Week 8 survivor picks: Broken Chiefs aren't a viable option

Week 7 was cake, as expected. All the big chalk won out relatively comfortably and we live to fight another week.

Things are starting to get tougher, though. Depending on your remaining options, Week 8 could prove to be something of a banana peel. Here's what's on tap:

Confidence rating (CR) is the author's level of trust in picking the winner of each given game

Buffalo Bills (vs. Miami Dolphins)

My dad is a Dolphins fan who falls on the more optimistic side of the coin. He called me Sunday saying he's done with this team and has no faith in a turnaround. Those are words he chose carefully and rarely says. If he's given up, I'm not sure there's much hope for Miami right now. How's that for hard-hitting analysis?

Kidding aside, the Dolphins are in shambles, and reports that Brian Flores is losing the locker room just add to the concern. Tua Tagovailoa trade rumors are an added distraction, and to make matters worse, Miami has to travel to play a rested, angry Bills team coming off an agonizing prime-time loss in Tennessee.

Buffalo dismantled the Dolphins in their last two meetings, and with the teams trending in polar opposite directions, there's no evidence to suggest this one will be any different. The Bills are miles better in all three phases - four if you include coaching - and will dominate the trenches on both sides of the ball here. I know my advice is to always avoid divisional games, but every rule has its exceptions, and this is certainly one of them.

Los Angeles Rams (@ Houston Texans)

If you read last week's column, this is why we saved the Rams. The possible return of Tyrod Taylor would be a boost to the Texans' offense, but it's not enough to be concerned about the upset here. The Rams continue to fire on all cylinders, and as long as the Cardinals keep winning, the pressure remains on Los Angeles to do the same. Everything we've seen from the Rams suggests they're upset-proof against bad teams, and nothing we've seen from the Texans suggests they can stop this relentless Matthew Stafford-led attack.

A home date with Jacksonville in Week 13 is about the only reason to consider not taking the Rams here, but the road from Week 8 to 13 is daunting, and the last thing you want is to be eliminated with the Rams still in your back pocket. Only go in another direction if you're incredibly confident in the alternatives.

Cincinnati Bengals (@ New York Jets)

Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase snag the headlines for this upstart Bengals team, but we're not talking nearly enough about their defense. This unit has been suffocating through seven weeks, holding opponents to just 5.1 yards per play (fourth), while ranking sixth in both yards per rush and yards per pass allowed. They're tied for the third-fewest passing touchdowns allowed and are tied for fifth in sacks. What's scarier is how much better they look by the week as a collective. They're coming off back-to-back dominating performances against the Lions and Ravens, and now get a Jets team that can't seem to do anything right on offense.

It's a horrible matchup for Mike White to make his first NFL start, even if it does come at home - Joe Flacco is only there to be a warm, veteran body in the quarterback room. Here's how the Jets rank offensively this season:

Say what you want about Zach Wilson, but it's hard to imagine a scenario in which White proves to be an upgrade under center. This could get ugly for him. The only concern here is the spot for the Bengals, coming off a huge win against the Ravens and looking ahead to a big game against the Browns next week. As long as they can avoid the letdown, this shouldn't be close.

Avoid: Kansas City Chiefs

If you wouldn't bet a team against the spread, then there's no reason to be taking them in survivor. And I can't imagine a world right now in which I'm laying 10 points with the Chiefs. Kansas City's demise, temporary or not, has been by far the biggest storyline of the NFL season.

I do believe the talent on this offense will win out eventually, and they've certainly earned the benefit of the doubt, but the uncharacteristic turnovers keep happening, the offensive line is a sieve, Tyreek Hill isn't right, and now Patrick Mahomes is banged up.

Arrowhead in prime time is a tough place to play, but Daniel Jones and the Giants thrive as underdogs. They might just be getting healthy, too. Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, Sterling Shepard, and Saquon Barkley all have a chance at returning for this one, and the reality is even two of those guys returning to the lineup would be a huge boost against a lifeless Kansas City defense. I'm staying far, far away from this one.

Alex Moretto is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.