Tom Brady is picking up steam. The Dallas Cowboys are spiralling out of control. The NFC West is getting juicy.
For a long time, the COVID-19 pandemic made football fans question exactly what they would get from the NFL in 2020, but those worries were long ago laid to rest.
Football is back, and it is popping. The intrigue continues this week.
There are seven pivotal divisional matchups, including the Pittsburgh Steelers – the league’s only undefeated team – hitting the road to face Baltimore. And don’t forget Sunday’s game between the Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles, which could go a long way toward determining “supremacy” in the NFC L(East).
One game this week has one of the highest point spreads in the last 50 years. That may not be good news for the favorite, though.
Here is a closer look at all the games heading into Week 8 of the NFL season
All-times Eastern. All point spreads and totals from DraftKings.
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers (-3) | TOTAL: 49
When: Thursday, 8:20 p.m.
Info: The NFL is mostly unpredictable except for maybe one thing: The Falcons are terrible in the second half. The Falcons let yet another late lead slip away in last week’s loss to Detroit, and it is becoming more and more difficult to trust them. The Panthers, meanwhile, have been a little bit plucky and already own a 23-16 win over the Falcons.
New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs (-19) | TOTAL: 48
When: Sunday, 1 p.m.
Info: This point spread opened on DraftKings at -20.5, which would make it the 10th largest spread in the NFL since 1976. The winless Jets are terrible this season and are 1-6 ATS, but the history of large point spreads is on their side. In the other nine NFL games since 1976 that had a spread of more than 20, the underdogs are 8-1 ATS.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens (-3.5) | TOTAL: 46.5
When: Sunday, 1 p.m.
Info: Pittsburgh is the last remaining undefeated team in the league, but it will face its toughest task Sunday against its hated rivalry. The Steelers are also 5-1 ATS so their performance has been strong on all fronts. The Ravens are rested and riding a three-game winning streak from before their bye week.
Los Angeles Rams at Miami Dolphins (+4) | TOTAL: 46
When: Sunday, 1 p.m.
Info: The Rams are 5-2, but four of those wins came against the putrid NFC East. The offense seems to be just good enough while the defense continues to be strong after not allowing an offensive touchdown in a win over Chicago on Monday night. Following their bye week, the Dolphins will usher in the Tua Tagovailoa era on Sunday.
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (-6.5) | TOTAL: 54.5
When: Sunday, 1 p.m.
Info: This is a rematch of the season opener that the Packers won 43-34 and opened the eyes of the NFL to just how good their offense might be, led by an invigorated Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay bounced back from its first loss with a dominant win over Houston last week. Coincidentally, the Texans are the only team the Vikings have beaten.
Indianapolis Colts at Detroit Lions (+3) | TOTAL: 50.5
When: Sunday, 1 p.m.
Info: With three wins in their last four games, the Lions have gotten themselves into the playoff race. They are 0-2 straight up and 0-2 ATS at home, though, so winning and/or covering on Sunday would go a little bit against the grain. Indianapolis is coming off its bye, so the rest advantage will be in its favor.
Las Vegas Raiders at Cleveland Browns (-2.5) | TOTAL: 54
When: Sunday, 1 p.m.
Info: Las Vegas is 6-0 for the over, and Cleveland is 5-2. As a result, early public bets have come in on the over. The under is dropping, however, because sharp action is firing on the under due to an inflated total. Potential windy weather on Sunday could create an environment beneficial to the under.
Tennessee Titans at Cincinnati Bengals (+6) | TOTAL: 54.5
When: Sunday, 1 p.m.
Info: Cincinnati rookie quarterback Joe Burrow began his career 3-0-1 ATS but has covered only once in the last three games as the Bengals’ defense continues to be exposed. The Titans were undefeated before falling to fellow undefeated Pittsburgh last week. This line opened at Tennessee -4 and quickly moved up to Tennessee -6.
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills (-3.5) | TOTAL: 43.5
When: Sunday, 1 p.m.
Info: After a hot start that netted Buffalo a 4-0 record, Josh Allen and company have come back to Earth. Even the Bills’ win over the Jets last week was unimpressive because they didn’t score any touchdowns. The Patriots have never looked worse under head coach Bill Belichick and this game against the new AFC East favorites could be put up or shut up time for the perennial division champs.
Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos (+3) | TOTAL: 44.5
When: Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
Info: Chargers rookie quarterback Justin Herbert has been a sensation so far, but he will face his most difficult task yet Sunday in a divisional road game against a relatively strong Broncos defense that needs to bounce back after giving up 43 points to the Chiefs last week.
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (-3.5) | TOTAL: 54
When: Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
Info: The NFC West has become the league’s most intriguing division, and this matchup adds a lot of pop. The 49ers are in fourth place, but at 4-3 and riding a two-game win streak, are as capable of winning the title as any of the others. Seattle was undefeated until losing to fellow NFC West foe Arizona last week.
New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears (+4) | TOTAL: 44.5
When: Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
Info: This game pits two second-place teams with strong playoff hopes. The Saints have won three in a row on the field but are 2-4 ATS because their defense continues to be a leak. The Bears, on the other hand, dropped their second game on Monday night because their offense continued to struggle.
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles (-7.5) | TOTAL: 43.5
When: Sunday, 7:20 p.m.
Info: Everything is unraveling for Dallas, which is now 0-7 ATS, after a blowout loss to Washington on Sunday. Quarterback Andy Dalton, who started the last two games after Dak Prescott suffered a season-ending injury, is in the concussion protocol, and third-stringer Ben DiNucci might get the call to start this weekend. The Eagles have not been great either, but at 2-4-1 overall, currently sit on top of the NFC East.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Giants (+10.5) | TOTAL: 47
When: Monday, 8:15 p.m.
Info: Tampa Bay might be the hottest team in the league right now following blowout wins over Green Bay and Las Vegas. And now the Buccaneers get to add WR Antonio Brown to their already dominant offense. He likely won’t play a huge role right away, but he won’t have to. The Giants let a double-digit lead slip away in their last game – a loss to the Eagles that could have been their second-straight victory.
