Baltimore Beatdown Picks: Week 8

With division races heating up, teams must rapidly make adjustments and improve in order to remain positioned for the postseason. The Baltimore Beatdown standings continue to fluctuate, proving that it is hard to pinpoint what teams will find success from week-to-week. Readers are moving up the board once again and can continue to vote for all games in the polls at the end of this article.

Current standings:

1. Frank and Kyle A. (67-38)
2. Sage and readers (63-42)
3. Jake (62-43)
4. Kyle B., Vas and Zach (61-44)
5. Dustin (60-45)
6. Logan (59-46)

An analysis of the Baltimore Beatdown staff picks

Consensus winners

• The Texans will defeat the Dolphins on Thursday Night Football (HOU -7.5)
• The Chiefs will win against the Broncos (KC -10.0)
• The Steelers will take down the Browns (PIT -8.5)
• The Colts will beat the Raiders (IND -3.0)
• The Patriots will be victorious over the struggling Bills (NE -14.0)

Houston is on a four game win streak and currently leads the AFC South. Miami’s early success has come to a halt, and DeVante Parker’s agent is calling out head coach Adam Gase in the media. On a short week, the Texans appear poised to continue their winning ways.

With Kansas City and the Chargers rolling, the Broncos are a distant 3-4 in the AFC West. Despite a close finish in their first matchup, Denver simply cannot win a shoot out with Patrick Mahomes.

Cleveland will be worn down from another overtime loss, this time to Tampa Bay in Week 7. The Steelers know Cincinnati and Baltimore are breathing down their neck in the AFC North race and will approach the divisional game with intensity.

The Raiders are stock piling for the 2019 draft, most recently sending Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys for a first-round pick. Gruden has seemingly given up on his first year back with Raiders, leaving nothing but opportunity for the Colts on the road.

Succinctly put, this is a ‘Sharpie’ game for New England on Monday Night Football. Buffalo is a mess, most recently getting blown out by Indianapolis 37-5.

‘Lone wolf’ picks

• Frank is the only writer to predict the Jets to beat the Bears (CHI -7.5)
• Vas is alone in thinking the Giants will defeat the Redskins (WSH -1.0)
• Zach goes against the majority in selecting the Buccaneers to take down the Bengals (CIN -4.5)
• Logan is solo in taking the Jaguars over the Eagles (PHI -3.0)

Chicago fought to the bitter end against the Patriots in Week 7, and their 12th ranked defense should be able to overwhelm rookie quarterback Sam Darnold on the road. The Giants may have closed the gap against a less than stellar Falcons team last week, but the majority of Beatdown predicts Washington to extend their lead in the NFC East. Tampa Bay barely got past Cleveland, and while the Bengals have dropped two straight, the Chiefs and the Steelers are contenders in the AFC. Blake Bortles and the Jacksonville offense have derailed the Jaguars defensive prowess. While the championship hangover has not escaped Philly, Carson Wentz still has a 108.1 passer rating this season compared to Bortles’ 80.3.

No rest for the heartbroken

After a tough, one-point loss to the Saints in Week 7, the Ravens travel to Carolina this week. The Panthers are undefeated at home thus far and are currently chasing New Orleans in the NFC South. This Sunday, Newton will be coming off limited practice participation due to a right shoulder injury to face one of the best defenses in the league. It is worth noting that Cam Newton and company defeated the Bengals 31-21 in Week 3. The line (BAL -2.0) favors the Ravens; however, five of nine writers pick Baltimore’s away record to fall to 2-3 on the season.

All writers’ picks can be found in the table below.

Vote below for every Week 8 matchup!

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