The National Football League got their Week 8 started on Thursday, with the Buffalo Bills picking up their fifth win of the 2023 season.
It was not pretty, but they got it done over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now, we turn our attention to the rest of the Week 8 slate.
No team has a bye this weekend, which means everyone will be in action. Once again, the Arizona Cardinals come into the game as an underdog of a touchdown or more.
Let’s take a look at that game and some of the best games for Week 8.
Baltimore Ravens -9.5 at Arizona Cardinals
Arizona is going to get the Ravens fresh off one of their best performances in a long time. The Ravens absolutely boat-raced the Detroit Lions. Lamar Jackson has been pretty solid for Baltimore and is finding new weapons each week.
For the Cardinals, they seem to be falling off a little after a pretty interesting start.
The Cardinals offense got nothing going last week against the Seahawks. With a question run game and no path to slowing Jackson and the Ravens offense, covering nearly 10 points seems like a tough task for Arizona.
The Cardinals are hoping Jackson goes back to his reckless, turn the ball over ways. It is probably their only chance in this one. Baltimore should win by double digits.
Seattle Seahawks -3.5 vs. Cleveland Browns
Pete Carroll and his Seahawks get a chance to slow down the red-hot Cleveland Browns. Despite losing their top running back, their quarterback, and now their backup running back, this Cleveland team is right in the mix in the AFC North.
The Browns were seemingly gift-wrapped with their win last week over the Colts. Cleveland struggles to score but did not in their win. For the Seahawks, they quietly go about their business, now just ½ game behind the 49ers in the NFC West.
Seattle is using Kenneth Walker early and often on the ground. Cleveland will look to slow that down, but in the end, the Seahawks have many weapons at home. Seattle wins at home.
San Francisco 49ers -4.5 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
We have ourselves a pretty good game in the bay. The 49ers will be without Brock Purdy for this game, as he went into concussion protocol. The 49ers are beat up, as Christian McCaffrey still has a lingering injury, and Deebo Samuel missed last week. Sam Darnold should get the start.
The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off their bye week, which came at a poor time for them. The Bengals were playing good football with two wins in a row.
Ja’Marr Chase is getting back into the mix as an elite receiver. Look for Chase to have another big day and the Bengals’ defense to keep the 49ers in their struggles. The Bengals are going to go on the road and win this game straight up.
Dallas Cowboys -6 vs. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams go to the Cowboys. Dallas is just shy of a touchdown favorite. The Rams have no run game, and that’s a problem.
If the Cowboys know the Rams are going to throw the football, they will certainly pin their ears back.
Dallas has enough on both sides of the ball and has the home-field advantage where this should not be that competitive of a game. The Cowboys win easily over the Rams on Sunday.
Los Angeles Chargers -9.5 vs. Chicago Bears
The Sunday Night Football game of the week. The Chargers need to get back in the win column in a desperate way. This is the type of game that is the Chargers cannot win; they may be without a head coach come Monday afternoon. The Chargers have too much talent to be struggling the way they are.
The Bears will see Tyson Bagent make his second career start. Great story, but going on the road at the Chargers is a different animal.
Look for the Chargers to come after him in a big way, and turnovers are key here. Los Angeles wins this game rather easily and gets back in the win column.
Detroit Lions -8 vs. Las Vegas Raiders
The loss to the Bears last week was a key moment for the Raiders. Devante Adams is not happy, and Josh Jacobs cannot shake defenders free. This game is in Detroit, where the Lions are going to be ready after their embarrassing loss last week.
Look for Jared Goff to have a big game at home and carry Detroit to a Monday Night Football win. The Lions win this one 31-14 over the Raiders.
There are some of the best games in the National Football League this weekend. It should be yet another week of interesting games and fun results. Good luck to the Cardinals as they look to pick up their second win of the season.
