Thursday Night Football: Raiders @ Broncos (Prime, 7:15 PM)
The Denver Broncos continue to win ugly — and continue to pull away in the AFC West because of it. Denver looked downright dreadful at times against the Houston Texans, with Bo Nix’s horrendous performance getting swept under the rug thanks to one late scramble that set up the game-winning field goal. At some point, you have to feel like the other shoe is going to drop and the Broncos will finally suffer that devastating loss they’ve been teasing for weeks.
That loss, however, probably isn’t coming this week. Denver essentially gets a pseudo-bye as they host the Las Vegas Raiders. Yes, the Raiders are coming off their best offensive performance of the year — Geno Smith posted a QB rating over 100 and threw four touchdowns — but they still couldn’t win because their defense allowed 30 points. Combine Smith’s turnover tendencies with a struggling run game and a slumping defense, and it’s not hard to see why Denver is a 9.5-point favorite.
Prediction: 21-13 Broncos
NFL Berlin Game: Falcons vs. Colts (NFL Network, 8:30 AM)
For the first time since Week 4, the Indianapolis Colts looked mortal. Despite the scoreboard showing just a one-touchdown loss, anyone who watched knows how lopsided it really was. Daniel Jones had a dreadful outing, turning the ball over five times against the Steelers, while Jonathan Taylor’s MVP chances took a hit after failing to break 50 rushing yards. Add in a banged-up offensive line that allowed five sacks, and you’ve got an irritated group of Colts hopping on a plane to Germany.
The Falcons had no business being in their game against New England, but the Patriots’ inability to put them away gave Atlanta hope — only for them to rip out their fans’ guts with a missed PAT in a 24-23 loss. Michael Penix managed the most underwhelming three-touchdown, zero-interception game I’ve ever seen, because that Falcons offense looked lifeless for most of the night. What’s becoming an even bigger concern is the defense, which over the past few weeks has seemingly forgotten how to get off the field.
We all know international games are complete crapshoots, but this feels like one where frustration gets taken out on one side — and it’ll be Atlanta doing the suffering.
Prediction: 33-17 Colts
Sunday Noon Window
Giants @ Bears (FOX)
The Bears abandoned any semblance of defense in their 47-42 win over the Bengals, once again doing everything in their power to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Fortunately for Chicago, they aren’t worried about winning pretty — just winning, period — and through eight games, they’re sitting at 5-3. The real question: can they survive their next four games, where the schedule ramps up significantly?
The Giants never had much of a chance against the 49ers, facing a severe talent and coaching deficit. Jaxson Dart has shown flashes of brilliance, but they usually come when the game is already out of reach. The one area of optimism for Giants fans entering this season was the defense, but that unit has fallen apart over the past three weeks, giving up 35 points per game.
Given New York’s lack of offensive firepower, expect Chicago’s defense to bounce back while the Bears take advantage of a slumping opponent.
Prediction: 27-21 Bears
Bills @ Dolphins (CBS)
The Bills looked like the best team in football against Kansas City. From offense to defense to coaching and scheming, Buffalo thoroughly routed the Chiefs. It’s become a yearly tradition — the Bills looking unstoppable against Kansas City in the regular season. And if history holds, a letdown isn’t coming: Buffalo is 3-0 in games following a win over the Chiefs in recent years.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, looked completely lost at home against the Ravens on Monday night. They seemed to empty the tank the previous week just to avoid being the league’s worst team, only to no-show the next game. There’s no reason to feel optimistic about Miami — from the coaching staff to the quarterback room, everyone looks checked out. It’s a locker room of hired guns waiting for the season to end.
Prediction: 33-13 Bills
Ravens @ Vikings (FOX)
One team probably not thrilled with the Vikings’ turnaround is the Baltimore Ravens, who likely thought this matchup looked much more winnable a week ago. But with Lamar Jackson back, Baltimore is a completely different team. Over the past three weeks, their defense has allowed just 13 points per game — a massive improvement.
