A Gander Across the Gridiron: Week 8

A look around the league and my predictions

Nov 08, 2020

Since the last time I wrote this, the 49ers have lost twice. That’s not fun, and I’m starting to look at QB prospects for the next draft. A rookie QB is very tempting given the salary cap, and I think the Niners won’t get a better chance to draft one. I’m still rooting for SF every game though, and haven’t gotten into a tank mentality yet. For Gander, I had my best week predicting lines in a long time. Here’s to another strong week!

Last Week’s Scores: 8-5

Last Week’s Lines: 9-4

Overall Scores: 76-34-1

Overall Lines: 57-52

Broncos @ Falcons

10:00 am PT ATL -4

After coming back against the AFC’s best choke artist, the Broncos get to face the best NFC choke artist. This is the first game in 2020 where I’ve really been impressed by Lock, and I hope he keeps it up. The Falcons will be without Dante Fowler and Takk McKinley, so Lock will have plenty of time in the pocket. The Broncos will be missing their best corner, AJ Bouye, which is not ideal when playing against Julio Jones. Expect a high scoring game with a typical Atlanta ending.

DEN wins 34-31

Seahawks @ Bills

10:00 am PT SEA -3

Jamal Adams will finally be returning to the field. He’s been limited in practice, and isn’t 100%, but he’s the defensive playmaker Seattle desperately needed when playing against teams that are not the Niners. The Seahawks will still be missing Carlos Hyde and Chris Carson, but DeeJay Dallas is just fine. The Bills are much healthier than the Seahawks. Allen has continued his slump statistically, but hasn’t needed to do much the past couple of weeks. Seattle is a different story, and I think he bounces back this week.

BUF wins 36-29

Bears @ Titans

10:00 am PT TEN -6.5

Both the Bears and Titans are on 2 game losing streams after their hot starts. Tennessee could not beat a Cincy O-line missing 3 starters. Clowney is still likely to not play, and their punter is out. You might think I’m joking, but Brett Kern is actually really good and the Titans will really miss him. Chicago will miss center Cody Whitehair, who was placed on the Covid List. Fellow linemen Germain Ifedi was taken off the list. The other notable injury for Chicago is Mitch Trubisky, solidifying Foles as starter.

TEN wins 28-23

Ravens @ Colts

10:00 am PT BAL -1

This is a huge game for both teams. The Ravens and Colts are both 5-2, with good shots at winning their divisions. The Ravens barely lost to the Steelers last week, and are set for a bounce-back week. RB Mark Ingram is doubtful, and CB Jimmy Smith is a late addition to the practice report, appearing on Friday for a back injury. The Colts listed TY Hilton as doubtful with a groin injury. He was only able to get 9 yards before his injury last Sunday, and Rivers had his best day as a Colt without Hilton. Still, Rivers throws a lot of interceptions and I doubt he can keep up with Lamar Jackson.

BAL wins 33-27

Panthers @ Chiefs

10:00 am PT KC -10

Christian McCaffrey is finally back! I’m excited to see one my favorite non-Niners players back in action, even if it won’t matter muchfor Carolina. They have the benefit of a long week, but are missing tackle Russell Okung. And they’re stuck playing against the Chiefs. Kansas City is still missing their own tackle Mitchell Schwartz, but Mahomes should be able to blow out Carolina easily.

KC wins 36-17

Lions @ Vikings

10:00 am PT MIN -4

This is difficult to predict, because I don’t know for sure if Matthew Stafford will play after being placed on the Covid List. Stafford has tested negative earlier this week, but he is waiting on a final Covid test from Saturday morning, and the result is not known at the time I am writing this. The Lions backup isChase Daniel, who I honestly thought was out of the league. Kenny Golladay will also be out. Luckily for Detroit, Minnesota has 3 corners listed as out. I am confident that Cousins and Cook will beat the Linos defense no matter what, so I will pick the Vikings to win.

