Ouch! Just when you thought you had teams figured out for the year they go and play a clunker. This is the worst week by far for Rivalry Sports in picks. Horrible won-lost percentage and lost to the guest picker!
Rivalry Sports will look to get back on track in Week 8 as there are many more games to be played.
Each week gets us closer to the playoffs, so take a look at where your team currently stands in the Strength Department.
Check out last week’s Strength Rankings
- Scroll down to see the game by game picks for this week.
- See the game by game results of the pick results from last week at the bottom of the page as well as the picks for this week.
Win/Loss Records of the picks for Week 7:
| Picker | Rivalry Sports – Dustin Kirby | Guest Picker |
| Win – Loss Record Week 7 | 3 – 10 | 5 – 8 |
| Overall Won/Loss Record on Picks | 34 – 24 | 32 – 26 |
Guest Picker Won/Loss Records
| Guest Picker | Week | Won/Loss Record on Picks | Winning Percentage |
| Brandon Kirby | 4 | 11 – 5 | 68.75% |
| Jarrod Kirby | 5 | 8 – 6 | 57.14% |
| Stephanie Kirby | 6 | 8 – 7 | 53.33% |
| Lance Kirby | 7 | 5 – 8 | 38.46% |
| Richard Strick | 8 |
Rivalry Sports Lock Pick of the Week
| Week | Rivalry Sports Game Score Pick | Actual Result |
| 4 | San Francisco Over Arizona 27 -13 | San Francisco won 35 – 16 |
| 5 | Detroit Lions Over Carolina Panther 31 – 17 | Detroit Over Carolina 42 – 24 |
| 6 | Buffalo Bills Over New York Giants 34 – 20 | Buffalo over New York 14 – 9 |
| 7 | Buffalo Bills Over New England Patriots 31 – 17 | New England Patriots Over Buffalo Bills 29 – 25 |
| 8 | Detroit Lions Over Las Vegas Raiders 27 – 13 |
Take a look at each division to see where Rivalry Sports currently has your team ranked within the division.
NFC EAST
Philadelphia Eagles (6 – 1)
The Eagles won a tough game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday night by the score of 31 -17.
Philadelphia even lost the turnover battle, but was able to slow the Dolphins Offense by shutting down the running game and limiting the passing game.
This week the Eagles will look to continue their strong start to the season and get a win against Division foe Washington.
As long as star QB Jalen Hurts’ leg is ok, the Eagles should keep flying!
Strengths: With a strong collection of offensive playmakers including QB Jalen Hurts and WRs A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and a loaded defensive front seven, the team is built to compete now and for years to come.
Weaknesses: An aging offensive line has not shown signs of regression, but could be an area to watch. The chemistry could be tested this year as sideline arguments have already been seen between star players.
Week 8 Opponent: @ Washington Commanders at 1:00pm EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Dallas Cowboys (4-2)
The Cowboys took the Bye Week to try to clean up some areas on Offense and to get the team healthy.
This week they have a tough, but definitely winnable, game against the LA Rams.
The Rams are a good team, but if Dallas is serious about being a playoff caliber team then they need to win this game.
Strengths: When healthy, Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Tony Pollard form a strong base of skill position offensive players. The Defense is one of the NFL’s best with perennial Defensive Player of the Year Candidate Micah Parsons rushing the passer or manning the running lanes.
Weaknesses: Age on the offensive line and injuries. The devastating injury to CB Trevon Diggs as well as the injuries across the Offensive Line could derail the season.
Week 8 Opponent: LA Rams at 1:00pm EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Washington Commanders (3-4)
The Commanders lost a game that there is no excuse for this past weekend when they lost to the Giants by the score of 14 – 7.
Star DL Jonathan Allen let the world know after the game that he is “tired of this sh..”!
Allen is right, the Commanders have been stuck in mediocrity for years and they have way too much talent to be below .500 on the season.
When you hold a team in the NFL to 14 points and they happen to be one of the worst teams in the NFL, you should win that game.
