RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – It was a rough week for the leader, Robb Crocker (5-3) and Chip Brierre (2-6). With only four more weeks of competition left, there is no room for error.
As always, feel free to play along at home.
Robb Crocker, 8News Digital Content Manager (last week – 5-3, overall 70-34)
Army Black Knights vs. Navy Midshipmen
Pick: Navy Midshipmen
Realistically, I’d like to see Army win, but Navy has dominated this series – that continues.
Richmond Spiders @ Illinois State Redbirds
Pick: Illinois State Redbirds
Realistically, I’d like to see Richmond win, but Illinois State is that good at home.
Seattle Seahawks @ Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Seattle Seahawks
I am enjoying watching the Ravens tank this year. Seattle has all of the sudden become scary good.
Washington Redskins @ Chicago Bears
Pick: Chicago Bears
Washington turned back into Washington on Monday night. I don’t see them recovering.
Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers
Pick: Carolina Panthers
This could be the game that slips by the Panthers, but I’m going to play it safe.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
Pick: Cincinnati Bengals
Regardless of their record, this is a must-win game for Andy Dalton and the Bengals.
San Francisco 49ers @ Cleveland Browns
Pick: Cleveland Browns
This could be the worst game of the year. This will be the worst game of the year.
Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers
Pick: Green Bay Packers
The Cowboys will not win another game this season.
Amanda Malkowski, 8News Good Morning Richmond Anchor (last week – 7-1, overall – 69-35)
Army Black Knights vs. Navy Midshipmen
Pick: Navy Midshipmen
Richmond Spiders @ Illinois State Redbirds
Pick: Illinois State Redbirds
Seattle Seahawks @ Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Seattle Seahawks
Washington Redskins @ Chicago Bears
Pick: Chicago Bears
Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers
Pick: Carolina Panthers
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers
San Francisco 49ers @ Cleveland Browns
Pick: San Francisco 49ers
Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers
Pick: Green Bay Packers
Will Armbruster, 8News Digital Content Producer (last week – 5-3, overall 66-38)
Army Black Knights vs. Navy Midshipmen
Pick: Navy Midshipmen
Army hasn’t beaten its arch rival since 2001. Navy is favored by 22 points.
Richmond Spiders @ Illinois State Redbirds
Pick: Richmond Spiders
So what Richmond’s 12 point underdogs …. Let’s go Spiders!
Seattle Seahawks @ Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Seattle Seahawks
Did you see how well Russell Wilson and Co. looked last week? They’re rounding into NFC championship contender form.
Washington Redskins @ Chicago Bears
Pick: Chicago Bears
Things were looking up for Washington last week when they entered Monday’s showdown with Dallas atop the NFC East standings. I see the ‘skins suffering their second loss in a row, subsequently sending its fan base into their perennial frenzy (if they weren’t there already).
Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers
Pick: Carolina Panthers
Twice this season I’ve picked Carolina to lose. I’ve learned my lesson.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
Pick: Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati has the AFC North all but wrapped up. Pittsburgh desperately needs a win to remain in playoff contention.
San Francisco 49ers @ Cleveland Browns
Pick: Cleveland Browns
OK, so this isn’t so much a prediction as it is wishful thinking … Money Manziel feasts on San Francisco’s putrid defense and leads the Browns to a convincing win at home.
Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers
Pick: Green Bay Packers
The Pack got back on track in epically dramatic fashion last week. No way they turn around and lose at home to the 4-8 Cowboys.
Mitch Carr, 8News Sports Director (last week – 5-3, overall – 62-42)
Army Black Knights vs. Navy Midshipmen
Pick: Navy Midshipmen
Keenan Reynolds will finish 5th in Heisman voting. Navy is a bowl team. Army is none of these things.
Richmond Spiders @ Illinois State Redbirds
Pick: Illinois State Redbirds
The Redbirds are national runners-up and have a 19-game home winning streak.
Seattle Seahawks @ Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Seattle Seahawks
Russell Wilson is hot and the running game hasn’t taken a hit since Marshawn Lynch’s injury. I hope the Seahawks make the Super Bowl just so Thomas Rawls can show Lynch how to be a gracious professional and bratty Lynch can get what he wants: the media not asking him questions.
Washington Redskins @ Chicago Bears
Pick: Chicago Bears
The ‘Skins are terrible on the road.
Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers
Pick: Atlanta Falcons
I’m going out on a limb here, but the Falcons are just due for a win and the Panthers are just due for a loss.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
Pick: Cincinnati Bengals
Cinci is a complete team. I’m really excited for this game. It’s going to be two teams throwing the ball 30 yards down the field and also balancing things with a physical running game. I’m just praying Cinci doesn’t take our Deangelo Williams. They’ve ended LeVeon Bell’s season in back to back years.
