Week 8 is an inflection point extravaganza. Pivotal games fill the schedule:
- Buffalo (-3.5) vs. Baltimore, Total 54.5
- Cleveland at Pittsburgh (-3.5), Total 39.5
- Minnesota at Detroit (-3.5), Total 45.5
- Chicago at Seattle (-3.0), Total 46.5
- Denver vs. Kansas City (-1.5), Total 40.5
Buffalo has a chance to tighten its grip on the AFC East, but the bigger target is the race for the AFC's first seed. Baltimore is in a worse spot. At 4-3, they know one of Cleveland or Pittsburgh is likely to be 6-2. They’ve already lost to Cleveland. A loss puts them last in the AFC North in November—a long fall for a team with Super Bowl expectations.
Who had Pittsburgh vs. Cleveland for first place in the AFC North in November when the schedules were released? The Browns are the NFL’s surprise team. The Steelers’ 5-2 record may not be any less shocking. Cleveland already pulled this upset once; completing the division sweep would lock in the tiebreaker. The Browns ascended to first in the North when they beat Pittsburgh previously. A win would put them back there. The last time they were in first? Week 4, 2014.
Minnesota is the last undefeated team. The NFC North is the NFL's most competitive division. Detroit posted a huge win over Green Bay in Week 7. Consecutive division wins keep the division tight. If Minnesota wins, they would complete the first set of divisional matchups 3-0, with the chance to stand three games clear of the pack depending on the Chicago vs. Seattle result.
Chicago and Seattle both cast big shots in the NFC race, trading for guard Queton Nelson and defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons, respectively. Week 8 will allow them to face off. The two know each other well, having spent their entire careers in the AFC South. The stakes are a bit higher than their previous matchups. Right now, avoiding losses may matter more than gaining wins. A loss would push the Seahawks four games back from San Francisco. Chicago could drop them three games behind Minnesota, assuming the Vikings win.
Kansas City has been one of the stories of the first half, especially Ken Walker III's impact on the offense. That impact started in Week 1, when Walker gained 191 scrimmage yards as the Chiefs blew out Denver 31-10. Denver has struggled offensively all season. A win in Week 8 would mean the Broncos have weathered that storm and still sit in first in the AFC West in November.
We will continue to see these races shift. But Week 8 could stand as the point when the final standings set their first stone.
Number Watch
Derrick Henry, Baltimore
1 Touchdown - Marshall Faulk, 136 Touchdowns, 7th All-Time
87 Rushing Yards - Jerome Bettis, 13,662 Rushing Yards, 8th / LaDainian Tomlinson, 13,684 Rushing Yards, 7th
Henry has a chance to jump two spots inside the Top 10 of the career rushing leaderboard. He is coming off two down weeks but has historically dominated Buffalo. One touchdown will tie him with Faulk on the career list. He trails Jamal Lewis by six touchdowns on the Ravens' career touchdown list.
Josh Allen, Buffalo
39 Rushing Yards - 5,000 Career Rushing Yards
Allen is close to becoming the fifth quarterback to rush for 5,000 yards. The other four: Lamar Jackson (6,666), Michael Vick (6,109), Cam Newton (5,628), and Russell Wilson (5,568).
Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit
81 Scrimmage Yards - 6,000 Career Scrimmage Yards
2 Touchdowns - 60 Career Touchdowns
Gibbs could join Terrell Davis and LaDainian Tomlinson as the only players in NFL history with 6,000 scrimmage yards and 60 touchdowns in their first four seasons.
Gibbs needs 97 rushing yards to tie Altie Taylor for the 4th most in Lions history.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle
133 Receiving Yards - 1,000 Receiving Yards
Smith-Njigba can become the fifth player to reach 1,000 yards in his first 8 games. Tyreek Hill (2023) and Wes Chandler (1982) are the only players since Charley Hennigan in 1961 to do so.
Revenge!
Do revenge games matter? For some players, absolutely. For others, it’s a fun side story. Each week, we look at players who have something extra.
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- QB Geno Smith, NY Jets vs. Las Vegas
- TE T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota vs. Detroit
- WR Laquon Treadwell, Indianapolis vs. Jacksonville
- TE Zach Ertz, Philadelphia vs. Washington
- RB Velus Jones Jr., Seattle vs. Chicago
- TE Eric Saubert, Seattle vs. Chicago
- QB Marcus Mariota, Washington vs. Philadelphia
- RB Emari Demercado, Dallas vs. Arizona
- WR Mack Hollins, New England vs. Miami
- WR Jalen Brooks, Arizona vs. Dallas
- RB AJ Dillon, Carolina vs. Green Bay
- TE Tyler Conklin, Detroit vs. Minnesota
Last Week
- RB Ken Walker III, Kansas City vs. Seattle, Lost 20-3, 36-0 / 4-21-0
- QB Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay vs. Carolina, Won 43-13, 64-1-0 / 1-1-0
- RB Devin Singletary, NY Giants vs. Houston, Won 27-21, 41-1 / 3-14-0
- RB Brian Robinson Jr., Atlanta vs. San Francisco, Won 29-20
- QB Joe Flacco, Cincinnati vs. Baltimore, Won 35-13
- QB Carson Wentz, Minnesota vs. Indianapolis, Won 16-10
- WR KhaDarel Hodge, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Lost 29-20
- WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Pittsburgh vs. New Orleans, Won 16-10
- WR David Moore, Carolina vs. Tampa Bay, Lost 43-13
- WR Davante Adams, LA Rams vs. Las Vegas, Won 35-21
Revenge Touchdown Tally
- Devin Singletary, vs. Houston, Week 7
- J.K. Dobbins, vs. LA Chargers, Week 5
- Samaje Perine, vs. Miami, Week 5
- Mike Gesicki, vs. Miami, Week 5
- Derrick Henry, vs. Tennessee, Week 4
- Wan'Dale Robinson, vs. NY Giants, Week 3
- Jakobi Meyers, vs. New England, Week 3
- Demarcus Robinson, vs. LA Rams, Week 1
- Aaron Jones Sr., vs. Green Bay, Week 1