play0:21Matt Dodge, DeSean Jackson reflect on “Miracle at the Meadowlands”Former Giants punter Matt Dodge and DeSean Jackson reflect on the “Miracle at the Meadowlands” play. For the full feature, check out this weekend’s “Sunday NFL Countdown.”
play2:04Mike Vrabel tells Rich Eisen how he coaches Drake MayeMike Vrabel joins “The Rich Eisen Show” to discuss Drake Maye and the steps he has taken toward building helpful relationships within the Patriots.
play1:39Dan Orlovsky: CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens by far the best NFL WR duoThe “Get Up” crew debates whether the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are the best wide receiver duo in the NFL.
play0:56How disappointing is the Steelers’ defense?Jeff Saturday criticizes the Steelers’ defense for allowing 33 points against the Bengals.
Matt Dodge, DeSean Jackson reflect on “Miracle at the Meadowlands”Former Giants punter Matt Dodge and DeSean Jackson reflect on the “Miracle at the Meadowlands” play. For the full feature, check out this weekend’s “Sunday NFL Countdown.”
Former Giants punter Matt Dodge and DeSean Jackson reflect on the “Miracle at the Meadowlands” play. For the full feature, check out this weekend’s “Sunday NFL Countdown.”
Mike Vrabel tells Rich Eisen how he coaches Drake MayeMike Vrabel joins “The Rich Eisen Show” to discuss Drake Maye and the steps he has taken toward building helpful relationships within the Patriots.
Mike Vrabel joins “The Rich Eisen Show” to discuss Drake Maye and the steps he has taken toward building helpful relationships within the Patriots.
Dan Orlovsky: CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens by far the best NFL WR duoThe “Get Up” crew debates whether the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are the best wide receiver duo in the NFL.
The “Get Up” crew debates whether the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are the best wide receiver duo in the NFL.
How disappointing is the Steelers’ defense?Jeff Saturday criticizes the Steelers’ defense for allowing 33 points against the Bengals.
Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers faces his former team when the Packers come to town, the Bills look to avoid losing three straight, and the Giants and Eagles face off in a classic NFC East showdown.
Let’s get into the full Week 8 slate, which culminates with a “Monday Night Football” matchup between the Commanders and Chiefs on ESPN. (Game times are Sunday unless otherwise noted.)
Jump to a matchup: SF-HOU | NYG-PHI | CHI-BAL BUF-CAR | CLE-NE | NYJ-CIN MIA-ATL | TB-NO | DAL-DEN TEN-IND | GB-PIT | WSH-KC
What we’re hearing on the Texans: The Texans’ pass catchers might take a hit this week. Wideout Nico Collins, who’s in the concussion protocol, might not play. And wideout Christian Kirk, who missed last week’s game with a hamstring injury, might be out again. Neither practiced on Wednesday or Thursday, and the Texans rarely play guys who don’t practice both days. Expect rookies Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins to fill the void. — DJ Bien-Aime
Stat to know: Despite rotating between quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Mac Jones, the 49ers lead the league in passing yards per game (271.3) and are tied with the Bucs for the second most yards after the catch this season (923). — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr. will allow at least 60 receiving yards. Though he has two interceptions, Stingley’s overall coverage numbers are not nearly as good as they were a season ago, but his 17% target rate and 1.6 yards allowed per coverage snap are both above average for an outside corner. — Walder
Betting nugget: The 49ers are 1-4 ATS (against the spread) as road underdogs since the start of last season. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: 49ers 28, Texans 6 Moody’s pick: 49ers 26, Texans 23 Walder’s pick: 49ers 23, Texans 17 FPI prediction: HOU, 56.2% (by an average of 2.5 points)
Matchup must-reads: 49ers’ Kittle’s return gives glimpse of healthy 49ers offense … Texans’ coach Ryans has no plan to make change at OC
What we’re hearing on the Eagles: Eagles LT Jordan Mailata called this rematch “personal” for him after playing “very passive” in what he described as the worst game of his career in Week 6. The Eagles uncharacteristically lost the battle at the point of attack, and they do not plan on history repeating itself. “The message this week is ‘Be physical. … Let’s be physical up front, both sides of the ball, and dominate,'” Mailata said. — Tim McManus
Stat to know: The Eagles co-lead the league with a 100% goal-to-go TD percentage and have a league-high 82.4% red zone TD percentage. But they also lead the league in three-and-out drives resulting in a punt (25) and have 31 drives without a first down (tied for second most behind Tennessee). — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Giants OT Andrew Thomas will not record a single pass block loss. Not only have the Eagles’ pass rushers struggled to generate pressure this season, but Thomas ranks first among tackles with a 96.4% pass block win rate. — Walder
Matt Dodge, DeSean Jackson reflect on “Miracle at the Meadowlands”