The Commanders schedule doesn’t get any easier when they play a dominant Eagles team this weekend.
Strengths: Their Defensive line can wreak havoc when healthy and they have playmakers at the WR position.
Weaknesses: The Defensive line will soon become too expensive to keep all of the pieces. Sam Howell is a gutsy QB, but can he be the QB to lead the Commanders to dominance in the NFL?
Week 8 Opponent: Philadelphia Eagles at 1:00pm EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
New York Giants (2-5)
The Giants are in last place in their division, but they just stole a game against Division foe Washington last week.
Veteran backup QB Tyrod Taylor has come in and stabilized the team with his efficient, turnover-free play.
The Giants play a team with a dominant Defense, but weak Offense this week in the Jets.
If the Giants can win the turnover battle they have a chance to steal another game.
Strengths: Brian Daboll is a good coach that has the Giants play hard each week. Daniel Jones has some dual threat talent that he is still tapping into and when healthy Saquon Barkley is a great RB.
Weaknesses: Saquon Barkley has a hard time staying healthy which throws off the entire offense. The other offensive playmakers have not stepped up enough to take the pressure off when Barkley is out.
Week 8 Opponent: New York Jets at 1:00pm EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
NFC North
Detroit Lions (5-2)
Losing to a team like the Baltimore Ravens is not an embarrassment, but the way the Lions lost after how they had been playing was embarrassing.
The Ravens dominated the game in winning by the score of 38 – 6.
On Defense the Lions could not stop QB Lamar Jackson and his crew and on Offense the Lions were kept out of the end zone until the fourth quarter.
This team will need to show mental fortitude and move on from this game and get ready to play the Raiders on Monday night.
Good teams don’t let one loss turn into two so we will see how the Lions respond.
Strengths: Young defensive stalwarts such as Aidan Hutchinson, Brian Branch, and Jack Campbell have a bright future. On offense, the strong offensive line provides protection for underrated QB Jared Goff and the running game.
Weaknesses: The Lions have a great slot receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown and a talented young TE in Sam LaPorta, but they need production from their outside receiving crew which is holding this team back from reaching even higher heights.
Week 8 Opponent: Las Vegas Raiders at 8:15pm EDT, Monday 10/30/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Minnesota Vikings (3-4)
The Vikings are feeling good after taking down one of the top teams in the league on Monday night.
Minnesota beat the 49ers by the score of 22 -17 and thoroughly outplayed the 49ers in about every phase of the game.
The Vikings pulled off the win without All-Pro WR Justin Jefferson who they hope to get back in the next few weeks.
The Vikings will look to get back to .500 this week as well as take sole possession of second place in the Division when they play the Green Bay Packers.
Strengths: Justin Jefferson is an All-Pro WR and T.J. Hockenson is a talented TE for steady and underatted QB Kirk Cousins.
Weaknesses: Kirk Cousins is now 35 years old and the Vikings have not committed to him past this year. Too much money is spent on a defense that is not dominant and the run game fails to hold up their end of the bargain on offense.
Week 8 Opponent: @ Green Bay Packers at 1:00pm EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
Green Bay Packers (2-4)
I have been giving the Packers leeway all year and I still think they are a good team, but that may not come to fruition until later this season or even next season as they are a young squad.
This past week they lost to a one win Broncos team by the score of 19 -17.
Green Bay was about even with Denver in yards and won the time of possession battle, but lost the turnover battle 1 to nothing and that was the difference in the game.
The Pack need young QB Jordan Love to keep developing and start putting up more points, but they can be patient with a young team.
This week the Packers play Division foe Minnesota in a battle for 2nd place in the Division.
Strengths: Green Bay is a well run team from the front office to the coaching staff. They have talent across the board and their young QB Jordan Love looks like he may have what it takes to be the “answer” at QB.
Weaknesses: The age/injury history of the offensive line is concerning, especially when it comes to Pro Bowl Left Tackle David Bakhtiari. Also they have a young star WR in Christian Watson, but he has failed to stay healthy so far in his career.
