The NFL is off to London again—the Chargers and Saints will play there and they can both bring motivation that the Giants beat the Dolphins (by a brutal 13-10 score in the rain) there last year and then went onto the Super Bowl championship. And the Dolphins went on to 1-15.

Neither the Chargers or Saints will be 1-15 this year.

Nor will Sam or I.

I still happen to be floundering below .500, but I rebounded to whup Sam last week with a 9-5 mark (thanks, Jets) to his 8-6. So I gained a single game in the standings and still trail by four:

Sam 53-46-3
Carp 49-50-3

For the record, Sam picked the Rays to win the World Series and I picked the Phillies, so we’re all even there.

WEEK 8

STEELERS (-3) over Giants
JETS (-13 1/2) over Chiefs
RAVENS (-7) over Raiders
Chargers (-3) over Saints
Bills (-1 1/2) over DOLPHINS
COWBOYS (-2 1/2) over Bucs
EAGLES (-9) over Falcons
PATRIOTS (-7 1/2) over Rams
PANTHERS (-4) over Cardinals
Redskins (-7 1/2) over LIONS
JAGUARS (-7) over Browns
49ERS (-5) over Seahawks
TEXANS (-9) over Bengals
TITANS (-4) over Colts

11:15 a.m.,  Sam says:

First of all, I think Carp’s use of the word “whup” needs to be re-evaluated. Whup? He beat me by ONE GAME last week. One game! Believe me, I’ll take 8-6 weeks the rest of the way and waltz to the season title. Carp going 9-5 is hardly a whupping (and, frankly, not much cause for concern). Next thing you know he’ll be talking about how the Rays “whupped” the Red Sox in that seven-game ALCS …

Anyway, on to the picks.

Giants (+3) over STEELERS
JETS (-13 1/2) over Chiefs
RAVENS (-7) over Raiders
SAINTS (+3) over Chargers
Bills (-1 1/2) over DOLPHINS
COWBOYS (-2 1/2) over Bucs
Falcons (+9) over EAGLES
PATRIOTS (-7 1/2) over Rams
PANTHERS (-4) over Cardinals
Redskins (-7 1/2) over LIONS
JAGUARS (-7) over Browns
49ERS (-5) over Seahawks
TEXANS (-9) over Bengals
Colts (+4) over TITANS