The best matchup by combined winning percentage in Week 8 is between two NFC contenders.
No, we’re not talking about the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
The Chicago Bears against the Washington Commanders are those winning teams — the same teams who had the first two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. This is why the NFL rules. Of course, Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick, and Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 pick, have played a significant role in those turnarounds. Williams has keyed a three-game winning streak, and the Bears are coming off a bye. He still is taking too many sacks, but that is a learning curve for every young quarterback.
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Daniels suffered a rib injury against the Panthers in Week 6, and his availability for the matchup is in question. If Daniels cannot go, then Marcus Mariota will get the start. Either way, it is a fun matchup between surprise NFC playoff contenders.
There are three other matchups between teams with winning records in Week 7, including Indianapolis at Houston, Atlanta at Tampa Bay, and Buffalo at Seattle.
MORE: Week 8 NFL Power Rankings | Week 8 NFL picks against the spread
Each week, we will pick NFL matchups straight up and against the spread. A look at our track record this season:
- Straight up: 75-32 (13-2 in Week 7)
- Against the spread: 62-40-5 (11-4 in Week 7)
Here are our picks for Week 8:
NFL picks, predictions for Week 8
- Minnesota Vikings (-3) at Los Angeles Rams
Thursday, 8:15 p.m., Amazon Prime
The Vikings allowed a season-high 144 rushing yards in Week 7 against Detroit, and the Rams will try to run the ball with Kyren Williams. Minnesota should be able to force a few turnovers, and Sam Darnold has a 119.3 passer rating in two road starts. Look for the California native to throw multiple TDs in a bounce-back win for Minnesota.
Pick: Vikings 28, Rams 18
WEEK 8 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kickers
- Philadelphia Eagles at Cincinnati Bengals (-2.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Bengals have built a two-game win streak, and Joe Burrow will try to lead Cincinnati to its first home victory of the season. Burrow owns a 75.5-percent completion percentage with eight TDs and one interception in those games. Can the Bengals slow down a Philadelphia rushing attack led by Saquon Barkley that ranks second in the NFL with 166.7 yards per game? This could turn into a shootout in the second half.
Pick: Eagles 31, Bengals 28
MORE: Saquon Barkley heard boos, saw jersey burned ahead of Eagles-Giants game
- Baltimore Ravens (-9.5) at Cleveland Browns
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Deshaun Watson is out for the season with a torn Achilles, and the Browns will either turn to Dorian Thompson-Robinson or Jameis Winston against the division rival. Nick Chubb had 11 carries for 22 yards and a TD in his return from a devastating leg injury. The Ravens are coming off a tough Monday night game, and they bring the dynamic tag-team rushing attack of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. Baltimore is 0-2 ATS when favored by seven points or more this season.
Pick: Ravens 26, Browns 19
MORE BROWNS: Browns QB replacement options | Is Watson’s NFL career over? | Watson’s teammates slam fans
MORE RAVENS: Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson pad MVP resumes vs. Bucs
- Tennessee Titans at Detroit Lions (-11.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
This is the largest spread this season — and an indictment of how rough it’s been for Tennessee through six games. The Titans’ season-long bout with turnovers continues, and that minus-9 ratio will be tough to overcome against the Lions’ hot offense. Jared Goff has an 85.3-percent completion percentage and averages 295.7 passing yards per game with seven TDs and no interceptions. There is some potential for a letdown after the last-second win at Minnesota, but not at home. Teams favored by 10 or more points are 2-0 S/U and 2-0 ATS this season.
Pick: Lions 31, Titans 17
MORE: Why Jameson Williams will miss next two games
- Arizona Cardinals at Miami Dolphins (-3.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
Will Tua Tagovailoa (head) return for this matchup? That could influence the line and would jump-start an offense that has 10 ppg in its past four games. The Cardinals are operating off a short week, and it’s one of those early kickoff games for a West Coast-ish team. Arizona is 2-5 S/U in games at 1 p.m. ET games under second-year coach Jonathan Gannon, but three of those games are one-score losses.
Pick: Dolphins 27, Cardinals 24
MORE: Is Tua Tagovailoa starting in Week 8?
- New York Jets (-6.5) at New England Patriots
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
This line could tick up to a full touchdown before kickoff. The Jets are in desperation mode now after a Sunday Night Football flop at Pittsburgh. New York has lost four straight games, and it’s going to take a few weeks to re-establish the Aaron Rodgers-Davante Adams connection. New England has failed to cover in six straight losses since the opener. Drake Maye has played well despite a running game that has averaged just 60 yards over the past two weeks. Will this be a mirror image of the Jets’ 24-3 victory in Week 3?
Pick: Jets 23, Patriots 13
MORE PATRIOTS: Why Jerod Mayo called Patriots ‘soft’
MORE JETS: Latest updates on Jets OL stretchered off vs. Steelers | Haason Reddick ends holdout
- Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
NFC South rivals will revisit the 36-30 shootout in Week 5 where Kirk Cousins passed for 509 yards. The Buccaneers were in position to win that game in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay is operating on a short week, and the Falcons are coming off a 20-point loss to Seattle. Can Kirk Cousins improve to 3-0 S/U on the road as Atlanta’s starting quarterback? We’ll trust Baker Mayfield at home in the rematch.
