Week 8 in the NFL has officially begun and The Stack is off to a good 1-0 start this week.  But this week is a tough week to pick.  The matchups are incredibly difficult to how even some of the teams are in these matchups.  What a terrible performance by the Minnesota Vikings.  At home on a Thursday night, they should have been ready.  The Bucs were.  My goodness Doug Martin was good.  Bad loss for the Vikings who now go into the difficult part of their schedule.  Hard to see them getting another win this season after last night's performance.  Tampa Bay's win was the first road win for the Bucs since last year when they beat the Vikings.  Now let's get right to it and make some picks in "the stack" for today, Friday, October 26:

Carolina Panthers @ Chicago Bears 1:00 PM ET FOX

It's been a bad week for the Panthers with their GM Marty Hurney being fired and all of the talks surrounding Cam Newton.  Newton is looking for suggestions in the suggestion box.  Here's one: don't sulk after you get roughed up by the Bears, because it's going to happen.

Prediction: Bears 30 Panthers 17

San Diego Chargers @ Cleveland Browns 1:00 PM ET CBS

I'm nervous about this game.  The Browns have played much better lately and the Chargers are playing an early kickoff, something that west coast teams struggle with.  This has upset written all over it.  But after two weeks to get ready, if there was ever a time for the Chargers to tell their critics to take the "chill pill", it's this game.

Prediction: Chargers 23 Browns 16

Seattle Seahawks @ Detroit Lions 1:00 PM ET FOX

A toss-up game as far as I'm concerned.  The Lions have vastly underperformed so far this year and Seattle's defense is the real deal.  I think the Lions know just how important this game is for their season and they will limit any opportunities for the Seahawks offense.  Wouldn't be surprised if the Seahawks win, but I'll pick the mild upset.

Prediction: Lions 20 Seahawks 13

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Green Bay Packers 1:00 PM ET CBS

With Blaine Gabbert and Maurice Jones-Drew, I gave the Jaguars no chance of winning this game.  With one or both out, a snowball has a better chance of surviving in hell than the Jaguars do of winning this game.

Prediction: Packers 34 Jaguars 10

Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets 1:00 PM ET CBS

Tough game, tough game.  Both teams have played far better than most people predicted.  Rex Ryan wants Reggie Bush to appologize for the karma comment he made about Darrelle Revis.  Just winning will make Bush sorry enough.

Prediction: Jets 23 Dolphins 20

Atlanta Falcons @ Philadelphia Eagles 1:00 PM ET FOX

Battle of the birds in Philly.  Given what has happened the last two weeks in Philly with defensive coordinator Juan Castillo firing and the doubt surrounding this team, everyone has been put on notice.  New Eagles defensive coordinator Todd Bowles will light a fire underneath his guys and the Eagles will knock off the undefeated Falcons.

Prediction: Eagles 27 Falcons 23

Washington Redskins @ Pittsburgh Steelers 1:00 PM ET FOX

Hardest game of the week to pick by far.  With RGIII, the Redskins are never out of a game.  The Steelers were impressive last week against the Bengals given all of their injuries.  They're still not healthy this week and their opponent is more difficult, but I think the Steelers can pull one out though if either team won, it wouldn't be shocking.

Prediction: Steelers 24 Redskins 20

New England Patriots @ St. Louis Rams 1:00 PM ET CBS

Anyone else find it a little ironic that the team who is named after a region that colonists  who tried to escape England made their home returns to London?  Maybe not.  Either way, the Patriots know they haven't been perfect this year and they will treat this as a business trip and come out with a W though the Rams defense will make them work for it.

Prediction: Patriots 24 Rams 16

Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans 1:00 PM ET CBS

Has the real Chris Johnson finally stood up?  At this point, who knows.  He was great last week.  And with Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback, the Titans are looking awfully good.  The Colts will give them a game, but I think Tennessee can pull out a win.

Prediction: Titans 23 Colts 17

Oakland Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs 4:05 PM ET CBS

Had to believe that the Raiders are just one game out of the AFC west picture and the Chiefs are only two games back.  They've both played very poorly this year.  This game, like a few others is a toss up.

Prediction: Raiders 20 Chiefs 16

New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys 4:25 PM ET FOX

Didn't Cowboys owner Jerry Jones say earlier this year that he couldn't wait for the Cowboys to kick the Giants ass when they visited Cowboys Stadium this year?  Given the Giants recent success in the Cowboys venue, I don't think that was a wise thing to say.  Only adds bulletin board material for the Giants.  They may have overlooked last week's game against the Redskins, but they didn't.  They sure won't overlook this one.  Maybe Eli Manning has to make another play in the fourth quarter.

Prediction: Giants 27 Cowboys 17 

New Orleans Saints @ Denver Broncos 8:20 PM ET NBC

Drew Brees versus Peyton Manning.  This matchup is going to be fun.  The Saints season may be starting to turn around.  Interim coach Joe Vitt is back and will coach in his first game following his suspension.  The Broncos really took charge of their season with their big second half comeback against the Chargers two weeks ago.  I think they continue that this week.

Prediction: Broncos 30 Saints 24

Coming up Monday: NFL Sunday game reaction plus MNF preview