Week 8 Opponent: Minnesota Vikings at 1:00pm EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Chicago Bears (2-5)
In the battle of backup QBs, Chicago won by winning the turnover battle 3 to nothing.
They beat the Raiders by the score of 30 – 12 and all of the sudden have won two of their last three games.
The Bears will look to keep leaning on their ground game against the Chargers this week as they know they are not built to win a shootout.
Strengths: This team is a mess. They have some good players, but none of their units stand out on either side of the ball. The good news is that they will have two high first round picks in the upcoming draft.
Weaknesses: Justin Fields is in his third year in the NFL, but does not seem to be progressing at a rate to show that he is the future for the Bears at QB. Without a good QB in the NFL, you will be stuck in mediocrity or worse. Now Fields has publicly questioned the coaching so we will see where this goes.
Week 8 Opponent: @ LA Chargers at 8:20pm EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
The Falcon were able to defeat the Bucs by a score of 16 – 13 and take the division lead last week.
The Falcon were able to be balanced offensively and if they can reduce some of their turnovers and get RB Bijan Robinson healthy then this team can make a run for the Division crown.
Strengths: The Falcons have a lot of young talent on offense including RB Bijan Robinson, TE Kyle Pitts, and WR Drake London, but can QB Demond Ridder get the ball to the TE and WRs?
Weaknesses: The Falcons need to continue to add to their D and offensive line, but most importantly, they need QB Desmond Ridder to prove that he can be a dangerous passer in the NFL.
Week 8 Opponent: @ Tennessee Titans at 1:00PM EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3)
The Bucs lost 1st place in the NFC South with their loss to the Falcons this past week by the score of 16 -13.
Tampa Bay had to be frustrated with this loss as they won the time of possession and the turnover battle, but their Achilles heel of not having much of a running game bit them.
Atlanta gained over 80 more yards on the ground than the Bucs and their balance on offense got the win.
Tampa Bay will look to get back on track this week, but have a tough game against an inconsistent Buffalo team.
Strengths: The Bucs have a strong D and a great 1 – 2 punch at WR with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Weaknesses: Tampa Bay is an aging team that must decide if they want to keep the band together, or trade some veterans now to reload instead of having to rebuild later. With many veteran core players that will need a new contract, now is the time to go all in or to trade them for young assets.
Week 8 Opponent: @ Buffalo Bills at 8:15pm EDT, Thursday 10/26/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
New Orleans Saints (3-4)
The Saints lost another game they should have won this weekend and it is starting to be a trend.
If you just looked at the box score you would think the Saints had won since they outgained the Jaguars by over 70 yards, they won the turnover battle, and they won the time of possession battle.
Unfortunately, QB Derek Carr and his receiving crew missed too many opportunities for catches and that led to an inefficient showing on offense.
The good news is that they are still in the thick of things in the NFC South, but they have to get back on a winning streak starting with their game against the Colts this Sunday.
Strengths: The Saints have a good offensive line, a star RB in Alvin Kamara, a star young WR in Chris Olave, a steady veteran QB in Derek Carr and a steady and strong defense.
Weaknesses: The heart and soul of the D is Cam Jordan and while Jordan is still a good player, he is 34 years old. Kamara will need a new contract soon or the Saints will need to replace the talented RB. Do they have enough young talent on Defense to make some noise in the playoffs?
Week 8 Opponent: @ Indianapolis Colts at 1:00pm EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Carolina Panthers (0-6)
The Panthers were on a Bye last week and that was a good thing for rookie QB Bryce Young and Carolina.
Hopefully they used the Bye week to clean up some things and are prepared to get a couple of wins.
That starts with their game against the Houston Texans this week who also happen to start a rookie QB.
Strengths: Bryce Young will be a good QB in the league, but it takes time. They have some young talent on defense including star DE Brian Burns.
Weaknesses: The Panthers need more playmakers to help Young out and they will need to continue to build a stronger offensive line.
Week 8 Opponent: Houston Texans at 1:00pm EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers (5-2)
The 49ers lost their second game in a row to a team they should have beat.
