NFL MATCHUPS

After a 2-2 week, things might finally be getting back on track for our weekly picks.

The Carolina Panthers not only covered the three-point spread, they won outright over the Houston Texans, 15-13, on a 23-yard field goal as time expired. The key to my handicap was the potential for an improved Carolina offense with coordinator Thomas Brown calling the plays, and while it wasn’t an overwhelming showing, rookie quarterback Bryce Young completed 22 of 31 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown in his first career win. It was also his first NFL game with a passer rating of more than 100. There is clearly still room for the Panthers’ offense to grow, but we will take the victory and the cover. New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson also added a win to our ledger. The third-year signal caller threw 36 passes against the New York Giants — and none of them were intercepted, cashing the under 0.5 interceptions prop at plus odds.

It was not, a perfect Week 8. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew ran only once for three yards, falling short of the 7½ rushing yards he needed for that player prop. And our second team pick, the Chicago Bears, were embarrassed by the Los Angeles Chargers in prime time to the tune of 30-13, never threatening to cover the spread.

There are a plethora of quarterback injuries, and 12 of the 14 games on this week’s schedule feature home favorites (including the Kansas City Chiefs, listed as the home team for an international game in Frankfurt). Eight of those were lined at -2½ early in the week.

Best bets record: 6-7

Player prop record: 5-3 Picks were made against the consensus point spreads as of Wednesday morning, and picks are locked in at the earlier odds.

Bye week: Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos

BROADCAST LOCALLY Dolphins vs. Chiefs (-21/2)

In Frankfurt

7:30 a.m. | NFL Network, NFL Plus Pick: Dolphins +21/2

Seahawks at Rams (-51/2)

11 a.m. | CBS Pick: Ravens -51/2

Rams at Packers (-3)

11 a.m. | Fox Pick: Packers -3

Cowboys at Eagles (-3)

2:05 p.m. | Fox Pick: Cowboys +3

Bills at Bengals (-21/2)

6:20 p.m. | NBC Pick: Bengals -2 1/2

Chargers (-3) at Jets

6:15 p.m. Monday | ABC, ESPN, ESPN2

Pick: Jets +3

OTHER GAMES Buccaneers at Texans (-21/2)

11 a.m.

Pick: Texans -21/2

Cardinals at Browns (-8)

11 a.m.

Pick: Cardinals +8

Bears at Saints (-71/2)

11 a.m.

Pick: Bears +71/2

Vikings at Falcons (-41/2)

11 a.m.

Pick: Falcons -41/2

Commanders at Patriots (-31/2)

11 a.m.

Pick: Patriots -31/2

Colts (-21/2) at Panthers

2:05 p.m.

Pick: Panthers +21/2

Giants at Raiders (-2)

2:25 p.m. Pick: Giants +2

Player props of the week

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts under 30½ rushing yards.

We have no idea how much Hurts’ knee is bothering him although he got up and left the podium during Wednesday’s news conference when one reporter asked about the injury. Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer said Hurts “has been dealing with a bone bruise in his knee for four weeks” and also reported that Hurts “re-aggravated” the injury after he “took a helmet to [his left knee] last week” in a win over the Dolphins. The following week Hurts had a season-low three designed runs in the game against Washington. His scrambles have also been on the decline for the last few weeks.

Fewer runs means less rushing yardage so I am taking the under on Hurts this week against the Cowboys, a team that’s allowed just one quarterback to gain more than one total rushing yard off designed runs this season (Joshua Dobbs, five rushes for 50 yards).