NFL Week 8 Predictions 2021: Upset Picks, Straight Up Winners Include Steelers, Jaguars

Four underdogs of at least three points were able to win straight up on NFL Week 7 Sunday. A few road teams have a chance to do the same in Week 8 as they take on favorites dealing with major quarterback injuries.

Here are the best upset picks for Week 8 of the 2021 NFL season. Betting odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook.

Pittsburgh Steelers (+160) at Cleveland Browns

Cleveland is only a half-game ahead of Pittsburgh in the AFC North. Given their injury woes, the Browns aren’t much better than the Steelers right now. Sunday’s game is close to a toss-up, even if the odds don’t suggest as much.

The Browns are going to be compromised at quarterback, no matter who plays. It’ll either be Baker Mayfield with a torn labrum or Case Keenum under center. Cleveland only scored 17 points in Keenum’s first start, while Mayfield and the Browns scored 14 points in two of the previous three weeks. The Steelers have one of the league’s best pass rushes. Pittsburgh hasn’t given up more than 27 points in any game.

These two rivals know each other very well, especially after meeting three times last season. Pittsburgh managed to blow out Cleveland 38-7 a year ago. If Ben Roethlisberger avoids turning the ball over, the Steelers have a real shot to pull off the upset.

Jacksonville Jaguars (+146) at Seattle Seahawks

The Jaguars are one of the NFL’s worst teams, and that’s reflected in the odds. In Sunday’s match-up, however, there are a few reasons to believe Jacksonville can actually pick up another win.

Jacksonville has a significant rest advantage because it is coming off a bye and Seattle concluded the Week 7 schedule on “Monday Night Football.” The Jaguars will take on Geno Smith, one of the worst quarterbacks set to start in Week 8. Trevor Lawrence gives Jacksonville the best quarterback in this game as he gets better during his rookie season. The No. 1 draft pick has thrown just one interception in his last three games with a passer rating north of 92.0 in each of those contests.

Not only are the Jaguars coming off a win, but they very nearly beat the No. 1 seed Bengals early in the season. Without Russell Wilson, the Seahawks simply aren't an elite team.