NFL Week 8 kickoff times, TV info and betting lines
GAME TO WATCH
Battle of the unbeatens
GREEN BAY PACKERS (6-0) AT DENVER BRONCOS (6-0)
TV: Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya)
Line: Packers by 3
This should be fun.
Two of the NFL’s five remaining undefeated clubs will square off Sunday night when the Denver Broncos host the Green Bay Packers. It’s the first time a pair of 6-0 teams have met since 2007, and both squads should be fresh coming out of their bye weeks.
It will also mark just the second time Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers (the duo has won five of the past seven NFL MVP awards and seven overall) have faced each other. Rodgers’ Packers beat Manning, then of the Indianapolis Colts, back in 2008.
Adding to the intrigue, a Denver win would give Manning his 186th career win, tying the all-time mark for quarterbacking victories set by Rodgers’ predecessor in Green Bay, Brett Favre.
"Peyton's been the gold standard of quarterbacking a long time,” Rodgers said in a radio interview this week. “He has a ton of respect in the league. I've enjoyed watching as a fan and a competitor for a number of years.”
Rodgers has been his typically efficient self this season but has surpassed 300 passing yards just once. Manning has struggled with 10 interceptions and hasn’t been this inaccurate since his rookie year in 1998. But they’re backed by excellent supporting casts – and both banged-up clubs should be healthier after a week off – and each team boasts the stingiest scoring defense in their conference.
“Oh, it's a big game,” said Broncos safety David Bruton. “Two 6-0 teams going at it, there is going to be added excitement and enthusiasm. I just know that Mile High is going to be rocking, and I can't wait to play in it.”
Story lines: Packers RB Eddie Lacy, WR Davante Adams, NT B.J. Raji, OLB Nick Perry and S Morgan Burnett are among those battling recent injuries. Lacy has rushed for more than 46 yards just twice this season. … WR Emmanuel Sanders, OLB DeMarcus Ware and LT Ty Sambrailo are among the healing Broncos, though Sambrailo (shoulder) probably won't play. Denver’s offense has also been hobbled, managing just nine touchdowns through six games, the fewest in the NFL. But the defense has allowed just 17 points a game, and led the NFL in sacks (26) and takeaways (17) after six games. … Green Bay’s run defense is improved but yields 4.7 a carry. Broncos coach Gary Kubiak wants to limit Manning’s exposure by featuring the ground game.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (6-0) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-3)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS (Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn)
Line: Steelers by 1
Story lines: Bengals QB Andy Dalton has thrown touchdown passes to five different players, but WR A.J. Green remains the most dangerous Cincinnati receiver and Dalton’s favorite target. … The Steelers are expecting to have QB Ben Roethlisberger back after he missed four games with a knee injury. They have gone 2-2 in that stretch, which has seen their defense play well and talented young WR Martavis Bryant return from suspension with a flourish. This is almost a must-win game for Pittsburgh to stay in the division race. … Tight ends have been giving the Steelers fits all season, and in Cincinnati’s Tyler Eifert, they their toughest matchup since the New England Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski in Week 1. … Both clubs average more than 120 rushing yards per game.
DETROIT LIONS (1-6) VS. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2-5)
TV: Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET, Fox (Sam Rosen, John Lynch, Pam Oliver)
Line: Chiefs by 5½
Story lines: This is the final NFL game to be played in London this season. … The Lions, who fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and two other assistants this week, are rushing for a league-low 68 yards per game. … Opposing quarterbacks are completing 73.3% of their passes against Detroit. … Chiefs rookie WR Chris Conley was targeted seven times last week and caught six passes, including his first NFL TD. … Lions QB Matthew Stafford was sacked seven times last week and now faces Chiefs OLBs Justin Houston and Tamba Hali, assuming he plays with a bum knee.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-4) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (6-1)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox (Justin Kutcher, Charles Davis, Tony Siragusa)
Line: Falcons by 7
Story lines: After failing to hold a 24-0 lead last week, the Bucs missed an opportunity to reach .500 for the first time since 2012. … Falcons RB Devonta Freeman has rushed for at least 100 yards in three consecutive games. He has accounted for 10 TDs and 931 yards from scrimmage, including a league-best 651 on the ground. … Falcons QB Matt Ryan became the 41st NFL player to eclipse the 30,000-yard passing mark. … The Bucs are yielding yards begrudgingly (328.2 a game), yet allow 29.8 points per game and have surrendered TDs in 75% of their opponents’ red-zone trips. ... Tampa's passing game could be limited with WR Vincent Jackson (knee) and TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (shoulder) doubtful.
