Vikings at Falcons (-4½)

With Kirk Cousins done for the season, the Vikings are handing the ball to unheralded rookie Jaren Hall. The stint as Minnesota’s QB will likely not be long for a guy who, while at Brigham Young, was considered a Poor Man’s Zach Wilson.
Pick: Falcons by 7

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – AUGUST 10: Quarterback Jaren Hall #16 of the Minnesota Vikings scrambles away from pressure from safety Ty Okada #39 of the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter of a preseason game at Lumen Field on August 10, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Getty Images)

Bills at Bengals (-2½)

All eyes in Cincinnati will be on Bills safety Damar Hamlin as he returns to the scene of his cardiac arrest nearly a year ago. We’re looking forward to the pregame coverage on the Pat McAfee Show when medical expert Aaron Rodgers blames Hamlin’s collapse on the covid vax.
Pick: Bengals by 3

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) warms up before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)

Rams at Packers (-2½)

Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst says the next 10 games are “very important” for Jordan Love. His season-ending play will determine whether Love next year is quarterbacking in the NFL, the CFL, the XFL or the Lingerie Football League.
Pick: Packers by 3

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 29: Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers reacts against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on October 29, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Giants at Raiders (-2½)

Raiders owner Mark Davis cleaned house this week, firing his coach, general manager and overseeing the benching of his quarterback. The Las Vegas makeover is so complete that Davis is even going to replace the salad bowl he has been using to shape his haircuts.
Pick: Giants by 7

Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis before an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Bears at Saints (-7½)

The Bears fired assistant coach David Walker over “workplace behavior” just weeks after letting go of Alan Williams under even murkier circumstances. This gives the Bears a higher percentage of workplace behavior issues than every American firm except the Weinstein Company.
Pick: Saints by 11

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – APRIL 21: Head coach Matt Eberflus of the Chicago Bears, offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and defensive coordinator Alan Williams looks on prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field on April 21, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Colts at Panthers (+2½)

Last-place Carolina plays host to last-place Indianapolis in the NFL’s least appetizing game of the week. It’s a contest so mediocre and so lacking in interest that it might actually draw lower television ratings than the World Series.
Pick: Colts by 3

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – OCTOBER 22: Jordan Elliott #96 of the Cleveland Browns sacks Gardner Minshew #10 of the Indianapolis Colts during the second quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 22, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Cardinals at Browns (-8½)

Arizona has named Clayton Tune the starting quarterback after trading Josh Dobbs to the Vikings. The Cardinals’ new QB is no relation to Broadway legend Tommy Tune who, in fact, is probably a better quarterback prospect.
Pick: Browns by 16

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 07: Actor Tommy Tune accepts a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre onstage at the 2015 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 7, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

Cowboys at Eagles (-3½)

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts cut short a press conference this week when asked about his injured knee. Philly reporters said they hadn’t seen such a petulant display by a local star athlete since the last time James Harden opened his mouth.
Pick: Eagles by 7

LANDOVER, MARYLAND – OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on against the Washington Commanders at FedExField on October 29, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Dolphins at Chiefs (-2½)

Tyreek Hill says it doesn’t matter that his first matchup against his old team is taking place in Frankfurt, Germany instead of Kansas City. The Dolphins’ receiver, on pace to be the NFL’s first 2,000-yard receiver, is having such a great year that everyone has forgotten his arrest record.
Pick: Chiefs by 3

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 29: Tyreek Hill #10 of the Miami Dolphins catches a touchdown during the first quarter against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on October 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)

Commanders at Patriots (-3½)

NFL pundit Mike Florio this week raised eyebrows by floating a rumor that the Commanders might make a trade to obtain New England coach Bill Belichick after this season. It’s the surest sign yet that Mike Florio is smoking crack.
Pick: Patriots by 7

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 22: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots reacts after a play in the second half of the game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on October 22, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Other games

Seahawks at Ravens (-5½):
Pick: Seahawks by 3

Buccaneers at Texans (-2½):
Pick: Texans by 3

Chargers at Jets (+3½):.
Pick: Chargers by 7

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 29: Geno Smith #7 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts during the fourth quarter of a game against the Cleveland Browns at Lumen Field on October 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Bye weeks

Broncos, Lions, Jaguars, 49ers

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) warms up during an NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Record

Week 8
12-4 straight up
9-7 vs. spread

Season

75-47 straight up (.615)
63-59 vs. spread (.516)

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 29: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on after the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on October 29, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images)

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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