Pick: Buccaneers 31, Falcons 27
MORE FALCONS: Cousins benched late in loss vs. Seahawks
MORE BUCCANEERS: Mike Evans injury update | Chris Godwin injury update
- Green Bay Packers (-4.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
There is a little trap-game vibe here for the Packers, who have the Lions in Week 9. Jordan Love needs to cut down on the interceptions, but the defense has allowed just 16.5 points in its past two road victories. The Jaguars rank 30th in scoring defense at 27.7 points per game and are returning from a two-week stay in London. Green Bay has the chance to complete the season sweep of the AFC South.
Pick: Packers 30, Jaguars 18
MORE: Packers were all-white uniforms for first time
- Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans (-6)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Texans beat the Colts 29-27 in Week 1 in an entertaining duel between C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson. The rematch should be fun, too, and the Colts are 1-2 S/U on the road this season with a pair of one-score losses. Stroud is so much better at home this season with a 103.8 QB rating, nine TDs, and two interceptions. Richardson has a 50-percent completion percentage and 41.8 passer rating on the road. The Texans get the season sweep.
Pick: Texans 24, Colts 17
MORE: Should the Colts bench Anthony Richardson?
- New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Chargers (-7.5)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., Fox
The Saints could get Derek Carr (oblique) back as early as Week 9, but that won’t help in a road game against the Chargers. The Saints’ defense has allowed an average 42 points per game in its last two losses. The Chargers are working on a short week, and they have not allowed more than 20 points in a game under Jim Harbaugh. Can Spencer Rattler, who has taken 11 sacks in two starts, get enough protection to keep it close?
Pick: Chargers 22, Saints 17
- Buffalo Bills (-3) at Seattle Seahawks
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., Fox
The Bills are on a two-game winning streak, and Josh Allen has 12 TDs and no interceptions. That should pay off on the road, where Buffalo is 2-2 S/U this season. Seattle is coming off an impressive road victory at Atlanta. The Seahawks are 0-1 S/U as a home underdog this season, and if Allen avoids mistakes, that will be a problem for the home team here. Look for James Cook to get back on track against a Seahawks’ run defense that allows 146.1 yards per game.
Pick: Bills 28, Seahawks 21
MORE: DK Metcalf injury update
- Carolina Panthers at Denver Broncos (-7.5)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS
The Panthers have a league-worst minus-133 point differential, and they have suffered three road blowouts this season by an average of 32 points per game. There is an upset win at Las Vegas mixed in, but that is borderline-uncharted futility. The Broncos had extra time to prepare after taking care of the Saints on Thursday Night Football. Will rookie quarterback Bo Nix take care of business at home?
Pick: Broncos 29, Panthers 20
MORE: Dave Canales commits to Andy Dalton despite late-game benching
- Kansas City Chiefs (-10) at Las Vegas Raiders
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS
The Raiders are going back to Gardner Minshew, but will it matter? Las Vegas has a minus-9 turnover ratio in its past three games, a stretch in which the Raiders average 15.3 points per game. Yes, the Raiders beat Kansas City 20-14 last season, but the Chiefs have won the past four meetings in Las Vegas by 15.3 points per game. Remember when the Raiders trolled Patrick Mahomes in the preseason with a Kermit puppet? Kansas stays unbeaten in impressive fashion.
Pick: Chiefs 34, Raiders 18
MORE CHIEFS: Looking at Chiefs schedule for most likely loss this season
MORE RAIDERS: Aidan O’Connell injury update
- Chicago Bears (-1) at Washington Commanders
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS
Will Jayden Daniels (ribs) play? That unknown makes this game difficult to pick. Marcus Mariota showed he was competent with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, but the Commanders will have to lean more on their defense — one that’s allowed an average of 178.5 rushing yards to Arizona and Baltimore. Chicago is 0-2 S/U on the road this season. This would be the kind of victory that shows the Bears are ready for the playoff race, but we’ll operate for now as if Daniels will suit up.
Pick: Commanders 27, Bears 20
MORE: Jayden Daniels injury update
- Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers (-5.5)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC Peacock
Who had the Cowboys at 3-3 and the 49ers at 3-4 in this classic NFC matchup? Will Micah Parsons (ankle) return for the Cowboys in a Sunday Night Football matchup against the 49ers? Brock Purdy threw three interceptions in the loss to Kansas City, and he will be on the spot against Dallas. Dak Prescott threw two interceptions in the blowout loss to Detroit before the bye week. Which quarterback can avoid those critical turnovers? That is the question that matters most. Dallas is 3-0 S/U on the road this season, and the 49ers are 2-4 ATS as a single-digit favorite
Pick: 49ers 26, Cowboys 24
MORE: Brandon Aiyuk injury update | Deebo Samuel injury update
- New York Giants at Pittsburgh Steelers (-6)
Monday, 8:15 p.m., ABC/ESPN
Russell Wilson proved Mike Tomlin right in Week 7. Wilson passed for 264 yards and two TDs while taking one sack, and a resurgent running game around Najee Harris should have success against the Giants. New York will stick with Daniel Jones at quarterback, but answers might be difficult to come by against a Pittsburgh defense that allows just 14.4 points per game. Look for Pittsburgh to continue building momentum as a run of AFC North games looms on the schedule.
Pick: Steelers 24, Giants 13
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