The Tribune

WEEK 8

Miami Dolphins at

New England Patriots

RENALDO: This is what Thomas Jefferson felt like when he took quill to parchment to write the Declaration of Independence. Maybe it’s closer to what Drake felt like when he fired up the iPad to write “Back 2 Back,” or Glenys Hanna-Martin felt right before she walked into the House of Assembly to ether the “radar wasn’t working” crowd. There comes a moment in every narrative when the hero - the pillar of righteousness, truth and justice is faced with a test. This is that test for our hero Dan Campbell. Campbell has successfully resurrected a fledgling Dolphins franchise that we were all ready to leave.

What was seen as a sign that the front office abandoned the season has seen Campbell turn things around. This was done in several ways - waking the sleeping giant and informing him that there are no more naps, changing the placement in the locker room around, having the offence wear black jerseys in practice, starting practice with a rugby scrum, the occasional profanity in his post game speeches, energy transference and massive shoulders.

Even when they had their most awkward, horribly played game of the season with 11 drops from receivers and against the number one ranked defensive unit in the league, Tom Brady threw for 355 yards and the Pats scored 30 points. Statistically, Brady is having the best six-game start of his career, even better than h was during the 2007 season when he led a team within one circus catch from going undefeated. The Pats have scored 30 or more points in five straight games. This is a Juggernaut. Here’s another Juggernaut, a defence that has produced 10 sacks, three interceptions and two defensive touchdowns in the last two weeks. How can they possibly maintain that on the road, on a short week, against Brady, who has 16 touchdown passes and one interception this season? Logic.

New England is among the NFL’s elite, there’s no question. Miami is an OK team with a .500 record. Theoretically, there’s no reasonable explanation as to why the Dolphins should win this game, but I think they will. What appears as the confidence of an irrational superfan is actually based in sound logic. Fear of spiders is called arachnophobia, fear of tight spaces is called claustrophobia...fear of Dan Campbell is called logic.

DOLPHINS over Pats

SANNIE: Even though I promised to be a good woman and choose the Dolphins (especially since they won for me this week) the Patriots haven’t lost yet, I like those odds. Sorry.

Patriots over Dolphins

Detroit Lions at

Kansas City Chiefs

RENALDO: After 110 yards and a touchdown, Kanye, Kim and North officially welcomed Chancandrick into the family.

CHIEFS over Lions

SANNIE: Is Aaron Murray new? Why have I never noticed him? He is a cutie!

Chiefs over Lions

Arizona Cardinals

at Cleveland Browns

RENALDO: For all the work the olds (Palmer, CJ2K, Fitzgerald) put in, the younger players (Brown, Campbell, Honey Badger) are starting to make this their team.

CARDS over Browns

SANNIE: So I had a peach Arizona for the first time in forever this week. I forgot how much I love that drink and let’s be real the Browns suck. Even I know that.

Cardinals over Browns

Cincinnati Bengals

at Pittsburgh Steelers

RENALDO: Tomlin, Antonio Brown and the Steelers fan base want Big Ben back this week. Not nearly as much as Landry Jones wants him back though.

BENGALS

over Steelers

SANNIE: The Bengals are also undefeated, I guess that’s a great reason to choose them. The logic on that one seems sound.

Bengals over Steelers

San Diego Chargers

at Baltimore Ravens

RENALDO: This would have been the game of the week in 2012. In 2015 it has potential to be the worst. The Ravens have had an opportunity to tie or win within the last two minutes of just about every game this season.

RAVENS over Chargers

SANNIE: No one bought me a charger for my birthday (the car) it would have made a great gift and is my favourite car. I’m just saying it’s not too late if someone still wants to.

Chargers over Ravens

Minnesota Vikings

at Chicago Bears

RENALDO: Divisional matchups clichés aside, AP actually does own the Bears.

VIKINGS over Bears

SANNIE: I promised I was going to catch up on the Vikings while I was on vacation. That didn’t happen, I am a failure.

Vikings over Bears

Tennessee Titans at

Houston Texans

RENALDO: The Man Campbell victims attempt to lick their wounds and trade war stories.

TEXANS over Titans

SANNIE: I’m going to dedicate this pick to King Bey, who had an awesome performance with Nicki Minaj last week. I love them.

Texans over Titans

San Francisco 49ers at

St Louis Rams

RENALDO: Kaepernick has lost his confidence and the team. The team wishes they lost his $126 million contract before anyone signed it.

RAMS over Niners

SANNIE: I have been choosing the 49ers every week, time to switch things up, hopefully the Rams won’t let me down.

Rams over 49ers

New York Giants at

New Orleans Saints

RENALDO: It’s like Eli Manning taking his wife to his ex-girlfriend’s dinner party.

GIANTS over Saints

SANNIE: As much as I love everything New York, my gut is telling me to go with the Saints.

Saints over Giants

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons

RENALDO: Following a loss in week six and 10 points in week seven, Matt Ryan should take advantage of a defence that allowed Kirk Cousins to throw for 317 yards and three touchdowns.

FALCONS over Bucs

SANNIE: I have spent the last two days catching up on Real Housewives of Atlanta in preparation for the new season next week. I am so excited!

Falcons over Buccaneers

New York Jets at

Oakland Raiders

RENALDO: League’s top ranked defence still bitter after folding from a legit shot at the Patriots.

JETS over Raiders

SANNIE: The Raiders actually won a game for me for my birthday so let’s see if we can keep this momentum going.

Raiders over Jets

Seattle Seahawks at

Dallas Cowboys

SANNIE: Russell

Wilson.

Seahawks over

Cowboys

RENALDO: Seattle is not as bad as they seem. Their losses have come to teams with a combined record of 19-3.

SEAHAWKS over

Cowboys

Green Bay Packers at

Denver Broncos

RENALDO: What’s worse than watching Peyton Manning morph into this current version himself? Watching Aaron Rodgers on the other sideline as we realise the sheriff we used to know is gone for good.

PACKERS over

Broncos

SANNIE: Someone specifically told me to choose the Packers this week. Can’t remember who. So whoever you are, this is for you.

Packers over Broncos

Indianapolis Colts at

Carolina Panthers

RENALDO: If Andrew Luck is in the process of hurling himself out of the elite quarterback discussion, can we replace him with Cam Newton?

PANTHERS over Colts

SANNIE: Cam Newton.

Panthers over Colts.