Each NFL team now plays 17 games in the regular season and with bye weeks there are now 18 weeks in the NFL regular season, so we aren't quite halfway through 2023-24 regular season games.
But we're getting close enough to that midpoint and close to seeing whether some teams will be contenders or pretenders for the rest of the season.
Several teams have a chance to go a long way in determining if they will contend this season in their games on the NFL Week 8 schedule.
Among them? Some .500 teams looking to have more wins than losses, including the New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
There are also several teams just under .500 with a chance to take a step forward in this week's games, including the Las Vegas Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints.
Will any of those teams emerge as contenders in the rest of 2023 or are they just pretenders this season?
The results of Week 8's NFL games could help us find out.
Check out our NFL picks and predictions for the complete Week 8 NFL schedule, which begins with the Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football and ends with the Raiders at Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football.
All times MST. Click on each game for more NFL Week 8 picks and predictions for that matchup.
NFL Week 8 picks: Buccaneers at Bills | Texans at Panthers | Rams at Cowboys | Vikings at Packers | Saints at Colts | Patriots at Dolphins | Jets at Giants | Jaguars at Steelers | Falcons at Titans | Eagles at Commanders | Browns at Seahawks | Ravens at Cardinals | Chiefs at Broncos | Bengals at 49ers | Bears at Chargers | Raiders at Lions | Betting lines | How to watch | Power rankings
Thursday Night Football prediction
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills, 5:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video (stream with Amazon Prime Video)
The Bills have been floundering since a 48-20 win over the Dolphins in NFL Week 4, and are coming off a 29-25 loss to the Patriots. They'll rebound in a big way against a Buccaneers team struggling to put up points.
Prediction: Bills 28, Buccaneers 17
NOTE:Every Sunday and Monday NFL game can be streamed locally on FUBO, click here for a free trial
NFL power rankings Week 8:The Taylor Swift effect on Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday early football games predictions
Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers, 10 a.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The Panthers are at home in this game and they are coming off a bye (even though the Texans are, too). This might be one of their best chances to get a victory this season. We think they will.
Prediction: Panthers 23, Texans 20
Los Angeles Rams at Dallas Cowboys, 10 a.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The Cowboys are tough at home, where they are 2-0 on the season. They have also had an extra week to prepare for this game. Dak Prescott and company will find a way in this one.
Prediction: Cowboys 24, Rams 21
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers, 10 a.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)
Jordan Love is having some growing pains as the Packers' QB. This game provides a great chance for some real growth. He'll take a step forward in Green Bay.
Prediction: Packers 27, Vikings 20
New Orleans Saints at Indianapolis Colts, 10 a.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The Colts are interestingly a better road team than the home team and the Saints have been better on the road than at home.
Prediction: Saints 20, Colts 17
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins, 10 a.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)
Did the Patriots turn a corner in their win over the Bills? Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins will be amped up for this game after their loss to the Eagles.
Prediction: Dolphins 31, Patriots 17
New York Jets at New York Giants, 10 a.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The Giants looked better in a win over the Commanders, but the Jets have had an extra week to get ready for this one and their defense will be ready.
Prediction: Jets 21, Giants 13
Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers, 10 a.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The Steelers' defense can keep them in any game. But they won't win this one without help from their offense.
Prediction: Jaguars 27, Steelers 17
Atlanta Falcons at Tennessee Titans, 10 a.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The Falcons have somehow gone 4-3 in their first seven games in spite of being outscored 133-115. The Titans have had a week to prepare for this one and are a much better team at home than on the road.
Prediction: Titans 21, Falcons 17
Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commanders, 10 a.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)
These teams already played a close game, with the Eagles beating the Commanders in overtime in Week 4, 34-31. This one won't be that close.
Prediction: Eagles 30, Commanders 20
More:What channel is Monday Night Football on? Here's who's playing and how to watch, stream
Sunday late football games predictions
Cleveland Browns at Seattle Seahawks, 1:05 p.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The Browns have benefitted from a home-heavy schedule so far this season. They won't be in Cleveland for this one and it will show.
Prediction: Seahawks 24, Browns 14
Baltimore Ravens at Arizona Cardinals, 1:25 p.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The Cardinals appear to be counting down the days until Kyler Murray will return. They won't have any answers for Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews.
Prediction: Ravens 27, Cardinals 13
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos, 1:25 p.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The Taylor Swift effect is real in Kansas City. The Chiefs will roll over the Broncos, who won't be able to stop Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
Prediction: Chiefs 31, Broncos 17
Cincinnati Bengals at San Francisco 49ers, 1:25 p.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The schedule makers didn't do the 49ers any favors here. Cincinnati had a bye in Week 7, while the 49ers played on Monday Night Football. Advantage: Bengals.
Prediction: Bengals 28, 49ers 24
NFL Week 8 schedule:Television channels, how to watch, how to stream games
Sunday Night Football prediction
Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Chargers, 5:20 p.m., NBC, Universo (stream with free trial from FUBO)
Brandon Staley's seat is already hot. It would be scalding with a loss to the Bears on Sunday Night Football.
Prediction: Chargers 24, Bears 16
NFL Week 8 odds:Point spreads, moneylines, over/unders, point totals for betting on games
Monday Night Football prediction
Las Vegas Raiders at Detroit Lions, 5:15 p.m., ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The Lions couldn't even be competitive in their NFL Week 7 loss to the Ravens. This game will be a much different story, with Detroit and taking out its frustrations on Las Vegas.
Prediction: Lions 34, Raiders 17
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Reach Jeremy Cluffatjeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com.Follow him on X, formerly Twitter@Jeremy_Cluff.
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