We’re nearly halfway through the 2023-24 NFL season, and the important games are beginning to heat up.

In Week 8, pecking orders are still up in the air to be established. An early Los Angeles Rams–Dallas Cowboys battle could begin to set the tone for the NFC Wildcard race. Teams like the New York Jets (at New York Giants) and Atlanta Falcons (at Tennessee Titans) have chances to continue their hot starts and put themselves in playoff position with half a season to go.

In other good matchups, the 3-3 Cincinnati Bengals take on a banged-up 5-2 San Francisco 49ers team. The 4-2 Cleveland Browns will also visit the 4-2 Seattle Seahawks.

Read on for my 2023-24 NFL Week 8 Picks, and if you’d like to debate or discuss any predictions, join the conversation with @SakSports on Twitter.

Picks Record

Week 7: 5-8

Week 1: 9-7

Week 2: 12-4

Week 3: 8-8

Week 4: 12-4

Week 5: 7-7

Week 6: 11-4

Week 7: 5-8

Overall: 64-42 (60%)

Thursday Night Football

(Democrat and Chronicle)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3) at Buffalo Bills (4-3): The Buffalo Bills have suffered from back-to-back underwhelming performances on offense against the Giants and Patriots, but still have to be favored here over the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bills win 24-17

Sunday Games

(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Los Angeles Rams (3-4) at Dallas Cowboys (4-2): These teams are about even on talent all things considered, even though the Dallas Cowboys seem a bit more stable. I’ll give Dallas the win at home, especially since the Los Angeles Rams couldn’t handle the Steelers last week. Cowboys win 30-23

Minnesota Vikings (3-4) at Green Bay Packers (2-4): After a cushy 2-1 start, Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers have regressed in to a pretty mediocre team. The Minnesota Vikings, on the other hand, are bouncing back well from their 1-4 start, with back-to-back wins over the Bears and 49ers. Vikings win 26-18

Atlanta Falcons (4-3) at Tennessee Titans (2-4): I don’t know how they do it, but the Atlanta Falcons just keep on winning, and keep on drawing softer competition: this week, a Tennessee Titans team shifting gears to rookie Will Levis. Falcons win 24-16

New Orleans Saints (3-4) at Indianapolis Colts (3-4): Despite a 39-38 loss to the Browns last week, the Indianapolis Colts proved they won’t go down without a fight despite Anthony Richardson’s season-ending injury. Colts win 33-26

New England Patriots (2-5) at Miami Dolphins (5-2): The New England Patriots pulled off a nifty upset of the Bills last week, but I don’t think they’ll be able to surprise two superior AFC East opponents in a row. Dolphins win 28-14

New York Jets (3-3) at New York Giants (2-5): Despite grinding out a 14-7 win over the Commanders last week, the New York Giants aren’t a very potent team, whether it’s Daniel Jones or Tyrod Taylor at quarterback. The New York Jets have rebounded well from Aaron Rodgers’ Week 1 injury, and should be able to push their record positive in the once-every-four-years MetLife Bowl. Jets win 20-17

Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2): Both teams seem to be getting better by the week. My heart says Jaguars here, but the Steelers just keep surprising me: I’m going with Pittsburgh, not necessarily based on what’s on the football field, but rather, bucking a trend of betting against the Steelers. Steelers win 27-24

Philadelphia Eagles (6-1) at Washington Commanders (3-4): These two teams have already met this season, with Washington giving the Philadelphia Eagles a run for their money in the first matchup. Still, Philadelphia remains the stronger team in every facet of the game. Eagles win 34-20

Houston Texans (3-3) at Carolina Panthers (0-6): In this battle of rookie quarterbacks, I see C.J. Stroud pushing his Houston Texans to 4-3, with first overall pick Bryce Young falling to 0-7 as the Carolina Panthers starter. Texans win 28-17

Cleveland Browns (4-2) at Seattle Seahawks (4-2): The Cleveland Browns will start P.J. Walker again, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Still, I’ll give the Seattle Seahawks a narrow edge at home. Seahawks win 30-27

Kansas City Chiefs (6-1) at Denver Broncos (2-5): Denver kept the first meeting between these two teams earlier this month relatively low-scoring, but there’s still no reason to think the Broncos will overcome the Kansas City Chiefs this week. Chiefs win 31-17

SEE ALSO: Post-Week 7 Power Rankings

Baltimore Ravens (5-2) at Arizona Cardinals (1-6): The Baltimore Ravens destroyed the Lions by over 30 points last week, and the Arizona Cardinals are an even weaker team. Unfortunately I don’t think we’ll see a bigger blowout, because the NFL just doesn’t work like that. Ravens win 33-16

Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) at San Francisco 49ers (5-2): Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals are trending up since their slow start to the season, while the San Francisco 49ers have lost back-to-back games after catching the injury bug. Both teams healthy and firing on all cylinders would be so fun to watch, and I’d go with San Francisco in that scenario: but with Sam Darnold likely to start in place of Brock Purdy, let’s give the Bengals this one. Bengals win 24-23

Sunday Night Football

(Sky Sports)

Chicago Bears (2-5) at Los Angeles Chargers (2-4): The Chicago Bears have actually been playing some decent ball lately, but Justin Fields is down. The Los Angeles Chargers are desperate for a home win on Monday Night Football. Chargers win 34-16

Monday Night Football

Las Vegas Raiders (3-4) at Detroit Lions (5-2): The Las Vegas Raiders have also been playing some feisty ball and earning a couple wins, but the Detroit Lions must be eager to snap back from their first true disappointment of the season. Lions win 27-20

SEE ALSO: Nuggets Beat Lakers 119-107 on Opening Night to Begin Title Defense

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Header Photo Credit: Ashley Landis

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