NFL WEEK EIGHT

So the clocks were set back last night ending Daylight Savings Time and it's time to see after seven weeks which teams will benefit from the extra hour's sleep.

Daylight Saving Time was instituted in the United States during World War I in order to save energy for war production by taking advantage of the later hours of daylight between April and October. During World War II the federal government again required the states to observe the time change. Between the wars and after World War II, states and communities chose whether or not to observe Daylight Saving Time. In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act which standardized the length of Daylight Saving Time.

Arizona (except some Indian Reservations), Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa have chosen not to observe Daylight Saving Time. This choice does make sense for the areas closer to the equator because the days are more consistent in length throughout the year.

GREEN BAY (-3) vs. Arizona - On paper, the Cardinals would appear to be the new Laughingstocks of the NFL. Two weeks ago the squandered a 23-3 lead by allowing two fumble returns and one punt return for touchdowns in the final 16 minutes of a loss to the Bears and last week, they failed to score a touchdown against the winless Raiders thereby handing the Raiders their first win of the season and spoiling the fun for all those Al Davis haters who were looking for the Raiders to go 0-16. This seems like one of the those "on any given Sunday" games wherein the logical choice is the illogical one, up is down and black is white but we are going with the Pack anyway, eager to see a few weeks of pointless resurgence and insubstantiated hope breathed back into the early autumn Wisconsin air. Pick: Green Bay

CINCINNATI (-4½) vs. Atlanta - Rookie wide receiver Reggie McNeal, the Bengals’ third quarterback the past few weeks is playing the role of Michael Vick in practice to get their defence accustomed to an uncontrollable force running in, out and around the pocket. The Falcons brought in a pack of hyenas to this week's practices to imitate the sound of an approaching Chad Johnson. Pick: Atlanta

NEW ORLEANS (-2) vs. Baltimore - The last time the Baltimore Ravens came to New Orleans, it was two days before Hurricane Katrina blew apart the Superdome's roof. Pick: New Orleans

TENNESSEE (-3) vs. Houston - Texans also indicated they are more optimistic about the future of the country than Americans in general a Houston Chronicle-KHOU-TV poll shows. Of course, they also think the Texans are going to the Super Bowl. Pick: Tennessee.

PHILADELPHIA (-6) vs. Jacksonville - The Iggles have blown two games in a row on the road on the last play of the game. Earning them the nickname The Can't Finish Kids. In fact, every game they've lost this season has been on the last play of the game. Fortunately for them, David Garrard, whose biggest claim to fame to date is having Crohn's Disease, will be starting for the Jags and making up a 40 point deficit can't be done on the game's last play. Pick: Philly.

KANSAS CITY (-3) vs. Seattle: The Seahawks will play this game without Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, All-Pro running back Shaun Alexander, productive wide receiver Bobby Engram and now right tackle Sean Locklear -- who was suspended for a game Friday for violating the NFL's "personal-conduct policy". Locklear was arrested hours after a playoff game in downtown Seattle last January on a charge of assaulting his girlfriend at a night spot, and spent the rest of the holiday weekend in jail. Pick: K.C.

CHICAGO (-17) vs. San Francisco: Chicago has held nine consecutive opponents to single-digit points at home, the longest streak in the NFL since the Chicago Cardinals did in 1933-36, according to Stats LLC. Pick: Bears

N.Y. GIANTS (-7½) vs. Tampa Bay: According to Giant's coach Tom Coughlin being on time means being early. On his Tuesday night Sirius Satellite Radio show The Barber Shop, Tiki Barber, who hosts the show with his twin brother (and Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defensive back) Ronde, called ESPN analysts Michae Irvin and Tom Jackson "idiots" for publicly criticizing him during the Giants' Monday night victory vs. the Cowboys. Pick: Tampa Bay

SAN DIEGO (-9½) vs. St. Louis - Shawne Merriman's positive test marked the fifth off-field incident involving Charger players since April. Linebacker Steve Foley was shot Sept. 3 by an off-duty police officer, last month, safety Terrence Kiel was arrested on five felony drug counts, earlier this month, cornerback Markus Curry, who had been assigned to the practice squad, was released just hours after an arrest on suspicion of committing domestic violence and in April, in incidents a week apart, Foley and linebacker Shaun Phillips were each arrested in scuffles with San Diego police officers. Pick: St Louis.

DENVER (-3) vs. Indianapolis - Simple questions - which is better the Bronco defence or the Colts' offence and which is worse, Broncos offence or Colts defence? How much longer will Broncos fans have to wait for Jay Cutler Only one other team in NFL history in history has gotten off to a 7-0 start in consecutive seasons. With win over Denver today, Colts would become second. Only one was Green Bay, which did it three straight years (1929-31). Pick: Colts.

CLEVELAND (-1½) vs. N.Y. Jets - "We've got to plant the seeds, water them and let them grow," Browns GM Phil Savage said about meagre Brown draft picks. "The problem with the Browns since 1999 is that every time the seeds are planted, they get washed away before they can take hold and grow." Pick: Jets.

Pittsburgh (-9) vs. OAKLAND - The Steelers and Raiders met for five consecutive post-seasons from 1972 through 1976 with three of those games being for the AFC championship. The Raiders have won just 14 games since playing in the 2003 Super Bowl. Call it the Barret Robbins Curse. Pick: Pittsburgh.

CAROLINA (-3) vs. Dallas - Asked last week to name his favorite receiver, new starting Cowboy QB Tony Romo said it was little-known linebacker-turned-fullback Oliver Hoyte. Reporters also wanted to know why Romo gets along so well with Terrell Owens. Romo smiled and said, "I tell him how many pills to take." Good to have a sense of humour this week as well. Pick: Carolina.

Monday night

New England (-3) vs. MINNESOTA - The Vikings have the NFL's number one ranked rushing defence. Patriot rookie running back Laurence Maroney is returning to the auld HH Dome, scene of a his collegiate home career at the University of Minnesota. Pick: New England.

Last week: 7-6-0
Season: 47-48-4