NFL 2011 Week 8 picks

Let's start with the rankings...

Top Ten teams
1.  Green Bay Packers (7-0) : The only remaining unbeaten team remains the team to beat
2.  New Orleans Saints (5-2) : A record-breaking offensive performance propels this team to the top.  Their defense doesn't look too bad as they are in the midst of a two-week meeting of offensively-handicapped teams
3.  San Francisco 49ers (5-1) : Which team has the best defense in the NFC?  This one
4.  Detroit Lions (5-2) : Two consective losses are removing the shine from this team
5.  Baltimore Ravens (4-2) : Owners of the best defense in the league
6.  New England Patriots (5-1) : While the NFC has four teams with a better offense, the Pats are still an offensive force
7.  Houston Texans (4-3) : Despite three losses, this defense is still a major threat
8.  Buffalo Bills (4-2) : Their offense is clicking, but their defense still lacks some teeth
9.  Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) : The offense isn't doing too badly, but the defense lacks some of the rigidity of the past
10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) : Another tough defense in the AFC North

Division rankings
1.  NFC East : Whoa, there's a surprise!  No team in the Top Ten, but they also have NO team with a negative point differential
2.  NFC North : Three teams with winning records and two Top Five teams keeps this division high, but if Detroit keeps losing, this ranking is in danger
3.  AFC North : With Cincy jumping into the Top Ten, this has become a stiff defensive division
4.  AFC East : Miami is holding this division down
5.  NFC South : Atlanta is winning, but New Orleans carries this division
6.  AFC West : A division with three teams with negative point differentials so highly ranked?  Considering ALL THREE of the bottom divisions have that situation, it's not surprising
7.  NFC West : The 49ers are the only decent team in this division.  This might be the first division title clinched
8.  AFC South : With only one team with a winning record and the Colts the only 0-7 team (the other winless teams have had bye weeks), this division deserves the basement

Sunday early games
Arizona Cardinals (1-5) at Baltimore Ravens (4-2) : The tough Ravens defense will make this an easy victory.  RAVENS, 24-13

Indianapolis Colts (0-7) at Tennessee Titans (3-3) : The Colts are slowly improving; emphasis on the "slowly".  QB Matt Hasselbeck is not showing his past flashes of brilliance, but the offense is moving well enough to surpass the Colts.  TITANS, 27-17

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) at Houston Texans (4-3) : As I stated above, the Texans defense is tough.  Add in the Jags difficulties in moving the ball, and the Jags will be lucky to break double digits.  TEXANS, 27-6

Miami Dolphins (0-6) at New York Giants (4-2) : Eli and company are in combat mode, but unfortunately their opponents are wearing the same uniform.  For other teams internal strife would be distracting, but it's common enough among the Giants that they should still get the job done.  GIANTS, 23-17

Minnesota Vikings (1-6) at Carolina Panthers (2-5) : The shift to Christian Ponder breathed some life into the Vikings' offense, but the it's the defense that will challenged this week.  Cam Newton and the Panthers are racking up yards each week, and this week will be no exception.  PANTHERS, 26-21

New Orleans Saints (5-2) at St Louis Rams (0-6) : The Saints could score as much as they did last week, but I'll keep the explosion down.  SAINTS, 38-13

Sunday late games
Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) at Seattle Seahawks (2-4) : Cincy's defense will make life difficult for struggling Seahawks offense.  BENGALS, 23-16

Cleveland Browns (3-3) at San Francisco 49ers (5-1) : Another strong defense that will frustrate their opponent.  49ERS, 20-13

Detroit Lions (5-2) at Denver Broncos (2-4) : Tim Tebow has breathed life back into the Broncos, but even his comeback magic will come up short against Detroit, mainly because he won't get enough support from the Broncos defense.  LIONS, 30-20

New England Patriots (5-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) : This should be the most exciting game of the week!  Brady and the Pats have beaten the Steelers in their last few encounters, but never count out the Steelers.  Their defense is still sharp, and the Pats offense isn't quite as strong as they are used to.  Unfortunately Pitt's offense hasn't been lighting up scoreboards, either.  PATS, 26-21

Washington Redskins (3-3) at Buffalo Bills (4-2) : This game could go either way.  John Beck brings more consistency to the Redskins, but his arm isn't as strong.  The Bills can score quickly, but the Redskins defense is capable of slowing them down.  I'll favor the home team, but watch for the upset here.  BILLS, 27-23

Sunday night: Dallas Cowboys (3-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (2-4) : The Eagles play Dallas tough, but the Eagles are suffering from lackluster performances.  Dallas isn't spectacular, but they get the job done.  COWBOYS, 24-20

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL - San Diego Chargers (4-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) :  KC is coming alive, in the midst of a three-game winning streak, but I think that ends here.  The Chargers offense isn't the powerhouse it often is, but they're strong enough to overpower the Chiefs defense.  CHARGERS, 27-13