Football is weird. Seriously. One week you’re looking at a team like they’re destined for the top overall pick, and then the NFL schedule week 8 rolls around and everything flips on its head. We just wrapped up a slate of games that felt less like mid-season football and more like a high-stakes survival horror movie for some of these coaches.
If you weren't glued to the screen, you missed a lot. Honestly, the way some of these games played out—especially that wild one in Cincinnati—shows exactly why we can't have nice things in our pick 'em leagues.
The standings are a mess now. Good luck figuring it out.
The Prime Time Chaos
Thursday night started the week with a bit of a thud, or a bang, depending on if you own Justin Herbert in fantasy. The Los Angeles Chargers basically dismantled the Minnesota Vikings 37-10. It wasn't particularly close. Minnesota looked like they were still stuck in traffic on the 405, while the Chargers moved to 4-3.
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Then came the main event on Sunday Night Football. Aaron Rodgers returned to face his old team.
The Green Bay Packers traveled to Pittsburgh for a game that lived up to the "historic" hype, even if the scoreboard didn't explode. Green Bay took it 35-25. Jordan Love had himself a day with 360 passing yards, basically telling the world that the post-Rodgers era is doing just fine, thanks. Meanwhile, Rodgers and the Steelers are sitting at 4-2, still very much in the hunt but definitely feeling the sting of a home loss to the "kids" from Wisconsin.
Monday night was supposed to be a Jayden Daniels showcase. Instead, it was the Patrick Mahomes show, as per usual. The Kansas City Chiefs handled the Washington Commanders 28-7. With Daniels sidelined by a hamstring injury, Washington just didn't have the juice to keep up at Arrowhead.
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Sunday Afternoon: Where Parlays Go to Die
The 1:00 p.m. window was absolute mayhem. If you had the New York Jets beating the Cincinnati Bengals in a 39-38 thriller, please send me your lottery numbers. Justin Fields somehow willed that Jets team to a win in a game that featured more lead changes than I can count on one hand.
Over in Houston, the Texans proved they might actually be the real deal. They beat the San Francisco 49ers 26-15. It's kinda wild to see C.J. Stroud out-dueling a Kyle Shanahan-led offense, but here we are. The Niners are dealing with massive injuries—Nick Bosa and Fred Warner are gone for the season—and it's starting to show.
A Quick Look at the Scoreboard
- Buffalo Bills 40, Carolina Panthers 9: A total bloodbath. James Cook had over 200 yards on the ground.
- Baltimore Ravens 30, Chicago Bears 16: Lamar Jackson was out, but the Ravens' defense stepped up big time against Caleb Williams.
- Philadelphia Eagles 38, New York Giants 20: Saquon Barkley went back to Philly and put up 150 rushing yards. That's gotta hurt for Giants fans.
- Miami Dolphins 34, Atlanta Falcons 10: Tua and the Phins got healthy in a big way.
- New England Patriots 32, Cleveland Browns 13: Drake Maye is looking more and more like the "guy" every single week.
The afternoon slate was a bit quieter but had its own drama. The Denver Broncos absolutely crushed the Dallas Cowboys 44-24. Bo Nix threw for nearly 250 yards and a couple of scores. Seeing the Cowboys drop one like that at Mile High makes you wonder if that defense has any answers left for mobile quarterbacks.
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Why This Specific Week Matters
We’re at the halfway point. Usually, this is when the "pretenders" start falling off the map. Look at the AFC West—it's a dogfight. Look at the NFC North. Green Bay and Detroit are neck-and-neck, and every game feels like a playoff matchup.
The NFL schedule week 8 is the bridge to the trade deadline. GMs were watching these games with their phones in their hands. A win like the Jets had might keep them from selling off pieces. A loss like the Giants suffered might mean a fire sale is coming to East Rutherford.
Looking Ahead: What You Should Do Now
If you’re a fan or a bettor, the landscape just shifted. Don't look at Week 1 or Week 2 stats anymore. They're irrelevant. The teams we saw this week are who these teams actually are.
- Watch the Injury Reports: The hamstring issues for Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels are going to dictate the next month of football.
- Respect the Home Dogs: The Steelers and Texans showed that playing at home in late October is a different beast.
- Check the Bye Weeks: We had six teams on bye this week (Arizona, Detroit, Jacksonville, Rams, Raiders, and Seattle). They’re coming back fresh for Week 9, while the teams we just watched are bruised and battered.
The playoff picture is starting to crystallize, but it's still blurry enough to keep things interesting. If you're planning your TV schedule for next week, pay close attention to the teams coming off those byes. They usually have the edge. Take these results, adjust your expectations, and get ready for the November stretch. That's when the real football begins.