Minnesota was able to take down the 49ers by the score of 22 -17. The Vikings did this without their best player in WR Justin Jefferson who is injured.
The Vikings were able to outgain the 49ers by over 125 yds and they also committed less turnovers.
For San Francisco to get back on track they will have to get back to taking care of the football.
The 49ers should not be too worried, but will look to get their season back on track this week against a desperate Cincinnati team.
Strengths: This team is loaded. They have superstar RB Christian McCaffrrey at RB, George Kittle at TE, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk at WR and 2nd year surprise QB Brock Purdy leading the offense. The D is just as impressive with Nick Bosa and Jason Hargrave leading what might be the best D-line in the NFL.
Weaknesses: The only true “weakness” for the 49ers is the injury bug. For years now their starting QB seems to get injured and throw the season off the rails, but last year they had 4 QBs injured which led them to not being able to pass in the playoffs.
Week 8 Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals at 4:25pm EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
Seattle Seahawks (4-2)
The Seahawks got back to their winning formula by running the ball, passing efficiently and playing tough Defense in a 20 -10 win over the Arizona Cardinals this past weekend.
They even won without star WR DK Metcalf, but they have plenty of talent in the WR room with rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba and steady veteran Tyler Lockett.
Seattle will look to continue playing winning football against the Cleveland Browns this Sunday.
Strengths: Seattle is a well run team led by coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider. They seem to always fill out the roster with talented players and Carroll gets the team to play smart, tough football. They have a very talented WR and RB room this year.
Weaknesses: The offensive line has improved, but remains an area in need of an upgrade. Can career backup QB Geno Smith replicate his great season last year? They are near the bottom of the league in pressuring the QB and continuing to win without getting to the QB will be difficult.
Week 8 Opponent: Cleveland Browns at 4:05pm EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Los Angeles Rams (3-4)
The Rams lost a tough game to the Steelers by the score of 24 – 17 this past weekend.
The Rams actually outgained the Steelers, but the Steelers never turned the ball over and that was the difference in the game.
LA has played each team tough this year and that won’t stop against the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday.
Strengths: Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp, and Matthew Stafford. Those three still have star level talent even though they are all in their 30’s.
Weaknesses: An older core of star players and not enough blue chip young players since so many of their draft picks were traded away in pursuit of a Super Bowl.
Week 8 Opponent: @ Dallas Cowboys at 1:00pm EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
Arizona Cardinals (1-6)
The Cardinals are marching their way toward a high draft pick with another loss this past week.
The Seahawks defeated the Cardinals by the score of 20 -10.
The losing hurts now, but it may pay off in the long run as this team needs to add some more blue-chip talent in order to be competitive week-in and week-out.
Young QB Kyler Murray may return soon which may help add some talent to the Cardinals roster and will give them another extended look to see if Murray should be their long-term QB.
Strengths: The Cardinals have a decent offensive line, but need to continue to add new talent to it. They also have some talented young players that can help with the rebuild such as WR Marquise Brown and LB Zaven Collins.
Weaknesses: The Cardinals need more impact players across the board. What do the Cardinals currently hang their hat on as a team?
Week 8 Opponent: Baltimore Ravens at 4:25pm EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
AFC EAST
Miami Dolphins (5-2)
The Dolphins lost a game pitting two of the best teams in the NFL against each other this past weekend when they lost to the Eagles by the score of 31 – 17.
Philadelphia was able to overpower the Miami Offensive Line and keep QB Tua Tagovailoa under pressure and they completely shut down the running game.
The Dolphins still need to prove that they can compete with and beat good teams in the NFL, but I think that is coming.
Miami will look to get back on track this week when Division foe New England comes to town.
Strengths: Speed, Speed, Speed! When healthy Tua has become a top QB in the league and with weapons like WRs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and then speedy RBs Raheem Mostert and De’von Achane make it hard on any defense.
Weaknesses: The biggest obstacle to success for the Dolphins stands to be the injury bug. Star CB Jalen Ramsey has missed the first part of the year and the only thing that can hold QB Tua back is an injury.
