NFL Week 8 picks, schedule, odds, injuries, fantasy tips

The Week 8 NFL schedule for the 2023 season is stacked with great matchups, and we've got you covered with what you need to know heading into the weekend. Our NFL Nation reporters bring us the biggest keys to every game and a bold prediction for each matchup.

Additionally, ESPN Stats & Information provides a big stat to know and a betting nugget for each contest, and our Football Power Index (FPI) goes inside the numbers with a game projection. Analytics writer Seth Walder picks out each matchup's biggest X factor, and fantasy analyst Eric Moody hands out helpful fantasy football intel. Finally, Walder and Moody give us final score picks for every game. Everything you want to know is here in one spot to help you get ready for a loaded weekend of NFL football.

Let's get into the full Week 8 slate, including the Patriots -- who are fresh off an upset victory--visiting the Dolphins, the Battle of New York and a Bengals-49ers showdown. It all culminates with a "Monday Night Football" matchup between the Raiders and the Lions on ESPN. (Game times are Sunday unless otherwise noted.)

Jump to a matchup:br/>LAR-DAL | MIN-GB | ATL-TENbr/>NO-IND | NE-MIA | NYJ-NYGbr/>JAX-PIT | PHI-WSH | HOU-CARbr/>CLE-SEA | KC-DEN | BAL-ARIbr/>CIN-SF | CHI-LAC | LV-DET

Thursday: BUF 24, TB 18

Rams (3-4) at Cowboys (4-2)

1 p.m. ET | Fox | Spread: DAL -6 (45.5)

Storyline to watch: This will be the Cowboys' only home game in a 41-day span, and AT&T Stadium has been kind to them. They have a 10-game winning streak at home, their longest since 1991-92, when they called Texas Stadium home. The Rams are 2-1 on the road this season with their only loss being a 3-point affair at Cincinnati. Last year, the Cowboys got after quarterback Matthew Stafford with five sacks in a 22-10 win, and Cooper Rush, filling in for an injured Dak Prescott, threw only 16 passes with the Cowboys rushing for 163 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown run by Tony Pollard. With a struggling passing game, the Cowboys hope to establish the run game Sunday. -- Todd Archer

Bold prediction: Micah Parsons and Aaron Donald will each have two sacks on Sunday. Parsons has 10 career games with at least two full sacks, the third most by any player within his first 40 career games since sacks became official in 1982. While Donald doesn't have a game with multiple sacks this season, his last two-sack game came against Dallas in 2022. -- Sarah Barshop

Stat to know: The Cowboys are 7-3 coming off a bye week over the past 10 seasons, which is tied for fifth-best record in that span. Coach Mike McCarthy is 11-5 coming off a bye as a head coach -- the fifth-most such wins since his debut in 2006.

Matchup X factor: Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson. This game may well hinge on the Rams' ability to give Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua time to get open and for Stafford to find them. Jackson's play will be critical. He has only a 79% pass block win rate (ranked 63rd out of 68) and will face a ferocious Cowboys pass rush that includes Parsons. -- Walder

Injuries: Rams | Cowboys

What to know for fantasy: Stafford has averaged 18 fantasy points per game against the Cowboys over the course of his career. With Kupp and Nacua as his top two receivers, he can be viewed as a QB2 with upside. See Week 8 rankings. -- Moody

Betting nugget: The Rams are 6-0-1 against the spread (ATS) in their past seven games following losses. Read more.

