Our guide to every NFL Week 8 game: Matchup previews, predictions, picks and nuggets — SkimNews
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- NFL runs the 2026 Week 8 slate from Thursday through Monday, opening with Carolina-Green Bay and closing with Chicago-Seahawks in ESPN’s Monday Night Football finale; New Orleans, the New York Giants, San Francisco and Houston are on bye.
- Baltimore Ravens listed Lamar Jackson as a full participant in practice after an ankle injury, while the betting preview said the quarterback was set to return against Buffalo.
- Buffalo Bills have James Cook averaging 104.5 rushing yards per game, while their 14 rushing touchdowns are tied with the 2004 Chiefs for the third-most in a team’s first six games since 1966; Baltimore has not allowed an RB 100 rushing yards in 21 straight games.
- Football Power Index favors Buffalo over Baltimore with a 61.4% win probability and a 2.9-point edge, and two of three analysts also pick Buffalo; the proposed scores are Ravens 31-28, Bills 31-27 and Bills 30-27.
- Minnesota Vikings are 6-0 despite an offense ranked 29th at 281.7 yards per game; coach Kevin O'Connell said it must make plays in critical moments against a Lions team leading the NFL at 28.3 points per game, while FPI favors Detroit 55.2% and two of three score picks choose Minnesota.
- T.J. Hockenson recorded at least 13 fantasy points in each of the three games this season in which he received five or more targets, while Detroit allowed the most fantasy points per game to both quarterbacks and tight ends.
- Indianapolis Colts will make rookie Jalen Farmer’s starting debut at guard following the Quenton Nelson trade and expect Adetomiwa Adebawore to replace DeForest Buckner at defensive tackle, while Jacksonville enters 9-1 at home with a plus-11 turnover ratio.
Why it matters: Indianapolis lost guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in major trades, forcing rookie Jalen Farmer into a starting debut and Adebawore into Buckner’s role. The reshuffle comes against Jacksonville, which is 9-1 at home, averages 31.5 points per game and holds a plus-11 turnover ratio.
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