As the halfway point of the season arrives, the two-time defending Super Bowl champions are still the only undefeated team. The Chiefs will finish the weekend looking to go 8-0.
Along the way there will be many interesting games. It gives a quick overview of each, along with a fact or two that I found interesting – and that you might discover too.
And yes, this is the third week of the preview section. What do you think? If you have any ideas, comments or generalized insults, let me know at [email protected].
3-4 Cowboys at 5-3 Falcons (-3), Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox (Adam Amin and Greg Olsen)
It’s a reunion of Mike Zimmer and Kirk Cousins. They spent four years together in Minnesota. There was friction. There was some underperformance. There was only one playoff appearance. There was a viral shoving moment that brought something more than just celebration.
Zimmer’s defense has allowed 37.3 points per game in four losses, and just 16.3 points per game in three wins.
For Cousins, he is 3-3 in games against teams other than Tampa Bay, with six touchdown passes and six interceptions.
A loss in Dallas would give them five on the year – that’s the total number they had in each of the previous three seasons.
5-3 Broncos at 5-3 Ravens (-9), Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS (Jim Nantz and Tony Romo)
Lamar Jackson is ready to go after missing two days of practice with back and knee injuries. The Ravens ended their five-game winning streak in Cleveland last Sunday. They added receiver Diontae Johnson via trade; some would say they should look to add players in the secondary.
Denver increased its record against teams with a combined record of 11-29. They will face the 5-3 Ravens, 7-0 Chiefs and 5-3 Falcons over the next three weeks.
This past weekend, Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix set the franchise’s rookie record with five wins. He totaled 284 passing yards and four touchdowns in a 28-14 win over the Panthers.
2-5 Dolphins at 6-2 Bills (-6), Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS (Kevin Harlan and Trent Green)
A Buffalo victory would complete Miami’s sweep and, barring an epic collapse, nail down the division.
Josh Allen is 12-2 against the Dolphins; Tua Tagovailoa won just one of eight against the Bills.
The Bills have a three-game winning streak; the Dolphins have lost five of six.
2-6 Saints (-7.5) at 1-7 Panthers, Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS (Tom McCarthy and Jay Feely)
After a 2-0 start, the Saints have lost six in a row. The last four have occurred in double digits.
They will have quarterback Derek Carr back in the lineup; he missed three games with an oblique injury.
Bryce Young gets another start for the woeful Panthers, who are 4-12 against the Saints since the start of the 2017 season.
2-6 Raiders at 3-5 Bengals (-7), Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox (Kevin Kugler and Daryl Johnston)
These teams last met in the 2021 playoffs, a wild-card game that the Raiders almost won.
Las Vegas has lost four in a row, its longest losing streak since moving to Nevada. They haven’t lost five games in a row since 2018.
The Bengals are 0-4 at home this season. Quarterback Joe Burrow thinks it’s “feasible” to win seven of the next nine – even though they lost five of the first eight.
4-3 Chargers (-1.5) at 2-6 Browns, Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS (Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta)
Jim Harbaugh returns to Ohio, with a team nowhere near as dominant as his Wolverines had been. And with Jameis Winston at quarterback, the Browns got a boost.
The Los Angeles defense is doing it; they are giving up 13 points per game and have yet to give up more than 20. Rookie receiver Ladd McConkey had an outstanding game in Week 8, with two touchdowns and 111 receiving yards.
Against the Ravens, the Browns scored more than 20 points for the first time this season, while also snapping a five-game losing streak.
6-2 Commanders (-3.5) at 2-6 Giants, Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox (Chris Myers and Mark Sanchez)
The Giants would have beaten the Commanders in Week 2, if they only had one kicker. The Commanders did just that on the day, getting seven field goals from Austin Seibert in a 21-18 victory.
The Commanders are fortunate to start 7-2 for the first time since 1996. That year, Washington opened 7-1 but lost six of the next eight games and missed the playoffs. It was their last season at RFK Stadium.
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has yet to throw a touchdown at home this season. He has not thrown a touchdown pass at MetLife Stadium since Week 17 of the 2022 season. He is the first NFL quarterback since 1950 to lose six consecutive home games and not throw a touchdown pass in none of them.
2-6 Patriots at 1-6 Titans (-3.5), Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox (Jason Benetti and Mark Schlereth)
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is questionable after suffering a concussion in the Week 8 win over the Jets. If Maye can’t go, it will be Jacoby Brissett, backed by Joe Milton III.
Titans quarterback Will Levis is also questionable, with a lingering shoulder injury. They have been dominated in their last two losses 86-24.
4-3 Bears at 4-4 Cardinals (-1.5), Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS (Ian Eagle and Charles Davis)
They are the only two teams remaining from the original NFL, launched in 1920.
The Bears will be looking to avoid one loss becoming two, following the Hail Mary debacle that cost them a win against the Commanders. The Bears will also try to win on the road for the first time this season.
The Cardinals have won three of four, two in a row by field goals. Rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. has 411 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
2-6 Jaguars at 5-2 Eagles (-7.5), Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS (Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber and Jason McCourty)
Doug Pederson returns to face the team he took to Super Bowl victory seven years ago. This is Pederson’s second game in Philadelphia since he was fired after the 2020 season; in 2022, the Jaguars lost to the Eagles, 29-21.
The Jaguars have allowed 30 or more points in three of the last four games and in four of the last six.
The Eagles have won three in a row, with four touchdowns scored in each of their last two games. They remain undefeated (4-0) when receiver AJ Brown plays.
6-1 Lions (-3.5) vs. 6-2 Packers, Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox (Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady)
The Lions have won five in a row, with 25 touchdowns and only 20 incomplete passes. This week, Detroit plays away for the first time this season.
The Packers have won four in a row. Quarterback Jordan Love is questionable due to a groin injury. His availability should be a game-time decision.
Green Bay has won two straight on field goals, both from new kicker Brandon McManus.
3-4 Rams (-1.5) at 4-4 Seahawks, Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox (Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma)
The Rams have won two in a row; Their Week 8 upset of the Vikings ended talks of a Cooper Kupp trade.
Seattle has always been inconsistent. They won three to start the season. Then they lost three. Then they won by 20 points on the road in Atlanta. Then they lost by 21 at home to the Bills.
Receiver Puka Nacua injured his knee in practice Thursday. He is questionable for the game.
4-4 Colts at 5-2 Vikings (-5), Sunday 8:25 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock (Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth)
Two years ago, these teams played an epic season-ending game on Saturday. The Colts led at halftime, 33-0. The Vikings won in overtime, 39-36.
The Colts are the first team to see each of their first eight games of the season decided by six points or less.
Joe Flacco starts for Anthony Richardson, who was on the bench after a Week 8 loss to the Texans. The Vikings have lost two straight after starting 5-0.
4-4 Buccaneers at 7-0 Chiefs (-8.5), Monday 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC (Joe Buck and Troy Aikman)
It’s a rematch of Super Bowl LV. The Bucs have lost two in a row and three of four. The Chiefs haven’t lost since Christmas Day 2023.
Patrick Mahomes has eight touchdown passes and nine interceptions. This ties him for the most interceptions in the league. He threw at least one in every game.
