The latest
NFL Week 8 picks: Upset and score predictions, matchup analysis for every game | NFL.com
Why Brooke picked the Chiefs: The Chiefs have quickly become the scariest team in the NFL once again, winning four
of their last five games after beginning the campaign 0-2. Patrick Mahomes is playing insanely well right now. He leads the NFL in with 18 total touchdowns and just got his offense back to full strength — most notably Rashee Rice, who returned and scored two TDs last week after missing the majority of last year with an injury and serving a six-game suspension to open this season. In fact, over their last four games, the Chiefs have scored 126 points — the most by Kansas City in a four-game stretch since Weeks 4-7 of 2022, the year when Mahomes won his second MVP and the Chiefs won their third Super Bowl. The Commanders are headed in the opposite direction. Their defense is among the worst in the NFL, they’ve lost back-to-back games and they’ll be without Jayden Daniels (hamstring) on Monday night. It doesn’t look promising for Marcus Mariota and the banged-up Washington offense against a Kansas City defense ranked third in scoring and fifth overall. Add in the fact that this is a prime-time game at Arrowhead, and it could get ugly.
The Best NFL Bets for Week 8 | The Ringer
Washington Commanders at Kansas City Chiefs (–11.5)
The look-ahead line for this game was Kansas City –5.5, and we’ve now had a full six-point move to the current line of Kansas City –11.5. Some of this is due to the Jayden Daniels hamstring injury that happened last week, but the rest is a correction to the market after two extremely lopsided results in Week 7. The Chiefs on Sunday had the most comprehensive performance of any NFL team this season, smothering the Raiders offense and scoring 31 points on their first five possessions before sitting on the lead.
Meanwhile, the Commanders offense looks more and more like a shell of its 2024 version due to inconsistent quarterback play and injuries. Without Deebo Samuel and Terry McLaurin, the Commanders scored on only two of their eight possessions against Dallas before Daniels went out in the third quarter.
Washington doesn’t have anyone on its offense who can beat man coverage consistently right now. And now that the Chiefs offense is capable of being more explosive again, the Commanders’ issues with giving up big plays become a major weakness.
Verdict: Pass
NFL Week 8 predictions, picks: Our experts face off on top games | CBS Sports
Taranto (Chiefs -11.5): Jayden Daniels’ injuries notwithstanding, the Commanders regressing to the mean and Daniels going through a sophomore slump was easy enough to project. They’re capable of putting themselves around the .500 mark, but they’re still not ready to truly contend, despite being hyped as having Super Bowl potential. The Chiefs will likely serve another reminder of that, as Kansas City is on a two-game winning streak and rounding into championship form. I don’t expect Washington to hang with them unless Marcus Mariota can channel whatever he had in the 2017 Wild Card Game against them. … Prediction: Chiefs 35, Commanders 20
Chiefs LB Nick Bolton describes the boost from the offense’s success | Chiefs Wire
“Obviously, the last couple of weeks, there has been a lot of that. Run teams early and then get to the later half of the game and having to pass the ball a little bit to score points. Obviously, it helps us a lot,” said Bolton, “I joke around with those guys and say don’t score in three minutes, keep the eight-minute (or) nine-minute drives out there so we’re always fresh. Scoring points, I think they’re giving us a lot of juice on offense, defense, and also special teams. Giving the crowd a little juice, too. So, we’re pumping those guys up to put the ball in the endzone, and we’re going to have good games.”
Kansas City is the only team in the NFL that currently ranks in the top five in both total offense and defense. The Offense is ranked fifth with 370.6 yards per game, and the defense is also fifth with 280.3 yards allowed per game.
NFL Week 8 picks, predictions, schedule, odds, fantasy tips | ESPN
What we’re hearing on the Chiefs: Led by QB Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs have averaged 31.5 points per game over their past four games, which has allowed the defense to get plenty of breaks. The biggest example occurred last week, when the Chiefs had 30 first downs and the Raiders had just 30 plays on offense. “Obviously, it helps us a lot,” LB Nick Bolton said. “I was just joking around with those guys. Just don’t score in three minutes. Keep the eight-minute, nine-minute drives out there, so we’re always fresh. But yeah, man, scoring points, man, I think it’s giving us a lot of juice.” — Nate Taylor
Stat to know: The Commanders have converted 25 of 32 fourth-down attempts (78%) under Quinn since 2024. That’s the best conversion rate in the NFL over that span, though they’re converting at a 55.6% clip this season (19th). — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco will record a season-high 17 or more rush attempts. The Commanders have a run-inducing defense with a minus-7% pass rate over expectation. With Kareem Hunt banged up with an ankle injury last week, that could mean more carries for Pacheco. — Walder
Around the NFL
$315K in fines handed down over Giants’ protocol violations | ESPN
The New York Giants, coach Brian Daboll and running back Cam Skattebo have all been fined stemming from violations of the concussion protocol surrounding an evaluation of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart during their Week 6 game, the NFL and NFL Players Association announced Friday.
The Giants were assessed a $200,000 fine for violating the protocol, while Daboll was fined $100,000 and Skattebo $15,000 for conduct detrimental to the league.
During the Oct. 9 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Dart grabbed at his head on the ground after taking a hit on a third-quarter sack. After Dart was taken to the blue medical tent to be evaluated for a concussion, Daboll approached the tent and poked his head in. Skattebo also went into the tent.
Ravens’ Lamar Jackson (hamstring) questionable to play Sunday vs. Bears | NFL.com
Jackson drew a questionable designation for the Ravens’ game Sunday against the visiting Chicago Bears as he continues to deal with a hamstring injury. Tyler Huntley will get the start over Cooper Rush if Jackson is forced to miss his third straight game, coach John Harbaugh said.
After returning to practice as a limited participant earlier this week, Jackson was upgraded to full work on Friday.
Asked about Jackson’s availability for Sunday’s game, Harbaugh responded, “We’ll see where it’s at going forward.”
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
The Chiefs’ offensive line depth is handling the season’s first test
The Chiefs started by signing former San Francisco 49ers’ tackle Jaylon Moore to a two-year contract worth $30 million. Weeks later, they addressed the position again by taking Ohio State’s Josh Simmons in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Early in the season, the double dip looked like an overcorrection. Simmons started the year at left tackle, initially rendering Moore an expensive bench option. But now that Simmons is likely to miss a third consecutive game while dealing with a family matter, acquiring both players appears to have been a shrewd decision.
After turning in a disappointing 0-2 start, Kansas City has now won four of its past five games with offense that now seems capable of scoring at will. Before Thursday’s practice, head coach Andy Reid noted the importance of the offensive line’s play in a unit that has scored at 30 points in three of its last four outings.
“I think every coach would say that if the line is doing good,” he said, “you’re willing to call certain things — or not call certain things.”
Lining up against top pass rushers, Moore has played well in the last two weeks. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has noticed.
“He’s been ready,” said the two-time MVP. “[Moore] comes to work every single day. [He’s] a true pro. He comes to work with the mentality of being ready for that next snap. He’s done it all throughout training camp — and now he’s done it in the regular season. That’s the reason that he’s here.”
Social media to make you think
Follow Arrowhead Pride on Social Media
- Facebook: Like our page
- Instagram: @ArrowheadPride
- X: Follow @ArrowheadPride
- AP Staff on X: See complete list
- Sports Radio 810 on X: Follow @SportsRadio810
