With the halfway point of the season approaching and the Nov. 1 trade deadline right around the corner, Week 8 could prove a pivotal one in the NFL.
It began with the Ravens adding to Tampa Bay’s mounting woes on Thursday and features a handful of intriguing matchups with Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers the only teams on bye this week.
Here’s a storyline we’re watching ahead of each of the 14 remaining Week 8 matchups.
Broncos (2-5) vs. Jaguars (2-5) in London, England | Sunday 9:30 a.m.
We’ve seen Russell Wilson struggle ever since he debuted with Denver, but how much of it has been due to injuries? He sustained a partial tear in his throwing shoulder earlier this month and missed his team’s Week 7 loss to the Jets with a hamstring injury but was named starter against the Jags.
Wilson told reporters in England that during his team’s eight-hour flight overseas he spent roughly half the time doing various exercises and stretches to stay limber and ready for Sunday. It was probably completely normal and not at all absurd.
Panthers (2-5) @ Falcons (3-4) | Sunday 1:00 p.m.
Both of these NFC South teams had low expectations heading into the season yet with the Bucs off to a befuddling 3-5 start the division is all of a sudden up for grabs at close to the halfway point of the season. Carolina, led by P.J. Walker, upset Tampa in the team’s first game after trading away superstar running back Christian McCaffrey. The team seems to be rallying behind interim coach Steve Wilks, which makes them an intriguing underdog against a Falcons team looking to bounce back from a blowout loss to the Bengals. A.J. Terrell is among several DBs is out for Atlanta which is good news for Walker’s top target D.J. Moore.
Bears (3-4) @ Cowboys (5-2) | Sunday 1:00 p.m.
Dallas won in Dak Prescott’s first game back in action but a handful of notable names hit the injury report, including Micah Parson and Ezekiel Elliott who’s listed as doubtful.
Cardinals (3-4) @ Vikings (5-1) | Sunday 1:00 p.m.
Would Minnesota be in a position to make a notable trade to prepare its roster for a deep playoff run if the team can improve to 6-1 coming off their bye week? Would Arizona be in a similar position if they can pull off the upset and climb back to .500? Getting DeAndre Hopkins back last week was better than most trades they could hypothetically make anyways.
Dolphins (4-3) @ Lions (1-5) | Sunday 1:00 p.m.
D’Andre Swift is finally off the injury report and set to return to the Lions. Detroit scored a total of six points in the two games without Swift after averaging 35 per game with him in the lineup during the first four weeks of the season.
Raiders (2-4) @ Saints (2-5) | Sunday 1:00 p.m.
The Raiders are one of four teams that are below .500 despite a positive points differential, while New Orleans has the sixth-worst points differential in the NFL. Saints coach Dennis Allen decided to keep Andy Dalton as the starter despite two losses in a row and Jameis Winston being healthy.
“Offensively, I feel like we’re in a little bit of a rhythm,” Allen told reporters this week. “We’ve been moving the ball effectively, we’ve scored points, and so we’re gonna continue down that road with Andy.”
Patriots (3-4) @ Jets (5-2) | Sunday 1:00 p.m.
Can Mac Jones put an end to any perceived QB controversy in New England? Looking solid in a road win over the 5-2 division rival Jets would be one way to do it, but is his ankle injury lingering?
Steelers (2-5) @ Eagles (6-0) | Sunday 1:00 p.m.
Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett has thrown seven interceptions in his four appearances this season and not one of them has come while being blitzed. How might Philly’s defence adjust?
Titans (4-2) @ Texans (1-4) | Sunday 4:05 p.m.
It’s looking like rookie Malik Willis could get his first start in place of an injured Ryan Tannehill. If so, he’ll likely rely heavily on Derrick Henry who has three straight 100-yard outings and has dominated Houston in recent years. Henry has run for at least 211 yards and two TDs in each of his past three times playing the Texans.
Commanders (3-4) @ Colts (3-3-1) | Sunday 4:25 p.m.
Sam Ehlinger will make his first career regular-season start for the Colts after taking over for Matt Ryan. Taylor Heineke won his first start of the year in Week 7 versus Green Bay in place of an injured Carson Wentz. How will Ehlinger’s chemistry with his receivers be and will he command the huddle with poise and confidence?
49ers (3-4) @ Rams (3-3) | Sunday 4:25 p.m.
Can Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers continue their regular-season dominance over Sean McVay’s Rams? They’ve won seven consecutive regular-season matchups dating back to 2019 but this is the first time the Rams have had to prepare for Christian McCaffrey in a San Fran uniform. Both McVay and defensive star Aaron Donald mentioned how difficult McCaffrey is to prepare for.
Giants (6-1) @ Seahawks (4-3) | Sunday 4:25 p.m.
The week’s lone matchup featuring two teams with winning records. First-year Giants coach Brian Daboll has galvanized his team through an inspiring seven weeks, while it’s the first-year talents on the field in Seattle that are mostly to thank for this team’s surprise start. Rookie RB Kenneth Walker has been heating up and is a monster after contact.
Packers (3-4) @ Bills (5-1) | Sunday 8:20 p.m.
Aaron Rodgers is a double-digit underdog for the first time in his career as his struggling Packers visit the Super Bowl favourites from Buffalo. The pass-catchers around Rodgers have left much to be desired so far this season. Can they turn things around against a Bills defence allowing an NFL-low 13.5 points per game (while the offence averages just shy of 30 points per game).
Bengals (4-3) @ Browns (2-5) | Monday 8:15 p.m.
How will Cincinnati adapt without Ja’Marr Chase who’s expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a hip injury? Joe Burrow has been thriving out of the shotgun formation the past two games and having Chase out there was a huge contributing factor. His absence puts more pressure on Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, both of whom are capable of handling double-digit targets weekly.
