NFL Survivor Picks For Week 8: Trust In Trevor Lawrence

Welcome to Week 8 in your Survivor Pool. We have a strategy for which teams to pick against, as they have looked terrible this season.

These three games this week will help you come back for another week.

Week 7 NFL Survivor Picks

Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Indianapolis Colts)

The Jaguars are about as balanced as any team in the NFL, and they are a strong pick to win the Super Bowl.

Trevor Lawrence is playing at an MVP level; he currently ranks fourth in touchdown passes (14), fifth in passer rating (106.3) and fifth in EPA per dropback (+0.21). He’s helped Parker Washington become a superstar, as Washington ranks eighth in yards per reception (16.0).

They have a suffocating defense, ranking third in points allowed per game (17.3), sixth in EPA allowed per play (-0.10) and 11th in defensive success rate (42.8%).

This season, they've shown they can beat you whether it’s a defensive battle or an offensive shootout.

They are rested coming off a bye and ready to pounce on a team heading into a fire sale. The Colts have already begun cleaning house, firing their general manager, Chris Ballard, last week. This week they traded their center Quenton Nelson and defensive end DeForest Buckner.

They could have more players off the team by kickoff, including wide receiver Josh Downs, who has requested a trade. Not surprising, given how poorly the Colts have been played, including a loss to the then-winless Titans.

Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Tennessee Titans)

Last week against the Ravens, the Bengals offense was nonexistent in the first half, and they fell behind 13-0 at halftime. Their halftime adjustments worked perfectly, as they scored 35 points and shut out the Ravens in the second half and completed the comeback.

The Bengals look like a much better team than they were the previous couple of seasons, when they missed the playoffs.

Health had been a problem for Cincy in past years, especially with key players like Joe Burrow out for extended periods, but they aren't dealing with major injuries, and the entire roster is playing very well.

That includes the defense, which was one of the league's worst in recent years. With this offense, they don’t need a top-tier defense. However, they're playing like one, ranking eighth in points allowed per game (20.3). They also have one of the NFL's best pass rushes, tied for the league lead in sacks (21) and fifth in pressure rate (26.3%).

With this week's matchup, they may not face the same problem. The Titans are playing better; they beat the Colts and lost to the Browns in overtime. However, Tennessee is far outmatched in this game

Washington Commanders (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

You won't have many chances to pick the Commanders this season, especially when they’re a last-place team facing a division opponent. The Commanders will not be in last place after this weekend as they face the Eagles, who are plummeting rapidly.

The Eagles have lost five straight games, and injuries have left them a shell of their former selves. On offense, most of their stars are gone: Jalen Hurts is out for the year with blood clots, and DeVonta Smith and Dontavious Wicks didn’t play in Week 7 against the Cowboys. Although Saquon Barkley returned last week, he played only 10 of 66 offensive snaps as he looked bothered by his recent hamstring injury.

The offense has been terrible, even with Hurts under center, and has scored 20 or more points in only two of its last five games, including against the Cowboys, who rank 23rd in points allowed per game (25.7).

Philadelphia could be productive against a Washington defense that ranks 31st in points allowed per game (28.7), but the Philadelphia defense, which ranks 28th in points allowed per game (27.3), may not stop Washington’s offense.

Jayden Daniels has been excellent since returning from his elbow injury, rushing for 103 yards and two touchdowns against the Giants and then throwing for 300 yards and two touchdowns against the 49ers.