With @schedulerelease, we’re already on to Week 8. Some teams are very good, some teams are very bad, and usually, most teams are somewhere in the middle. Just ask the Packers, Rams, or Ravens! In Week 7, I went 6-8, while @schedulerelease went 8-6. On the season, I’m 14-13 while SR’s, you guessed it, also at 14-13.
All lines via DraftKings. All times ET.
Baltimore Ravens (4-3) at Buffalo Bills (5-1)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Line: Buffalo -3, O/U 54.5
Josh Allen. Lamar Jackson. What more could you ask for? This’ll be a shootout, and with both teams so evenly matched, I’ll take the home squad that has a healthy quarterback.
Brandon’s pick: Bills 31, Ravens 29
When the NFL schedule was released in May, this game being scheduled for 1:00 p.m. was the biggest disappointment. This matchup was deserving of a 4:25 PM or primetime slot, considering that these two teams feature two of the best quarterbacks in the league, Allen and Jackson, and the last few matchups have come down to the wire, including the Bills’ 15-point comeback with four minutes to go in 2025 and the Ravens’ failed two-point conversion in the 2024 Divisional Round. The Bills are off a bye while the Ravens have lost two in a row and are begging for Jackson to actually get back into the lineup. I’m going to assume he does, and while I can’t keep falling victim to picking the Ravens to win every week, I have to do it again here. I know it’s a tough spot to beat the Bills in their own stadium off extra rest, but I do not trust their defense to stop Derrick Henry and the Ravens’ rushing attack. Baltimore’s defense got embarrassed last week by the Bengals, but I don’t think that the Bills have the talent at receiver to exploit the same weaknesses in the secondary that the Ravens have.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Ravens 31, Bills 27
Tennessee Titans (1-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Line: Cincinnati -11.5, O/U 46.5
I respect the Titans’ commitment to the rebuild. They also need to move on from Cam Ward, who is looking more and more like he’s simply not the answer. Drew Mestemaker, anyone?
Brandon’s pick: Bengals 41, Titans 13
The Titans have looked like an improved team these past couple of weeks. The Titans got the run game going a lot against the Browns, which helped them jump to an early 14-0 lead, but that 14-point advantage still wasn’t enough to beat the Browns. I don’t see that happening against the Bengals, who proved last week that they can blow out a good team in just one half. I’ll take the Bengals to win a decisive one.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Bengals 34, Titans 14
Arizona Cardinals (2-5) at Dallas Cowboys (3-4)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX
Line: Dallas -7, O/U 54.5
Maybe it’s just me, but I have absolutely zero faith in Dallas this weekend, or any. Their entire defense is suspect to blowing up at any time, while their offense is similarly flammable. The Cardinals aren’t much better, but they have tools across the board and are competitive in-and-out each week.
Brandon’s pick: Cardinals 27, Cowboys 24
History would tell me to lean towards the Cardinals here. Last year, the Cardinals marched into Dallas on a Monday night and won decisively, leading by double digits for most of the game. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cardinals show up again this year, but the Cowboys offense looked like it figured out some of its quirks when it torched the Eagles’ stout defense on Monday night. I think the Cowboys are way too talented to lose this game, but I still like the matchup for Arizona and think it will be close.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Cowboys 24, Cardinals 23
Minnesota Vikings (6-0) at Detroit Lions (4-2)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX
Line: Detroit -3, O/U 46.5
Unstoppable force meets immovable object, while a stoppable force meets a very movable object. I’m talking about Detroit’s offense and Minnesota’s defense in the unstoppables, of course, while the Lions’ paltry defense and Minnesota’s lackluster defense are very highly movable. I think Detroit wins this on the backs of Jared Goff in a game-winning drive.
Brandon’s pick: Lions 23, Vikings 19
The lone undefeated team heads to Detroit as underdogs in a division rivalry. Last year, the Vikings swept the Lions, and Brian Flores’ defense caused major problems for Goff. However, the Lions’ offense seems to have more of an identity this year, compared to last year, when they were adjusting to the post-Ben Johnson era. Since getting embarrassed by the Panthers in Week 4, the Lions have tightened it up on defense and are getting healthier. The Vikings have, without a doubt, been impressive to start the year, but their offense has been uninspiring. I’m really excited to see the potent Lions’ offense square off against the blitz-happy Vikings’ defense, but I think the Vikings finally lose one here.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Lions 23, Vikings 16
Las Vegas Raiders (3-4) at New York Jets (2-5)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX
Line: New York -1.5, O/U 44.5
Neither the Jets nor the Raiders are bad. Yeah, it shocks me as much as anyone, seven weeks into the season. Kirk Cousins has played consistently, and while he’s not stellar, there has been repeated serviceable play that has put the Raiders in competitive positions week in and week out. Aaron Glenn’s Jets have shown promise, but remain raw and unpolished, specifically on the offensive side of the ball.
