Grading Our Week 8 Survivor Pick: Los Angeles Chargers
Our strategy of favoring home favorites continues to pay dividends. This week, the Chargers made sure our pick was a solid one by dominating the Chicago Bears with a 30-13 victory.
Game Summary
Justin Herbert led the way for the Chargers, throwing for 298 yards and three touchdowns. Remarkably, he completed his first 15 passes. The defense also had a standout performance with two interceptions and three fourth-down stops, making life difficult for Bears rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent.
Key Points
Aerial Mastery: Herbert’s accuracy was on full display, particularly in the first half where he threw for three touchdowns. His exceptional performance set the tone for the rest of the team.
Defensive Prowess: The Chargers’ defense came up big, particularly Derwin James and Ja’Sir Taylor who each had an interception. They also successfully contained Chicago to only one play of at least 20 yards.
Special Teams: Kicker Cameron Dicker had a solid game, contributing three field goals to the Chargers’ victory, two of which came in the second half.
Injury Watch: While the Chargers won convincingly, they did so without TE Gerald Everett, who was inactive due to a hip injury sustained in the previous game.
Survivor Picks So Far
The Chargers’ decisive win made for a less stressful weekend compared to some of our earlier picks. Sticking to our home favorites strategy is proving to be a wise choice. The Chargers’ win was particularly gratifying given the shocking loss by the Kanas City Chiefs to the lowly Broncos, a team many considered to be a safe bet this week.
- Week 1: Baltimore
- Week 2: Dallas
- Week 3: Kansas City
- Week 4: San Francisco
- Week 5: Miami
- Week 6: Buffalo
- Week 7: Seattle
- Week 8: Los Angeles Chargers
- Week 9: Cleveland
- Week 10: Cincinnati (lost)
NFL Week 9 Spreads
- Arizona Cardinals vs Cleveland Browns (-7.5)
- Chicago Bears vs New Orleans Saints (-5.5)
- Seattle Seahawks vs Baltimore Ravens (-5.5)
- Indianapolis Colts (-2.5) vs Carolina Panthers
- New York Giants vs Las Vegas Raiders (-5.5)
- Los Angeles Chargers (-2.5) vs New York Jets
- Minnesota Vikings vs Atlanta Falcons (-3.5)
- Tennessee Titans vs Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5)
- Miami Dolphins vs Kansas City Chiefs (-2.5)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Houston Texans (-2.5)
- Washington Commanders vs New England Patriots (-2.5)
- Los Angeles Rams vs Green Bay Packers (-2.5)
- Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles (-2.5)
- Buffalo Bills vs Cincinnati Bengals (-1.5)
Week 9 Bye Teams
- Denver Broncos
- Detroit Lions
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- San Francisco 49ers
Survivor Pool Picks for NFL Week 9
Arizona Cardinals vs Cleveland Browns (-7.5)
Why the Browns should win: In a week where Survivor picks are notably challenging due to most games having a spread of 3 points or less, we’re placing our trust in the Cleveland Browns.
The Browns have a 4-3 record and have been particularly strong at home with a 3-1 record. They boast a formidable defense that leads the league in both yards allowed per game (260.0) and pass yards allowed (163.3). This defense has been instrumental in their victories against solid teams this year, including the 49ers, Colts, Bengals, and Titans.
Facing the Arizona Cardinals, who hold a 1-7 record and are particularly weak on the road (0-4), the Browns are favored by 7.5 points, suggesting a more comfortable margin than most games this week. In addition to their defensive might, the Browns have shown resilience in close matches. They nearly pulled off a win against Seattle in Week 8, only losing in the final moments of the game. All of these factors make the Browns a calculated risk in a week where safe options are few and far between.
Survivor Pick: Cleveland Browns
Chicago Bears vs New Orleans Saints (-5.5)
Why the Saints should win: The Saints are coming off an electrifying offensive performance against the Colts, putting up 511 yards and 38 points. The Bears, on the other hand, have struggled defensively, allowing Justin Herbert to throw for more than 300 yards in their last game. Given the Saints’ momentum and the Bears’ defensive woes, the Saints are well-positioned to cover the spread.