Week 8 Opponent: New England Patriots at 1:00pm EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Buffalo Bills (4-3)
The Bills are the most inconsistent, but talented team in the NFL this year.
Most teams that are this inconsistent lack the talent to perform well each week, but for some reason the Bills are great one week and horrible the next even though they are one of the most talented teams in the NFL.
This week they lost to bottom dwelling New England by the score of 29 – 25.
The Patriots haven’t been able to do anything on Offense for most of the year and yet they put up 29 points and close to 400 yards against the Bills.
QB Josh Allen needs to firmly reestablish himself as one of the best QBs in the league and bring fire and consistency each week.
Buffalo will get another chance to right the ship this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Strengths: Franchise QB Josh Allen is one of the best QBs in the NFL, but he is not the only talent on the team. With talented TEs and WRs Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, Allen has a lot of weapons. The Defense is still solid and if Von Miller can get back to his old self by the end of the year, the Bills will be tough to beat.
Weaknesses: Advancing age of the Defense and possibly chemistry issues between star WR Diggs and QB Allen.
Week 8 Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 8:15PM EDT, Thursday 10/26/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
New York Jets (3-3)
The Jets may be behind the eight ball at the most important position in football each week, but this team has rallied to a .500 record so far.
A dominant Defense and a strong running game have helped to form an identity of toughness and if future Hall of Fame QB can beat the odds and return this year then the Jets could make some noise in the playoffs.
This week they will get a chance to get over .500 for the season with a matchup against a struggling Giants team.
Strengths: This team is strong with a very good receiving and running back group and an exceptionally strong Defense. They added QB Aaron Rodgers and when healthy, he could be the missing piece to the team.
Weaknesses: The offensive line and the QB room now that Rodgers is out. The Jets are counting on former first round pick Zach Wilson to lead the team and he has not shown himself to be an NFL quality QB up to this point.
Week 8 Opponent: @ New York Giants at 1:00pm EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
New England Patriots (2-5)
Just when you thought that the Patriots had no chance at all, they go out and beat one of the most talented teams in the NFL in the Buffalo Bills.
The Patriots won the game 29 – 25 for their highest scoring game of the year.
To consistently win QB Mac Jones will need more help from his running game, but for one week all is well in New England again.
This coming week the Patriots will look to build on last week’s win against the Miami Dolphins.
Strengths: A solid cast of veterans dots the roster, but they are spread pretty thin across the Roster. You don’t see any unit on the team and say that it is a glaring weakness. They are well coached and play hard.
Weaknesses: While the Patriots don’t have a unit across the board with a glaring weakness, they also don’t have a unit that stands out unless it is the TE’s. Can QB Mac Jones take the reigns of the offense and show that he is the QB of the present and the future?
Week 8 Opponent: @ Miami Dolphins at 1:00PM EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens (5-2)
The Ravens didn’t just beat a good team in the Detroit Lions, they dominated them by the score of 38 – 6.
Lamar Jackson looked in complete control of the game and if he can play that way every week then the Ravens will be tough to beat.
Their powerful win vaulted them back to the top of the AFC North and they will look to build upon their lead this week when they face the Arizona Cardinals.
Strengths: The running game and the Defense are strong as always. Lamar Jackson is the best running QB the league has ever seen and the defense has star players littered across the roster.
Weaknesses: Passing. This was the reason the Ravens were reluctant to pay QB Jackson the amount of money that they did as good teams have learned how to beat the Ravens by taking away the run. Can Jackson take the next step in passing?
Week 8 Opponent: @ Arizona Cardinals at 4:25PM EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)
The Steelers were fortunate to get a 24 – 17 win over the LA Rams last weekend.
The Rams actually outplayed the Steelers for much of the game, but the Steelers never turned the ball over and the Rams did once and that seemed to be the difference in the game.
Pittsburgh needs more out of its Offense going forward if they want to consistently win games, but so far their powerful defense has led them to 1st place in their Division.
