Are the Packers done in 2022?
That's a leading question considering the Packers are on a three-game slide in which they are averaging 17.7 yards per game. Aaron Rodgers ranks 26th in the NFL in QBR (40.5), and Green Bay faces the league's top defense at Buffalo on Sunday Night Football.
It's not out of the realm of possibility for Rodgers to deliver one of those vintage Sunday Night Football performances to silence the doubters, but it won't be easy. The Packers are 0-6 all time at Buffalo, and the Highmark Stadium crowd will be revved up ahead of Halloween. It might be another week before Green Bay bounces back.
There are other interesting games on the schedule. Tom Brady, the other veteran quarterback taking heat, faces the Baltimore Ravens. The surprising Jets host the Patriots, and the Giants will look to keep their improbable season rolling at Seattle. In-state battles between the Eagles and Steelers and Bengals and Browns should be fun, too.
Each week, Sporting News will pick all the NFL games straight up and against the spread. A look at our track record this season:
Record: 57-50-1
Here are our straight-up picks for Week 8 (lines courtesy of Caesars):
POWER RANKINGS:Plunging Packers, Buccaneers in panic mode
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NFL picks, predictions for Week 8
- Baltimore Ravens at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1.5)
Thursday, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video
This is that moment, but the Ravens rank sixth in the NFL in scoring offense (25.9). Brady is 14-3 with a 103.6 QB rating all time on Thursday Night Football, and this normally would be the time for a vintage Brady performance. We trust Baltimore's offense a little more right now, and Lamar Jackson evens the Ravens' record out to 3-3 in one-score games.
Pick: Ravens 24, Buccaneers 22
Result: Ravens 27, Buccaneers 22
- Denver Broncos vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (-3.5)
Sunday, 9:30 a.m., NFL Network
Russell Wilson might need another week, but it might not matter in London. The Broncos continue to struggle on offense, and their last three games have totaled an average of 27 points. That under (39.5) looks good. Jacksonville has four straight losses of eight points or less, and they are 0-2 S/U as a favorite.
Pick: Jaguars 23, Broncos 16
- Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons (-6.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
The Falcons have won seven of the last 10 meetings, but the Panthers have won two of the last three in Atlanta. The Panthers showed some life after cleaning the house, and P.J. Walker can have some success against the Falcons. Beware of the underdog here. It's going to be tight.
Pick: Falcons 21, Panthers 20
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- Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys (-10.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
This is a giant spread. The Bears have allowed 23 sacks and they are facing the Cowboys relentless pass rush led by Micah Parsons, and that means trouble for Justin Fields. Dak Prescott was efficient in his return in Week 7, and the Cowboys improve to 3-0 ATS as a home favorite this season.
Pick: Cowboys 29, Bears 19
- Miami Dolphins (-3) at Detroit Lions
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
This has a trap-game feel to it for the Dolphins considering all three of the Lions' home games have hit the over and this is Tua Tagovailoa's first road start since returning from a concussion. Detroit remains the worst statistical defense in the league (412.2 yards per game). Detroit allows 6.4 yards per play, and that's not going to cut it against playmakers such as Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert.
Pick: Dolphins 33, Lions 28
- Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings (-3.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
The Vikings are coming off a bye week, and they are building a cushion in the weak NFC North with each victory. Both teams have bad pass defenses, which should give Kyler Murray more than enough down-field chances with DeAndre Hopkins to make this interesting. We're still sticking with the home team. Kirk Cousins clinches this one with a late connection to Justin Jefferson.
Pick: Vikings 29, Cardinals 26
- Las Vegas Raiders (-2) at New Orleans Saints
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Both teams have been messy throughout most of the season. The Raiders have lost three road games by a combined total of 10 points. The Saints have a weekly quarterback question between Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton. New Orleans is 1-2 at home. Derek Carr and Davante Adams lead Las Vegas to that first road win, but it won't be easy.
Pick: Raiders 30, Saints 24
- New England Patriots (-2.5) at New York Jets
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Breece Hall's season-ending injury changes the tenor of the Jets' offense around Zach Wilson. It's on Michael Carter to keep that going against the Patriots, who have mastered the bend-but-don't-break routine. The Patriots have a quarterback question with Bailey Zappe and Mac Jones, and they better stop the run this time unlike the Monday Night Football loss to the Bears.
Pick: Patriots 23, Jets 21
- Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles (-11)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
They should play this matchup more often. The home team has won the last four meetings, and Philadelphia has a bye week to prepare for the Steelers' defense, which has been generous to receivers. Jalen Hurts will exploit that, and Kenny Pickett will help the Eagles pad their NFL-best +12 turnover differential.
Pick: Eagles 28, Steelers 17
- Tennessee Titans (-2) at Houston Texans
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS
The Titans have quietly recalibrated their season with four straight wins, which they covered all four times. Derrick Henry is working on three straight 100-yard games, and the Texans allow a league-worst 164.7 yards per game on the ground.
Pick: Titans 28, Texans 21
- Washington Commanders at Indianapolis Colts (-3)
Sunday, 425 p.m., FOX
The Colts benched Matt Ryan for Sam Ehlinger, which we didn't have on the bingo card before the season started. Washington played with confidence on both sides with Taylor Heinicke, who had a good connection with Terry McLaurin after the first-half pick six. This line could inch closer to a pick ‘em, but we like the Commanders to pick up a third straight victory.
Pick: Commanders 24, Colts 20
- San Francisco 49ers (-2) at Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
The 49ers are going for an eighth straight regular-season victory against the Rams, who had a bye week to prepare for this NFC West rematch which San Francisco dominated 24-9 on Oct. 3. Christian McCaffrey will benefit from another week with his new team, and Nick Bosa will turn up the pass rush on Matthew Stafford.
Pick: 49ers 24, Rams 22
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- New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks (-3)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
Two surprise teams meet in the late window. Both teams struggle against the run, so this could be a fun game for fantasy owners of Saquon Barkley and Kenneth Walker III. They're both going to put up numbers. The Giants have played seven straight games decided by eight points or less. How long can Brian Daboll keep it going?
Pick: Giants 27, Seahawks 21
- Green Bay Packers at Buffalo Bills (-10.5)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC
The Bills have the best defense in the NFL (281.5). The line is another matter. Look for Green Bay to score in the first quarter and Rodgers comes out hot, but the Bills make the right adjustments after halftime. Buffalo allows just 2.8 points per game in the second half. This is an all-too familiar theme for the Packers, who lose a fourth straight game.
Pick: Bills 31, Packers 21
- Cincinnati Bengals (-3) at Cleveland Browns
Monday, 8:15 p.m., ESPN
The Bengals have lost the last four meetings against the in-state rival Browns, and Joe Burrow is 0-3 against Cleveland as a starter. That's the motivation for Cincinnati, which has come out of an early season slump. The Browns rank 31st in the NFL in yards per completion allowed (11.8). That suggests a huge game for Ja'Marr Chase is coming. Cincinnati has allowed more than 20 points in just two games this season.
Pick: Bengals 34, Browns 24