Fantasy nugget: Giants WR Wan’Dale Robinson has been phenomenal over the past three games, recording five or more receptions in each and 15-plus fantasy points in two. He has drawn 26 targets during that stretch. The Eagles’ defensive front ranks 13th in pass rush win rate (40.2%), which could lead to more quick throws from Dart, a boost for Robinson. Philadelphia also allows the fifth-most receiving yards per game to WRs. See Week 8 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: The Giants are 6-2 ATS in the past eight road meetings in Philadelphia despite being 0-8 outright. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Eagles 23, Giants 21 Moody’s pick: Eagles 38, Giants 20 Walder’s pick: Eagles 28, Giants 23 FPI prediction: PHI, 64.9% (by an average of 5.8 points)
Matchup must-reads: NFC East Roundtable: Can the defending champs take the division crown again? … Giants’ Carter doing ‘great job’ despite lack of sacks … Giants-Eagles and the rivalry’s most horrible/wonderful play
Stat to know: Ravens RB Derrick Henry’s 88 rushes are his fewest through six games since 2018 with the Titans. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Bears LB Tremaine Edmunds will lead the league in combined tackles in Week 8. The Ravens lean run-heavy, but more importantly they are solid favorites over the Bears. If Baltimore gets out to a lead, all those rushing attempts to run out the clock will give Edmunds plenty of tackle opportunities. — Walder
Fantasy nugget: Even though the Ravens’ offensive line ranks 26th in run block win rate (69.2%), Henry is one of the few RBs in the league skilled enough to transcend poor O-line play. Baltimore faces a Bears defensive front that ranks 23rd in run stop win rate (29%) and allows the fifth-most rushing yards per game (137.7). See Week 8 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: Chicago has covered four straight games, its longest streak since 2018 (when it covered five games). Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Ravens 31, Bears 29 Moody’s pick: Ravens 24, Bears 21 Walder’s pick: Ravens 37, Bears 31 FPI prediction: BAL, 60% (by an average of 3.8 points)
Matchup must-reads: Bears’ WR Odunze breaking out in Year 2 … Ravens’ QB Jackson (hamstring) practices; status TBD
What we’re hearing on the Panthers: The key to this game could be Buffalo’s porous run defense, which ranks 31st in the NFL, giving up 156.3 ground yards per game. RBs Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle can take the pressure off QB Andy Dalton with a rushing offense that ranks third in yards per game (140.1). — David Newton
Stat to know: Allen is seeking five consecutive games with multiple passing TDs for the first time since Weeks 4-8 of the 2023 season. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Panthers WR Jalen Coker will record at least four receptions. He had zero in his season-debut last week, but I have a suspicion that Coker will eventually take a pretty decent share of the receiving work in the Panthers’ offense after recording 1.9 yards per route run last season. — Walder
Fantasy nugget: Carolina has yet to allow a QB to throw for over 300 yards in a game, and it has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing receivers. However, Khalil Shakir leads the Bills in yards per route run against zone coverage, which is notable because the Panthers play the most zone defense in the league. Carolina also gives up the third-most fantasy points per game to TEs, which bodes well for Dalton Kincaid. See Week 8 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: Overs are 17-7 in Panthers games and 15-8 in Bills games since the start of last season. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Bills 25, Panthers 19 Moody’s pick: Bills 27, Panthers 20 Walder’s pick: Bills 34, Panthers 17 FPI prediction: BUF, 55.2% (by an average of 2 points)
Matchup must-reads: Bills getting defensive reinforcements in hopes to avoid three-game slide … Panthers confident in QB Dalton if Young is out … Source: Panthers’ Young has high ankle sprain, likely out this week
Stat to know: Browns rookie RB Quinshon Judkins’ five rushing TDs this season (three last week) are the most by any Browns player through their first six career games since 1970. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Diggs will record 80 or more receiving yards. He currently has an 80 open score — fifth best among WRs — and has been a key part of the Patriots’ incredibly successful passing offense. — Walder
Mike Vrabel tells Rich Eisen how he coaches Drake Maye
Fantasy nugget: Maye recorded his third game with two TD passes, no interceptions and a completion rate of at least 80% in Week 7, tied for the third-most such games in a single season in NFL history. Only Drew Brees (2018) and Jared Goff (2024) have done it four times. The Browns play man coverage more than any team in the league, and Diggs leads all Patriots receivers in yards per route run against man. See Week 8 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: The Browns are 0-8 ATS in their past eight road games. Another ATS loss would match the longest road losing streak in the past 40 seasons. Read more. — ESPN Research