NFL Predictions: Week 8 (Cleveland Clowns-free NFL Weekend)

It's Halloween and this weekend, there will be lots of tricks and treats in the thirteen NFL games that will take place on Sunday and Monday.

BYE WEEKS: Atlanta Falcons (5-2), Baltimore Ravens (5-2), Chicago Bears (4-3), Cleveland Browns (2-5), New York Giants (5-2), Philadelphia Eagles (4-3)

GAME OF THE WEEK: Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1) at New Orleans Saints (4-3)- 8:20PM ET on NBC
Last week, the Steelers won, thanks to a controversial call on 4th down, while the Saints imploded against the Browns. The last two teams to win the Super Bowl face off in the Superdome.
Pick: Pittsburgh 31-17

SUNDAY AFTERNOON GAMES:
Denver Broncos (2-5) vs. San Francisco 49ers (1-5)- 1PM ET at Wembley Stadium (London, England) on CBS- REGIONAL GAME OF THE WEEK
Mike Singletary still thinks that the 49ers, at 1-5 can still make the playoffs. Truth is, only the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals have come back from 1-5 and made the playoffs. The Broncos, after a 6-0 start last year, have lost 9 of their last 11, after allowing a club-record 59 points in a 59-14 bloodbath loss to Oakland last week. The 49ers have not been able to close games, losing 4th quarter leads to Atlanta and Carolina, and losing close ones to those two aforementioned teams, plus New Orleans and Philadelphia. 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith will start for the 49ers. Hopefully, Denver puts in Tim Tebow. However, Troy Smith may get the upper hand this time, as opposed to the last time he squared off against Tebow.
Pick: San Francisco 24-14

Miami Dolphins (3-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)- 1PM ET at Paul Brown Stadium; Cincinnati, OH on CBS
Miami is 3-0 on the road and 0-3 at home. The Bengals can't finish games, losing to Cleveland, Tampa Bay, and Atlanta in the fourth quarter. Last week, after trailing 24-3 at halftime to the Atlanta Falcons, it looked like Cincinnati imploded. However, in the 3rd quarter, the Bengals came back to life, with two scoring drives to cut Atlanta's lead to 24-13. After Matt Ryan was picked off by Leon Hall, Carson Palmer connected to rookie receiver Jordan Shipley for a 62-yard strike to cut the Atlanta lead to five. And then, Falcon receiver Roddy White, who was solid all day, fumbled the ball on the next drive and Adam (formerly nicknamed Pacman) Jones returned it 59 yards to put the Bengals on top 25-24. Jones' season ended on Atlanta's next scoring drive, when White caught a two-point pass.
Back to this week. The Bengals won the last two meetings against Miami, after not beating the Dolphins since 1977. Since the Bengals' last meeting against the Dolphins (a 38-25 Bengal win) in the final game of 2007, the Dolphins have had a complete 360, bringing in the Wildcat. Expect Tony Sparano and Dan Henning (Miami offensive coordinator) to jam Ricky Williams and Ronnie White down the throats of the Bengal defense, and of course, the Wildcat.
Pick: Miami 31-20

Washington Redskins (4-3) at Detroit Lions (2-4)- 1:00PM at Ford Field; Detroit on Fox
The Redskins won 18 straight meetings between 1966 and 2004. Look for the youthful Lions to stop McNabb and crew in Motown. Last week, Washington corner D'Angelo Hall had a big game with an NFL-record four picks in Chicago, including a 92-yard return for what would be the game-winning score.
Pick: Detroit 17-15

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4) at Dallas Cowboys (1-5)- 1:00PM at Cowboys Stadium; Arlington, TX on CBS
If Tony Romo were healthy, this wouldn't be close. But, look for Jacksonville to have a big day in Big D, as Jon Kitna starts for the Cowboys.
Pick: Jacksonville 27-17

Green Bay Packers (4-3) at New York Jets (5-1)- "The Brett Favre Bowl"- 1:00PM at New Meadowlands Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ on Fox
The two teams that Brett Favre used to play for square off in the (New) Meadowlands. Aaron Rodgers had a big night against Favre last week in a 28-24 Green Bay victory. This week, the Jets are well-rested after a bye week, and will look to continue their winning ways.
Pick: NY Jets 27-21

Carolina Panthers (1-5) at St. Louis Rams (3-3)- 1:00PM at Edward Jones Dome; St. Louis, MO on Fox
Pick: St. Louis 21-14

Buffalo Bills (0-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-2)- 1:00PM at Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City, MO on CBS
The Bills are a mess right now, despite almost beating Baltimore last week. This week, they go to Arrowhead to attempt to win a game. The Bills will win a game, but we don't know when, just yet.
Pick: Kansas City 31-27

Tennessee Titans (5-2) at San Diego Chargers (2-5)- 4:05PM at Qualcomm Stadium; San Diego, CA on CBS
Last week, San Diego literally gave away the game to New England, with four turnovers, and a missed field goal try. Also last week, Tennessee receiver Kenny Britt continued his breakout season, emerging with three TD's (after being benched in the first quarter for a bar fight) in a 37-19 win over Philadelphia.
Pick: Tennessee 28-21

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2) at Arizona Cardinals (4-3)- 4:15PM at Univ. of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ on Fox
Josh Freeman is this year's Comeback Hero, leading Tampa Bay to yet another comeback win, topping St. Louis 18-17 on a game-winning pass to Carnell/Cadillac Williams with only 11 seconds left. Look for Freeman to have a big afternoon in the desert.
Pick: Tampa Bay 24-13

Seattle Seahawks (4-2) at Oakland Raiders (3-4)- 4:15PM at Oakland Coliseum; Oakland, CA on Fox
Last week, Oakland scored a club-record 59 points in a 59-14 "Mile High" annihilation of Denver that was over well into the first quarter. While Oakland won't score 60 points this week, the Raiders of old are slowly coming back.
Pick: Oakland 31-20

Minnesota Vikings (2-4) at New England Patriots (4-2)- 4:15PM at Gillette Stadium; Foxborough, MA on Fox
Randy Moss was on the New England sideline at the beginning of the season. However, during the Patriots bye week, the Pats shipped Moss back to where his career began- the Twin Cities. Now, Moss makes a return to Gillette Stadium, albeit on the opposite sideline as where he began the season. That's not the only story entering this game. Will Brett Favre's 291-game streak continue? Last week, after Favre injured his ankle in last Sunday's loss to Green Bay, there were concerns that Favre would be sidelined, but Favre insists that he will play. No matter what, the Viking ship will hit an iceberg somewhere in Massachusetts.
Pick: New England 27-20

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Houston Texans (4-2) at Indianapolis Colts (4-2)- 8:30PM at Lucas Oil Stadium; Indianapolis on ESPN
The last time these two teams faced off, Arian Foster became Indy's worst nightmare, rushing for three TD's in the season opener, a 34-24 Texans win, only the second time that Houston has topped the Colts in their nine year history. However, these two teams are tied for first, and Houston would love to have their first ever sweep of the Colts, but Peyton Manning won't let that happen.
Pick: Indy 35-21