It’s been two decades since Tom Brady experienced a losing streak like this. Plus, expert NFL Week 8 predictions, fantasy advice.
Welcome to Week 8 of the 2022 NFL season, and it’s time to worry about the 2022 prospects of Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
About last night: Baltimore Ravens 27, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 22 — For the first time in two decades, Tom Brady has lost three consecutive games. At least the Ravens are a good team; the previous two defeats came against previously one-win teams.
- Tom Brady sets dubious record
- PHOTOS: Best from Ravens-Buccaneers
Game of the week: San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams — In a development few – if any – pigskin prognosticators could have predicted, both the 49ers (3-4) and Rams (3-3) are looking up at the first-place Seattle Seahawks (4-3) in the NFC West. While the defending Super Bowl champion Rams are coming off the bye week, the 49ers have lost two straight. Newly acquired Christian McCaffrey figures to be a bigger part of the offense as the 49ers seek an eighth consecutive regular-season win over the Rams.
New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks — An unexpected colossal showdown will take place at Lumen Field between the NFC West-leading Seahawks and 6-1 Giants. Not many expected to see Geno Smith thriving in the Seahawks’ first season in more than a decade without Russell Wilson. A dazzling rookie class, featuring two rookies starting at offensive tackle and running back Kenneth Walker III, also has sparked the abrupt and unforeseen turnaround in Seattle. Under first-year coach Brian Daboll, the Giants have had a knack for winning close games; the Giants are the first team since 2000 to have six wins in their first seven games and all of those games decided by eight points or less.
- PHOTOS: Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games
NFL Week 8: Predictions and odds
- Week 8 picks: USA TODAY Sports’ expert panel has predictions for every game this weekend.
- Lorenzo’s Locks for Week 8: The Saints are a tempting bet this week as a home underdog against the Raiders.
- NFL Week 8 odds: Which teams, according to Tipico Sportsbook, are favored to win this weekend?
- Power rankings: See how all 32 teams stack up entering Week 8.
NFL news, notes and analysis
- Top 5 games of Week 8: While the 49ers and Rams renew their NFC West rivalry, the Bills host the Packers – who have been a real struggle bus of late – on “Sunday Night Football.”
- NFL trade deadline is Nov. 1: USA TODAY Sports will provide the great service of keeping people up to date on all the trades as key players could be on the move.
- This week on “As the Cheesehead Turns”: The Packers are really struggling on the field. Aaron Rodgers went on “The Pat McAfee Show” and levied some criticism toward teammates. NFL fans made the same joke about Rodgers’ remarks. Stay tuned for next week, as the Packers are double-digit underdogs for their primetime game against the Bills.
- Mike Tomlin faces toughest challenge yet: The Packers aren’t the only perennial powerhouse that is struggling, as the Steelers are trending toward the first losing season in the 16 years with Tomlin as head coach.
- How Xs and Os are becoming easier to grasp: Brian Baldinger, Dan Orlovsky, Geoff Schwartz and Ben Solak are among the most popular analysts at breaking down game tape — all on social media.
- Does Russell Wilson know he doesn’t need to be the King of Cringe? From his “Let’s ride” shouts to doing high knees up and down the airplane aisles on the flight to London, does he not have anyone in his life who can say “hold on a second, don’t do that”?
- What beer-chugging Jason Kelce🍺, Eagles are learning from Phillies’ run: The Philadelphia Phillies’ run to the World Series had the Eagles wistful for what could lie ahead for them this season.
- It was a big week for stadium renderings: Both the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans released renderings of what new NFL stadiums might look like. Who doesn’t enjoy a stadium rendering?
- Halloween is almost here🎃: Celebrate the most frightening of holidays with the NFL’s scariest-ever players☠.
- PHOTOS: NFL’s alt uniforms of 2022
Fantasy football advice: Get your Week 8 lineup right
Our fantasy football experts are here for your Week 8 lineup needs.
- Fantasy rankings for Week 8: Take a look to see where your players stand in these updated ratings 📈Studs, duds and sleepers: While Eagles QB Jalen Hurts is a must-start coming off the bye week against the Steelers, don’t expect Bears QB Justin Fields to be able to produce appropriately against the stingy Cowboys D.
- Fantasy stock watch: RB Josh Jacobs has thrived in what has been a one-dimensional Raiders offense of late 👍. Packers RB AJ Dillon has been a forgotten man on an offense that is sputtering 👎.
- Waiver wire: If you haven’t already looked for options to round out your roster, well, get on with it.
- PHOTOS: Top fantasy football performers for each week
Week 8 NFL schedule
(All times Eastern)
Bye week: Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers
Thursday
Ravens 27, Buccaneers 22
Sunday
Denver Broncos vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (in London), 9:30 a.m. (ESPN+)
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Miami Dolphins at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. (CBS)
New England Patriots at New York Jets, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans, 4:05 p.m. (CBS)
Washington Commanders at Indianapolis Colts, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Green Bay Packers at Buffalo Bills, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Monday
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN2)
Let’s talk some football
- It’s a Football Podcast! This week, Safid Deen and Tyler Dragon tackle hot-button NFL topics🗣 such as how it’s time to bet against Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, the NFL trade deadline, while also looking ahead to Week 8🎧.
- NFL Facebook group: Run a post route to The Ruling Off the Field 📲 to engage in friendly debate and conversation with football fans 🏟. Not a member yet? Sign up today!✍
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