Several NFL teams will be on bye weeks during the next two weeks, shrinking the amount of teams available for your Survivor pool.
That obviously makes weeks 8 and 9 a bit more difficult than the previous seven weeks. I’m out of some regular winners, too, but there’s a few options that I still like for week 8. Once again, try not to look ahead and shoe-horn certain teams to specific weeks.
Survive this week and then worry about the next. Here’s my week 8 Survivor pool picks.
Teams Used: Seattle, Carolina, Miami, Washington, Baltimore (lost), New England and Green Bay.
Best Bet
Denver Broncos
It’s tempting to take Minnesota on Monday Night Football, but I’m leery of teams on the road for Survivor pools. That’s why I’m backing the Broncos, even though they just lost to San Diego a few weeks earlier.
But let’s take a look at that loss.
It was a Thursday night game, which has historically been a disaster for road teams. The Broncos were playing on a short week without its head coach due to an illness. And the Chargers were motivated thanks to reports that their head coach would be fired after the game if they lost.
That’s a lot of strikes against Denver. The Broncos still were in that game late despite playing awful on offense. They allowed San Diego to control the clock, which won’t happen again at home. The offense couldn’t move the ball at all, crossing the 50-yard-line only once in the first half of the first game.
The Chargers are in the midst of back-to-back road games and made a dramatic comeback to defeat Atlanta in week 7. The Chargers have put together a nice little run, but it will end in week 8. The offense will be much improved and San Diego doesn’t have enough to stop the Broncos again.
Denver’s defense will be suffocating and this game won’t be within a touchdown.
Sleeper Pick
Houston Texans
I was thinking about being bold and going with Cleveland, but I just can’t pull the trigger. Instead, I’m looking at the Texans, which once again failed to perform on the national stage.
Houston can’t compete with really good teams in the NFL. Minnesota, Denver and New England embarrassed Houston already this season. But against those teams with less talent, Houston has not only competed, but won those games.
That’s why Houston should get your attention in week 8 against Detroit. The Lions have been riding the wave of also beating average teams. The Lions have put together three straight wins…by a combined seven points. And all those games were at home.
The last time we saw Detroit on the road was a loss at Chicago, the only game the Bears have won this season.
But it’s just not about Detroit being phony during this three-game win streak. This game doesn’t work within Detroit’s strengths. The Lions don’t stop the pass or the run, so that should open up Houston’s offense. And Detroit passes the ball well, something Houston is very good at defending.
Don’t worry about Houston’s Monday Night Football loss to Denver. Houston can’t compete at that level. Detroit, however, isn’t near that level, giving the Texans a solid outlook for week 8.
Be Careful
Tennessee Titans
Home teams on Thursday nights are usually a solid bet. I went that route in week 7 with Green Bay and it paid dividends.
But it doesn’t always work out that way. And this week, I have a bad feeling about the Titans.
Tennessee also had a nice little run going for itself. It rattled off two straight wins, against Miami and Cleveland, and everyone was predicting the Titans to compete in the AFC South. Then they failed last week against Indianapolis and I don’t expect this week to be much better.
Jacksonville has likely been the biggest disappointment of the NFL season. But it still can play some defense, which can keep them in the game on a Thursday night. The Jaguars have a top-10 total defense and will likely stymie the Titans offense, which has shown the ability to once again stall at inopportune times.
Most importantly, though, the Titans are banged up on defense, leaving open the possibility of a bad Jaguars offense to get some traction. The Titans failed to take that next step in week 7. That will linger on a short week. I’m not expecting much out of Tennessee in week 8.