ARIZONA CARDINALS (5-2) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-5)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox (TBA, Chris Cooley, Danielle Trota)
Line: Cardinals by 4½
Story lines: The Cardinals have returned three interceptions for touchdowns. … Speedy Browns WR Travis Benjamin has shown the ability to turn routine plays into long ones. He’s one of the league’s most dangerous punt returners, too, and possibly the Browns’ most valuable player to this point. … Cleveland is allowing 6 yards per play. … Cardinals RB Chris Johnson’s 5.1 yards per carry are his best since he rushed for 2,006 yards in 2009. ... Browns QB Josh McCown is officially questionable with rib and shoulder injuries.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (2-5) AT ST. LOUIS RAMS (3-3)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox (Dick Stockton, David Diehl, Kristina Pink)
Line: Rams by 8½
Story lines: The home team has won once the last four times these NFC West foes have met. … The Rams are at their best when creating turnovers, as evidenced by a pair of Cleveland Browns fumbles last week that helped St. Louis take a 10-0 lead. 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick is prone to errors, particularly when facing a defense this good. … Rams QB Nick Foles hasn’t exceeded 200 passing yards since Week 1. ... 49ers RB Carlos Hyde is out with a foot injury.
NEW YORK GIANTS (4-3) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (3-4)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox (Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Laura Okmin)
Line: Saints by 3
Story lines: The Giants are over .500 this late in the season for the first time since 2012, when they were 5-2 after seven games, eventually finishing 9-7 but missing the postseason. … The Saints have won two in a row but haven’t been above the .500 mark since 2013. … Saints DE Cam Jordan has registered five sacks and eight QB hits the past two games. … The Giants have nine sacks this season but could have DE Jason Pierre-Paul back on the field in the near future. He won't play Sunday, though, and neither will WR Victor Cruz (calf).
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (4-2) AT CHICAGO BEARS (2-4)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox (Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, Jennifer Hale)
Line: Vikings by 1
Story lines: Fresh off their first road divisional win since 2012, the Vikings eye their first victory in Chicago since 2007. … Minnesota rookie WR Stefon Diggs continued his scintillating start, leading the Vikings in receiving for the third time in three NFL games. … Vikings RB Adrian Peterson could be due for a breakout against a Chicago defense that permits 4.5 yards per rush. … Bears coach Jon Fox is 10-3 all-time coming out of a bye week.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (2-5) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-6)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS (Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Jamie Erdahl)
Line: Ravens by 3
Story lines: The Chargers running game continues to be an afterthought with rookie RB Melvin Gordon benched because of fumbling issues. Of San Diego’s 501 offensive plays this year, 335 (66.9%) have been of the passing variety. … The Chargers are allowing 35.1% conversions on third down while the Ravens have been poor on offense at 34% after seven games. … Baltimore hasn’t lost a game by more than eight points with an average deficit of five points.
TENNESSEE TITANS (1-5) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (2-5)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS (Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots)
Line: Texans by 4½
Story lines: Despite all the issues swirling about them – the release of QB Ryan Mallet, the loss of RB Arian Foster to an Achilles injury – the Texans could pull into a first-place tie in the AFC South by beating the Titans. … Take away Tennessee’s Week 6 blowout loss to the Miami Dolphins, and the Titans own a plus-8 point differential despite their 1-5 record. … The Texans have sacked Titans quarterbacks at least three times in four consecutive games in Houston, going 3-1 in that stretch. But they won't drop Marcus Mariota on Sunday, because he remains out with a knee injury.
NEW YORK JETS (4-2) AT OAKLAND RAIDERS (3-3)
TV: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS (Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon)
Line: Jets by 2
Story lines: The Jets’ Darrelle Revis, one of the game’s best cover corners will attempt to shut down promising Raiders rookie WR Amari Cooper. With each game, Cooper and Oakland QB Derek Carr are developing a stronger chemistry, but Revis continues to be a guy you want to avoid. … The Raiders won last week but were outscored 23-7 in the second half by the San Diego Chargers. … The Jets allowed New England Patriots QB Tom Brady to complete 14 of 17 for 150 yards and two scores in the fourth quarter in Sunday’s loss.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (3-4) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (2-4)
TV: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox (Thom Brennaman, Troy Aikman, Peter Schrager)
Line: Seahawks by 6
Story lines: This is when the Seahawks tend to round into Super Bowl form. Seattle has a 21-4 record in November and December games since 2012. But struggles on the offensive line have left QB Russell Wilson exposed. He’s been sacked a league-high 31 times and likely won't have injured LT Russell Okung protecting him Sunday. … The Cowboys hope to have all-pro WR Dez Bryant back for the first time since he broke his foot in Week 1. He's officially questionable to play. … Cowboys RB Darren McFadden will start after rushing for 152 yards in Week 7. It marked the first time he surpassed 90 rushing yards in a game since Week 2 of the 2013 season. … The Seahawks are 10-1 against backup quarterbacks since 2013.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (3-4) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (6-0)
TV: Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN (Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters)
Line: Panthers by 6½
Story lines: The Panthers defense has boasted one of the league’s best approaches to stopping opposing ground games, and it all starts with MLB Luke Kuechly. … The Colts are 2-0 when RB Frank Gore tops 80 rushing yards and 1-4 when he falls short of that mark. … Colts WR T.Y. Hilton had 150 receiving yards last week, ending a career-long streak of eight games of falling short of 100 receiving yards. … Three times this season, the Colts failed to score before halftime. The Panthers have scored at least one touchdown in every first half this season, but they have been blanked in the first quarter three times. … Panthers WR Ted Ginn’s 47.2 receiving yards per game are his most since 2008 (49.4).
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