2021 COAS Pigskin Pick 'Em: Week 8

The coalition is back at it as we near the halfway point of this NFL season!

After earning a narrow split victory two weeks ago, that gain is wiped away as Adam took two of three this past week to push his lead back to six. I'm in the thick of the rest of the race thankfully. You can view how we've all picked in relation to each other here. 

As we look ahead to Week 8, Adam and I disagree on seven games out of 15. Let's get to it!

Editor note: Prior to kickoff of the Sunday night game, Adam used the first of his mulligans to change his pick from Dallas -2.5 to Minnesota +2.5, making the seventh dispute of the week. Column was updated Monday 11/1 to reflect this change.

Thursday Night

Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals (-5.5)
Lucas: Cardinals. I wasn't super confident in this game to begin with. Now with Tae and the Lizard King on the COVID list and likely out, I have even less reason to go here. This will probably end on an overtime touchdown after Rodgers pulls some magic out of his behind to force the extra session again.

Adam: Packers. As I was making my pick Wednesday morning, I had SportsCenter on in the background and heard a story about how Green Bay is 6-0 when Adams does not play. Adams is in COVID protocol and will miss the game... seems like I shouldn’t fight history on this.
Lucas note: Rare is the time when Adam would pick the Packers when I don't. He's right; last year the Packers dropped like 37 on the Saints without Tae in a big win, but if you want to play the history card, look at what seems to keep happening when Green Bay plays in the desert. Something's gotta give.

Sunday, Early Afternoon

Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons (-2.5)
Lucas: Falcons. The Panthers are broken, and Atlanta ended up not choking away a game their last time out! I'll lay the field goal.
Adam: Falcons. Weird game; Carolina started so well, but what I thought was a resurgence of Sammy Darnold, may just have been... a ghost. I’ll let myself out.

Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills (-13.5)
Lucas: Bills. Supposedly the Deshaun trade is in the works pending some legal back end discussions, but I don't see the Dolphins getting that fully cleared by the deadline. Not that it'd help in this one; they're screwed.
Adam: Dolphins. Last week I went 2-1 on double digit lines. Here we are with 3 more this week. The Bills are good, and deserving of this line, but being an AFC East battle, I see Miami showing up and covering.

San Francisco 49ers @ Chicago Bears (+3.5)
Lucas: Bears. I can't believe I'm taking the points here, but I don't think this team has hit rock bottom yet. That probably comes when they go to Lambeau for their annual ass kicking.
Adam: 49ers. The Bears are a product of having a [expletive] O-line. It also doesn’t help that their starting running back is out as well. Even at home they fully deserve the dog tag and will likely give up 3-5 sacks per usual.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns (-3.5)
Lucas: Browns. I almost took Pittsburgh here, but given how banged up they are I'll ride with the Browns.
Adam: Browns. Though it is possible that Cleveland could have Mayfield back, it’s looking unlikely. Despite that, I am still rolling with the Browns here.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Detroit Lions (+3.5)
Lucas: Lions. They're bound to break through eventually. Against a bad Philly team seems like the time for that to happen, especially since they played LA pretty well this past week.
Adam: Lions. How many times do I have to say that the Lions are top winless team in history? I mean, they played the Rams last week hard and darn near pulled an upset after digging deep in their trick bag. Philly is just as much of a mess and I like Detroit chance to get their first (and maybe only) W of the season.

Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts (+1.5)
Lucas: Titans. I can't believe I only have to lay two on the Titans. Yeah, divisional game, indoors so Carson Wentz won't throw a mind-numbing interception, but still!
Adam: Titans. In the land of humans, which Henry does not live in, this would be an interesting game. When you take it to Henry’s plane of existence does Indy even have a chance?
Lucas note: I love this image.

Cincinnati Bengals @ New York Jets (+10.5)
Lucas: Bengals. I mean, Cincy has to be a legit team at this point, right? And how broken are the Jets to be arguably worse without Adam Gase than they were with him?
Adam: Bengals. The Jets are down to some no name quarterback who probably hoped to just collect a check and never play, or now Joe Flacco... I’ll lay 10 that the Jets don’t strike magic.

Los Angeles Rams @ Houston Texans (+14.5)
Lucas: Rams. The damn Asterisks paid off the succubus for one more run at a title at the cost of the rest of Houston's franchises, and payment plans must already be underway.

Adam: Texans. Here is the third 10+ line. The Rams are coming off a surprisingly tough game against Detroit and Houston is just Houston. Though they may soon be rid of their law-abiding embroiled QB. I’ll take the chance that there is some hope in the locker room and Houston surprises.

Sunday, Late Afternoon

New England Patriots @ Los Angeles Chargers (-5.5)
Lucas: Patriots. Maybe I'm overreacting to the Chargers getting curbstomped by Baltimore a couple weeks ago, or by the fact that the Pats are playing pretty well right now. Either way, I'm taking the points.
Adam: Chargers. I cannot think of much to say here other than I’ll take the home team.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Seattle Seahawks (-3.5)
Lucas: Seahawks. But for the love of God, someone get DK Metcalf under control.
Adam: Seahawks. Do you want Sunshine and lap-dance man (rumors have it there may be another vid that is more salacious that the other two) and how is he still not fired? Or do you want the Four Finger Flinger Russel Wilson? No, I know he is not back, but its fun to jab at his finger.
Lucas note: Gerlon Two-Fingers > The Four Finger Flinger don't @ me.

Washington Football Team @ Denver Broncos (-2.5)
Lucas: Broncos. Only because they're at home.
Adam: Broncos. I cannot support anything WFT right now.
Lucas note: Entirely valid.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints (+4.5)
Lucas: Buccaneers. Is it a regular season revenge game, given that Brady and company beat the Saints in the playoffs last year?
Adam: Saints. I feel like I am going out on a limb here. Tampa has a high-powered offense and New Orleans has some solid weapons. I think I’ll see if I can trade that 600th touchdown ball for a date with Giselle. Bet that gets Brady all hot and bothered.

Sunday Night

Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota Vikings (+2.5)
Lucas: Cowboys. But for the love of God (yes, I'm using this line twice this week, sue me), somebody bring this fan base and the meatheads on Dallas sports talk radio back down to earth.
Adam: Cowboys. With Dak having some quad issues, and the home edge is usually -3, I get how this line is only 2.5. But is Minnesota really good enough to hang with Dallas? I don’t think so. This game will hinge on two things: Dak’s overall mobility and the Vikings' ability to put pressure on him. I don’t see either being an issue.
Adam note: Sunday afternoon/evening, with the announcement that Dak was out with that quad issue, I changed my pick to Vikings +2.5.

Monday Night

New York Giants @ Kansas City Chiefs (-9.5)
Lucas: Giants. I can't believe I'm taking the points here, but as bad as New York is, Kansas City has royally underachieved. I could see a backdoor cover here, especially given that Mahomes might have been figured out.

Adam: Giants. Let’s check what Brittany thinks.

Joe note: I like this one better.

Records So Far
Lucas: 56-51 (8-5 last week)
Adam: 62-45 (9-4 last week)
Joe: 54-53 (8-5 last week)
Geoffrey: 57-50 (8-5 last week)
Jim: 57-50 (9-4 last week)