Brandon’s pick: Raiders 26, Jets 23
The Raiders’ schedule finally gets a break as they travel to MetLife Stadium, where the Jets just lost to the Dolphins last week. While Las Vegas has fallen back to earth after starting 3-0, this game will tell us if they are still a solid team that ran into a stretch of elite teams or if their strong start to the season was a fluke. While I feel like the Jets could bounce back this week, some of their injuries concern me, especially with three of their top players on the defensive line trending towards not playing. I think Omar Cooper Jr. will have another great game and solidify his breakout as a receiver. This is a Geno Smith revenge game, too. The Jets
@schedulerelease’s pick: Jets 28, Raiders 17
Cleveland Browns (5-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Line: Pittsburgh -3.5, O/U 39.5
Situational football wins games, no matter what team you’re on. For Cleveland, this is especially true. Six of their seven games have been one-score games, and five have been wins. That’s a major credit to Todd Monken and the Browns coaching staff for how their players are prepared on Sundays. The Steelers have been carried by Jaylen Warren, but Mason Graham has something to say about that. The Browns win and seize control of the AFC North.
Brandon’s pick: Browns 22, Steelers 21
The Browns and Steelers seemingly split every single year, and both teams almost exclusively win at home in this series. In fact, the Browns have not won a regular-season game in Pittsburgh since 2003. There are some things that just never change in the NFL, and this is one of them that makes me want to throw all of my analysis away and blindly pick Pittsburgh. In fact, I will pick the Steelers, but not just because of the history. The Steelers have been the better team this year, and although they lost in Week 4, it was in a tough spot on a Thursday night in Cleveland. Eventually, Deshaun Watson’s streak of conducting game-winning drives must end.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Steelers 27, Browns 13
Atlanta Falcons (3-4) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-5)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX
Line: Tampa Bay -2.5, O/U 44.5
The Falcons should not be taken lightly as a playoff team come January. Aside from the fact that every other team in the NFC South is highly suspect, Atlanta sports an incredibly well-balanced offense with playmakers all over the field. Michael Penix Jr. has been solid while growing into his role as a starting quarterback, having been injured. The Buccaneers will struggle with Atlanta’s pass rush, and the Falcons will pull away.
Brandon’s pick: Falcons 30, Buccaneers 22
The Falcons and Buccaneers both impressed last week, picking up huge wins against the previously undefeated 49ers and division-leading Panthers, respectively. Now, they square off in a game that suddenly has major implications in the NFC South. Since their 0-4 start, the Buccaneers have completely turned around their identity, finding a rhythm with Bucky Irving in the run game and playing stout defense. The biggest matchup to watch here is whether or not the Falcons will get enough going on the ground against Tampa Bay’s second-ranked run defense. Baker Mayfield didn’t have to do much last game, but I think he will have a good game and get the Buccaneers to another victory.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Buccaneers 20, Falcons 17
Indianapolis Colts (2-5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Line: Jacksonville -10, O/U 46.5
The Jaguars look like one of the NFL’s best teams, while Indianapolis looks like one of the NFL’s worst. Daniel Jones has not lived up to the hype, and the Colts have entered fire sale mode with two weeks to go before the trade deadline. Anyone want to pop their bets in for Jonathan Taylor’s next team?
Brandon’s pick: Jaguars 35, Colts 17
The Colts have not won in Jacksonville since 2014 and have just traded two of their best players in Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner. While they have been competitive in every single game so far, they just lost the heart of the team, and it will be tough for them to beat the Jaguars off a bye. I don’t think this will be a blowout, but the Jaguars should win comfortably.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Jaguars 24, Colts 16
Los Angeles Chargers (0-6) at Los Angeles Rams (3-4)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET on FOX
Line: Los Angeles Rams -6.5, O/U 45.5
The Rams will win this game mostly because they can’t afford to lose. A 3-5 start for the Super Bowl favorites would send shockwaves throughout football, and they only have themselves to blame. Thankfully, Justin Herbert is an excellent get-right quarterback to face this season, and the Rams should cruise back to .500, enjoying the easy stretch of their schedule before getting hammered in the final eight weeks.
