NFL Week 8 picks include Chiefs and Colts
Lorenzo Reyes is back after going 3-0 last week, and explains why large spreads shouldn’t worry bettors in Week 8 of the NFL season.
There’s no sugarcoating it. The Jets (0-7) are the worst team in football and it might not even be that close of a debate.
Even with the change at QB to Tyrod Taylor following the benching of Justin Fields, the Jets could only muster yet another field goal in a 13-6 loss to the Panthers in Week 7 at MetLife Stadium.
The Jets have now gone eight quarters without scoring a touchdown and head to Cincinnati to face the Bengals (3-4), where they take on former QB Joe Flacco, with the 40-year-old former Super Bowl MVP looking much better than any quarterback for the Jets this season as he threw for 342 passing yards and three touchdowns in a 33-31 upset victory over the Steelers last Thursday night.
Head coach Aaron Glenn hasn’t announced whether it will be Taylor or Fields as the starting QB, but said on Friday afternoon that Sauce Gardner (concussion protocol) and Garrett Wilson (knee) are both out for the game.
Our prognosticators throughout the 2025 season are: Art Stapleton (Giants/NFL writer, NorthJersey.com), Bert Bainbridge (sports trending reporter/columnist, NorthJersey.com), Brian Marron (digital producer, NorthJersey.com), Chris Iseman (Rutgers writer, NorthJersey.com), Bob Jordan (sports editor, Asbury Park Press/APP.com) and Dave Rivera (sports editor, USA TODAY Northeast/NorthJersey.com).
Jets vs Bengals NFL Week 8 predictions, staff standings
Dave Rivera: 6-1
Art Stapleton: 6-1
Chris Iseman: 6-1
Brian Marron: 6-1
Bob Jordan: 6-1
Bert Bainbridge: 5-1
Here are our staff predictions for Jets vs. Bengals in Week 8 from Cincinnati:
Bert Bainbridge
The pick: Bengals 27, Jets 13
Here’s why: It doesn’t matter if it’s Taylor or Fields under center, it’s clear the Jets can’t score touchdowns against the league’s worst defenses at home. While the Jets will break their touchdown drought in this game, it won’t be enough to keep up with this Bengals offense, especially if Wilson remains sidelined and Gardner can’t clear concussion protocol in time. Bengals roll with ease at home in this one.
Art Stapleton
The pick: Bengals 34, Jets 17
Here’s why: Joe Flacco has injected some life into the Bengals, who were floundering without Joe Burrow. The veteran New Jerseyan and former Super Bowl champion is playing point guard, so to speak, getting the ball to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and letting the star receivers go to work. Won’t matter if the Jets start Tyrod Taylor or Justin Fields – no Sauce Gardner, potentially, weakens a secondary that will be pushed to the break even if he does play.
Dave Rivera
The pick: Bengals 23, Jets 16
Here’s why: I went against my better judgment and picked the Jets last week. Lesson learned. I actually would’ve given them a chance this week against a bad Bengals team, but now that 40-year-old QB Joe Flacco sparked Cincinnati with his 3 TD passes against the Steelers last Thursday night, I can’t go with the Jets again.
Bob Jordan
The pick: Bengals 40, Jets 17
Here’s why: I already announced in this space I’m out on the Jets indefinitely. The point spread for this game opened at a surprisingly low Bengals -5.5; it’s been rising as the smart money on Joe Flacco is coming in.
Brian Marron
The pick: Bengals 24, Jets 10
Here’s why: The Jets appear to be hopeless at quarterback this season, which makes it very difficult to pick them to win in any game moving forward. Joe Flacco reignited the Bengals offense, and that should allow Cincinnati to earn a largely stress-free victory.
Chris Iseman
The pick: Bengals 31, Jets 10
Here’s why: If the Jets were playing Bergen Catholic, I would pick Bergen Catholic.