NFL Game Week 8 - Schedule, Picks & Where to Watch
Last week certainly felt like a big week in the NFL. We had the Kansas City Chiefs embarrassing the 49ers in the Super Bowl rematch, the Lions defeating the undefeated Minnesota Vikings, the Packers edging over the Houston Texans, and the Ravens delivering another hammering over the impressive Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was a week where we got to see a lot of the big teams tested, giving us a much clearer picture of who is seriously in the running for the 2024 season playoffs.
Week 8 looks set to teach us even more, with no teams on a bye and some juicy matchups to sink our teeth into. Here are our standout games:
Buffalo Bills @ Seattle Seahawks
- Date & Time: Sunday, October 27, 2024, at 8:05 p.m. ET
- Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
- Broadcast Details: FOX
Game Preview:
We start in Seattle, where the Seahawks will be welcoming the Buffalo Bills, who enjoyed an easy 34-10 victory over the struggling Tennessee Titans. Buffalo was already performing like one of the best offenses in the NFL (scoring 28.4 points per game), and they only got better through the addition of Amari Cooper via trade. He adds an outside, X-receiver element to this offense and celebrated his debut by catching four balls for 66 yards and a touchdown. He’s the perfect piece to have added to the offense in what the Buffalo Bills are hoping will be a Super Bowl-winning campaign.
The new-look Bills offense will be tested against a sturdy Seattle defense this week, which benefited from the return of rookie Byron Murphy. They managed to hold a high-flying Falcons offense to just 14 points in week seven, but we have seen them be susceptible to quarterbacks over recent weeks, giving up a 100% completion rate to Jared Goff and conceding over 250 yards and three touchdowns to Brock Purdy. Josh Allen and his weapons should fancy their chances.
Unfortunately for Seattle, while they gain a body on defense, it looks like they are going to lose one on offense. DK Metcalf has been diagnosed with an MCL sprain, although he ambitiously said he plans to play. The Seahawks will be hoping that he can, given that he has been their best receiver by a long way, ranking third in the NFL with 568 yards. Buffalo has been in the middle of the pack in pass defense, giving up 209.1 yards per game, which ranks 17th in the NFL. Geno Smith is playing incredibly well when given a clean pocket, but Seattle's ability to succeed in this game will depend on whether sophomore wideout Jackson Smith-Njigba can step up in Metcalf’s absence.
Prediction/Analysis:
Seattle did well to avoid a four-game losing streak against Atlanta, but it is tough to see them getting a win here against a Buffalo Bills side that is a true juggernaut in the AFC. Buffalo can run the ball with James Cook, attack brilliantly over the middle of the field thanks to Khalil Shakir and Dalton Kincaid, and now have a genuine outside threat in Amari Cooper. With Metcalf likely missing the game, this one looks like a Buffalo win to me.
Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Date & Time: Sunday, October 27, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
- Broadcast Details: FOX
Game Preview:
Whoever wins this game between the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will move to the top of the NFC South, with both teams currently tied with a 4-3 record. There is a lot on the line, but the prestige of the game has been dented slightly by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers losing their top two receivers, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Baker Mayfield is currently second in passing yards so far this year with 1,859, along with 18 touchdowns to 7 interceptions, but his life is going to be made much harder moving forward without those two studs.
The Falcons have a nice secondary, led by star cornerback AJ Terrell, and it will be interesting to see who emerges from the Buccaneers' young and depleted wide receiver room. Fans will be hoping to see signs of life from rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan, but this is also an opportunity for Sterling Shepard to enjoy some consistent playing time.
On the Atlanta side of things, they are coming off a very underwhelming 14-point outing against the Seattle Seahawks, but it did at least feature some good performances from their offensive playmakers. Drake London and Kyle Pitts both had over 60 receiving yards, and Bijan Robinson amassed over 140 yards from scrimmage, in addition to scoring one of the touchdowns. He averaged 4.9 yards on his 21 attempts, with Tyler Allgeier also chipping in with a handy 36 yards on his five carries, at 7.2 yards per attempt.
The Buccaneers have not been as stingy against the run this year as they have in previous years, but Vita Vea’s presence in the middle still makes it a daunting line to run on. Therefore, the Falcons might well decide to target the Buccaneers' secondary, considering they’re giving up 254 yards per game through the air, which is 29th in the NFL. London and Darnell Mooney have both shown a great connection with Kirk Cousins, including in this matchup just a few weeks ago when Cousins passed for 509 yards and four touchdowns. London had 154 yards and one touchdown, with Mooney also going over the 100-yard mark and catching two touchdowns for himself. That sounds like the most sensible route forward for the Falcons this week.
Prediction/Analysis:
These two teams played out one of the best games of the season just a few weeks ago, with the Falcons earning an overtime 36-30 victory. Normally, I would predict the Falcons to get a win here at home and split the series, but with the injuries to Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, I think the Falcons look like the most likely winner.
Dallas Cowboys @ San Francisco 49ers
- Date & Time: Sunday, October 27, 2024, at 12:20 a.m. ET
- Venue: Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
- Broadcast Details: NBC, Peacock
Game Preview:
Sunday Night Football is the bad vibes game, between two teams who are coming off embarrassing losses. The San Francisco 49ers fell to the Kansas City Chiefs for the fifth straight time, and Brock Purdy had his worst game as a pro, throwing three interceptions on the day. Their opponents, the Dallas Cowboys, were hammered 47-9 in their own building in week six before their bye week.
Both teams desperately need a win to rebuild some much-needed confidence and get their seasons back on track. The 49ers will benefit from being in their home stadium, and they will be going up against a Dallas Cowboys defense that is giving up the most points per game, with 28. Just like last year, Dallas has been beatable on the ground, conceding 143.2 rushing yards per game, which is 27th in the NFL. With Jordan Mason currently second in NFL rushing yards with 667, we should expect to see a heavy dose of him in this one, especially considering the 49ers' wide receiver room is very banged up at the moment.
San Francisco’s defense has also not been up to its usual standards, conceding 22.6 points per game, which lands them middle of the pack. The job is made easier, however, by a distinct lack of offensive playmakers on the Dallas roster. CeeDee Lamb has felt the effects of this lack of personnel, failing to reach the 100-yard mark in any game so far this season and scoring just two touchdowns. Defenses are simply able to focus all their attention on him, not having to worry about the Cowboys' second or third receiver, or the non-existent run game, which is producing just 77.2 yards per game on the ground, dead last in the NFL.
Prediction/Analysis:
Both teams are coming off losses and have plenty of issues, but it is the 49ers who at least have a bit more to hang their hats on. They can run the ball and at least have some useful weapons in the passing game, even with Brandon Aiyuk now gone for the season. I will be backing them to steady the ship after their embarrassing loss to Kansas City.
Honorable Mentions:
Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans
- Sunday, Oct 27th | 1:00 p.m. | CBS
Can Anthony Richardson refind his form and pull the Indianapolis Colts level with the CJ Stroud-led Houston Texans?
Author: Venuse, Inc