AFC East
In the AFC East, the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins shared the top spot with 5-3 records. The Patriots capitalized on a three-game winning streak, highlighted by a commanding 28-13 win over the Dolphins in Week 8. Their balanced approach saw Ezekiel Elliott run 19 times for 84 yards, while Chad Ryland kicked four field goals to maintain steady scoring pressure. In contrast, Miami fell to New England and snapped their own one-game winning streak. Despite this loss, Tua Tagovailoa put in a decent performance, including a touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle. The Buffalo Bills, at 4-4, showed their potential in a 38-10 rout of Tampa Bay, led by Josh Allen’s 318-yard, four-touchdown display. Finally, the New York Jets snapped a six-game losing streak, picking up their second win of the season by defeating the Giants 37-17, largely thanks to Breece Hall’s 180-yard, three-touchdown rushing display.
AFC North
The AFC North race remained tight, with the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals both at 4-3. However, each struggled this week as the Browns fell to the Seattle Seahawks 32-17, and the Bengals dropped a close one to the San Francisco 49ers, 34-24. Joe Burrow threw for a season-high 356 yards and two touchdowns for Cincinnati, but his impressive performance was outshone by a relentless San Francisco defense and rushing attack. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens kept their playoff hopes alive with a dominant 42-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Lamar Jackson contributed two touchdowns, while Justice Hill had two rushing touchdowns to secure the Ravens’ much-needed win.
AFC South
The Jacksonville Jaguars, at 7-1, held a firm lead over the AFC South with a solid Week 8 performance, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-10. Travis Etienne’s outstanding 163 rushing yards and one touchdown fueled Jacksonville’s success, helping the team control the clock and wear down Pittsburgh’s defense. The Houston Texans also continued to surge, now at 5-2 after a 35-0 shutout against the Carolina Panthers. Running back Devin Singletary led the charge with 141 rushing yards and a touchdown, while quarterback C.J. Stroud’s 208 passing yards and a touchdown helped seal the win. Meanwhile, the Tennessee Titans, following a three-game winning streak, moved to 3-4 after a convincing 45-28 victory over Atlanta, with rookie quarterback Will Levis throwing for 314 yards and two touchdowns. The struggling Indianapolis Colts, despite their 1-7 record, managed a surprise 20-19 win over New Orleans thanks to Gardner Minshew’s steady performance and Jonathan Taylor’s 81 rushing yards.
AFC West
In a competitive AFC West, the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers led with 5-3 records. Patrick Mahomes was sensational for Kansas City, guiding them to a 30-14 win over Denver. He threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns, including a deep pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling for 53 yards. The Chargers won a hard-fought 16-9 victory against Chicago, with Justin Herbert throwing a game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. Denver’s loss dropped them to 5-3, ending their own winning streak. Finally, the Las Vegas Raiders lost to Detroit 24-17, though Davante Adams provided a highlight with a 1-yard touchdown grab. The Raiders, now at 2-6, struggled on both sides of the ball and couldn’t recover from Detroit’s dominant second half.
NFC East
The Dallas Cowboys maintained a strong lead in the NFC East at 6-1 following a 20-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Dak Prescott passed for 196 yards and a touchdown, while Tony Pollard added a 25-yard rushing touchdown. Despite their best efforts, Philadelphia slipped to 3-5 after a tight 27-26 loss to Washington, a game marked by four lead changes and clutch field goals from Joey Slye. Dallas’s steady lead in the division is also bolstered by the struggles of the New York Giants (1-7) and Washington Commanders (2-6). Though Washington managed a surprising win against Philadelphia, their inconsistency remains a barrier to further success in the division.
NFC North
The Detroit Lions topped the NFC North with a 5-3 record and extended a four-game winning streak by defeating Las Vegas 24-17. Rookie Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns, showing his ability to handle a major workload. The Green Bay Packers, close behind at 4-3, dismantled Minnesota 42-15. Jordan Love threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns, while Jaire Alexander made a defensive highlight with a 58-yard interception return for a touchdown. Minnesota and Chicago both continue to struggle; Minnesota fell to 3-5 and Chicago to 1-7.
NFC South
The New Orleans Saints lead the NFC South at 6-2 despite a narrow 20-19 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Alvin Kamara recorded 98 receiving yards, but New Orleans fell just short after Indianapolis’s final field goal. Atlanta dropped to 4-4 after a 45-28 defeat against Tennessee, where Bijan Robinson’s 123 rushing yards and a touchdown were not enough to counter Tennessee’s explosive offense. Tampa Bay lost 38-10 to Buffalo and dropped to 3-4, while Carolina remains winless at 0-7 after being shut out by Houston 35-0.
NFC West
In the NFC West, Seattle remains perfect at 7-0 after a decisive 32-17 win over Cleveland. Geno Smith threw for 268 yards and three touchdowns, and Kenneth Walker III had a standout game with 123 receiving yards and two touchdowns. San Francisco stayed close behind at 7-1, overpowering Cincinnati 34-24. Christian McCaffrey rushed for 97 yards, and Brock Purdy added a rushing touchdown in a well-rounded offensive performance. The Los Angeles Rams are now at 4-4, having lost to Dallas 20-7, while Arizona dropped their sixth consecutive game, losing to Baltimore 42-16.
Top Performers
- Quarterbacks: Joe Burrow led all quarterbacks with 356 passing yards and two touchdowns for Cincinnati, though they ultimately lost to San Francisco. Jordan Love was equally impressive, throwing for 353 yards and three touchdowns for Green Bay. Josh Allen’s 318 yards and four-touchdown game stood out as one of the week’s best quarterback performances, securing Buffalo’s victory over Tampa Bay.
- Running Backs: Breece Hall was Week 8’s top rusher, piling up 180 yards and scoring three touchdowns for the Jets. Travis Etienne followed with 163 rushing yards and a touchdown, powering Jacksonville’s win over Pittsburgh. Kyren Williams (155 yards) and Devin Singletary (141 yards) also had significant performances.
- Wide Receivers: Kenneth Walker III caught nine passes for 123 yards and scored two touchdowns for Seattle. Romeo Doubs led all receivers in yardage with a 146-yard game for Green Bay. Ja’Marr Chase and Drake London both posted over 100 yards, with London scoring twice for Atlanta.
- Defensive Highlights: Michael Davis (Chargers) and Jaire Alexander (Packers) each had two interceptions. Alexander’s performance included a pick-six, intercepting Minnesota’s Josh Dobbs and returning it 58 yards for a touchdown.