MIN wins 27-21

Giants @ WFT

10:00 am PT WSH -2.5

Daniel Jones seems to be good at beating Washington and only Washington. Last time against the Football Team, he only needed to throw the ball 19 times, and rushed 7 times. Devonta Freeman will not play and Will Hernandez is on the Covid list, so I expect Jones will need to throw more while getting pressured by a strong front 7. And a fumble. Washington’s biggest injury is Tackle Geron Christian. WFT is also rested coming off a bye, while New York last played on Monday.

WSH wins 23-15

Texans @ Jaguars

10:00 am PT HOU -7

The Jaguars are screwed here. Gardner Minshew is out with a hand injury, and the Jags were already looking like the second worst team in the league. Sixth-round rookie out of Oregon State, Jake Luton will be starting for Jacksonville. Houston lost 3 linebackers to the Covid list, so James Robinson will be the focal point of the Jags offense. Just hope Jacksonville does as bad as I think they will, and choose to stick with Minshew long term! We don’t need more teams trying to draft a quarterback next year.

HOU wins 26-13

Raiders @ Chargers

1:05 pm PT EVEN

After a very ugly win against Cleveland in brutal weather, the Raiders should be excited to travel to Los Angeles. Their D-line is banged up with Arden Key and Maurice Hurst out, and Offensive Tackle Kolton Miller has not practiced this week. The Chargers are going to be without Joey Bosa, and possibly Casey Hayward. If the Raiders can win, they will have the same record as the Browns, and be in position for a Wild Card spot. After sweeping the Chargers last season, I think the Raiders should win.

LV wins 29-23

Steelers @ Cowboys

1:25 pm PT PIT -14.5

This will probably be as terrible as you expect. The Steelers have some defensive injuries like Tyson Alualu and Mike Hilton, but this is an elite unit. The Cowboys are switching things up, and will be starting Garrett Gilbert at quarterback. Gilbert entered the league back in 2014, and has not done much in the NFL since. He was a starter on the Orlando Apollos, the best AAF team (I miss the AAF so much, go Fleet). He also briefly played for the Browns last season, but only at the end of the game against the Niners. Gilbert has enough experience to be better than DiNucci Gang, but he is in the worst possible situation.

PIT wins 37-13

Dolphins @ Cardinals

1:25 pm PT ARI -4.5

Tua had a mediocre first game, but what can you expect from a rookie quarterback? I think he’ll look better this week with a full game under his belt. The Dolphins are missing running backs Matt Breida and Myles Gaskin, and the Cardinals will still be without Kenyan Drake. Tua will need to throw a lot to keep pace with Murray. The Dolphins defense, while decent, struggles against mobile QBs, and Arizona is very difficult to stop right now.

ARI wins 35-25

Saints @ Buccaneers

5:20 pm (SNF) PT TB -4.5

Round 2 of Brees vs Brady, and I’m glad we actually get a good Sunday night game after last week’s mess. Michael Thomas, as always, is questionable. He had limited practices all week, but Payton said he could be a game-time decision, but I am expecting that he plays. Emmanuel Sanders will play. Antonio Brown will be eligible for Tampa, which is very lucky since Chris Godwin is questionable with a finger injury. Since week 1, the Saints have squeaked out wins while Tampa had some very dominant wins and a few close calls. They are my current favorite for the NFC’s 1 seed, so I think they earn a split with New Orleans. Their front 7 should shut down an aging and immobile Brees.

TB wins 28-22

Patriots @ Jets

5:15 pm (MNF) PT NE -9.5

I hate writing about the Jets because there is nothing to talk about but their incompetency. It’s already bad enough Jets players found hidden cameras in the locker room and had to tell the NFLPA. And now they are playing without their best young defensive player, Quinnen Williams. And Sam Darnold is doubtful with a shoulder injury. He’s likely done in New York and will get replaced with Trevor Lawrence. The Patriots have a crazy list of questionable players, but it doesn’t matter against these Jets. Patriots win.

NE wins 23-10

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