NFL Week 8 Picks: Matchups Guide, Advice and Early Score Predictions

When the schedules for the NFL season were released a few months back, Nov. 1 was circled as a red-letter day, with two of the league’s top teams and top quarterbacks set to square off when the Denver Broncos hosted the Green Bay Packers.

Denver, which has heavily relied on its defense so far as Peyton Manning continues to show his age, is still undefeated but faces its greatest test in the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Also undefeated, Aaron Rodgers has validated his status as one of the top two quarterbacks in the league and looks nearly unstoppable, while the defense ranks No. 1 in the league in points allowed per game.

But while all eyes will be on Denver this weekend, there are plenty of other intriguing matchups, from an AFC North clash between the Bengals and the Steelers to a Raiders team searching for confirmation of their contender status when the New York Jets come to town.

Week 8 has the potential to be one of the most entertaining weeks of the season with so many high-profile matchups, so let’s predict the winners of each game and look in depth at a couple of the bigger contests for this weekend.

Thursday, Oct. 29	Time (ET)	TV	Score Projection
Sunday, Nov. 1	Time (ET)	TV	Score Projection
Monday, Nov. 2	Time (ET)	TV	Score Projection
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots	8:25 p.m.	CBS, NFL Network	Patriots 31, Dolphins 27
Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs (London)	9:30 a.m.	Fox	Chiefs 24, Lions 17
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans	1 p.m.	CBS	Texans 31, Titans 24
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons	1 p.m.	Fox	Falcons 35, Buccaneers 21
Arizona Cardinals at Cleveland Brown	1 p.m.	Fox	Cardinals 41, Browns 20
San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams	1 p.m.	Fox	Rams 28, 49ers 10
New York Giants at New Orleans Saints	1 p.m.	Fox	Giants 28, Saints 24
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears	1 p.m.	Fox	Vikings 31, Bears 17
San Diego Chargers at Baltimore Ravens	1 p.m.	CBS	Chargers 21, Ravens 17
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers	1 p.m.	CBS	Steelers 31, Bengals 30
New York Jets at Oakland Raiders	4:05 p.m.	CBS	Raiders 28, Jets 21
Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys	4:25 p.m.	Fox	Seahawks 31, Cowboys 20
Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos	8:30 p.m.	NBC	Packers 27, Broncos 14
Indianapolis Colts at Carolina Panthers	8:30 p.m.	ESPN	Panthers 31, Colts 21

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

What better test could there be for a team on a hot streak than heading to the home of the champions and the best team in the league?

Since Joe Philbin was shown the door, the Miami Dolphins have turned into an offensive juggernaut—as many expected them to be heading into the season—destroying the Titans 38-10 and the Texans 44-26 in the last two weeks.

But while Ryan Tannehill and company look like a much better team than the unit that lost 41-14 to the Bills in Week 3, beating Houston and Tennessee isn’t the best litmus test of a team’s ability to contend. The New England Patriots, on the other hand, are.

Tom Brady has been an unstoppable force this season as the Patriots have started their title defense by running over every team in their path, with the exception of a close win against the New York Jets last weekend.

Even with a running game that has failed to establish itself so far, the Patriots are playing like the best team in the league and Brady looks destined for the MVP. As good as the Dolphins have played this month, it is tough to envision a scenario where they can pull the upset against New England.

Prediction: Patriots 31, Dolphins 27

Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos

Matt Ludtke/Associated Press

It is incredibly tough to put a dampener on what the Denver Broncos have done so far this season. The defense is one of the best in the league, and at 6-0 in a weak AFC West, the Broncos are in perfect position to make it back to the playoffs this season.

But even with their unblemished start, the Broncos haven’t exactly been lighting up the league. Largely thanks to Peyton Manning finally showing signs of age and a run game that barely exists, Denver has been just barely getting by rather than comfortably winning week after week.

In comparison to one-unit domination for the Broncos, the Packers are one of the best teams in the league on both sides of the ball. With the No. 1 scoring defense and No. 5 scoring offense, Green Bay has the balance and talent needed to push for a title this year, even without a healthy Jordy Nelson.

It has been a team performance for Green Bay getting to 6-0 this year, but in reality it comes down to the elite play of Aaron Rodgers. The reigning MVP is putting together a season for the ages that is only getting ignored because Brady is putting together an equally impressive year.

Denver is very good and should coast to a playoff berth by winning the division again this season, but Green Bay is on another level right now and will force Manning into uncomfortable situations on defense while Rodgers continues to prove why he is one of the league’s best.

Prediction: Packers 27, Broncos 14

Indianapolis Colts at Carolina Panthers

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

The Indianapolis Colts were supposed to be so much better than they are right now. With Super Bowl predictions surrounding the team after an offseason of high-profile moves on offense, Indianapolis has been one of the biggest disappointments in the league.

From a terrible offensive line to a group of cornerbacks—even with Vontae Davis ranking among the best in the league—that can’t stop anybody, there are a number of issues plaguing the Colts in the early stages of the season, but none more than the play of Andrew Luck,

On a shortlist of players before the year in the conversation for MVP, Luck has been atrocious in the five games he has been a part of, with an 11-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio that is largely inflated based on the team scrapping to dig out of deep deficits.

Pretty much on the opposite end of the spectrum, the Carolina Panthers have subverted expectations, overcoming a weak offensive line and lack of pass-catchers to become one of the NFL’s best teams. Sporting a 6-0 record, there are few hotter teams than the Panthers, whom many picked to finish near the bottom of the NFC.

On Monday night in Charlotte, N.C., the two teams will continue trending in the same directions they have all season, with Cam Newton picking apart a vulnerable Indianapolis secondary and Luck struggling to put up efficient numbers once again.

Prediction: Panthers 31, Colts 21