Francisco (2-4) 17: 49ers continue slide while Saints quietly creep into the playoff race, winning their third straight.

At New England (7-0) 31, Washington (4-2) 13: No chance for Redskins in Foxboro. Gosh, life in Boston must be great right now.

Indianapolis (6-0) 27, at Carolina (4-2) 14: No Marvin Harrison, no problem for Colts.

Green Bay (5-1) 28, at Denver (3-3) 24: On Monday Night Football stage, Brett Favre shines once again.

I'm out. Enjoy the Pats' and Colts' dominance.