Brandon’s pick: Rams 38, Chargers 17
The Chargers had the bye week to figure out what has gone horribly wrong with their offense in 2026, while the Rams had a dominant victory against the Raiders that showcased their true ceiling. I wouldn’t be surprised if they came out of the bye and suddenly looked like a fixed team. However, they still have too many injuries to beat this Rams team that is still looking to recover from their early-season struggles. Rams win the battle of Los Angeles.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Rams 22, Chargers 10
Kansas City Chiefs (5-1) at Denver Broncos (5-2)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS
Line: Kansas City -1.5, O/U 40.5
Bo Nix has seen some incredible struggles lately, but he’s always a quarterback capable of elevating his game come crunch time. He knows where the ball needs to go and when, perhaps a continuation of his Oregon days. Outside crisp structure, Nix struggles mightily, and the Denver offensive line will have to work overtime to keep Kansas City out of the pocket. I think they do.
Brandon’s pick: Broncos 26, Chiefs 24
The Chiefs decimated the Broncos in Week 1, and I don’t see why they can’t do it again. The Seahawks did provide the blueprint on how to beat the Broncos, but I don’t think Denver’s run defense is stout enough to stop Kenneth Walker from having a good game. The Broncos’ offense looked better last week, but they played a bottom-tier defense in the Cardinals. I am still not sold on their offense, and while they have beaten some respectable teams at Mile High this year, I just do not trust the Broncos enough to pick them to beat the Chiefs.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Chiefs 27, Broncos 19
New England Patriots (4-3) at Miami Dolphins (1-5)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS
Line: New England -7, O/U 43.5
I think that the Dolphins might get the absolute crap beaten out of them on Sunday. No shade to Jeff Hafley, who has coached a masterful job through the first seven weeks, but Drake Maye has bounced back since his slow start and is hammering critical throws all over the field. This might be a repeat of 2023, when the Dolphins hung 70 on the Broncos.
Brandon’s pick: Patriots 50, Dolphins 20
The Dolphins got a win! Meanwhile, the Patriots lost a tough one to the Bears and are off a mini-bye. Traditionally, New England has struggled in Miami, and the Dolphins have had a great track record against the Patriots in the 2020s. I really like what I’ve seen from the Dolphins; they’ve improved each week, but the Patriots are too talented to lose this game. I’ll take Miami to keep it close, though.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Patriots 28, Dolphins 22
SNF: Philadelphia Eagles (2-5) at Washington Commanders (1-4-1)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock
Line: Washington -6, O/U 40.5
Likely a relatively low-scoring affair; Philadelphia’s defense is built to stop Washington’s offense (not that there’s much function there regardless). Tanner McKee has shown spouts of life in his first eight quarters of game action, and I expect him to only improve as the season continues. Jayden Daniels is admirable for playing with a dislocated elbow, but his talent is suffering for it right now.
Brandon’s pick: Eagles 20, Commanders 15
The Eagles are in shambles. Just when the offense looked like they were getting back to form, their defense collapsed on Monday against the Cowboys. Vic Fangio had no answers for the Cowboys’ offense, and Javonte Williams had a great game on the ground. I don’t think the Commanders will score nearly as much as the Eagles did, but the Eagles are practically unpickable right now. I liked what I saw from Washington in the second half against the 49ers, and I think they’ll take that momentum into this game to get a win.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Commanders 27, Eagles 20
MNF: Chicago Bears (5-2) at Seattle Seahawks (4-3)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN
Line: Seattle -3, O/U 46.5
My general take on this game is that if it’s a low-scoring sludgefest, Seattle will pull it out. If this turns into a shootout, though, Chicago takes the cake. Newcomers Quenton Nelson and Jeffery Simmons are massive additions to two very deep rosters, and signs that both teams in the NFC are all-in on 2026. I think this becomes a shootout at the end of the day, and I trust Caleb Williams to get it done.
Brandon’s pick: Bears 33, Seahawks 30
The Seahawks are coming off a statement win against the Chiefs and have just beefed up their interior offensive line by trading for Nelson. The Bears also made a big trade to get Simmons from the Titans, and the two former AFC South foes will line up across from each other on Monday night in different uniforms. That aspect will make this one a fun watch. Even though the Seahawks have dropped three games, they have still shown that they are among the league’s elite, but have lost a lot of games due to mistakes. In this environment, however, I see the Bears as the team that will make mistakes. The Seahawks’ defense should force the Bears into uncomfortable situations and force turnovers. Give me the Seahawks.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Seahawks 30, Bears 26