Minnesota caught the Lions flat last week and held on for an upset win thanks to a timely blocked field goal. J.J. McCarthy isn’t playing great, but he’s also not playing poorly enough to lose games — and his teammates clearly believe in him. That belief matters, but it won’t be enough against a healthy Lamar Jackson and a surging Ravens defense.
Prediction: 24-21 Ravens
Browns @ Jets (CBS)
The Jets had one of the more drastic fire sales we’ve seen at a trade deadline, unloading nearly everything of value except for Breece Hall — who, judging by social media, isn’t thrilled to still be in New York. Coming off a bye after winning their first game of the season, there’s some optimism, but not much. This is an undertalented team on both sides of the ball, with its best player unhappy and Justin Fields under center. That’s not exactly inspiring.
The Browns, meanwhile, might be the only team in the league just as short on talent. Dillon Gabriel has been predictably mediocre at quarterback, and calls for Shedeur Sanders are growing louder. Cleveland has managed to keep that situation contained, but this game has all the makings of an ugly slugfest — which plays perfectly into the Browns’ hands.
Prediction: 13-10 Browns
Patriots @ Buccaneers (CBS)
The Patriots’ inability to put away Atlanta nearly cost them, as a missed PAT handed them a lucky win. Credit where it’s due, though — New England’s defense came up with a key late stop, and the offense did just enough to run out the clock. There’s no question this team is much better coached than last year, but hopefully the “Drake Maye is the next Tom Brady” talk has cooled down.
The Buccaneers may be 6-2, but they’re in desperate need of a statement win. Every time they’ve had a chance to make one — against the Lions or Eagles — they’ve fallen short. Now, with the hype dying down and the media spotlight elsewhere, this feels like the perfect time for Tampa Bay to find its rhythm. It’s been relatively quiet around the team lately, which often means they’re locked in.
For all the skeptics questioning New England, this matchup should tell us exactly how good they really are.
Prediction: 27-23 Buccaneers
Saints @ Panthers (FOX)
The Carolina Panthers are 5-4. I don’t know how, but they are. They’re playing some of the most dreadful, uninspired offensive football I’ve ever seen — and yet, they’re 5-4. Now they get the chance to pad that record against one of the league’s worst teams, the New Orleans Saints, who are coming off a 34-10 loss to the Rams as Tyler Shough’s rushed debut went about as poorly as expected. The Panthers have mastered the art of winning ugly, and while it may not be sustainable, it sure beats losing.
Shough was only sacked once, so at least he left the field in one piece. If New Orleans can keep him upright long enough to evaluate his potential future, they might find a small positive in what’s been a miserable season.
Prediction: 23-17 Panthers
Jaguars @ Texans (CBS)
The Jaguars barely escaped the lowly Raiders, surviving a two-point conversion try in overtime to avoid a disastrous loss. The run game showed signs of life with 150+ yards, but the passing attack remains inconsistent. Trevor Lawrence was outdueled by Geno Smith, and the defense was shredded by what had looked like a lifeless Raiders offense — not great signs in Jacksonville.
Houston, meanwhile, was on pace for a solid showing against Denver until C.J. Stroud exited with a concussion. Davis Mills stepped in and looked like… well, Davis Mills. If Stroud can’t go, it’s hard to see the Texans keeping up, even with their defense playing well.
Prediction: 20-13 Jaguars
Sunday Afternoon Window
Cardinals @ Seahawks (CBS)
The Seahawks took full advantage of their standalone stage last Sunday night, showcasing just how dominant they can be in a 38-14 dismantling of Washington. Sam Darnold might still be good for one interception per game, but when he’s tossing three or four touchdowns to go with it, you live with that flaw. It also can’t be said enough that Seattle has only allowed one opponent to score more than 20 points all season — their defense remains the most overlooked unit in the NFL. They’re quickly graduating from the “boring good” category to simply being good.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, may have stumbled onto something with Jacoby Brissett under center. For the first time, their offense looks as good on the field as it does on paper. Yes, it came against a bad Dallas defense, but since Brissett took over, Arizona is averaging nearly a touchdown more per game than they did with Kyler Murray. Even so, I still don’t trust this defense to hold up against a well-rounded team like Seattle.