This week is another tough test against a rising Jacksonville team.
Strengths: All-Pro LB T.J. Watt leads a Defense that is loaded with playmakers at every level. Coach Tomlin knows how to push the right buttons and he has a good WR room to build around on offense.
Weaknesses: The offensive line is still not as strong as it needs to be, QB Kenny Pickett needs to take the next step in his career and offensive coordinator Matt Canada has failed to build a cohesive offense during his tenure.
Week 8 Opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars at 1:00PM EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
Cleveland Browns (4-2)
QB Deshaun Watson left the game with an undisclosed injury after only five passes, but the hard-nosed Browns still came away with a 39 – 38 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
The Browns are truly playing hard even without their two stars on Offense in RB Nick Chubb and QB Deshaun Watson.
Coach Kevin Stefanski should already be receiving some Coach of the Year votes with the way he has held the team together and has them playing hard.
This week they have a tough game against a team that plays a similar tough style of football in the Seattle Seahawks.
Strengths: The Browns have a solid offensive line along with a star RB, until Nick Chubb was hurt, and a good Defense led by DE Myles Garrett.
Weaknesses: It is hard to imagine that the passing game would be a weakness when QB Deshaun Watson was acquired, but he has failed to measure up to his previous self while with the Houston Texans. Can they turn the passing game around and can the running game succeed without the injured Nick Chubb.
Week 8 Opponent: @ Seattle Seahawks at 4:05PM EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
Cincinnati Bengals (3-3)
Cincinnati has wildly underachieved up to this point of the season, but that has to be attributed to the injury to star QB Joe Burrow’s calf.
Last week’s Bye hopefully helped Burrow heal up as the Bengals need to go on a run of wins in their tough Division if they want a shot at the playoffs.
Don’t count out the moxie and talent of Joe Burrow and the Bengals who hope to get things turned in the right direction this week against the 49ers.
Strengths: QB Joe Burrow is a star and one of the best QBs in the league. He has great weapons in WRs Ja’marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd along with RB Joe Mixon. The Defense is solid, but will the loss of Pro Bowl Safety Jesse Bates come back to haunt them?
Weaknesses: The offensive line is much improved, but could still use reinforcements and the Bengals could use some more playmakers on defense, but overall this is a strong team.
Week 8 Opponent: @ San Francisco 49ers at 4:25PM EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
AFC South
Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2)
The Jaguars are growing up before our eyes and learning to win tough games.
They beat the New Orleans Saints by the score of 31 – 24 this past weekend.
They are slowly pulling away from the rest of the Division and with star QB Trevor Lawrence leading the way, the Jaguars are set to be competitive for years to come.
This week they will look to build upon their Division lead with a game against the Steelers.
Strengths: QB Trevor Lawrence, RB Travis Etienne, and WRs Calvin Ridley and Christian Kirk represent a strong and talented young offensive core. They have many high draft picks on Defense that they are counting on as well.
Weaknesses: The defense has not had the impact the Jaguars would like, especially with high draft picks Travon Walker and Josh Allen leading the way. The offensive line also needs to be upgraded for more consistency.
Week 8 Opponent: @ Pittsburgh Steelers at 1:00PM EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Houston Texans (3-3)
Houston has had a quick turnaround this year as few people would have had them as a .500 team at this point of the season.
The Bye week was used to continue to refine the game of this young team and they will come out and try to close the gap with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the Division lead.
This week the Texans play a winless Carolina team that also has a rookie starting at QB.
Strengths: With two cornerstone players in Stroud and Anderson joining talented LT Laremy Tunsil and talented WR Nico Collins and CB Derek Stingley Jr., this team is building a strong foundation.
Weaknesses: This year is about experience for their young stars, so while no unit may dominate, they have talented players in each unit that will only get better.
Week 8 Opponent: @ Carolina Panthers at 1:00PM EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
Indianapolis Colts (3-4)
The Colts lost a frustrating game to the Browns this past weekend by the score of 39 – 38.
