Week 8 in the NFL is poised to be a turning point for several teams as they jockey for position heading into the second half of the season. With crucial divisional matchups and potential playoff previews on tap, the stakes couldn’t be higher. As we dive into the most compelling storylines, all eyes are on the Dallas Cowboys and their bid to prove they belong among the NFC elite against the San Francisco 49ers.
Cowboys at a Crossroads
Sitting at 3-3, the Cowboys find themselves in unfamiliar territory under head coach Mike McCarthy. Once considered perennial contenders, Dallas has struggled to find consistency, culminating in an embarrassing 47-9 loss to the Lions heading into their bye week. Now, they face the ultimate litmus test on the road against the 49ers.
The matchup between these two storied franchises is always must-see TV, but Sunday night’s clash carries extra weight. The 49ers have had the Cowboys’ number in recent years, with Kyle Shanahan seeming to have Mike McCarthy’s squad figured out. To make matters worse, the Cowboys are catching San Francisco at a particularly vulnerable time:
- All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey remains sidelined
- WR1 Brandon Aiyuk suffered a season-ending torn ACL last week
- Deebo Samuel and George Kittle are battling lingering injuries
On paper, this sets up as a golden opportunity for Dallas to flip the script. However, the Cowboys have their own issues to sort out, particularly on defense. Through seven weeks, the Cowboys rank dead last in the NFL against the run. Even with the 49ers’ offensive weapons in flux, the Cowboys’ inability to stop the ground game is a recipe for disaster against a Kyle Shanahan offense.
Prediction: 49ers 27, Cowboys 20
Until the Cowboys prove they can rise to the occasion against top-tier opponents, it’s hard to pick them on the road in this spot. Look for the 49ers to control the clock with a heavy dose of runs to grind out a close win and send Dallas into full-blown crisis mode.
Jets Seeking Answers
The New York Jets entered the 2024 season with so much promise after last year’s playoff breakthrough. But heading into a home date with the rival Patriots, the Jets find themselves searching for answers after dropping three of their last four contests.
While quarterback Aaron Rodgers has largely lived up to expectations, the rest of the roster has begun to show cracks. The defense, in particular, has struggled mightily ever since the shocking midseason firing of coordinator Robert Saleh:
The last two weeks, we’ve seen this Jets defense get absolutely carved up through the air. With injuries piling up in the secondary, they’re running out of answers in a hurry.
Senior NFL reporter for a major sports media outlet
Luckily for Gang Green, they catch a Patriots offense led by unproven quarterback Drake Maye, who will be making just his third NFL start. If the Jets are going to get back on track, this is the week to do it. But if New England is able to have success moving the ball, the heat will really start to turn up on the Jets’ coaching staff.
Prediction: Jets 23, Patriots 16
Even with their recent woes, the Jets simply have too much talent to drop this one at home. Look for a big day from the Rodgers-to-Davante Adams connection as New York does just enough to get back in the win column.
Other Key Week 8 Matchups
- Titans at Lions (-11): Don’t sleep on a feisty Titans defense to keep this one closer than the experts think
- Seahawks at Bills (-13.5): Until Seattle proves they can hang with the AFC’s elite, Buffalo rolls big at home
- Commanders at Bears (-3): No Jayden Daniels could spell trouble for Washington against a surging Chicago squad
Week 8 has all the makings of a defining slate of games in the 2024 NFL season. Will the Cowboys finally break through against their longtime nemesis? Can the Jets get off the mat and salvage their once-promising campaign? We’ll find out soon enough as the season hangs in the balance for some of the league’s most prominent contenders.
