After a handful of weeks loaded up with Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, the NFL International Series, and Monday Night Football doubleheaders, we're back to a relatively "traditional" week of primetime matchups in Week 8.
There are no international games on the docket this week, and there's only one Monday night game. How about that?
Even with minimal games under the lights (and six teams on a bye), the NFL won't have any problem getting eyes on these games with the stars out for each one. We're making our Week 8 game picks and score predictions for every primetime matchup. Who's winning this week in front of everybody?
NFL Picks and Score Predictions for Every Week 8 Primetime Game
Minnesota Vikings (3-3) @ Los Angeles Chargers (4-3)
Thursday, October 23, 8:15 PM ET
Nothing quite like trying to beat rush hour traffic in Los Angeles and also dealing with an NFL game being played.
Readers should know that I accidentally entered "4-3" as the Vikings' record before making the pre-game correction, so in case that looks like a premonition, I want evidence out there.
The Vikings find themselves in last place in the very competitive NFC North so far this season, while the Chargers have let a comfortable lead in the division disappear. They started the season 3-0 and had beaten all three of their division foes before dropping three of their last four, and really struggling with injuries.
We'll see how much better the Chargers are in this one with Joe Alt back in the fold, but the Vikings are going to be playing with a bit of desperation as well. I'm not nearly as confident in Justin Herbert as I was in the first month of the season, especially going up against an aggressive Vikings defense.
That defense, however, hasn't forced a turnover since Week 3. The Chargers have to be ready to take advantage. I'm going to put a little confidence behind the Chargers one more time before I start to sour on their projection the rest of the season.
Prediction: Chargers win 26-23
Green Bay Packers (4-1-1) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)
Sunday, October 26, 8:20 PM ET
You can't help but head into Week 8 and feel like this is the game of the week. Aaron Rodgers facing off against the Green Bay Packers as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and a battle of two first-place teams.
I mean, it doesn't get much better than that.
The Packers are a tie against the cowboys away from being 5-1 this season, and have all the weapons you could possibly need offensively to go into Pittsburgh and get a win. But at times this season, we've seen Aaron Rodgers playing like a man possessed, and this will be another example of that.
Rodgers has been solid for the Steelers, who don't exactly look like a true Super Bowl contender (yet), but certainly more of one than they did last season. His throw at the end of last week's game against the Bengals was unbelievable, and our clearest evidence yet that even if this is his swan song in the NFL, he's still got it.
The way Rodgers is going to be motivated to win this game cannot be overstated. I think the Packers are the better team here, but the adrenaline is going to be kicked into overdrive. I have a feeling we're going to see Rodgers put on a show.
The Packers are three-point road favorites, and I'm taking the Steelers outright.
Prediction: Steelers win 27-24
Washington Commanders (3-4) @ Kansas City Chiefs (4-3)
Monday, October 27, 8:15 PM ET
The Kansas City Chiefs might as well already be 5-3, right? The Washington Commanders have been missing some key guys the past handful of weeks, but Jayden Daniels is out again.
It would require a miraculous performance from Marcus Mariota, on the road, in a hostile environment, for the Commanders to even come close to pulling something incredible off. Early in the season (and certainly when the schedule came out), the NFL probably viewed this as a darkhorse Super Bowl type of matchup.
Now, especially without Daniels in the fold (but maybe even with him in it), the Chiefs are too much for the Commanders to handle. That's why they are 11.5-point favorites at home going into it, and it's why they might easily beat that spread.
The Chiefs have looked like the NFL's most dominant operation the past couple of weeks. We expected them to beat up on the Raiders this past weekend, but we did not expect them to systematically dismantle the Detroit Lions the week prior. When the Chiefs are at their best, there's really nobody in the NFL that is more dangerous.
You combine talent with championship experience, and you almost need a lot of luck to go your way, even if you play perfectly.
Not to gas up the Chiefs too much, because we have seen this team falter this season at times. They've got so many weapons right now on offense, but if they are playing sloppy, they are just as capable as anyone of getting in a rut.
I just wouldn't expect that this week.
Prediction: Chiefs win 37-17