The Buffalo Bills defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-18 on Thursday Night Football to kick off week 8 of the NFL season. It was a hard-fought much-needed victory for the Bills who have stumbled a bit over the opening weeks of the season. They’ve already lost as many games as last year.

The win put them back on track and extended their record to 5-3. They now sit one game behind the Miami Dolphins for the top spot in the AFC East. The Buccaneers fell to 3-4, but they’re still in the hunt for the NFC South crown. Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield has proven to be a solid option throughout the year and the Buccaneers have already outperformed their expectations. However, after a 3-1 start, this was their third straight loss.

But the week has only just begun. There are no teams on bye this week, which means we’re set for a full slate of games tomorrow and Monday. I hope you’re as excited as I am for week 8 of the NFL season!

Today, I’ll preview the schedule and make some predictions as to who will come out on top.

 

Philadelphia Eagles (6-1) @ Washington Commanders (3-4)

This is a big divisional game for both teams. The Eagles have gotten off to another great start. Anchored by their dominant defensive front, they’ve proven to be one of the most complete all-around teams in the league this year.

This could lead to some problems for Washington, who have allowed the most sacks in the NFL to this point with 40. I expect the Commander’s QB Sam Howell to spend a lot of time on the ground in this one. The Commanders have been a plucky team, but the mismatch on the line could prove to be the difference.

Winner: Philadelphia Eagles

 

Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)

Here we have a battle between two teams on the uprise. After getting off to a tough 1-2 start, the Jaguars have rattled off four straight wins to lead the AFC South. Meanwhile, the Steelers have looked uneven throughout the year. But they’ve gotten the job done when it matters.

This should be a pretty close game between two teams who have a lot of room for improvement on offense. That could be the difference. It’s a tough game to predict but I’m going with the hotter team. The Jaguars make a push to establish themselves as a legitimate contender.

Winner: Jacksonville Jaguars

 

New England Patriots (2-5) @ Miami Dolphins (5-2)

This one could get ugly. But then again, I thought the Patriots would get creamed by the Bills last week and they managed to pull off a big upset. Can they make it two-for-two?

They put up a good fight in their earlier matchup with the Dolphins so I think they can make a game out of this. But the Dolphins are coming off a big loss to the Eagles last week and are likely to come out firing on all cylinders.

They currently lead the league in offense with a whopping 462.3 yards per game and 32 total touchdowns. They lead the second-place Chiefs by 66 YPG and 13 touchdowns. The Patriots’ offense has been abysmal for much of this year, and while their defense may slow down the Dolphins’ offense, they just can’t keep up with the firepower.

Winner: Miami Dolphins

Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) @ San Francisco 49ers (5-2)

It’s crazy, two weeks ago the 49ers were 5-0 and looked unstoppable. Now, they’ve lost two straight to the Browns and Dolphins and are the walking wounded. Quarterback Brock Purdy has come down to earth and is dealing with a concussion.

On the flip side, the Bengals started 1-3. Joe Burrow looked out of sorts dealing with an injury, and the season seemed to be a write-off.  But they’ve now won two straight and are climbing back into the playoff hunt.

But I can’t see the 49ers dropping three straight games. They’re too talented to lose to Cincinnati’s last-ranked offense. It should be a good game, but the 49ers will get back on track.

Winner: San Francisco 49ers

 

Kansas City Chiefs (6-1) @ Denver Broncos (2-5)

Straight up, I’m predicting a massacre here. The Broncos pulled out a close win against Green Bay last week, but the Chiefs are a whole different animal.

The Chiefs have won six straight, and that’s not going to stop now. They have the second-ranked offense and seventh-ranked defense. Compared to the Broncos 21st-ranked offense and the 32^nd-ranked defense. The Broncos have shown some fight but I expect to see Mahomes and Kelce go off in this one.

Winner: Kansas City Chiefs

 

Atlanta Falcons (4-3) @Tennessee Titans (2-4)

We have a revenge game on our hands. Falcons head coach Arthur Smith is the former Offensive Coordinator for the Titans.

The Titans have been plucky, but they’re just not a good team. Plus, rookie Quarterback Will Levis is set to make his first career start. This could get ugly. The wildcards of this game are both Running Backs. Derrick Henry and Bijan Robinson should both see a lot of work here.

Both teams love to run the ball, so this may come down to which defense can shut that down. I think the Falcons will do enough to win a low-scoring affair.

Winners: Atlanta Falcons

 

New York Jets (3-3) @New York Giants (2-5)

The battle of New York. We only get this matchup once every four years, and I’m sure the city of New York is divided.