San Francisco 49ers @ Cleveland Browns
Pick: San Francisco 49ers
Boooooooooooooooo….BOOOOOOOOOOOO…BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers
Pick: Green Bay Packers
I saw the Cowboys firsthand Monday night, and they are who we thought they were: terrible.
Chip Brierre, 8News Weekend Sports Anchor (last week – 2-6, overall – 59-45)
Army Black Knights vs. Navy Midshipmen
Pick: Navy Midshipmen
Honestly don’t know enough about either team, but if I now anything it’s that Navy has Seal Team 6, and those guys are hardcore. I’ll pick Navy.
Richmond Spiders @ Illinois State Redbirds
Pick: Richmond Spiders
Spiders played, I believe, their best game of the season against William & Mary to begin their playoff run. What concerns me about their matchup Friday night is Illinois State’s ability to run the football consistently? Richmond’s defense is playing at another level right now, and they have to prevent long possessions to stand a chance. To get a good chance of winning, offense, on the other side, can’t turn the ball over, which they have not in the 2nd half of the season. This will truly show if the Spiders are ready for the national championship, I think they get it done on the road in a close encounter.
Seattle Seahawks @ Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Seattle Seahawks
Jimmy Graham, Marshawn Lynch both out and Seattle still has won 5 of its last 6. Just because they struggled out of the gate, doesn’t mean they still aren’t a threat come playoff time. Ravens are hapless, Seattle has to keep winning and they will on Sunday.
Washington Redskins @ Chicago Bears
Pick: Washington Redskins
The Redskins are the only team in the NFL without a road win this season. Even though they dropped their Monday night game vs. Dallas, Sunday is their best chance to get one away from the comfy confines of FedEx field. Desean Jackson lost them the game last week (the consensus belief around these parts), I expect he’ll be the reason they win in the Windy City.
Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers
Pick: Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton is my MVP vote if I had one. He’s reached his potential and then some. He can do anything he wants with a dominant defense to buoy him on the other side. Falcons are scrambling to get their ways about them after falling to the Jets. Charlotte should easily win here.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
Pick: Cincinnati Bengals
Andy Dalton HAS TO WIN THIS GAME. Yes, the Capitol for spaghetti chili is 11-2, but every game from here on out Dalton and his Bengals have to continue to prove to the rest of the NFL that they can deliver week in and week out, including the playoffs when they qualify.
San Francisco 49ers @ Cleveland Browns
Pick: Cleveland Browns
Two reasons behind my pick: 1) JOHNNY FOOTBALL IS BACK! (Still needs to grow up, but this is football analysis for picks, not personality analysis) 2) Duke Johnson and Travis Benjamin hail from the U and I worked alongside them during my days as a videographer for the Miami Hurricanes football team (see here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P5sCE3zL0I). Besides both of these teams aren’t going to the playoffs, so it still is a toss-up.
Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers
Pick: Green Bay Packers
Cowboys got a cheap shot over the Redskins on Monday night, but the Packers are a different beast altogether. Aaron Rodgers gets it done to keep pushing for an NFC Wild Card spot.
Kerri O’Brien, 8News Investigative Reporter (last week – 5-3, overall – 58-46)
Army Black Knights vs. Navy Midshipmen
Pick: Navy Midshipmen
Navy is going to a bowl so I go Navy and I enjoyed many runs on the beautiful Naval grounds during my college reporter internship at the Annapolis State Capitol…so I’m biased, GO NAVY!
Richmond Spiders @ Illinois State Redbirds
Pick: Illinois State Redbirds
I love the Spiders but have to go Illinois…they have been on some crazy winning streak.
Seattle Seahawks @ Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Seattle Seahawks
I am going Seahawks. They are looking better and the Ravens — it’s just not their year.
Washington Redskins @ Chicago Bears
Pick: Chicago Bears
Going Bears, partly because as an Eagles fan I need this! But also, I think the Skins successful run is over. That Monday night game was some of the worst football I have ever seen in the history of NFL. BAD!
Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers
Pick: Carolina Panthers
Panthers crush, this a Super Bowl team. There is no stopping them.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers
I think the Steelers could pull out the win in this one, Ben moves well out of the pocket and I think he might be too much for the Bengals D.
San Francisco 49ers @ Cleveland Browns
Pick: San Francisco 49ers
It’s a toss-up honestly, I go 49’ers
Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers
Pick: Green Bay Packers
See above notes on Skins game, that Monday night game was just painful! Pop Warner kids play better. Packers destroy the Cowboys.
