Here’s how the local teams will fare on the eighth Sunday of the NFL season.
New York Jets at Chicago Bears (-7)
The Jets, 1-7 in their last eight road games (2-5-1 against the spread), travel to Chicago after a 2-1 home stand. Solider Field has been an inhospitable locale for visiting teams of late, as the Bears are 11-4-1 against the spread in their last 16 home games.
Sam Darnold, behind one the worst offensive lines in football, will have a difficult time moving the football with Khalil Mack in his face all game long. Darnold has been baited into throwing 10 INTs this season, which spells trouble against Chicago’s defense, the co-leader in INTs through seven weeks (11).
The Jets’ defense has allowed an average of 420.75 yards over their last four games after a decent start to the season. That includes a 316-yard outing against Minnesota last week, partially the product of great field position after a back-breaking four turnovers by Darnold and company.
Mitchell Trubisky shouldn’t need to make too many throws in this one, instead relying on potent running backs Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen (sixth in rushing yards per game) to carry the offense.
The pick: Bears -7
Washington Redskins (-1) at New York Giants
The Giants are just about dead and buried after falling to 1-6 on Monday night in Atlanta. Their offense has been simply embarrassing, topping 20 points just once in seven games. Washington won’t make things easy for Eli Manning and company, as they’re fifth in yards per game allowed and seventh in points per game as well as yards per play allowed.
The Redskins’ offense has been unsurprisingly mediocre since Alex Smith came to town, ranking 25th in points per game. Fortunately for them, the Giants’ defenders have been very generous with their opposition, surrendering over 26 points per game (25th), and just lost Eli Apple and Damon Harrison in separate trades earlier in the week. Expect Washington to prevail in a fairly low-scoring tilt.
The pick: Redskins -1
Philadelphia Eagles (-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (London)
Set your alarms for this game that starts at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. The Jaguars have dropped three straight against the spread, but there’s reason to believe that they’ll turn it around in Week 8.
Jacksonville is defined by their defense, which is first in the NFL in passing yards allowed with corner back Jalen Ramsey shutting down opposing number-one wide outs. The Jags’ defense is second in yards per play allowed and ninth in points per game allowed, even after allowing an average of 30 points per game over their last three defeats. They can be beaten on the ground (25th in yards per game allowed), but the Eagles have managed just 82.3 rushing yards per game over their last three contests.
Philly’s defense is sixth in points per game allowed and 14th in yards per game allowed, so look for Carlos Hyde to make an impact in his first game as a Jaguar as a motivated Blake Bortles gets back under center after being benched in Week 7.
The pick: Jaguars +3