Matchup must-reads: Rams cut Maher after several missed kicks ... Will Cowboys use Prescott's legs more often after bye? ... McVay and wife welcome first child ... Cowboys' post-bye goal: Get off the roller coaster

Vikings (3-4) at Packers (2-4)

1 p.m. ET | Fox | Spread: EVEN (42)

Storyline to watch: If the Vikings can get out to an early lead, they might be able to bury the Packers, who have been outscored 63-6 in the first half in their past four games. But if Minnesota allows Green Bay to hang around -- which has been the Vikings' penchant all season, having all seven of their games decided by one score -- then perhaps the second-half Packers can break their three-game losing streak. -- Rob Demovsky

Bold prediction: The Vikings will become the final team to record a rushing touchdown this season. All 16 of their offensive touchdowns to this point have come via the passing game, and they have the NFL's third-most attempts (24) in goal-to-go situations. That is a difficult approach to maintain, and the Vikings will emphasize their running game in those situations on Sunday. The Packers' defense has allowed five rushing touchdowns on goal-to-go situations, tied for the ninth most in the league. -- Kevin Seifert

Stat to know:Wide receiverJordan Addison has six touchdown receptions this season, tied for second most in the NFL (Tyreek Hillhas seven,Stefon Diggshas six). His three straight games with a receiving touchdown are tied for the second-longest streak by a Vikings rookie all-time (Randy Moss had seven straight in 1998).

Matchup X factor: Packers quarterback Jordan Love. The Vikings blitz 56% of the time -- the highest rate by a team since at least 2006 -- and it will be Love's responsibility to make quick decisions in the face of that blitz. Love has just a 30.9 QBR over his past three games. -- Walder

Injuries: Vikings | Packers

What to know for fantasy: Love's quarterback rating with running backAaron Jones on the field this season is 71.5, but it drops to 46.8 without him in the game. For those planning to include Love in their fantasy lineups, Jones playing significant snaps is crucial since the Vikings' defense allows the ninth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. See Week 8 rankings. -- Moody

Betting nugget: The Packers are 0-3 ATS in their past three games. Read more.

Matchup must-reads: Addison emerges at critical time for Vikings ... Did Packers find answer to offensive struggles in Sunday's loss?

Falcons (4-3) at Titans (2-4)

1 p.m. ET | CBS | Spread: ATL -2.5 (35.5)

Storyline to watch: The Falcons' defense has allowed only one rushing touchdown this season and is giving up 95 rushing yards per game. Regardless of who is at quarterback for the Titans, running backDerrick Henry will be the focal point of an offense that's averaging 110 rushing yards per game, its lowest amount since 2018. Look for Tennessee to get Henry involved early and improve upon his three rushing touchdowns on the season. -- Turron Davenport

Bold prediction:The first team to 20 points will win. Both Atlanta's and Tennessee's defenses have been stingy -- the Falcons allowing 19 points per game, and the Titans 19.5 -- and with the Titans potentially starting either Malik Willis or rookie Will Levis if Ryan Tannehill can't play, Atlanta defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen will be able to confuse a young quarterback. Add in both teams having good red zone defenses -- Tennessee is allowing touchdowns on just 30.4% of red zone trips, and Atlanta on 38.9% of red zone trips -- and scoring could be difficult on Sunday. -- Michael Rothstein

Stat to know: Henry has eight rushes of 10-plus yards through six games this season, his fewest through six games since 2018. His three rushing touchdowns are his fewest through six games since 2018, too.

Matchup X factor: Falcons linebacker Nate Landman. With Tannehill likely out, one has to assume the Titans will take a run-heavy approach. Landman ranks fourth among linebackers in run stop win rate. -- Walder

Injuries: Falcons | Titans

What to know for fantasy: The Falcons rank fifth in rushing attempts per game, but they might find themselves out of their comfort zone against the Titans' formidable run defense. Drake London should be in your lineups this week as Tennessee's defense gives up the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers. See Week 8 rankings. -- Moody

Betting nugget: The Titans are 5-0 ATS after a bye under coach Mike Vrabel (7-0-1 ATS since 2015). Read more.

