Week 8 of the NFL season starts Thursday night with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers heading to Buffalo to take on the 4-3 Buffalo Bills. The Bills will look for a major bounce back after a brutal loss in New England to what was a struggling Patriots team. While I think this could be a good game especially for a Thursday night game which usually lack buzz. I don’t like having Thursday night games in my most anticipated games list, as the football itself is usually below average and can be a tough watch.
With that said, this is another weak slate of games in the NFL, so I’m going to break down the 4 games I’m most looking forward to this weekend.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles speaks to referee Scott Novak #1 at Lincoln Financial Field on November 21, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Philadelphia Eagles (-6.5) @ Washington Commanders
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 11: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys carries the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at AT&T Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Rams (+6.5) @ Dallas Cowboys
The second game I want to take a look at this weekend is between the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams. The Cowboys are coming off a bye week after a win two weeks ago on Monday night football against Justin Herbert and the Chargers. While the Rams are coming off a disappointing performance against the Steelers.
The Rams had been one of the surprise teams in the league, but a misstep against the Steelers and now a tough matchup against the Cowboys could have them behind the eight-ball in the NFC West. The Cowboys are looking to gain ground on the Eagles in the NFC East and should be expected to play well coming out of a bye.
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 22: Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots celebrates after a touchdown score in the first quarter of the game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on October 22, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
New England Patriots (+10) @ Miami Dolphins
Patriots-Dolphins is the third game I’m excited to watch this weekend. Two weeks ago this game would be an afterthought with many expecting the Patriots season to be over, but after a massive win in Foxboro on Sunday against the Bills, the Patriots are showing signs of life. While the Dolphins are coming off their worst game of the season. In some cases this may look like a good bounce back spot for the Dolphins, but now that Bill Belichick, Mac Jones and Bill O’Brien seem to be finding a rhythm a once sure thing now becomes a tough week for the Dolphins.Mac Jones and the Patriots’ offense are coming off far and away their best offensive performance of the season. Jones and new Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien finally seem to be on the same page, as O’Brien executed a great game plan against a tough Bills defense.Mac Jones was the story as he engineered a game winning drive late in the fourth that ended with a touchdown pass to Mike Gesicki. With Miami coming off their worst offensive performance of the year, this will be an interesting watch, with the top 3 teams in the AFC East being within a game and a half of each other.
