The NFL's Week 8 schedule arrives over Halloween weekend, with a handful of games that could shape the playoff picture. The Sunday night game features the Eagles (2-5) at the Commanders (1-4-1). Before that, several earlier matchups have drawn more attention, and a CBS Sports columnist has weighed in with predictions on each.
In Buffalo, the Ravens (4-3) visit the Bills (5-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Buffalo's defense is the concern. It is allowing 28.5 points per game, the third-most in the league, and through six games was giving up an average of 285.8 passing yards, the second-highest figure in the NFL. Still, the Bills are 4-0 in games where they have allowed at least 30 points, while the other 31 teams are a combined 8-47 in such games. Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson has not played since injuring his ankle in Week 4, though he returned to practice last week. The columnist picks Buffalo either way, 34-31 if Jackson plays and 34-24 if he does not.
The Vikings (6-0) are the last unbeaten team in the league, and they visit the Lions (4-2) at 1 p.m. ET Sunday. Minnesota has scored only 10 offensive touchdowns, the fewest by a team that started 6-0 since 1934, and kicker Will Reichard has 63 points, one more than every other player on the roster combined. The defense under coordinator Brian Flores has carried the team, blitzing at an 85.2% rate in a win over the Colts and above 70% for the season. The schedule is about to get harder: from Week 8 through Week 11, the Vikings face the most difficult slate in the NFL (.731), with games against the Lions, Bills, Packers and 49ers. Minnesota swept Detroit last year, holding the Lions to 34 total points across the two games. The pick is Vikings 19-16.
Also at 1 p.m. ET, the Browns (5-2) visit the Steelers (5-2) in a game for first place in the AFC North. Cleveland beat Pittsburgh 27-24 in Week 4, and another win would be its first season sweep of the Steelers since 1988. All five Browns wins have come by four points or less, and their last three came on a field goal in the final 10 seconds, which the column says is a first in NFL history. Only three other teams have opened with five wins all by four points or less, and none reached the playoffs. Pittsburgh's offense has improved over the past five weeks, with Jaylen Warren rushing for at least 100 yards in three of those games. The columnist picks Cleveland, 23-20.
At 4:25 p.m. ET, the Chiefs (5-1) travel to face the Broncos (5-2). Denver quarterback Bo Nix rushed for just 37 yards in the first six games, then scrambled for a 62-yard touchdown against Arizona in Week 7, the longest touchdown run by a quarterback in Broncos history. Since Nix was drafted in 2024, Denver is 12-0 when it rushes for at least 125 yards and 4-0 when Nix runs for at least 35. His air yards per attempt also jumped from 4.9 over the first six weeks to 11.1 against the Cardinals. Kansas City held Denver to 10 points in Week 1, and the Broncos have given up the fifth-most rushing yards per game this season. The columnist takes the Chiefs, 20-16.
Week 8 closes Monday at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN, when the Bears (5-2) visit the Seahawks (4-3). Seattle has won five straight home primetime games, including the playoffs, by an average of 12.8 points, and it beat the Chiefs decisively in Week 7. Chicago brings the league's top rushing attack, averaging 154.3 yards per game, and under coach Ben Johnson the Bears are 10-1 when they run for at least 140 yards, including the playoffs.