Survivor Pick: New Orleans Saints
Seattle Seahawks vs Baltimore Ravens (-5.5)
Why the Ravens should win: The Ravens managed to secure a win against the Cardinals even when Lamar Jackson had an off-day. Their defense held Joshua Dobbs to 208 yards and picked him off twice. The Seahawks, while on a winning streak, still have Geno Smith at the helm, who could struggle against a more complex Ravens defense.
Survivor Pick: Baltimore Ravens
Indianapolis Colts (-2.5) vs Carolina Panthers
Why the Colts should win: The Colts have fought hard in almost every game and were competitive against a strong Saints team. The Panthers, on the other hand, just notched their first win of the season against a struggling Texans team. The Colts’ experience in close games should help them edge out a Panthers team still searching for its identity.
Survivor Pick: Indianapolis Colts
New York Giants vs Las Vegas Raiders (-5.5)
Why the Raiders should win: The Giants are reeling with injuries to key offensive players like Saquon Barkley and both their quarterbacks. They struggled in a low-scoring game against the Jets, showcasing their offensive limitations. The Raiders should capitalize on this weakness, making them a solid choice to not only win but also cover the spread.
Survivor Pick: Las Vegas Raiders
Week 8 NFL Recap
Baltimore Ravens vs Arizona Cardinals
The Ravens managed to secure a win despite a lackluster performance from Lamar Jackson. Baltimore’s defense was the star of the game, holding the Cardinals to limited yardage and intercepting Joshua Dobbs twice.
Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos
The Chiefs suffered a shocking loss to the Broncos, turning over the ball five times. Denver’s defense was dominant, limiting Patrick Mahomes and his squad to a meager nine points.
New England Patriots vs Miami Dolphins
The Patriots were unable to pose any significant threat to the Dolphins, who continue to dominate the AFC East. Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa had a mixed performance but did enough to secure the win.
Chicago Bears vs Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers overpowered the Bears, with Justin Herbert throwing for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns. Chicago struggled on both sides of the ball, casting doubts over rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent.
Philadelphia Eagles vs Washington Commanders
Jalen Hurts put on a spectacular performance, throwing for 319 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Eagles to victory. The Commanders were competitive but fell short, mainly due to a costly interception and a porous defense.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Buffalo Bills
The Buccaneers lost their third straight game, struggling particularly on offense. The Bills, despite having areas to improve, managed to secure a much-needed victory to stay in contention in the AFC East.
Houston Texans vs Carolina Panthers
The Texans lost to the previously winless Panthers, mainly due to penalties and a lackluster performance from QB C.J. Stroud. Carolina’s Bryce Young had an encouraging game, throwing for 235 yards and a touchdown.
New York Jets vs New York Giants
The Jets narrowly escaped with a win in a game marked by poor offensive performances from both teams. Despite forcing negative passing yardage from the Giants, the Jets’ Zach Wilson was sacked four times and had a subpar game.
Los Angeles Rams vs Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys dominated the Rams, taking a 30-point lead in the first half and never looking back. Concerns have risen for the Rams, especially regarding the health of Matthew Stafford.
Cincinnati Bengals vs San Francisco 49ers
Joe Burrow was nearly perfect, leading the Bengals to a resounding win over the 49ers. San Francisco is facing significant challenges, especially on defense, as they allowed another high-yardage game.
Atlanta Falcons vs Tennessee Titans
The Falcons lost to the Titans despite a quarterback change at halftime. Rookie QB Will Levis shined for the Titans, throwing for 238 yards and four touchdowns.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Pittsburgh Steelers
The Jaguars continue to pull away in their division, winning their fifth straight game. Pittsburgh struggled on offense, casting doubts over their ability to be competitive this season.
Cleveland Browns vs Seattle Seahawks
The Browns’ previously dominant defense faltered, allowing the Seahawks to rack up 363 yards and 24 points. Seattle is emerging as a strong contender, winning five of their last six games.
New Orleans Saints vs Indianapolis Colts
The Saints broke a losing streak with an explosive offensive performance against the Colts. Indianapolis continues to struggle in close games, raising questions about their ability to compete.
Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers
The Vikings’ Kirk Cousins may have suffered a significant Achilles injury after leading his team to a win over the Packers. Green Bay has multiple issues to address, including a lackluster offense and an inconsistent defense.