This season has been a disaster for both teams.

Both New York teams will be without their week one starter, which could spell an ugly game. I think the Jets’ elite defense will be the difference in this game. We may see some defensive scoring here. It could be a long day for Tyrod Taylor.

Winner: New York Jets

 

Los Angeles Rams (3-4) @ Dallas Cowboys (4-2)

I think this one will be a close matchup. The Rams have been up and down all year, but they have talent on their roster.

Dallas has shown flashes of dominance this year but lost some tough matchups. They tend to shoot themselves in the foot at times.

Still, there’s too much talent on the Cowboys. Especially on defense. I think they’ll get a big win at home.

Winner: Dallas Cowboys

 

New Orleans Saints (3-4) @ Indianapolis Colts (3-4)

We have a former Super Bowl rematch on our hands here. It should be a good game as these two teams match up well.

The Colts have a slight edge on offense, but the Saints’ elite defense should be the difference maker. That should be enough to cause some problems for Quarterback Gardner Minshew. If the Saints can win the turnover battle, they’ll win the game.

Winner: New Orleans Saints

 

Houston Texans (3-3) @ Carolina Panthers (0-6)

It’s the battle between the first and second-overall Quarterbacks in the 2023 draft. So far, Texans Quarterback CJ Stroud has looked much better than Bryce Young. The Texans have been plucky and are showing signs of building a strong future.

I predict this to be a good game. Carolina should put up a fight and it could go either way. But I’ll go with the better-performing team so far this year.

Winner: Houston Texans

 

Minnesota Vikings (3-4) @Green Bay Packers (2-4)

The Vikings got off to a brutal 0-3 start to the season and things looked bleak. But they’ve fought back and won three of four since. After upsetting the 49ers this past Monday, they’ll try to build on their momentum and get to a .500 record.

The Packers have been a tough team to project this year. They seem to fall apart when it matters most. Though growing pains were expected with Quarterback Jordan Love in his first year as a starter. Still, they’re a better team than their record suggests, and Minnesota being without star receiver Justin Jefferson will make a difference.

Winner: Green Bay Packers

 

Cleveland Browns (4-2) @ Seattle Seahawks (4-2)

The Cleveland Browns seem to be better without Deshaun Watson. His run on the Browns has been a disaster. He’s been dealing with a shoulder injury all season and will be missing another game. This puts former XFL star PJ Walker in the driver’s seat as they try to take down the Seahawks.

I feel like Seattle has flown under the radar this year. They’ve quietly gotten off to a hot start. The issue is the offense hasn’t exactly been explosive and the Browns’ defense is elite. Even though they’re home, I think Myles Garrett keeps cooking in this one.

The Seahawks haven’t been that good on offense or defense. If Walker can manage the game, that should be enough.

Winner: Cleveland Browns

 

Baltimore Ravens (5-2) @ Arizona Cardinals (1-6)

Despite an uneven start to the year offensively, the Ravens have come together and won games when it matters. They lead the AFC North and will look to keep building momentum to keep ahead of their division mates nipping at their heels. They have momentum on their side after blowing out the Lions last week.

The Cardinals, despite their record, have been a scrappy team. This could be a potential trap game for the Ravens. However, I don’t see that happening. I think Baltimore proves that they’re legit.

Winner: Baltimore Ravens

 

Sunday Night Football – Chicago Bears (2-5) @ Los Angeles Chargers (2-4)

Coming into the year, these two teams looked to be a lot better than they’ve turned out to be. The Chargers just always seem to find a way to lose. Three of their losses have been by three points or less.

However, they now face the Bears who will be without Quarterback Justin Fields. It’s going to be tough for them to match the explosive Justin Herbert-led offense. I think the Chargers get a big win here to save their season. Whether they capitalize on it going forward is a whole other story.

Winner: Los Angeles Chargers

 

Monday Night Football – Las Vegas Raiders (3-4) @ Detroit Lions (5-2)

After Detroit was looking like a dominant force in weeks prior, they got knocked down a few pegs last week when they were dominated by Baltimore.

Sometimes, that needs to happen to a team. I think they’ll get back on track this week.

The Raiders are a hard team to gauge. They seemed to be building some momentum but lost last week to the Bears. They have the potential to challenge the Lions, but I think the high-powered Lions offense is too much to deal with.

Winners: Detroit Lions

It should be a fun week for football. Although I’m not exactly thrilled for the primetime games. There’s a lot on the line as we approach the halfway mark of the season.

The postseason always sneaks up, and every win counts when you’re in a tight divisional or wildcard race.

Don’t miss this exciting, important week of NFL action!