Prediction: 30-20 Seahawks
Rams @ 49ers (FOX)
The Rams did exactly what they were supposed to do against an overmatched Saints team — dominate — and that’s all that really needs to be said about that one. Los Angeles is a well-coached team with a clear formula for victory: if their offense scores around 26 points per game, they’ll win about 90% of the time. Quietly, Matthew Stafford has played his way into MVP consideration, posting a 21-to-2 TD/INT ratio while ranking just outside the top five in passing yards.
As I said last week, Kyle Shanahan gets the absolute most out of his roster week in and week out. The 49ers may not be the most talented team right now, but they rarely beat themselves. Their approach might be a bit formulaic, but at 6-3 with an injury list that would have crippled most franchises, it’s working.
This is a huge NFC West matchup — a 49ers win would give them the full head-to-head tiebreaker over the Rams. But given how this rivalry has gone the past few years, I think it stays consistent: a split.
Prediction: 24-23 Rams
Lions @ Commanders (FOX)
For the second time in franchise history, a potential franchise quarterback in Washington suffered a devastating injury against the Seahawks — and once again, because the coaching staff rushed him back too soon. Instead of protecting a player who could’ve been great for the next decade, they may have thrown it all away in one doomed effort. There’s really not much more to analyze here: Washington was a deeply flawed team being propped up by a dynamic quarterback who’ll now likely be watching the rest of the season from the sidelines.
When the Lions lose a game they shouldn’t, the next opponent usually feels the full brunt of their frustration. Detroit clearly slept on Minnesota last week, and their defense still can’t seem to come up with that crucial stop when needed. The run game also struggled mightily, as the Gibbs–Montgomery combo was bottled up for just 65 yards on 20 carries.
If the Lions lose this one, it’s time to panic in Motown — but I don’t see an avenue for Washington to win that doesn’t involve an outright collapse from Detroit.
Prediction: 35-20 Lions
Sunday Night Football: Steelers @ Chargers (NBC, 7:20 PM)
For a quarter, it looked like the Chargers might actually lose to the Titans after giving up both a pick-six and a punt return touchdown in the first frame. But being that it was the Titans, all Los Angeles had to do was settle down, and they eventually walked out of Nashville with the win. The problem, however, remains the same — Justin Herbert has to carry the entire operation. The Chargers still can’t consistently run the ball outside of his scrambles, and their defense and special teams remain wildly inconsistent. Herbert’s great, but even he needs help eventually.
Pittsburgh, on the other hand, put together an impressive outing against the Colts, showing they can go toe-to-toe with elite opponents. The Steelers know the importance of securing playoff home-field advantage — no one wants to visit Heinz Field in January — and that starts by winning these road games. They also know how dangerous Baltimore can get when Lamar Jackson heats up, so there’s no room to slip.
This game might technically be in Los Angeles, but with the Steelers’ massive national following, expect the crowd to sound more like Pittsburgh West. Both teams are trying to fend off sleeping giants in their divisions, and neither can afford a stumble here.
Prediction: 23-21 Steelers
Monday Night Football: Eagles @ Packers (ABC/ESPN, 7:15 PM)
The New York Times reports that Disney and ESPN are losing roughly $5 million per day while their programming remains off YouTube TV — but even that pales in comparison to the opportunities the Packers squandered last week against the Panthers. My stance on Green Bay hasn’t changed: they’re good, maybe even great, but I simply don’t trust them. When they’re clicking, they can hang with anyone — including the Eagles. When they’re not, they don’t belong in the same galaxy.
For Philadelphia, this season has mirrored last year’s: early controversy followed by a dominant midseason course correction. Once again, they look like the team to beat in the NFC. Everyone knows how dangerous the Eagles become when their ground game gets rolling, and after watching the Packers surrender 163 rushing yards to Carolina, Philly’s running backs have to be licking their chops — or, in this case, their beaks.
With temperatures likely below freezing at kickoff, this could turn into one of those classic “frozen tundra” games — where every yard and every point is earned the hard way.
Prediction: 23-20 Eagles
Overall Record: 80-54-1 (Last Week 8-6)