Halloween weekend is wrapping up, but NFL Week 8 still has plenty of tricks left. Today brings 11 afternoon games with no international matchups, and the slate is stacked with division fights, a superstar comeback and some new threads worth talking about.
The Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers are on bye. Green Bay already handled business Thursday night, beating Carolina 27-19.
Lamar Jackson is back for a heavyweight bout
The biggest storyline sits in Orchard Park, N.Y. Lamar Jackson is expected to return for the Baltimore Ravens against the Buffalo Bills after an ankle injury kept him out since Oct. 4. Baltimore enters at 4-3, while Buffalo leads the AFC East at 5-1 and is a slight favorite at home.
This one carries one of the highest projected point totals of the week. With Jackson, Derrick Henry and tight end Mark Andrews on one side and Josh Allen on the other, the scoreboard could stay busy.
Dallas has the same projected total. The Cowboys host the Arizona Cardinals as touchdown favorites, but Arizona has beaten Dallas four straight times. Dak Prescott will have to deal with Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, one of the most dangerous pass catchers in the game.
Division drama across the NFL
Minnesota walks into Detroit at 6-0 as the league’s last unbeaten team. The 4-2 Lions are favored at home and have a real shot at ending the perfect run.
Cleveland visits Pittsburgh with both teams sitting at 5-2 and first place in the AFC North at stake. Kansas City brings a 5-1 record to Denver to face a 5-2 Broncos squad. Atlanta heads to Tampa Bay, Indianapolis travels to Jacksonville, and Philadelphia meets Washington on Sunday Night Football. The Commanders will be without defensive tackle Daron Payne, who suffered a season-ending foot fracture. The Los Angeles Chargers are still searching for their first win at 0-6 as they face the Rams.
In Miami, the 4-3 New England Patriots take on the 1-5 Dolphins. Drake Maye has thrown for 1,784 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. Miami counters with Malik Willis, who has rushed for 223 yards and three scores. The Dolphins are coming off a 28-25 win over the New York Jets.
Cincinnati hosts a 1-6 Tennessee team as a double-digit favorite. That sets up running back Chase Brown for a bounce-back after three straight games under 40 rushing yards.
Jaguars and Lions bring the heat
The fashion side of Sunday deserves its own spotlight. Jacksonville and Detroit both debut their Rivalries uniforms.
The Jaguars’ Bold City look features a glossy teal helmet with a gold face mask, the 904 area code on the front and the team’s Duval rallying cry on the back. Look closely at the black pants and you will find the names of Jacksonville neighborhoods tucked inside the jaguar spots.
Detroit’s Defend the Den uniform goes all silver with forward-leaning italic numbers designed to suggest motion. A Honolulu blue and black sleeve pattern mirrors a lion locking in on its prey, and a carbon fiber black Lions decal pays tribute to the Motor City’s car culture.
Bryce Young kicked off the week’s fits Thursday, pulling up in a clean Louis Vuitton shirt, a heavy jacket and sleek shades. The outfit won. The Panthers did not.
Monday night closes it out
Week 8 ends with the Chicago Bears visiting the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Chicago just made a splash by trading for three-time All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Seattle running back Zach Charbonnet is expected to make his season debut after recovering from a knee injury.
