NFL Week 8 Sunday Preview: Ravens-Bills, Vikings-Lions and Chargers-Rams Headline an 11-Game Slate

Week 8 of the NFL season brings 11 games on Sunday, and the board is stacked with matchups that actually mean something. The league’s last unbeaten team heads to Detroit, a pair of Los Angeles rivals share the same field, a rested Buffalo squad hosts a banged-up Baltimore team in a game with a playoff feel, and Sunday Night Football pits two NFC East teams that badly need a win. If you are newer to football betting and just want to know which games deserve your attention and what the numbers are saying, here is a plain-English guide to the four biggest games on the slate. Odds referenced below are lines reported by major sportsbooks heading into the weekend and can move before kickoff.

Ravens at Bills: Lamar Jackson’s Ankle Is the Whole Story

Baltimore (4-3) travels to Orchard Park to face Buffalo (5-1) at 1 p.m. ET on CBS, and the Bills are favored by roughly three points, with a total near 54 points depending on the book. That total is the highest on the Sunday board, which tells you the oddsmakers expect fireworks. The reason the spread is not bigger is simple: Lamar Jackson is expected back after missing time with an ankle issue, and a healthy Jackson changes everything for a Ravens team that has lost two straight. In last week’s 35-13 home loss to Cincinnati, Tyler Huntley started in his place and threw for 298 yards, but the defense gave up touchdowns on all five Bengals red-zone trips.

Buffalo is coming off a bye after winning 33-30 at Las Vegas and 37-34 against the Rams, and Josh Allen has been the centerpiece again. He has nine touchdown passes and eight rushing touchdowns, while James Cook has 627 rushing yards. The Bills have scored plenty, but their defense has been a problem, ranking near the bottom of the league in yards and points allowed. Buffalo also has several players listed as questionable, including receiver DJ Moore and tackle Spencer Brown. Baltimore has been better on the road than at home this year, with three wins in four away games, and the all-time series is tied 7-7. These teams met in the 2025 opener, when Buffalo won 41-40.

For a casual fan, this is the game to circle. Two star quarterbacks, two defenses with real questions, and a late-season feel in early November. If you want the more cautious approach, taking the points with Baltimore protects you if Jackson looks sharp, and the high total makes the over a popular lean as well.

Vikings at Lions: Can Anyone Knock Off the Last Unbeaten Team?

Minnesota is 6-0 and the only undefeated team left in the league, but oddsmakers still have Detroit (4-2) as a three-point home favorite at Ford Field on FOX. The moneyline tells the same story: Lions around -166 and Vikings around +140, with the total sitting at 46.5. In plain terms, the market respects Minnesota’s record but trusts Detroit’s offense, which leads the NFL at 28.3 points per game.

The matchup comes down to a great defense against a great offense. The Vikings have allowed just 74 points all season, the lowest total in the league, and they have hit the under in five straight games. Kyler Murray and the Minnesota offense have been less impressive, so this team wins by grinding out possessions and forcing turnovers. Detroit counters with Jared Goff and running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who has 620 rushing yards, 270 receiving yards and nine total touchdowns. Minnesota is also 3-0 against the spread on the road, which is worth knowing if you are tempted to lay the points with Detroit. The Lions, by contrast, are just 1-4-1 against the spread this season.

Because all four NFC North teams are over .500, this result will ripple through the division race and the wild-card picture. A low-scoring game is the safest read here, given how Minnesota’s games have gone.

Chargers at Rams: Battle for Los Angeles With Very Different Seasons

The Chargers (0-6) and Rams (3-4) share SoFi Stadium, but the Rams are the home team for this 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff on FOX and are favored by about 6.5 points, with the total near 44.5. Los Angeles has the better offense by a wide margin. The Rams average 24.3 points per game and Matthew Stafford has 14 touchdown passes against seven interceptions, while the Chargers are scoring just 15 points per game, last in the league. Justin Herbert has five touchdown passes and eight interceptions, and the Chargers’ offensive line has been a major concern, allowing about 3.5 sacks per game.

The Rams just beat Las Vegas 35-21, with Stafford throwing three touchdowns and Kyren Williams and Blake Corum combining for 192 rushing yards. Puka Nacua leads the team with 485 receiving yards. Cornerback Trent McDuffie has been working his way back from a groin injury, which is worth monitoring before kickoff. The Chargers come out of their bye needing something to go right, because an 0-6 start leaves almost no room for error.

The Chargers have struggled to finish drives. Laying a touchdown is never comfortable, but the Rams have been the far more efficient team, and the Chargers have not shown they can protect Herbert.

Eagles at Commanders: Two Banged-Up NFC East Teams Meet on Sunday Night

The 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday Night Football game on NBC pairs Philadelphia (2-5), which has lost five straight, against Washington (1-4-1), which is coming off a bye. The Commanders are favored by roughly 4.5 to 6 points depending on the book, with a low total around 40.5. The Eagles won the Week 1 meeting 24-22, but things look different now. Tanner McKee is expected to make his third straight start, and Saquon Barkley will play through hamstring and back issues.

Washington has its own problems. Terry McLaurin is out, and the Commanders are 0-4 in games started by Jayden Daniels this season. Daniels was excellent in his last game, throwing for 300 yards against San Francisco, and the team has turned the ball over just twice in six games. The big difference-maker may be the red zone. Washington’s defense has allowed touchdowns on a league-worst 81.8 percent of opponent trips inside the 20, while Philadelphia has scored touchdowns on 14 of 19 red-zone chances.

Nick Sirianni is 5-0 in past Week 8 games, and with a total that low, points will be at a premium. Expect a grind-it-out game.

This Week’s Best Bets

Here is where the numbers point after looking at all four games. These are leans, not locks, and you should always check final injury reports and line moves before placing anything. Betting should be fun and affordable, so only wager what you can afford to lose.

• Ravens at Bills: Ravens +3 if Lamar Jackson is active, with the over as a secondary lean
• Vikings at Lions: Under 46.5 total points
• Chargers at Rams: Rams -6.5
• Eagles at Commanders: Eagles with the points, given the low total

If you are looking for the most entertaining game, start with Ravens-Bills at 1 p.m. and finish the day with the Eagles and Commanders under the lights. For live prices across the whole Sunday card, check the live NFL odds, and if you are new to the sport, our betting calculator can help you understand what a bet pays before you place it.