Indy outgained the Browns by 140 yards and still lost, mainly because they committed 4 turnovers to the Browns 2.
For the Colts to win without rookie QB Anthony Richardson they will need backup QB Gardner Minshew to continue his gunslinging style, but take better care of the football.
They will look to stay in the Division race with a game against the Saints this Sunday.
Strengths: The Colts have a strong and steady Defense and a solid offensive line with a couple of talented WRs.
Weaknesses: Rookie QB Anthony Richardson is lost for the year. Without him they are just trying to tread water. They could also bolster their offensive line and add another offensive playmaker to make life easier for QB Anthony Richardson.
Week 8 Opponent: New Orleans Saints at 1:00PM EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
Tennessee Titans (2-4)
The Titans continue to fight an uphill battle with a team that is past their prime fighting against the younger and more talented teams in their Division.
The Titans have proud players and a great coach in Mike Vrabel, but the best thing for them long term is to get a high draft pick for next year and start their rebuild.
This week they will take on a surging Atlanta team that plays a similar style as the Titans, but with much younger players.
Strengths: Mike Vrabel is an excellent coach that gets the most out of his roster. They are a tough team that don’t give up and play hard each week. D lineman Jeffrey Simmons is a star in the league.
Weaknesses: Age and offense. The offense has been hard to watch this year and with an aging core it doesn’t look like it will get much better.
Week 8 Opponent: Atlanta Falcons at 1:00PM EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs (6-1)
The Chiefs defeated the Chargers by the score of 31 – 17 this past weekend.
Kansas City is looking like they are primed to make the playoffs and defend their title this year.
Patrick Mahomes is his dominant self and Travis Kelce doesn’t seem to age. As long as those two are together it is tough for the rest of the league to stop them.
KC will look for another win this week against the Broncos.
Strengths: QB Patrick Mahomes, TE Travis Kelce, and D lineman Chris Jones are all at the top of the league for their respective positions. Along with coach Andy Reid, this team is poised to compete.
Weaknesses: Cost. Anytime you have great players you have to pay them and the Chiefs found that out last year when they had to trade star WR Tyreek Hill before the season. The cost of their star players costs them depth, but as long as the stars are healthy they have been able to overcome it.
Week 8 Opponent: Denver Broncos at 4:25PM EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Los Angeles Chargers (2-4)
The Chargers lost to the Chiefs 31 – 17 this past weekend.
We came into the year thinking that the Chargers may challenge the Chiefs for the Division title, but this game showed that these two teams are still miles apart in competitive nature.
The Chargers need something to happen to wake them up and stop the underachieving.
If this team wants to make a serious run at the playoffs they will need to start a winning streak and there is no better time than this coming weekend against the Chicago Bears.
Strengths: QB Justin Herbert is one of the best QBs in the league and he has a lot of weapons such as WR Keenan Allen and RB Austin Ekeler. The Defense is also loaded with stars such as Joey Bosa, Derwin James, and Khalil Mack.
Weaknesses: This team does not have many weaknesses in talent, but they need more from the defense and they need more consistent production from the offense.
Week 8 Opponent: Chicago Bears at 8:20PM EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Las Vegas Raiders (3-4)
The Raiders were embarrassed by a bad Chicago Bears team this past weekend.
The Raiders lost by the score of 30 – 12 and the game wasn’t even as close as the score shows.
One thing the Raiders may have learned is that they need to play 3rd string rookie QB Aidan O’Connell.
If starting QB Jimmy G is out, then this team is really just playing for the future and they need to see what they have in O’Connell.
Las Vegas will get another shot at a team from the NFC North this week in the Detroit Lions, but the Lions will be angry after they themselves were embarrassed by the Ravens this past weekend.
Strengths: The Raiders have star WR Davante Adams and RB Josh Jacobs on offense and then they have pro bowl DE Maxx Crosby on defense so they have pieces to put together a good team.
Weaknesses: The Raiders need a more talent along the offensive line and the back end of the defense. They also need to develop an identiy as a team.
