NFL Week 8 Features Key Injuries and Top-Tier Matchups
The Sunday slate includes high-stakes games between division rivals, while Monday Night Football pits the Bears against the Seahawks.
By Malik Salazar ·
The 2026 NFL regular season enters its eighth week with a slate of 14 games that features several teams competing for playoff positioning. For fans and bettors, the schedule offers clear indicators of team strength, including a potential AFC playoff preview between the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills. The Bills hold a 3.5-point favorite status in that matchup, with the over/under set at 53.5 points. The game serves as a test for Buffalo, who are 5-1 and coming off a bye week, and Baltimore, who are navigating the absence of their star quarterback.
The absence of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is a central factor in the early afternoon window. Jackson, who is dealing with an ankle injury, missed his team's last three games. In his place, Tyler Huntley has started and gone 1-2. The Ravens' rushing attack has struggled without Jackson, failing to gain 90 yards in losses to Cincinnati and Cleveland. The Bills enter the game with Josh Allen, who leads the league in yards per pass attempt at 8.8 and has eight rushing touchdowns.
Another major contest occurs at 4:25 p.m. ET when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos. The Chiefs are 1.5-point favorites, and the over/under is 40.5 points. The Broncos will play without safety RJ Harvey, who suffered a knee injury in practice. Denver comes off its best offensive performance of the season, scoring 30 points, while Kansas City is coming off its worst, managing only three. The game marks a clash between two teams that have shown volatility in recent weeks.
The Sunday night game at 8:20 p.m. ET features the Philadelphia Eagles visiting the Washington Commanders. This NFC East matchup is critical because the division remains wide open due to injuries. The Eagles are playing without Jalen Hurts, who is out with blood clots. His replacement, Tanner McKee, is 0-2 in his two starts as a starter. The Commanders are 1-4-1 and are 6-point favorites in the game. The division could potentially be won by a team with a losing record this season.
The Week 8 schedule also includes a strong 1 p.m. ET window featuring the Minnesota Vikings versus the Detroit Lions. The Lions rank second in the NFL in scoring and total offense, led by Jared Goff, who leads the league in passing yards per game at 298.0. The Vikings counter with the league's best scoring defense, anchored by Dallas Turner, who has 6.0 sacks and 17 quarterback hits. The Vikings are 3-point favorites in that contest.
Other notable matchups include the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, who are tied for first in the AFC North at 5-2. The Steelers have won three straight, while the Browns have won their last two games. The Cincinnati Bengals, who are 4-3, will face the Tennessee Titans, a game where the Bengals are 10-point favorites. The Jacksonville Jaguars, who are 4-2 and lead the AFC South, host the Indianapolis Colts at 1 p.m. ET.
The week concludes on Monday, November 2, with the Chicago Bears visiting the Seattle Seahawks at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Seahawks are 3-point favorites in that game, with the over/under set at 46.5 points. The Bears and Seahawks both enter the game seeking to solidify their positions in their respective divisions as the season approaches its midpoint.
