Week 7 of the NFL season has come and gone which means the start of Week 8 is right around the corner. There were plenty of nail-biters, blowouts and everything in between, so there’s plenty to cover before we can get to Week 8. Plus, our expert has already placed 2 best bets for the Week 8 slate.
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Week 7 Storylines
A lot happened in Week 7. The week was full of revenge and new-look teams, which made for an intriguing slate. Here are just three of the biggest storylines from Week 7.
Davante Adams’ lackluster Jets debut
Davante Adams was reunited with Aaron Rodgers, but their first game back together didn’t go as planned. Russell Wilson and the Steelers beat the Jets 37-15, and the duo of Rodgers and Adams had little to no effect on the game.
Adams finished with just 3 catches for 30 yards and finished behind Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard and Tyler Conklin in receptions. It certainly wasn’t the start that Jets fans were hoping for - especially since the Jets said Adams would play a big part in the offense. There’s always next week, but the Jets are running out of time to turn it around.
Chiefs win Super Bowl rematch over 49ers
It was a highly anticipated matchup in San Francisco on Sunday as Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs took on Brock Purdy and the Niners in a Super Bowl rematch. The Niners were looking to avenge their Super Bowl loss, but it became even more difficult when Brandon Aiyuk went down with a knee injury.
That left Purdy without Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings for most of the game. Purdy tried his best with Jordan Mason and George Kittle, but Mahomes was too good and extended Kansas City’s undefeated record to 6-0.
Saquon Barkley gets his revenge against his former team
Saquon Barkley returned to the Meadowlands for the first time since leaving the Giants for their NFC East rivals. The star running back didn’t waste any time getting revenge as he dominated the Giants defensive line from the first series.
Barkley finished with an incredible 176 rushing yards and a touchdown on just 17 carries, but perhaps the most admirable part came in the second half. Barkley was just a few rushing yards away from setting a new career high, and instead of getting that record, he let the younger players take his carries and get their shot.
Week 8 Headlines
Week 8 is filled with divisional matchups, exciting primetime games, and more. There’s a lot to like about Week 8, so here are a few of the biggest stories happening this week.
First chance for the new-look Buccaneers
Everything that could go wrong went wrong for the Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. Tampa Bay lost Mike Evans early in the game due to a hamstring injury, and then Chris Godwin suffered a gruesome ankle injury late in the 4th quarter.
Evans is week-to-week while Godwin is out for the season, so Baker Mayfield will have a new-look offense to work with on Sunday. But the question everyone keeps asking: why was Godwin in the game with less than a minute left when the Bucs were down 10?
#1 and #2 picks in the NFL Draft square off
Just a few months ago, Caleb Williams was the first name called at the NFL Draft, and Jayden Daniels followed right behind him. Since then, Williams has led the Bears to a 4-2 record, while Daniels has been a rising star for the Commanders and has Washington with a 5-2 record.
It’s a highly anticipated matchup between the two rookies, but it’s in jeopardy of not happening. Daniels suffered a rib injury in Washington’s Week 7 win and is questionable to play in Week 8. But it’s safe to say that everyone wants to see this matchup happen.
Cowboys and 49ers on Sunday Night Football
The Cowboys and 49ers both had high expectations for this season. After successful campaigns last year, both teams returned a lot of the same talent in 2024 to make another playoff run. However, it’s been a rough start for both squads.
Dallas is 3-3 and is yet to win a game at home, while the Niners are 3-4 and could be without Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings in Week 8. Both teams desperately need this win, but only one can prevail. Will it be Dak or Mr. Irrelevant?
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NFL Week 8 Best Bets
Week 8 begins with Thursday Night Football between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams, so let’s lock in a pick for that game and Sunday Night Football.
Vikings -3 (-110)
The Vikings suffered their first loss this season in Week 7 to their divisional rival Lions. Sam Darnold still threw for 259 yards and a touchdown and was able to find Justin Jefferson throughout the game, but the problem was on defense. Minnesota couldn’t stop the duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs on the ground, which ended up being the difference in the game.
The Vikings will still face a star running back in Week 8, but Kyren Williams is far less effective on the ground and is the main source of their offense. If Minnesota can limit Williams and force Matthew Stafford into difficult throws, I like their chances of covering this spread.
Steelers -5.5 (-110)
Pittsburgh has a problem, but it’s a good problem to have. The Steelers started the year with Justin Fields at quarterback, and he led them to a 4-2 record. However, Russell Wilson returned to practice last week and took over for Fields in Week 7. It was a controversial decision since Fields had been playing so well, but Wilson looked fantastic in his Steelers debut.
The former Seahawks and Broncos QB threw for 264 yards and 2 touchdowns and found immediate chemistry with George Pickens, who had been frustrated with his targets under Fields. I like the new-look Steelers with Wilson, so I’m backing them to cover this spread against the struggling Giants.