Week 8 Opponent: @ Detroit Lions at 8:15PM EDT, Monday 10/30/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
Denver Broncos (2-5)
The Broncos were able to get their second win of the year by beating the Green Bay Packers by the score of 19 – 17 in Week 7.
Although they didn’t light up the scoreboard, they also didn’t make any glaring mistakes and that helped them win the game.
This week they will get another shot at the Kansas City Chiefs who they lost to a couple of weeks ago.
Strengths: QB Russell Wilson might not be the player he once was, but he is still a talented QB. The secondary is young and talented and Coach Sean Payton has won a Super Bowl and knows how to get the most out of his teams so the Broncos should see progress this year.
Weaknesses: The running game is lacking and the Broncos need more to get more pressure on the opposing QB in order to be a better defense.
Week 8 Opponent: Kansas City Chiefs at 4:25PM EDT, Sunday 10/29/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
Rivalry Sports Fantasy Players of the week (PPR Leagues)
QB – Patrick Mahomes
RB – Breece Hall
WR – Keenan Allen
WR – A.J. Brown
TE – Travis Kelce
K – Justin Tucker
Defense – New York Jets
Game Picks of the Week for Week 8
Week 7 Picks and Results
| Game (Home Team listed 2nd) | Rivalry Sports Pick – Dustin Kirby | Guest Picker – Lance Kirby | Actual Game Winner |
| Jacksonville Jaguars vs New Orleans Saints | New Orleans Saints | Jacksonville | Jacksonville |
| Las Vegas Raiders vs Chicago Bears | Las Vegas Raiders | Chicago | Chicago |
| Cleveland Browns vs Indianapolis Colts | Indianapolis Colts | Cleveland | Cleveland |
| Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots | Buffalo Bills | Buffalo | New England |
| Washington Commanders vs New York Giants | Washington Commanders | Washington | New York Giants |
| Atlanta Falcons vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Atlanta Falcons | Tampa | Atlanta |
| Detroit Lions vs Baltimore Ravens | Detroit Lions | Detroit | Baltimore |
| Pittsburgh Steelers vs Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | LA Rams | Pittsburgh |
| Arizona Cardinals vs Seattle Seahawks | Seattle Seahawks | Seattle | Seattle |
| Green Bay Packers vs Denver Broncos | Green Bay Packers | Green Bay | Denver |
| Los Angeles Chargers vs Kansas City Chiefs | Los Angeles Chargers | Kansas City | Kansas City |
| Miami Dolphins vs Philadelphia Eagles | Miami Dolphins | Miami | Philadelphia |
| San Francisco 49ers vs Minnesota Vikings | San Francisco 49ers | San Francisco | Minnesota |
| Total Wins | 3 | 5 | 13 |
Week 8 Picks
| GAME (Home Team listed 2nd) | RIVALRY SPORTS PICK – DUSTIN KIRBY | GUEST PICKER – Richard Strick | Winning Team |
| Tampa Bay vs Buffalo | Buffalo | Buffalo | |
| LA Rams vs Dallas | Dallas | Dallas | |
| Minnesota vs Green Bay | Green Bay | Minnesota | |
| Atlanta vs Tennessee | Atlanta | Tennessee | |
| New Orleans vs Indianapolis | New Orleans | Indy | |
| New England vs Miami | Miami | Miami | |
| New York Jets vs New York Giants | New York Jets | Jets | |
| Jacksonville vs Pittsburgh | Jacksonville | Pittsburgh | |
| Philadelphia vs Washington | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | |
| Houston vs Carolina | Carolina | Carolina | |
| Cleveland vs Seattle | Seattle | Seattle | |
| Kansas City vs Denver | Kansas City | Kansas City | |
| Baltimore vs Arizona | Baltimore | Baltimore | |
| Cincinnati vs San Francisco | Cincinnati | Cincinnati | |
| Chicago vs LA Chargers | LA Chargers | Chargers | |
| Las Vegas vs Detroit | Detroit | Detroit | |
| Wins per Picker | 16 |