Matchup must-reads: Falcons' Smith unaffected by inquiry over Robinson ... Titans to play Levis, Willis if Tannehill out ...How Titans' Simmons saw football as life-changing opportunity

Saints (3-4) at Colts (3-4)

1 p.m. ET | Fox | Spread: NO -1 (43.5)

Storyline to watch: The Colts have committed eight turnovers in the past two games, undermining their impressive offensive totals (58 points, 810 total yards). Quarterback Gardner Minshew is responsible for all of the turnovers, and the Colts are looking for ways to minimize the giveaways so their production doesn't go to waste. But that won't be easy against a New Orleans defense that has already produced 12 takeaways in seven games, including eight interceptions (tied for third in the NFL). Remarkably, each of those eight interceptions was produced by a different defender. -- Stephen Holder

Bold prediction: Saints wide receiver Chris Olave will have a bounce-back game with 100 receiving yards and a touchdown against the Colts. The Saints have struggled on offense this season, with the chemistry between quarterback Derek Carr and Olave being a point of contention. However, the Colts have given up 76 total points in the past two games, and the Saints have had 10 days to reflect on their offensive problems, making Olave a prime candidate to put up yards. -- Katherine Terrell

Stat to know:Carr has had 50 attempts in consecutive games, and a third straight would tie him with Drew Bledsoe (1995) for the longest streak since the 1970 merger. Quarterbacks are 0-9 this season with 50-plus attempts, and the last win was byJoe Burrow in 2022.

Matchup X factor: Colts wide receiver Josh Downs. He's coming off a huge game -- five receptions for 125 yards and a score -- and the rookie's receiver tracking metrics have been encouraging, too. He has an overall score of 63, which is 20th best among WRs. -- Walder

Injuries: Saints | Colts

What to know for fantasy: The Colts give up the sixth-most fantasy points per game to running backs. This season, Alvin Kamara is averaging 26.0 touches and 21.7 fantasy points per game. See Week 8 rankings. -- Moody

Betting nugget: The Saints have gone under the total in 12 of their past 13 games. Last week snapped a streak of 12 straight unders, which had been the longest streak in over 35 seasons. Read more.

Matchup must-reads: Saints' offense still trying to get in sync amid 'inconsistency' ... Pittman clarifies comments: I'm not a 'good loser' ... Saints' Moreau on late drop: 'It's a dark place to be'

Patriots (2-5) at Dolphins (5-2)

1 p.m. ET | CBS | Spread: MIA -9 (46)

Storyline to watch: The Patriots excel at stopping the run, allowing the fewest yards per carry in the league this season (3.42). Despite playing two games without star rookie De'Von Achane, the Dolphins still lead the NFL in rushing yards per game (162.3) and per carry (6.3). Starting running back Raheem Mostert missed practice Wednesday with an ankle injury but returned Thursday and figures to lead a backfield that will also feature Jeff Wilson Jr. and Salvon Ahmed. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Bold prediction: The Patriots will gain more yards than the Dolphins. Miami has gained 3,236 yards this season while allowing 2,417, as its 819-yard differential is easily the best in the NFL (the Chiefs are next with 715). The Patriots have gained just 2,060 yards, but a combination of a banged-up Dolphins roster and a Mac Jones-led New England attack coming off its best game of the season foreshadows the potential for a flip. -- Mike Reiss

Stat to know: The Dolphins scored 143 points in their first three home games against the Broncos, Giants and Panthers -- the most points in any team's first three home games in NFL history. Miami would need to score 57 against the Patriots to tie the 1950 Rams for the most points in a team's first four home games.

Matchup X factor: The Dolphins' offensive line. Miami posted a 38% pass block win rate against the Eagles in Week 7, its worst of the season. It was also its worst expected points added per play performance as an offense. Pass protection should be much easier against the Patriots. -- Walder

Injuries: Patriots | Dolphins

What to know for fantasy: The Patriots' run defense has been exceptional, allowing only 100.7 yards per game (ranked 13th) and leading the league with 3.4 yards per carry. See Week 8 rankings. -- Moody

Betting nugget: The Dolphins are 5-0 ATS against teams with losing records, 4-0 ATS as a favorite and 3-0 ATS at home this season. Read more.