The New England Patriots are entering Week 8 as winners of four straight games. To make it five in a row, they will need to be able to beat the 2-5 Cleveland Browns on Sunday at 1 p.m.
That game is one
of 13 played across the league this weekend. Here is who Patriots fans should root for in the other 12.
Thursday
8:15 p.m. ET
Minnesota Vikings (3-3) at Los Angeles Chargers (4-3): Go Vikings! The Chargers might end up competing for a playoff spot with the Patriots, so any and all losses on their part are welcome particularly against an NFC opponent. | Amazon
Sunday
1 p.m. ET
Miami Dolphins (1-6) at Atlanta Falcons (3-3): Go Falcons! The Patriots have both teams on their schedule, so we are rooting for the NFC side over the division rival. | CBS
Chicago Bears (4-2) at Baltimore Ravens (1-5): Go Bears! This is a “better to be safe than sorry” pick. A Ravens loss would negatively impact New England’s strength of schedule tiebreaker, but it would also keep them at one win and therefore away from competing for the playoffs once Lamar Jackson returns. | CBS
Buffalo Bills (4-2) at Carolina Panthers (4-3): Go Panthers! The Patriots have played and beaten both teams, so no tiebreakers would be impacted. The decision is easy either way: rooting against the AFC East team is the way to go. | FOX
New York Jets (0-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-4): Go Jets! We just spoke about rooting against the AFC East team and here we are picking the Jets? Yes, indeed, for two reasons: 1.) New York winning some meaningless games might end up costing them the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft, and 2.) The Bengals are still very much a competitor for a playoff spot even at 3-4. | CBS
San Francisco 49ers (5-2) at Houston Texans (2-4): Go Niners! Similar to other games this week, this game features an NFC team against an AFC squad with playoff aspirations. NFC all the way. | FOX
New York Giants (2-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-2): Go Giants! There is one reason why the Patriots should be rooting for the Giants in this all-NFC matchup: the strength of schedule (and possibly also strength of victory) tiebreaker. The Patriots are hosting the Giants at Gillette Stadium in Week 13. | FOX
4:05 p.m. ET
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2) at New Orleans Saints (1-6): Go Saints! New England has both teams on their schedule, and already beaten the Saints. For the sake of the strength of victory tiebreaker, we are playing it safe even if it might end up costing the Patriots a few spots in the seventh-round draft order next year (they own New Orleans’ 2026 seventh-round selection because of the Davon Godchaux trade). | FOX
4:25 p.m. ET
Dallas Cowboys (3-3-1) at Denver Broncos (5-2): Go Cowboys! The 5-2 Broncos are making a definitive push for the playoffs in the AFC. Any losses suffered by them is giving New England more wiggle room. | CBS
Tennessee Titans (1-6) at Indianapolis Colts (6-1): Go Titans! The Patriots’ strength of schedule and victory tiebreakers would benefit from a Titans upset win. | CBS
8:20 p.m. ET
Green Bay Packers (4-1-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2): Go Packers! The Patriots’ strength of schedule would suffer with a Steelers loss, but so would a competitor for playoff seeding in the AFC. It’s a pill worth swallowing. | NBC
Monday
8:15 p.m. ET
Washington Commanders (3-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-3): Go Commanders! NFC versus AFC playoff competitor. This is clear as day. | ESPN/ABC
Now it’s your turn. Who are you rooting for this week? And what do you think about the games as they unfold? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts and discuss.
